Pastor Released Early

Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov and his wife - Photo: World Watch Monitor
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 more). We are thankful to report that Pastor Bakhrom was released on December 17th, more than three months early.

During a recent interview, Pastor Bakhrom acknowledged the importance of prayer: "All these three years, I felt your prayers. They helped me to stand, they helped my precious wife and children, and they helped the members of my church...."

Praise God for this timely release! Continue to pray for Pastor Bakhrom and his family, as they adjust to the blessed new reality of being together again. Continue to prayerfully lift up the ongoing ministry of the Gospel in this nation. And let us join with Pastor Bakhrom and his loved ones in singing praises to God this Christmas season.

  • 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
    9,245,937 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Tajik (84.3), Uzbek (13.8), Other (2)

    Religion (%)
    Muslim (98), Other (2)

    Leader
    President Emomali Rahmon (1994)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    Civil law system

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Tajikistan

    Pray God will provide for the physical needs of the people of Tajikistan.

    Pray freedom of religion will be respected by the government.

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Tajikistan News

  • No New Churches Allowed
    Youth camp in the mountains
    Pray that Tajikistan’s youth will be allowed to participate in Christian summer camp programs.
    Photo: VOMC Ministry Partner

    In late May, Protestant church leaders in Tajikistan were summoned to a meeting with Sulaymon Davlatzoda, the chair of the State Committee for Religious Affairs and Regulation of Traditions, Ceremonies and Rituals. During the meeting, they were informed that the government would no longer be registering any new churches. "We will keep the figure of registered churches unchanged from now on," Sulaymon told them. He further went on to remind the church leaders that there are to be no religious activities for those under 18 years of age, including their participation in any religious camps.

    Read more...

  • Fines for Bible Translation
    Tajik Bible

    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 sometimes the translation is unclear. In response to the need, these churches arranged to have a new translation made through Linguatec, a translation company.

    Read more...

  • Pastor Released Early
    Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov and his wife - Photo: World Watch Monitor
    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 more). We are thankful to report that Pastor Bakhrom was released on December 17th, more than three months early.

    Read more...

  • Clampdown on Christianity
    Pastor Batyr - Photo: Release International www.releaseinternational.org
    Pastor Batyr
    Photo: Release International

    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 are happening regularly in other neighbouring Central Asian countries, according to a recent report from VOMC's partner ministry, Release International.

    Read more...

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