Source(s): Forum 18, Church in Chains, Word Watch Monitor
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Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov and his wife (undated image). Photo: World Watch Monitor
In April 2017, Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov was arrested and charged with "singing extremist songs in church and so inciting religious hatred." In July of that year, he had been sentenced to three years in prison (read more). We are thankful to report that Pastor Bakhrom was released on December 17th, more than three months early.
During a recent interview, Pastor Bakhrom acknowledged the importance of prayer: "All these three years, I felt your prayers. They helped me to stand, they helped my precious wife and children, and they helped the members of my church...."
Praise God for this timely release! Continue to pray for Pastor Bakhrom and his family, as they adjust to the blessed new reality of being together again. Continue to prayerfully lift up the ongoing ministry of the Gospel in this nation. And let us join with Pastor Bakhrom and his loved ones in singing praises to God this Christmas season.
Current Ministry Project
VOMC has come alongside project partners to offer an English camp as an opportunity for evangelism and outreach among youth and young adults. Camp participants are invited to embrace the Good News of the Gospel through the platform of the English Camps.
Pray that Tajikistan’s youth will be allowed to participate in Christian summer camp programs. Photo: VOMC Ministry Partner
In late May, Protestant church leaders in Tajikistan were summoned to a meeting with Sulaymon Davlatzoda, the chair of the State Committee for Religious Affairs and Regulation
Over the past six months, the leaders of four different churches in Tajikistan have received huge fines because they were part of a plan to create a new Tajik translation of the Bible. According to some Tajik Christians, the current translations available in their language use archaic words and some
Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov and his wife (undated image). Photo: World Watch Monitor
In April 2017, Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov was arrested and charged with "singing extremist songs in church and so inciting religious hatred." In July of that year, he had been sentenced to three years in prison (read mo
Throughout Central Asia, Christians are facing worship bans, arrest and torture as Islamic nationalism gains ground. In late August, we reported on a group arrested in Tajikistan for distributing Christian literature (read the report). Similar incidents ar