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Belarus

• Homeless Shelter Officially Closed

  On February 7th, a homeless shelter run by a young Christian man was deprived of its legal status in the village of Aleksandrovka.

  Aleksei Shchedrov, 29, turned his home into the House of Mary shelter to help care for homeless people. Following repeated police raids, criminal charges were brought against Aleksei in June of 2013 for praying in this shelter. In August, he was able to obtain official registration for the shelter's operation, and the charges against him were dropped the following month. (For more information on the charges, click here.)

• Praying in Homeless Shelter a Crime

  A young Catholic layman, who turned his home into a shelter for homeless people with a prayer room, is being accused of leading an unregistered religious organization. Aleksei Shchedrov, who says he has helped about 100 local people since December 2011, is being investigated on criminal charges under Article 193-1. As a result, he now faces a maximum possible sentence of two years' imprisonment. (To learn of other cases of persecution, go to the Belarus Country Report.)

  The criminal investigation against 28-year-old Aleksei followed police raids on the shelter in February and April of this year. "I am a Christian and I started to help those who are in need," he explains while being interviewed in the village of Aleksandrovka, Grodno Region. "I give them food, a bed, a bath and clothes, and I pray together with them. But this is no religious organization, just charity." A priest used to visit the shelter, but stopped after the authorities pressured the Bishop of Grodno into ordering the visits to stop.

  May the Lord bless Aleksei for extending heartfelt compassion toward Belarus' homeless people, and may the wonderful work of this ministry continue to meet their practical and spiritual needs. God's Word strongly warns that He will contend with those who contend with His people (Isaiah 40:25). Pray that the reverential fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, will come upon those who are standing in opposition by obstructing His work. As a result, instead of hindering this important charitable outreach, may they become its greatest supporters.

• Church Thrilled Over Cancellation of Eviction

  New Life Church building Photo: New Life Church

  The eviction of the New Life Pentecostal Church from its building in the Belarusian capital Minsk (scheduled to take place the morning of December 5th) was thankfully called off at the last minute. "There will be no eviction," announced Olga Shcherbovich, the court executor who signed the eviction notice against New Life. "There was a document, there was action; the document was withdrawn, the action stopped."

  New Life presently meets in a former cow barn it bought and renovated back in 2002, but the authorities had never legalized its use and have been trying to evict the Church for a decade. (To learn more about the situation, click here.) Considering that the land and building still legally belong to the authorities, New Life's administrator Vitaly Antonchikov is concerned that they may seek to evict the church sometime in the future. But for now, the congregation is overjoyed and celebrated the good news with a thanksgiving service during the evening of December 5th, instead of gathering at the appointed eviction hour scheduled earlier that same day. They also wrote a letter of thanks to the authorities for this decision.

  First of all, let us rejoice with our Christian family there in Belarus – giving thanks to our wonderful Lord for intervening on behalf of their seemingly hopeless situation. May He continue to do great exploits on behalf of these faithful worshippers as they have endured several legal challenges over the years. Pray that this congregation will continue to experience God's favour with the governmental authorities and that His work will thrive in their community. May He touch the hearts of those in authority that they, too, may know the "Christ" of "Christmas."

• Religious groups raided, threatened

  Religious communities in various parts of Belarus have faced raids and threats for holding meetings deemed illegal by officials.

  In January, officials threatened to strip a pastor's congregation of state registration after he held a service for disabled Christians at a church-owned home in a village in Brest Region rather than the church's main building in a nearby town. Officials said that the pastor had violated the law by conducting a religious service away from the congregation's legal address without first receiving permission from authorities.

  In February, police in the capital city of Minsk launched a mass raid at a pastor's home where believers had gathered for a meeting. Thirty-four participants were taken to a police station, but were released two hours later without any explanation and without any official record being drawn up.

  Please pray believers will be encouraged to continue to meet together despite opposition (Hebrews 10:23-25). Ask the Lord to strengthen His church in Belarus and add to its number and faithfulness. Pray for wisdom for pastors and church leaders in Belarus.

  Go to the Belarus Country Report for more information on the trials believers face in Belarus.

• Update: Believers ordered to vacate church building

  New Life Full Gospel Church building Photo from New Life Church

  The New Life Full Gospel Church in Minsk, Belarus continues to face pressure from authorities in an ongoing dispute over their church building, according to an August 24 report from Forum18. In recent years, the church's pastor has faced immense fines and the believers have been ordered to sell the church building, which was purchased in 2002 and is legally considered a cowshed (for more click here). On August 14, an order was issued to believers informing them that 37,581,476 Belarusian roubles (approximately $14,300 CAD) was being sent to them in compensation for the building that they must vacate by August 20. However, the Christians claimed the sum was much lower than the true value of the property and returned the funds -- the third time they have done so. On August 22, another document was presented to believers which instructed them to hand over the building.

