UK Open Doors, Newsletter October 2010

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    OpenDoorsmagazine

    Serving persecuted Critian worldwide

    Ocob 2010

    www.opook.o

    Rough Rideon the Silk Road

    Write away!Are all o these or me? asked Tsehay Desta when

    Open Doors delivered hundreds o letters to her rom

    supporters all over the world.

    When Tsehay became a Christian, lie got harder. Her

    husband divorced her and when her baby son died,

    villagers reused to allow him a proper burial.

    But a year on, thanks in part to so many letters and

    prayers o support, Tsehay can say, Praise God, I am

    ne. My mother is supporting me and encouraging

    me to be strong in the aith. I will show these letters to

    her. She will like them very much.

    God has brought healing to Tsehay and her amily.

    Both my mother and younger sister have joined me to

    worship the Lord. My sister was suering rom sickness,

    but we prayed or her at church and she was healed.

    Every message is precious. Please tell them that I say

    thank you, said Tsehay as each letter was read to her. I

    love you all so much, rom the bottom o my heart.

    You can write to Christians like Tsehay and let them

    know theyre not orgotten. Our new Letter-Writing

    Guide gives inormation on who you can write to, as

    well as important guidelines to ollow.

    Letters can bring comfort

    and hope to people like Tsehay

    A simple card maybe all that is needed

    by writing a letter o encouragement

    Order our cop uing te

    encloed Repone Form, or goto www.opendooruk.org/writeor pone 01993 885400New edition

    o Kidzone

    writing guide

    now available

    NewLetter-

    Writing

    Guidesfor

    Adultsand

    Children

    T rality for Cristias i Ctral Asia

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    32 www.opook.o

    Prayer, you see, is a weapon that

    everyone can use. Male or emale,

    young or old, we can all pray.

    Talking o young people, Im

    heartened by their response to the

    needs o our brothers and sisters.

    During the summer I visited

    various Christian estivals and

    events. It was wonderul to stand

    in ront o thousands o young

    people and see them respond

    immediately. To see how Godput the needs o the persecuted

    church on their hearts was both

    exciting and humbling.

    Such support is needed now more

    than ever, because the needs

    o the persecuted church are

    escalating, not decreasing.

    So, my riends, what are we

    waiting or? Time to get on our

    knees and pray.

    Eddie Lle

    CEO Open Door UK & Ireland

    This issue ocuses on some o

    the hardest-to-reach countries

    where Open Doors is working.

    These countries in Central Asia

    seem so isolated, so remote and

    inaccessible. But there is one

    thing that no wall or barrier can

    keep out. One power that the

    greatest powers on earth have no

    protection against: prayer.

    I am a big E.M. Bounds an. The

    quote opposite comes rom him.And heres another one. All things

    can be done by importunate

    prayer, he wrote. It surmounts or

    removes all obstacles, overcomes

    every resisting orce and gains

    its ends in the ace o invincible

    hindrances. Amen to that! There

    is no border that prayer cannot

    cross, no wall it cannot jump over,

    no guard it cannot y past. No

    barbed-wire ence or prison bars

    can keep prayer out.

    Prayer is not the only thing we

    can do, but it is the best thing

    we can do. Its the most potentpower we possess. And this issue

    contains a lot o inormation to

    nourish your prayers. So please

    use it to pray or our brothers

    and sisters in these hard-to-reach

    places. And also, please remember

    the International Day o Prayer.

    This is a chance or churches and

    individuals to get together and

    pray or the work o Open Doors.

    Open Doors is an international

    ministry serving persecuted

    Christians and churches

    worldwide. Open Doors supplies

    Bibles, leadership training,

    Scripture-based literacy

    programmes, livelihood supportand advocacy services. We also

    seek to mobilise the church to

    serve Christians living under

    religious persecution.

    Open Doors Registered Charityin England and Wales No. 1125684

    Open Doors 2010

    OD magazine

    Edited by:Nick and Claire Page

    Design:www.tekoacreative.com

    I you have any questions about

    the work o Open Doors, or

    would like to reprint any o the

    articles in this magazine, please

    do get in touch.

