Tags

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pastor Antoni Bokun, who was arrested and fined on May 28 for holding an "unsanctioned mass meeting" (click here for more details) received a three-day prison sentence on June 4 for leading a worship service without state permission the previous day. According to Forum 18, the day he spent in detention following his June 3 arrest is considered part of his sentence. Bokun is scheduled for release on June 6.

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

The police raided the John the Baptist Pentecostal Church in Minsk during a morning worship service on May 27, according to a May 28 report from Forum 18. The church, which holds state registration, meets in the home of Pastor Antoni Bokun since it has been refused state permission to rent any other premises. Pastor Bokun was arrested and held overnight at a police station and church member Jaroslaw Lukasik, a Polish citizen married to a Belarusian, was detained for several hours. On May 28, Pastor Bokun was fined 620,000 Belarusian roubles ($313 CAD) for holding an "unsanctioned mass meeting." On May 30, Forum 18 reported that Lukasik was fined 31,000 Belarusian roubles ($15 CAD) on administrative charges of engaging in "illegal religious activity." He also received a second deportation order and has until June 7 to leave the country.

Belarusian authorities have barred several other Christian communities from renting property for holding worship services. Hence, congregations may be registered but cannot meet legally.

Pray that Antoni and Jaroslaw will remain steadfast in the work the Lord has given them (1 Corinthians 15:58). Pray that Christians in Belarus will be encouraged to continue to meet together despite increasing government opposition (Hebrews 10:23).

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

Ten American volunteers opted to leave Belarus voluntarily on February 16 rather than be forcibly deported after they were fined and ordered to leave the country for teaching English without a license in an evangelical church in the eastern city of Mogilev. Oleg Slepchenko from the Belarusian Interior Ministry told the Associated Press that when police raided the class, Bibles were found on the tables and the group was singing religious songs. The Americans have been banned from the country for two years. 

Belarus places strict controls on group training that is not specifically state-sanctioned. There are also laws against religious propagation by foreigners and severe limitations on unregistered church groups.

Pray that God will strengthen the church in Belarus in spite of the opposition they face. Pray that believers will be firm and steadfast in their faith (1 Peter 5:10).

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

A hearing by the Belarusian Supreme Economic Court is scheduled for December 22 to decide the fate of the New Life Church in Minsk, according to the church's website. The purpose of the hearing is to determine whether the verdict of the Minsk City Executive Committee to seize the church building along with the land was legal or not. Pray for the outcome of this hearing.

To learn more on the persecution of Christians in Belarus, go to the Belaurs Country Report.

Diplomats' vehicles at New Life Church Photo fromNew Life Church

International attention has been centered on the church because of pressure placed on foreign governments as well as a hunger strike by two hundred church members. On November 2, diplomats from nine European countries and the USA visited the church to better understand the situation. Stephan Eriksson from the Swedish Embassy told them, "During the last weeks we have been observing the things going on in this church. That's why we decided to come here and express our solidarity with the believers' legal demands. Everyone has the right to assemble in the church freely."

To learn more about the persecution of Christians in Belarus, go to the Belarus Country Report.

On September 29, the city of Minsk deposited money into the account of the New Life Church as payment for their church building being confiscated. According to Belarusian law, the church was obligated to turn over the building within ten days of this payment. Since that time, dozens of church members and others have been participating in a hunger strike to protest this action.

According to an October 20 report from Forum18, the authorities may be showing signs of relenting. Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko is said to be aware of the situation and a senior state official has made a "strong recommendation" to Pastor Vyacheslav Goncharenko to file another appeal. The church has filed the appeal and intends to continue the public protests until the legal ownership of their property is acknowledged. Pastor Goncharenko has written on the church's website, "Among all this confrontation with lawlessness we are praying that our hearts would be pure toward those people that wish us harm." Join with the New Life Church in this prayer.

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