Page 19 - Voice of the Persecuted Christians - Jul-Sep 2023 - 123

‘A wSindow of opportunity has opened up for the church in Central Asia but more openness comes with a price, pastors tell James Fraser
ometimes freedom can be dangerous.’ That was the sentiment shared by many of
in the past are still in place but are simply applied in less onerous ways. The church is all too aware that with a change of leader or foreign policy the situation could quickly revert to its former state. After years of operating underground they are unsurprisingly cautious about how vocally they should celebrate their greater freedom and they remain guarded in the public expression of their faith outside the church.
the church leaders I spoke to on a recent trip to Central
Asia. During the past few years, Christians in several countries across this region have experienced a growing sense of freedom: some of the previous restrictions on church registration have been lifted, pastors are less likely to be harassed by the authorities and a certain level of respect for evangelicals is emerging in sections of society.
A church meeting in Central Asia
More generally the region is benefiting from a greater openness to the West. Modern developments
in commerce and infrastructure and a bustling tourist trade along the ancient cities of the Silk Road present a perspective of Central Asia that is open and positive.
This restraint is, of course, understandable in a context where authoritarian government is not the only front of potential opposition. Some Christians I met had recently observed a growing interest in ideological forms of Islam in parts
of the region. Traditionally the Islam of Central Asia is more cultural than credal. It is associated with social hierarchy, community loyalty and respect. Christian believers who come from this majority background already face opposition and pressure from their families and this could increase if more convictional forms of Islam take hold.
hope the pastors also have a degree
of concern. They have sensed that during the past few years of increased freedom the spiritual temperature of the church has cooled. They feel that they are not relying on God as much
as they used to, that their prayer times are not as urgent, that people are beginning to be distracted by material prosperity, and that contributing to the life of the church is no longer such a high priority.
However, there are a number
of qualifications to this general picture. First, it is not universal. While countries such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are at the front end of progress, Tajikistan, where it is still illegal for children
to attend church, trails further behind, and Turkmenistan remains a highly restricted nation with
an autocratic government and an underground church. Even within the more progressive nations
there are anomalies. I heard of one congregation that has been trying to register for more than 20 years, and occasional police raids on church buildings are still being reported.
And yet, despite this backdrop of qualification and challenge, the church leaders I encountered are supremely conscious that their new experience of relative freedom has opened a real window of opportunity. Hospitality in Central Asia is highly valued and through many hours
I reflected a lot on these observations during my trip and thought about how it might apply to Christians in the UK. We have so much freedom. We may feel it is starting to be threatened but our brothers and sisters in Central Asia still face many more challenges. The question is: what are we doing with our freedom? Are we taking advantage of our opportunity to express our faith and openly share the love of Christ, or are the benefits of freedom distracting us?
Secondly, the growing experience of
freedom is relatively new. Several of
the church leaders I spoke to shared
vivid memories of darker days. Until
recently Christian literature was
regularly confiscated and destroyed
by the authorities. One pastor said
that he had to dig a hole in the ground
to bury his Christian books in order
to keep them out of sight. Other
leaders had been fined or arrested
and some had spent considerable
time in prison. Many of the laws
which enabled this kind of repression However, along with their passion and
of conversation around the dinner table covering topics such as family, local history and stories of home,
my various hosts articulated their vision for the church. Mission is at the forefront of their thinking. They want to train more pastors, plant more churches, express their faith in more acts of service, and share the gospel in more strategic, creative and Spirit- guided ways. They know their calling and they see the exciting potential
One pastor made a wise observation which I think applies to Christians in any context: ‘Freedom is not everything. My prayer is not for persecution to return but for the church to be holy. The church needs to learn how to be faithful in this moment and make the most of it.’
Pray for Central Asia
• For good Bible teaching and biblical faithfulness as the church grows
• For Christians to stay in the region and not be tempted to leave for material gain
• For the church to make the most of its current window of opportunity, to develop a vision for mission and to have the wisdom and courage to fulfil it
for God’s kingdom to grow across
all sections of their society. It was inspiring to hear them communicate this vision with passion and a deep sense of responsibility.
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