Story number 2 for 1 Aug 2003

(Tajikistan)–Elsewhere, published reports show religious leaders know little about the amendments to Tajikistan’s strict laws on religion. State officials expect to adopt the legislation in the second half of the year. The atmosphere for evangelistic work grows increasingly oppressive, but, according to Bible Mission International’s Malcolm Smith, they’ve found a way to reach kids through summer camp. “In order to go to the camp, they had to have a permission slip. On there, it said that these will be Christian summer camps that they will be attending, and they will be talking about Christianity. So, of course, we received those back from the parents, and had their permission to talk about Christ to their kids.” Many responded to the Gospel. Smith explains how, in light of persecution, their teams tackle the next challenge of grounding new faith. “What we’ve been able to do is to introduce these kids, introduce their families, to people that are very strong believers, that do disciple them, that do get them into God’s Word.”