    Open Doors UK

    PO Box 6

    Witney

    Oxon

    OX29 6WG

    T 01993 885400F 01993 885401

    E [email protected]

    I www.opendoorsuk.org

    Open Doors Ireland

    PO Box 873

    Belast

    BT15 1WZ

    T 028 9075 1080

    E [email protected]

    PRaYeRPrayer

    is our most

    formidable

    weaPon, the

    thing which

    makes all else

    we do efficient

    E. M. Bounds

    The

    Eddie-Torial

    I tis issu

    Rgh o Blv

    d Pks

    foods upd

    Lrs

    o h

    prscud

    church

    Rough

    Rd o

    h Slk

    Rod

    International Da o

    Praer or te perecuted curc

    7 November 2010

    Join in prayer with thousands across the world on behalo Christians who do not have the right to believe.

    Our ree Right to Believe pack, including DVD, PowerPointand Prayer Cards, gives you everything you need to raise

    awareness in your church or small group.

    Pone 01993 885400 or go towww.opendooruk.org/rtb

    This summer, over 13,000 people signed our Right to Believe petition because o theamazing eorts o our events volunteers. Join the team in 2011 and pledge your time

    to inspire more people to be on their knees in prayer and on their eet in action or

    persecuted Christians.

    To tep up and make te diference,email Lnda at [email protected] or call 01993 885400

    OPERATION EzRAThANK yOU FOR

    yOUR GENEROsITy!Many thanks to all those who sent in their gold, silverand jewellery items to raise money to bless persecuted

    believers. Over 53,000 wa raied to provide Bible

    or perecuted Critian.

    Craword Ivin, who developed the vision or

    Operation Ezra, said: Now thousands o those whosuer or Jesus will have their own Bible in their own

    language. Not until we get to heaven will we know the

    ull ramications o what that will mean.

    you can till give our unwanted jeweller.Call 01993 885 400 or more inormation.

    VOLUNTEERs WANTED!

    4-5

    10-11

    8-9

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    4

    Tashkent. Samarkand. Cities

    on the ancient silk route rom

    Kazakhstan to China conjure up

    images o travel, romance and

    adventure. Say the words and

    you imagine yoursel riding onhorseback over breathtaking

    mountains, lush green steppes

    and spectacular desert sands.

    The reality is less romantic. I

    youre a Christian in Uzbekistan

    you are a threat. Your church will

    be tightly controlled by the SNB

    (ormerly KGB), and will need to

    be registered a long drawn-

    out process which oten ends in

    reusal. Lately, no new registrations

    have been issued at all.

    Your church may lose its buildings,

    so theres nowhere to meet. Iyou manage to meet or worship,

    youre not allowed to sing or

    preach in your native language.

    And i youre active in outreach

    you may be invited to the police

    station or questioning. Your

    house might be searched. You

    could be threatened, ned, or

    expelled rom your home or

    place o work. You could be put in

    prison or several days, weeks, or

    even years.

    No. Not much romance there at all.

    Maximum usfulAmazingly, despite this treatment,

    Christians in Uzbekistan remain

    aithul and even bold.

    Azamat Rajapov and Abdusattor

    Kurbonov, both sentenced in Aprilor unregistered religious activity,

    are good examples o this. My

    rst night I was alone in the cell

    and it gave me the chance to talk

    to my living God, Azamat relates.

    I asked Him that the time Id

    spend there would be maximum

    useul. Within those days three

    people heard the gospel, even

    though I was isolated as a

    dangerous person. Hopeully one

    o them accepted Jesus.

    Abdusattor, however, lost 3 stone

    in ten days, ater being detained

    in an isolation cell on a very coldoor, and became very sick. Even

    ater his release, he aces pressure

    rom relatives and neighbours.

    Both men have been attacked in

    newspaper articles, with copies

    being sent to them anonymously

    in order to intimidate them. They

    are still under close surveillance

    and have been told to expect it to

    continue.

