Over the past ten years, most churches in Tajikistan have had their registration revoked, and they now must meet in secrecy. Because it's the poorest former Soviet republic, many pastors and church leaders are leaving the country to work in Russia so they can support their families. The majority of the population is younger than 30 years of age, and the country lacks basic infrastructure. General corruption and the opium trade compound its difficulties.
Life for Christians
New Christian converts receive the harshest treatment. Believers are beaten and abused, and women are especially targeted for abuse by their fathers and older brothers. Christians are often summoned to appear at the local secret police station. Even though churches meet openly, informants attend every service. Adding to the challenges facing the church, it's illegal to teach children in this country about any religion. In 2017, Pastor Bakhrom Holmatov was arrested for merely possessing a copy of Josh McDowell's book, More Than a Carpenter, because governing authorities considered it "extremist literature."
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.
Over the past six months, the leaders of four different churches in Tajikistan have received huge fines because they were part of a plan to create a new Tajik translation of the Bible. According to some Tajik Christians, the current translations available in their language use archaic words and some
Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov and his wife (undated image). Photo: World Watch Monitor
In April 2017, Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov was arrested and charged with "singing extremist songs in church and so inciting religious hatred." In July of that year, he had been sentenced to three years in prison (read mo
Throughout Central Asia, Christians are facing worship bans, arrest and torture as Islamic nationalism gains ground. In late August, we reported on a group arrested in Tajikistan for distributing Christian literature (read the report). Similar incidents ar
Ten Christians were arrested by security police in the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan on August 7th. The group was distributing Christian literature in Russian, Tajik and various local languages when they were detained. According to a ministry partner of Release Intern
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