Dozens of Christian organizations on the hit list

Posted: December 11, 2008

Dozens of Christian organizations that have been providing social
services, ministry and other help inside Russia are being targeted for
"liquidation" by the nation's Ministry of Justice, according to a new
report.

The information comes in a newsletter from a leader with an American
Christian organization, Youth With A Mission, who reported he found a
declaration recently on the webpage of the Russian Ministry of Justice
listing the pending "liquidation" of 56 religious organizations.

The American ministry leader was out of the country and unavailable
today, but his wife explained the pressure on evangelical groups is
coming from a combination of resurging Russian hatred for the West, and
pressure from Orthodox churches to ban outside organizations.

However, the ministry leader's wife asked that her husband's name not be
used, because he continues to work in Russia, and could be targeted for
retaliation.

She said all of central Asia is seeing an increasing level of
persecution of Christians, since there are Muslim majorities in many
locations.

"[Russian authorities] definitely want [Christians] out. They are
targeting them," she said. "They are allowing only three-month visas,
and then you have to leave. Obviously you can't do long-term ministry
there."

The American ministry leader's original newsletter said other groups
also were targeted in Russia, including Buddhist, Jewish and Islamic
organizations.

"Yet at least 35 of the 56 listed qualify as Protestant organizations,"
the newsletter said. "These include the humanitarian 'World Vision' and
'Youth with a Mission." At least six Baptist organizations are listed.
These include one established by the Russian branch of the 'Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association' and three regional districts of the 'Russian
Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists,'" he said.

"Apparently; several entire churches are up for liquidation, including
the 'Union of Churches of Presbyterian Christians' and the 'Assemblies
of God.' Even the 26-congregation-strong 'Union of Churches of
Evangelical Christians' is scheduled for elimination," the newsletter said.

The leader continued, "The situation in Russia has continued to worsen
this past year as the new visa law went into effect. This limits
missionaries to three-month stays after which they need to leave for
three months then reapply for a new expensive three-month visa. This has
made it especially difficult on families and many have been forced to
leave. This has affected every mission.

"We have been spared this in some of the rural areas where some of our
workers have received residency permits, but in the cities this has been
impossible and has reduced our numbers to the nationals themselves," he
said.

“Our Russian YWAMers have continued the work in a number of places but
further restrictions could be coming," he continued.

“Things seem to be heating up for the surrounding countries as well.
Georgia remains in somewhat of a delicate state as well as Ukraine.
Meanwhile the Central Asian countries where we have seen so many
breakthroughs in the last decade are also beginning to follow Moscow’s
example.”

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