    Curc raiddOne month later a Sunday

    morning worship service at the

    Full Gospel Church o Christ in

    Tashkent was raided by police. The

    service was recorded, computers

    were conscated, money was

    taken and books and CDs were

    destroyed. Eight church memberswere arrested and switly put

    on trial. The chairman o the

    district committee testied that

    the church had been a positive

    inuence on the community and

    was providing material help or

    needy people in the area. Crime,

    alcoholism and drug addiction

    had decreased since the church

    had arrived in the district, he

    said. But none o this made any

    dierence. Three o the men

    were given 15-day administrative

    sentences. The rest were ned.

    God will giv t victoryWith such opposition, you might

    expect the work o the church to

    come to a halt. Not so. Believers

    have been enterprising in

    spreading the gospel. A Christian

    woman rom Central Asia seized

    an opportunity a ew years

    ago whilst visiting her Muslim

    homeland.

    I came to a village inhabited by

    Uzbeks. A new mosque had just

    been built. The mullah proudly

    showed me the new building and

    probably expected criticism rom

    me as a Christian, but I praised

    the mosque and said that I hoped

    Gods Word would be preached

    there. He was surprised, and

    when I gave him a copy o theNew Testament in Uzbek he took

    it, touched it with his lips and

    orehead and nally held it close

    to his heart. A group o men had

    gathered around us and when

    they saw how the mullah received

    it with such honour they also

    wanted books, but unortunately I

    did not have any more with me.

    Recently, on returning to the same

    village, she reports that she was

    met by the mullah again calling,

    My daughter! Youve returned

    at last! Do you remember that

    when you were here last time yougave me the New Testament? I am

    so grateul to you! Now I know

    every Friday what to read in our

    mosque, and I have a holy book

    which shows the way to God in my

    language. The other books that I

    have I could not understand, but

    this one helps me to prepare my

    sermons and give hope to those

    who listen!

    Although evangelism is ofcially

    prohibited, the Christians are

    persevering. Recently summer

    outreach teams have been visiting

    dierent towns in Uzbekistan, to

    share the gospel and mobilise

    the church. We want to wake up

    the people in the churches, to

    see them set ree rom ear. Wedlike to see new home groups

    established, and evangelism

    groups in each church.

    When people go out to

    evangelise, God will give the

    victory.

    So although the reality o

    ollowing Jesus in this

    country is daunting,

    its exciting, too. Lets

    support the church

    in Uzbekistan as they

    prepare the way o the

    Lord, that the crookedroads will become

    straight, the rough ways

    smooth, and people will

    see Gods salvation.

    Rough Rideon the Silk Roadthe RealitY of following JeSuS in uzbekiStan

    PRAYThe International Day o Prayer or the

    persecuted church (7 November) is the

    perect opportunity to pray or Christians in

    Uzbekistan, and other places where believers

    are denied basic religious reedoms. Use our

    Right to Believe Prayer Cards to raise awareness

    in your church or small group, or just keep

    them in your Bible to remind you to pray.

    Download these Prayer Cards

    and other Right to Believe resources at

    www.opendooruk.org/rtb

    or phone 01993 885400.

    Christians can be ned or meeting together with some

    nes reaching excessive heights. A group o ten women

    (eight were pensioners) were ned 100 times the minimum

    monthly salary or holding a meeting. The minimum

    monthly salary in Uzbekistan is only 15 (37,000 sum).

    uzbekiStan

    Read more stories rom Uzbek believers

    www.opendoorsuk.orgWWW

    Source: Open Doors; Instituteor Bible Translation

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    6 7www.opook.o

    CentRal aSia

    a need to

    know SPeCial(Your guide to understanding the stans)

    Wlcom to our Op Doors

    guid to Ctral Asia. If you av a

    problm kowig your Kazaksta

    from your Tajikista, tis is for you!

    A quick challenge: how many countries can you name

    which end in stan? Your thirty seconds sta rt now

    We think its seven: Aghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan,

    Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan.

