To everybody who loves God and concerning for the God's business in Kazakhstan!

 

            Believing in the power of prayer and having so many bright examples from God's answers to prayers, we ask you to unite in a prayer for God's business in Kazakhstan.

James 5:16

 

            April 2, 2008 The House of Parliament accepted a Project of the Law  "About changing and putting some additions to the Law of the Republic of  Kazakhstan regarding the questions of freedom of believers and religious unions" to be worked on.

            The proposal was written specifically to limit the freedom of believers. We can't give all of the comments but we want to highlight some so that you would understand what to pray about and why we have this alarming situation.

 

1.      Article 4-1. Missionary activity.  (New wording)

 

       1. Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, foreigners, and persons without citizenship (named "a missionary") report missionary activity on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan after being registered.

       Any missionary activity of the person, who is not representatives of religious unions, and also without being registered as a missionary, is forbidden.

2.      The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan establishes the number of missionaries allowed for the following year.

  A special assigned commission distinguishes that number of missionaries around the country - in cities, towns and capital taking into account the suggestion of the local government.

 

Our commentary: This is a full intervention into the lives of believers and legalizes limitation on us with fines while we are accomplishing the Great Commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here is one more statement:

      

       «It is prohibited to spread the subjects\items of religious meaning, as well as literature and other forms of religious propaganda in the buildings of State Establishments\organizations and companies, the establishments of education and health and as well as on their territories.

       The distribution  of the items of religious meaning, godly literature and other informational religious materials among the citizens of the country in public places, in public transportation or in the streets and also the visiting the living places with the same purpose is allowed only due to initiative and agreement of the citizens themselves.

 

 3.      Article 4-3. Religous groups  (here they talk about registration of the small  groups)

 

      «Religious group doesn't have a right:

1)     to establish organizations to publish religious literature and produce the items\subjects of religious meaning.

2)     to establish, to rent and to keep\support open places for public masses  the places for church services and religious meetings and also the places of worship of the followers of other religions (places for worship and others)and other cultic buildings;

3)     to preach and distribute credo outside of religious groups».

 

 4.      Article 5. "Secular kind of State education and religious education"

 

       «The state system of education and raising of children in the Republic is separated from religious unions and has a secular character.

       Parents and persons substituting for them have a right to raise their children according to their convictions and beliefs, but it is not allowed to have insistent actions to attract children to be involved in religion. Religious training mustn't influence and harm to a child's physical, psychological and moral health development.

       Organization of  and holding of the ministry for religious meetings  or group meetings for  the people younger 18 years old is permitted only with a written agreement of both of parents or legal substitute of parents.

 

5.      Volunteer offerings. Article 16:

       «It is not allowed for religious unions to get any financial and other offering from anonymous persons or from foreign citizens and organizations.

 

       Religious unions must accept offerings using the special controlling-counting machines.

       The report on offerings is holding with representatives of the local government.

 

With this letter we appeal to all of the believers to fast and pray April 21^st for God's business in our country.

 

With brother's love

Frants Tissen                                                                                               April 16, 2008 ?.

 

 

 

Pease to you, dear brothers and sisters, all who have been praying and is still in prayer for God’s work in Kazakhstan.

 

            We have received enormous amount of letters from you as a respond for our request to pray for Kazakhstan and possible amendments to the Law on Religion. It is good to see, how big our Family is! We have been greatly encouraged by God!

            The situation stays the same. Public opinion has being forming by mass media. Chief Editor of one of the local newspapers “Tselina”(New Soil) has put an article with the name of the Evangelical Baptist Church among the names of banned terrorist organizations at the end.

            We have come up with some comments toward proposed amendments to the new Law on Religion and have officially asked the head of the working group that responsible for the proposal of the new Legislation to meet for a dialog. Please, pray for this to happen.

            As far as we know - this is not official information - they will try to pass this new Legislation in the Mazhilis (Lower Chamber of KZ Parliament) in the beginning of June and right then in the Senate from where it should go to the President of KZ to sign.

            There is peace in our hearts. We believe that the Lord reigns. Thank you for your support. Please, continue praying for this situation and for the people of God in Kazakhstan.

 

With love,

France Tissen

 

April 24, 2008