 A church service in Kazakhstan Photo: Assist News |
After authorities ordered that Baptist pastor Viktor Lim be deported from Kazakhstan, he was given no alternative but to forcibly leave in mid-August. Pastor Lim, a stateless person who lived in the country for 20 years prior to this ruling, was convicted for leading a registered religious community. (Incidentally, his wife and children are Kazakh citizens.) Authorities classify such action as "illegal missionary activity," which is punishable by fine and, in the case of a non-citizen, deportation.
Attempts to appeal the court order proved futile. "The appeal hearing lasted just ten minutes -- it was a pure formality," relates the disappointed pastor. Zhumagul Alimbekov, head of the Religious Affairs Department of Almaty Region, which lodged the suit against Pastor Lim, refused to discuss his deportation and the possibility of deporting yet another church leader, Russian Orthodox priest Father Sofrony. Learn more about the challenges facing servants of the Lord in Kazakhstan by going to the Kazakhstan Country Report.
Even though mere mortals may try to eradicate God from their lives and society, they will never successfully succeed at changing the fact that He alone is the Master Creator...the Almighty 'King of kings' and 'Lord of lords.' When He gloriously returns, all people -- of every tribe and nation -- will humbly bow down before Him. In the meantime, may His Holy Spirit continue to work mightily in lives, including those in Kazakhstan who are denying His existence by erroneously trying to evict Him from their country. Pray that their spiritual eyes and understanding will be opened to the reality of His existence and utmost supremacy.
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