Tajikistan is a former Soviet republic in Central Asia where the government's primary concern is to hold on to power. The Tajik ethnic identity is tied directly to Islam, and so Christians who have converted from Islam bear the brunt of persecution from the state, family and friends, and the community.
All religious activities must be approved by the government, which puts heavy pressure on all 'deviating' religious groups - eg non Muslim - by tightening and strictly enforcing existing laws. Church leaders and believers can be detained just for having unapproved materials. Some laws specifically target and limit religious work among young people.
For the most part, believers are isolated, worship in secret and face daily pressure to convert to Islam if they are discovered.
Please pray God would hold the hearts of the isolated believers in His Mighty Hands and that His Spirit would help them sense they are part of a worldwide body of Christ.
Pray government leaders would have their hearts supernaturally softened towards Christians and other religious minorities, and they would allow all religious expression to flourish.
Pray for pastors and church leaders in Tajikistan who are monitored, detained and sometimes imprisoned. Pray God will substain their faith and that of their families.
Thanks so much for praying, God bless. From a Open Doors USA text alert. I also would like to add that I think we should also pray for the secret believers that the Holy Spirit bless them with wisdom and guidance, confidence strength and courage to know when it is ok to hide their faith and when they must not deny it. I ask this because the Bible says that to those who deny Jesus on earth He will deny them before the Father and the angels.
All religious activities must be approved by the government, which puts heavy pressure on all 'deviating' religious groups - eg non Muslim - by tightening and strictly enforcing existing laws. Church leaders and believers can be detained just for having unapproved materials. Some laws specifically target and limit religious work among young people.
For the most part, believers are isolated, worship in secret and face daily pressure to convert to Islam if they are discovered.
Please pray God would hold the hearts of the isolated believers in His Mighty Hands and that His Spirit would help them sense they are part of a worldwide body of Christ.
Pray government leaders would have their hearts supernaturally softened towards Christians and other religious minorities, and they would allow all religious expression to flourish.
Pray for pastors and church leaders in Tajikistan who are monitored, detained and sometimes imprisoned. Pray God will substain their faith and that of their families.
Thanks so much for praying, God bless. From a Open Doors USA text alert. I also would like to add that I think we should also pray for the secret believers that the Holy Spirit bless them with wisdom and guidance, confidence strength and courage to know when it is ok to hide their faith and when they must not deny it. I ask this because the Bible says that to those who deny Jesus on earth He will deny them before the Father and the angels.