    And how many o these countries are on the current

    World Watch List, which ranks countries by the

    intensity o persecution that Christians ace?

    All o them. The worst are Aghanistan (6) and

    Uzbekistan (10), with severe limitations in Pakistan

    (14) and Turkmenistan (15), and some limitations in

    Tajikistan (32), Kyrgyzstan (49) and Kazakhstan (51).

    Were going to ocus on ve: Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan,

    Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan all places where

    Christians are denied the right to worship in reedom.

    Government: Republic

    Leader: President Nazarbayev

    Population: 15.4 million

    Main Religion: Islam (36% Orthodox Christian)

    Freedom? In 2009 a law designed to restrict

    reedom o worship was rejected by the

    Constitutional Council. Even so, churches

    and religious organisations have to register

    with the government. Christians have been

    ined or sentenced to community service orparticipating in unregistered religious activities

    which may involve something as simple as

    giving out ree Christian literature.

    In 1990 the Kazakh church was almost extinct,

    but a decade later there were 6,000 evangelical

    believers! Since then, the church has been

    growing slowly but surely.

    Government: One-party state

    Leader: President Berdymukhamedov

    Population: 5.1 million

    Main Religion: Islam (1% Christian)

    Freedom? The government retains strict control over its

    people. The constitution provides or reedom o religion, but

    all religious groups must register and all unregistered religious

    activity is banned. Private homes and unregistered places o

    worship are oten raided by police, and Christians arrested and

    ined. Imported religious literature is censored. Believers rom

    a Muslim background are pressurised by their community to

    return to Islam.

    The church is growing. Last year in one town, 17 new believers

    were baptised.

    Government: Authoritarian

    Leader: President Islam Karimov

    Population: 27.5 million

    Main Religion: Islam (5.2% Christian)

    Freedom? Religious reedom deteriorated in 2009. Unregistered

    religious groups are illegal, but many churches cannot obtain

    registration. Many church leaders have been interrogated. Believers

    homes have been raided, Christian literature coniscated and anumber o Christians arrested and ined. New believers may ace

    physical abuse rom their amily to orce them to return to Islam.

    Yet the church is growing and many Christians are sharing the

    gospel.

    Government: Interim government

    Leader: President Roza Otunbayeva

    Population: 5.5 million

    Main Religion: Islam (11% Christian)

    Freedom? Although this is a secular state, Islam has a growinginluence on politics and society. A law introduced in January

    increased restrictions on religious groups. All churches must re-

    register and a minimum o 200 people is required or registration.

    Pastors and churches are monitored and there is a ban on religious

    teaching and the distribution o religious literature. Threats and

    harassment towards believers have increased. Social pressure on

    Christians is especially strong in the south.

    Christianity is growing among the Kyrgyz population. In spite o

    negative developments over the last years, there is still a vibrant

    Christian church.

    Government: Republic

    Leader: President Emomali Rakhmon

    Population: 7 million

    Main Religion: Islam (1% Christian)

    Freedom? The constitution provides or religious reedom, but

    Russian Orthodoxy is the only state-approved Christianity. Church

    groups especially indigenous Tajik ellowships are monitored.

    The inluence o Islam is increasing, putting more pressure on

    believers coming rom a Muslim background. A law passed in April

    2009 increased restrictions on church registration and the import o

    religious literature.

    Despite the diiculties, many Tajik Christians still have the zeal and

    ire to share the gospel with their ellow countrymen.

    Formerly part o the Soviet Union, these

    countries only achieved independence in

    1991. The result is that, in many places,

    the evangelical church is still in its inancy,

    trying to grow leaders and teachers, whilst

    struggling with government restrictions and

    opposition.

    Muc o Open Door work in Central Aia

    ocue on upporting and reourcing te

    curc. Webring church leaders together or

    much-needed biblical training, encouraging

    partnership instead o division.

