- Current Ministry Project
VOMC has come alongside project partners to offer an English camp as an opportunity for evangelism and outreach among youth and young adults. Camp participants are invited to embrace the Good News of the Gospel through the platform of the English Camps.
Project Fund: Equipping the Saints
- Country Information
Population
19,543,464 (2023 est.)Ethnicity (%)
Kazakh (Qazaq) (69.6), Russian (17.9), Uzbek (3.3), Uighur (1.5), Ukrainian (1.3), Tatar (1), Other (5.3) (2022 est.)Religion (%)
Muslim (70.2), Christian (26.2), Other (0.2), Atheist (2.8), Unspecified (0.5)Leader
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (2019)Government type
Presidential republicLegal system the theory and practice of the Russian Federation
Civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and bSource: CIA World Factbook
- Pray for Kazakhstan
Pray that authorities will cease their harassment of unregistered church communities. Until then, pray believers will effectively minister the gospel despite opposition.
Pray for endurance for those believers facing these challenges.
Pray for the adage “To be a Kazakh is to be a Muslim” to be broken; pray for freedom from historic spiritual bondages and prejudices.
Select a Region
Kazakhstan News
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Multiple Raids of Unregistered Gatherings
A Bible study in Kazakhstan
Photo: VOMCPolice in the Shu district of southern Kazakhstan raided four worship gatherings during the months of March and April, resulting in a total of seven fines being laid. During the raids, officers filmed those who were present and demanded that they provide written statements explaining the reasons for their gatherings. These raids affected the worship activities of three unregistered Protestant churches.
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Banking Access Blocked for Church
Talgar, Kazakhstan
Photo: Wikipedia / Makvlad (cc)For the past five years, the New Life Pentecostal Church has encountered repeated problems while trying to gain access to banking services – to the point of the recurring situation being described as "incomprehensible." With no access, the church administration has had difficulties paying necessary taxes, along with numerous other challenges.
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Civil Suits Used in Religious Opposition
As a recent spate of civil suits have been launched against religious groups in Kazakhstan, some human rights experts are suspecting that state officials may be instigating the legal action, or at least providing support. If accurate, this would be a new way for the Kazakhstan government to take action against the religious minority groups they oppose.
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Parliament Debates New Religious Restrictions
Kazakhstan Senate
Photo: Wikipedia / SenateKZ (cc)On October 6th, amendments to Kazakhstan's religious laws were approved by the Parliament and then passed on to the Senate. The legislation added new restrictions to religious events conducted outside a building of worship owned by a registered religious organization. Already, any religious community not in receipt of an official state registration is presently being banned, and the process of obtaining such registration has proven to be very difficult. Under the new amendments, any activity taking place at a different location from that of the registered place of worship will require approval at least ten business days in advance, along with a detailed explanation of what the event is to entail. The approval of these religious events rests with local officials who could withhold permission for many reasons.
