Uzbekistan (Mission Eurasia/MNN) — It’s not easy to be a Christ-follower in Uzbekistan.
Ranked #15 on Open Doors’ World Watch List, oppression is rife in this former Soviet nation. Living out the Great Commission is illegal, and police torture Christians without fear of punishment.
Yet, according to Mission Eurasia, the number of evangelical Christians in Uzbekistan is growing.
Uzbek oppression
(Photo courtesy Mission Eurasia)
Uzbekistan experiences both economic and social oppression.
Over-farming is destroying the country’s traditional economic base. Last month, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) reduced Uzbekistan’s economic growth forecast from 7.8% to 7%.
Violence by Islamic militants is on the rise, and human rights are declining. Uzbekistan has come under international scrutiny for its use of child labor in cotton harvesting, and the nation remains a center of human trafficking into Russia, Kazakhstan, the Middle East, and Asia.
President Islam Karimov–who forbids any sort of political opposition and ensures that the state remains in control of media outlets–has been accused of using systematized torture to maintain his control. His actions have even caused political and human rights activists to flee the nation.
Because of the oppression outlined above, believers have to meet in secret. Mission Eurasia’s School Without Walls (SWW) program trains leaders for this underground church. Last summer, nearly 300 leaders were taught how to reach Uzbekistan for Christ.
Click here and select “School Without Walls” from the drop-down menu to help Mission Eurasia train more leaders in Uzbekistan.
Gospel growth
Using the training they receive from SWW, Uzbek believers teach their fellow Christ-followers how to share the Gospel in creative ways.
Summer Bible camps allow needy children and orphans to enjoy a week of fun-filled activities. Most importantly, kids learn about God’s love for them.
(Photo courtesy Mission Eurasia)
The camps also offer opportunities for SWW students and other Next Generation Christian leaders to reach out to the needy and vulnerable.
During the Christmas season, Mission Eurasia partners with national believers and churches to pack and distribute special gift boxes to needy children and youth. Each gift box contains a toy, candy, and a children’s Bible or other form of children’s Christian literature in the Russian language.
Young Next Generation Christian leaders trained by Mission Eurasia bring these gifts to children in orphanages, boarding schools, hospitals, and other places of need. Most importantly, they tell the children about the greatest gift of all: Jesus.
At Mission Eurasia’s Web site, you can support these outreach programs and more.
I wonder at your total ignorance of the situation in Uzbekistan. Your article on underground teaching is exactly the reason why Karimov takes such strong action against clandestine groups. Uzbekistan is under direct threat of incursion by ISIS through the operation of meetings such as you advocate.
By advertising your apparent strategy you increase the difficulty to achieve unilateral and open freedom of speech. If you have genuine concern for the people of Uzbekistan think carefully about the results of your propaganda. In a country such as Uzbekistan you are only making matters worse for the people.