    We distribute Bibles and other Christian

    materials, and provide times o ellowship or

    the most isolated o believers. We also oer

    vocational training and business loans to those

    who lose their jobs because o their aith.

    The

    STAnSStan means land o,

    e.g. Kazakhstan means

    land o Kazakhs or

    Cossacks.

    Larget: Kazakhstan at 1,050,000 sq

    miles

    smallet: Tajikistan at 55,000 sq miles

    (but still bigger than England)

    Mot populated: Pakistan, with

    180 million (over 3 times the size o

    Englands population). All the rest are

    under 30 million

    Leat populated: Turkmenistan and

    Kyrgyzstan each with 5 million

    Open Doors

    in CentRaL aSia

    GIVeMake a git to upport curc leader in

    Central Aia. Despite all the diiculties, the

    church is growing in this region, but leaders

    need resources and training. Your git will

    help Open Doors to provide church leaders

    with the encouragement and support they

    need to stand strong.

    You can donate using the enclosed

    Response Form or online at

    www.opendooruk.org/give

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    98 www opook o/w

    Im gonnasit right down(and writemyself a letter)

    I am sigig tis lttr myslf: PAUL.

    Dot forgt tat I am i jail (Colossias 4:18)

    Dear Reader,How oten do you receive a

    hand-written letter these days?

    In our household we dont get

    many: most messages are sent

    by email or Facebook. And, to be

    honest, I write very ew letters.

    Cards, yes, plenty o those; but

    letters, less and less.

    However, I love receiving them.

    A hand-written note shows

    consideration and concern.

    Someone has taken the time and

    eort to put pen to paper and

    get it in the post. It means that

    someone cares.

    So, lets hear it or the letter-

    writers o this world! Where would

    we be without them? Well, or a

    start, we wouldnt have hal the

    New Testament. In the rst century

    AD, Paul and other early church

    leaders were busily writing letters

    to young Christians and newly-

    ormed churches, encouragingthem to remain aithul to Christ,

    despite opposition and hardship.

    And we know that they were

    sources o great encouragement.

    Church leaders, I am writing

    to encourage you, wrote Peter.

    I, too, am a leader, as well as a

    witness to Christs suering, and

    I will share in his glory when it is

    shown to us (1 Peter 5:1).

    And thats just as true today.

    Letters o encouragement can

    lit the spirits o our brothers

    and sisters who are suering or

    Christ, as they go through the

    darkest times. And or us, they can

    give us a special connection with

    individuals we have never met,

    bringing our prayers alive.

    Tak Toar,for xampl.Tohar Haydarov is 27 years old

    and lives in Uzbekistan. Formerly

    a Muslim, he became a Christian

    and a member o the Baptist

    Church in Gulistan. Today,

    however, he is ar rom home in

    a labour camp, 250 miles away.

    It was his amily who put him

    there. In January o this year,

    Tohars relatives asked the local

    police to help them orce him

    to return to Islam. The police

    pressured Tohar to deny Jesus, but

    he reused. So they accused him

    o manuacturing and possessing

    drugs. His church amily areadamant that the case has been

    abricated and that Tohar is a man

    with a pure conscience and an

    honest Christian. They reported

    that Tohars lawyer presented

    written documents to the court,

    proving that the case was totally

    abricated, and that records o the

    case contained 243 violations o

    procedural norms and regulations.

    no us. Toar wasstcd to tyars imprisomt.Labour camps in Uzbekistan can

    be unsanitary, dangerous places,

    with beatings rom guards,

    criminal gangs maintaining a

    hold over prisoners, and a high

    level o sickness. Prisoners are

    not allowed to read the Bible or

    pray visibly. But they are allowed

    to receive letters!

    Which is where we come in even i our writing skills are

    rusty and our handwriting

    poor, we can oer comort and

    hope. Tohar has appealed to the

    Supreme Court or justice, but

    each day that passes must surely

    challenge his aith. Any word o

    encouragement that we can give

    him a colourul card, a brie

    message, a verse or a prayer

    will be o immense worth.