  The church's attempts to re-register in accordance with the 2002 Religion Law have been rejected three times. Officials have refused to explain why they will not allow the believers to remain in their building or why they have refused the church's applications to have their building designated as a place of worship.

  To learn more about the ongoing opposition facing believers in Belarus, visit theBelarus Country Report.

• Church fined

  Pastor Leonid Voronenko of the New Generation church Photo from New Generation

  On July 14, a registered church in the town of Baranovichi, Belarus was fined for activity which officials claim was "not according to its statute," according to a July 16 report from Forum18. On June 21, officials of the local Ideology Department noticed that members of the New Generation Full Gospel church had placed posters around town that advertised a special Sunday morning prayer service. A half hour before the scheduled service, the chief specialist of the department arrived at the church, accusing believers of violating Article 9.9 Part 1 of the Code of Administrative Violations, which punishes "activity of a religious organization outside the statute." On July 14, a local court judge fined the church 350,000 Belarusian roubles (approximately $135 CAD), the maximum amount under this article. The congregation insists, however, that the service was within the terms of the church's statute.

  Ask God to provide for and strengthen this congregation. Pray that the church in Belarus will continue to expand and flourish despite pressure.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Belarus,click here.

• Pastor receives hefty fine

  A court in the eastern town of Osipovichi has fined Pastor Nikolai Poleshchuk 2,100,000 Belarusian rubles (approximately $850 CAD) for running a Christian street library, according to a June 11 report from Forum 18. The fine, according to local Christians, is the equivalent of nearly three months' average wages -- the largest known fine issued for religious activity in Belarus. In January, Poleshchuk and another believer were approached by the head of the Osipovichi District Ideology Department and told that they had no right to run the street library since their church is unregistered. At a hearing in March, Poleshchuk was given an official warning and the confiscated Christian literature was ordered to be destroyed. At the trial on May 27-28, Poleshchuk was charged with "violation of the procedure for organizing or conducting mass events or pickets." The court also amended their decision regarding the literature and ruled that the books instead be handed to the state.

  Pray that Pastor Poleshchuk will find peace in Christ in the midst of pressure and opposition for his faith (Philippians 4:7). Pray that God will embolden him and other Christians in Belarus to continue spreading the Gospel in their nation.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Belarus,click here.

• Danish Christians deported from Belarus

  Two Danish citizens, Erling Laursen and Rolf Bergen, have been ordered to leave Belarus on charges of expressing "ideas of a religious nature," according to a February 11 report from Forum 18. On February 6, the men attended a prayer service at the Living Faith Church in the city of Gomel. During the service, when the congregation was praying, the pastor noticed a young man recording the event on his cellular phone. The next day, Laursen and Bergen were arrested by local officials while attending another service at the church. Police showed the men the video footage as evidence of their "illegal activity" and a deportation order was drawn up, barring the men from the country for one year. Bergen left Belarus on February 11 and, at last report, Laursen was scheduled to leave on February 19. The deportation brings to 31 the number of foreign citizens barred from Belarus in recent years for their religious activity.

  Ask the Lord to embolden these believers as they face opposition for following Him. Pray that God will continue to raise faithful and committed Christians to build His church in Belarus (Matthew 9:36-38).

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Belarus, go to theBelarus Country Report.

• Polish priest forced to leave Belarus

  Fr. Zbigniew Grygorcewicz Photo fromCharter'97

  Belarusian authorities have refused to extend the visa of Father Zbigniew Grygorcewicz, a Polish priest, in an attempt to force him to leave the country, according to a December 24 report from Charter'97. Father Grygorcewicz, who ministers at the Borisov's Nativity of the Virgin Mary Roman Catholic parish, claims the refusal was related to his involvement in holding a Christian music concert in September. Authorities originally granted permission for the concert but then withdrew their support shortly before the event began. Grygorcewicz was reportedly told to be out of the country by January 1.

  According to a December 23 report from Forum 18, four Catholic priests and three nuns (all from Poland) face a ban on religious work in Belarus as of January 1. These bans bring to 28 the number of foreign religious workers banned from working with local religious communities since 2004.

  Ask God to give wisdom to Father Grygorcewicz and other foreign religious workers as to how to continue serving Him. Pray that the church in Belarus will continue to expand and flourish despite opposition.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in Belarus, go to theBelarus Country Report.

• Case of New Life Church to be Renewed

  New Life Church logo

  The case of the New Life Church, whose church building was seized last October in accordance with the verdict issued by the Minsk City Executive Committee (click here for more details), will be renewed in September, according to the church's website.

  For more information about the persecution facing Christians in this country, visitBelarus' Country Report.