Kazakhstan

Biblical Background

After the confusions of languages, Togarmah, Noah’s great-grandson (line of 1^st born Japheth), populated Turkey, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kirgizstan, some in Mongolia and China and Russia, possibly Hungary?

Short History of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is a landlocked country of Central Asia. It is bounded on the northwest and north by Russia, on the east by China, and on the south by Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, the Aral Sea, and Turkmenistan; the Caspian Sea bounds Kazakhstan to the southwest. Kazakhstan is the largest country in Central Asia and the ninth largest in the world. Between its most distant points, Kazakhstan measures about 1,820 miles (2,930 kilometres) east to west and 960 miles north to south. While Kazakhstan was not considered by authorities in the former Soviet Union to be a part of Central Asia, it does have physical and cultural geographic characteristics similar to those of the other Central Asian countries. The capital is Astana(formerly Nur-Sultan, Aqmola, and Tselinograd), in the north-central part of the country. Kazakhstan, formerly a constituent(union) republic of the U.S.S.R., declared independence on December 16, 1991.

Religion

From a population of ≈ 20 Million, 54% are Muslim, and 0.7% are ‘Christians’ in Kazakhstan. At the time of writing, I am not aware what % are evangelical Christian.

Bibles

There is a great demand for Bibles, both among the Kazakhs and the Russians. Thousands of Bibles and portions have been distributed, but only a fraction of them in Kazakh. The whole Bible in Kazakh is now complete (and available in various digital formats). Also recently completed is God’s Blessed Way, a Russian-language Bible that is culturally sensitive to Central Asian Muslims.

Persecution

Religious freedom in the country has been under constant threat since legislation was introduced in 2011 that gave the government significant control over religion. For Christians, this means increased surveillance, raids on meetings, arrests and imprisonment. Any church outside of the Russian Orthodox Church – which is mostly tolerated, as long as it doesn’t try to share the gospel with Muslims – is in constant danger of intense monitoring and crackdowns from the state authorities. In some parts of the country, certain Christian businesses are expected to pay bribes to stay open. This extortion drives some business owners to keep their faith a secret. Some believers also lose their jobs, particularly if they are church leaders.

What’s life like for Christians in Kazakhstan?

The Kazakh authorities keeps a close eye on Christian communities, and Christian men have been interrogated, fined, detained and imprisoned. When a church is raided, church leaders face the harshest treatment, held responsible for their congregation – particularly if it includes any converts from Islam. Christian men can be targeted by their families and communities, particularly converts. They can face verbal harassment, beatings and be rejected by their families. Converts and church leaders are also more likely to lose their jobs.

Because of the Islamic culture, converts from Islam can face the most pressure, particularly from family and community. Women who convert from Islam can face physical and verbal abuse, harassment, threats, sexual violence and house arrest. Unmarried converts can face the prospect of forced marriage, and a married woman can face immense pressure from her husband and children.

Prayers

Kazakhstan has abundant natural resources, but too much of this wealth remains in the possession of the powerful elite. Kazakhstan’s first president ruled as an autocrat for nearly 30 years, before anti-government protests prompted his resignation. After significant turmoil and a new president, the country has the opportunity to establish a new course. The new leader may continue to take Kazakhstan beyond its autocratic past, or fall back into those familiar patterns. Pray for the Kazakh people to have leadership that governs as a servant to its citizens, that is free from corruption, and that uses the nation’s vast wealth for the benefit of all.
Unreached minorities. Kazakhstan’s cultural and religious diversity provides many opportunities for evangelizing Central Asian peoples. A number of Uzbeks and Uyghurs in Kazakhstan are turning to Christ – and beginning to take the gospel back to their own people! Christianity is still largely an urban phenomenon, but the churches and missions (Baptists, Korean groups, some Western agencies) are recruiting for village ministry. Pray that the gospel might be shared, in the listeners’ language, in the many towns and villages of this sprawling land.
The Christian population in Kazakhstan is slowly shifting from an ethnic European majority toward an Asian one. Korean churches have grown, as have most charismatic, Pentecostal and some Baptist groups among Central Asian ethnicities. The challenges are manifold:
- Training is vital. There were a healthy number of Bible colleges and seminaries as well as discipleship schools; all have had to shut down due to changes in the law, and none have been allowed to re-register. TEE and distance learning have potential, if churches are willing to invest in the concept. Appropriate models of training that can be implemented on a wider level are essential as budding leaders need mentors and spiritual fathers. Pray for programmes that develop informed, well-trained, godly leaders.
- Culturally helpful forms of following Jesus communally. Spirit-led expressions of Kazakh, as well as multicultural, worship, prayer, discipleship and teaching are necessary for the Church to go to the next level. Only 26% of believers are men; clearly some cultural preconceptions need to be shifted.
- Persecution is increasing. Harassment from authorities, from strident Muslims and from unbelieving family members makes life difficult, especially for converts outside the two main cities. Unconstitutional laws on registering churches are complicated by obstructionism for those who try to register and heavy fines for those who don’t.
- The level of unity and partnership is encouraging. The Evangelical Alliance of Kazakhstan is at a growing stage but has great potential to draw the many groups together. Pray that in the face of increasing opposition and growing theological diversity, believers may stay united. Nevertheless, keep in mind that it is better to be divided through truth, than united in error! Pray for wisdom and Love.
- Kazakhstan is becoming a sending nation, a distant dream only 15 years ago. Several mission-training institutes in Kazakhstan had been supported by a number of indigenous, Russian, Western and Korean groups and agencies until their recent closure. Kazakhs (including ethnic minorities) are a strategic key to reaching Central Asia and the Muslim world. Pray for this very young mission movement to grow and spread.
Christian mercy ministries. There is widespread dysfunction and brokenness in many Kazakh families. Alcoholism and drug addiction are widespread; heroin is as easy to obtain as alcohol. Family breakdown and widespread corruption exacerbate the suffering of many. Pray for Christians to have a powerful transforming effect on society as they demonstrate Christ’s love. There are increasing numbers of ministries focusing on these needs. One of the most remarkable is Mission Agape, a live-in programme where addicts are discipled and trained – over 100 have become missionaries and church planters.
Bibles: Pray for wide and wise distribution of all biblical materials, and pray for ongoing translation projects.
Radio: Praise God for the establishment of two local Christian radio stations! These will allow the good news to be disseminated much more easily to populations in the largest cities. Only five hours a week are broadcast in Kazakh from abroad. There are also Christian broadcasts in other languages beamed in from abroad, although Russian predominates. Pray for increasing numbers of quality Kazakh programmes and for development of media ministries by the people of Kazakhstan for their own.