    Tohar is, o course, just one

    o many Christians who are

    jailed unjustly or who ace

    persecution. A note rom us

    WRITeKnowing that someone cares enough to

    write and to pray brings Christians like Tohar

    the encouragement they need to persevere.

    Tohars story is also eatured in the new

    edition o our Letter-writing Guide. Orderyour copy using the enclosed Response Form,

    go to www.opendooruk.org/write or

    phone 01993 885400.

    18 Januar

    Tohararrested

    ater drugs

    ound in hispockets and

    apartment.

    21 Januar

    Brie courthearing. Church

    members

    report thatTohar can

    hardly walk and

    shows signs ohaving been

    badly beaten.

    4 Marc

    Tohar broughtto court. Church

    members not

    allowed totestiy on Tohars

    behal. Tohars

    lawyer notallowed into the

    courtroom.

    5 Marc

    Tohars ather

    ound dead.

    Oicialexplanation is

    electrocution

    throughalling on

    an electric

    heater.

    9 Marc

    Tohar

    convicted o

    manuacturingand possessing

    drugs and

    sentenced to10 years in

    prison.

    13 April

    Regional

    court

    rejectsTohars

    appeal.

    Jul

    Tohar

    transerredto a labour

    camp near

    Qarshi, SouthUzbekistan.

    He prepares to

    appeal to theSupreme Court.

    KidzOne Childrens

    letter-Writing

    guideA great resource or your childrens

    group at church, school or in the

    home, this new edition o the Kidzone

    Letter-writing Guide eatures children

    rom China and Nigeria. Complete

    with stickers, an interactive map

    and colouring guide, step-by-step

    instructions and a Parent-Teacher guide,

    its an ideal way to help children discover

    how they can make a dierence toyoung people who suer or being a

    Christian.

    To order a copy phone 01993 885400 or

    email [email protected]

    means such a lot to these people.

    It shows they arent orgotten,

    they arent alone.

    It shows that someone cares.

    Best wishes,

    ClaireP.S. Dont delay. You can write

    a letter to Tohar now, using

    the writing guidelines at

    www.opendoorsuk.org/write

    TOhAR TIMeLIne 2010

    the Police

    Pressured

    tohar to denyJesus but he

    refused

    Church members believe Tohar has been

    imprisoned because o his aith

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    wrc News

    For h ls ws rom h prscud church, d o

    sg up or our wkly eml Pryr alr, go o www.opook.oGuide to colours used in Worldwatch News

    some problem

    severe perecution Oppreion

    severe limitation some limitation

    As Pakistan struggles to come

    to terms with the atermath o

    Augusts devastating foods, Open

    Doors partners are working hard

    to reach the already depressed

    community o Christians to

    provide much-needed ood,shelter and encouragement.

    We are setting up new ways to

    protect them rom persecution

    and especially to protect new

    Christians rom being discovered

    and their networks exposed,

    reports an Open Doors partner.

    We aim to provide medical care

    or injuries sustained during

    the ood and subsequent

    displacement, and to provide

    people with other acilities to

    which they would otherwise have

    limited access as Christians.

    An Open Doors photographer

    who visited two Pakistani villages

    to report on the disaster said: I

    had heard stories about Christians

    being neglected during relie

    operations led by the government

    and Islamic organisations. In

    the rst village this was a harsh

    reality. The village was still under

    water, the people camped on

    higher grounds. The Muslims had

    nice, rm tents. The Christians

    had improvised tents, made o

    branches and leaves. The local

    Christian chie told me they were

    passed over when Islamic aidcame to the village. All they got

    was let overs. However, when

    a church brought the Christians

    www.opook.o

    Tere a been an amaing repone to te

    Right to Believe campaign at Critian event

    ti ummer. Kewick, New Wine, soul survivor,

    Greenbelt and oter aw oung people queuing

    up to ign te petition and adult keen to are

    te campaign wit teir curc: around 17,000

    people added teir upport to te campaign.

