Day 25
Kazakhstan
Recently there was a five-month discipleship training course aimed to help Christian Believers overcome fear of sharing their faith. The Church has been growing, but it is prolonged because many people are not equipped to share their faith and are afraid to do so. After years under Soviet rule, many people in Central Asia think that Christianity is a Russian religion. A significant aspect of spreading the Gospel is learning to overcome this false perception. Pray for the participants of the training course to be brave to practice what they learn. Pray they see much fruit that will encourage them in their faith journey. Ask God to dismantle old perceptions so that many realize that Jesus Christ loves them and desires a relationship with them (The Bible, Revelation 3:20).
Source: Strategic discipleship (OM)
Kazakhstan is a large country the size of Western Europe. Rich in natural resources, Kazakhstan is the leading uranium producer in the world and the economic leader of Central Asia. The money, however, stays primarily in the hands of the elite. Political instability continues to be a significant hindrance to change. The growth of democracy will help against social issues like drug addiction, corruption, domestic violence, and high rates of HIV/Aids. Many Muslim missionaries target Kazakhstan. However, Islam practiced by most people finds high influence from shamanism and other traditional religions. The government does not give Islam any special status and chooses to be suspicious of all religious beliefs. The impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine hurts economies of neighboring nations. Many migrant workers working in Russia are losing their jobs due to Western sanctions. The rising cost of living impacts the impoverished in Kazakhstan. There has been a distinct chill from the leaders of Central Asian nations towards Russia during the last year of the war.
