In spite of a three-day administrative prison term for Pastor Fauzi Gubaidullin, his church vows to continue meeting, regardless of the consequences, according to a March 13 report from Forum 18. On March 7, Gubaidullin was sentenced for refusing to abide by a three-month ban imposed last year. His sentence began immediately and ended on March 10.
The government ban came after the church, located in the city of Shymkent, refused to officially register with the government. The government insists that all churches must register. The Council of Churches Baptists, to which the church belongs, rejects compulsory government registration, viewing it as a way for the state to interfere in their internal affairs. Their position has received support from Kazakhstan's Human Rights Ombudsperson, Bolat Baikadamov.
Pray for these and other Kazakh believers who are under pressure from authorities because of their faith. Pray that the Gospel of Christ will not be hindered but that it will continue to spread in the midst of this adversity. Pray that persecutors will come to know Christ's love, forgiveness and blessing through the lives of His people (Romans 12:14, 21).
For more information on the challenges facing Christians in Kazakhstan, click here.
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