    And the take-up o the website advocacy campaign

    has been the best ever or Open Doors, with another

    9,000 people taking action online.

    I you are included in this remarkable response

    THANK YOU!

    You are not alone: Open Doors Australia

    reported a great response to their campaign launch

    and their radio broadcast campaign. In New Zealand

    the Prime Minister has ormally written to Open Doors

    to indicate New Zealand will vote NO to the Resolution.

    Theres still plenty to do, o course. Derek rom

    Taunton has already explored what he can do to

    spread the news: I have sent the petition to over 200

    riends and have had many replies already conrming

    that they have signed. This includes at least one

    church where all the members will be signing up.

    The Foreign Ofce has indicated its support o the

    aims o the campaign. A statement sent to Open

    Doors said, The UK Government does not agree withthe Deamation o Religions Resolution The UK

    thereore votes against the resolution whenever it is

    tabled at the UN General Assembly and encourages

    other countries to do likewise.

    We have a growing sense o Gods hand being on this

    campaign, and we believe it will make a signicant

    impact or the good o our persecuted brothers and

    sisters, and the cause o religious liberty.

    It not too late to join in. Add our ignature,

    download reource or te International Da o

    Praer on 7 November and look out or urter

    campaigning action at www.opendooruk.org/rtb

    Right to Believe gathers momentum

    TurkmenistanPastor aces up to ve years in prison

    PakistanOpen Doors partners begin rebuilding lives

    A Pentecostal pastor rom the south eastern town

    o Mary is acing criminal charges o large-scale

    swindling, ater two women who had attended

    church meetings wrote statements saying that he

    took money rom them. Pastor Ilmurad Nurliev, who

    was arrested on 27 August, aces up to ve years

    imprisonment i convicted.

    Pastor Nurlievs wie and church members have

    vigorously reuted the accusation, saying the police

    pressured the two women to write the statements

    and they now regret doing so. Another church

    member has been threatened that i she does not

    testiy against Pastor Nurliev, her husband who is

    not a church member will be sacked rom his job.

    Source: Forum 18 News Service

    supplies, they had to share with

    the Muslims. Otherwise they

    would have been in big trouble.

    According to pastors I speak

    to, this is a sad reality in many

    aected areas.

    In another village the situation was

    slightly better. These Christians

    could help themselves reasonably,

    because they managed to secure

    parts o the harvest. I prayed with

    about 50 local men or the country

    and the villa ge.

    Still, tensions remain high. At

    several places the locals chased

    me away. It seems they dont want

    the church involved in relie aid.

    Also, the Christians say that the

    Taliban is very active. There is

    always a risk that aid workers are

    attacked, especially oreigners andChristians.

    Reaching Christians in some o the

    more extremist areas o Pakistan

    remains a major challenge. On 25

    August authorities recovered the

    bodies o three Christian relie

    workers who had been kidnapped

    and killed by the Pakistani Taliban,

    local ofcials said.

    The oreign aid workers were

    returning to their base when a

    group o Taliban attacked theirvehicle, said Swat District O fcer

    Ati-ur-Rehman. An ofcial at

    the international humanitarian

    organisation that employed the

    workers withheld their names and

    requested that the agency remain

    unnamed or security reasons.

    The Taliban had warned about

    attacks on oreigner aid workers

    and Christian organisations, an

    Inter-Services Public Relations

    source said. All the international

    humanitarian organisations have

    been notied, and their security

    has been increased.

    Please continue to pray or

    Christians in Pakistan and or

    Open Doors partners as they

    ace the long-term challenge o

    strengthening what remains o this

    already struggling church.

    Young people

    eager to sign

    the petition at

    Soul Survivor

    MANy ThANKs to those o you who gave so

    generously to support Christians aected by the

    oods. At te time o writing, over 300,000 a

    been donated.

    However, the long-term needs remain enormous.

    To make a donation to support Open Doors

    partners working to rebuild the struggling church in

    Pakistan, go to www.opendooruk.org/give

    A woman wipes

    her Bible clean

    with her scar