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There is a ‘Pattern of Discrimination’ emerging in Russia rooted in ideology. The government and the Russian Orthodox Church view the growing dynamic congregations of evangelicals as a threat. The country's constitution states that all religions are equal before the law, but the government is often accused of discriminating against citizens professing faiths other than Orthodox Christianity. Vladimir Ryakhovsky, who runs the Slavic Center for Law & Justice, said that this year the government has given the Russian Orthodox Church 200 building permits and in many cases the government will help fund the new churches. But a recent nightmare destruction of Holy Trinity Evangelical Church by heavy machinery while police watched reflects a threatening pattern against religious freedom. Evangelicals are concerned about the growing influence of the Russian Orthodox Church within the state apparatus and accuses Vladimir Putin of tearing down walls between church and state.
Pray: for the safety and continued increase of congregations facing discrimination for their faith May they continue to meet and share with others the love of Christ. (Is.33:5)
More: http://www.charismanews.com/world/34538-church-demolished-russias-fading-religious-freedom
Russia's prisons, struggling with a growing crime rate, overcrowding and shortfalls in funding, are turning to religion to bring moral guidance to inmates. The move marks a dramatic change from the Soviet system, when clergy and believers were often imprisoned for their faith. ‘We have signed agreements with all of the leading confessions of our country,’ said Aleksandr Reimer, the Director of Russia's Federal Correctional Service, in an interview with the Rossiiskaya Gazeta, an official government newspaper. Although the Russian Orthodox Church has become increasingly close to the State in recent years, Reimer said that imposing Russia's largest religion on inmates was not the goal. Reimer said that the correctional service had started a pilot project with the Russian Orthodox Church in four regions of Russia to introduce prison chaplains. Pray: that the Church will take up the challenge and bring God’s wisdom and guidance to the prisoners.
Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill has told Christians to pray for rain as wildfires continue to spread in parts of Russia. 'The death toll has doubled and an average of 700 people have died each day in Moscow since late last week due to the smog’ reports Al Jazeera. Patriarch Kirill mourned the loss of life and destruction during a visit to one of the worst affected areas on Monday. ‘Grief has come to our nation, human lives have been lost, hundreds have lost shelter and thousands have been left without sustenance, including children. I call upon everyone to unite in prayer for rain to descend on our earth.’ Patriarch Kirill’s call coincided with the Day of the Prophet Elijah, when Orthodox Christians traditionally pray for rain. The Russian Government said the most serious fires were raging in the Ural, Volga and Central district. Pray: that God would hear and answer the cries of His people as they pray for rain. (Job.5:9-10) More:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/orthodox.patriarch.prays.for.rain.as.deadly.wildfires.rage.in.russia/26418.htm
Russia's parliament has passed a law restricting international support to work of non-government organizations work. The bill forces groups to register as ‘foreign agents’ and file quarterly reports about their activities. Failure to comply can result in large fines and possibly jail. Critics say the law is aimed at making the work of NGOs more difficult, to intimidate them, and tarnish their image. The U.S.-based group Russian Ministries, working with church leaders throughout the former Soviet Union, believes it will impact their ministry and other NGOs in similar work.
Pray: that God will strengthen Christian ministries throughout the region as they face the implementation of this new law. (1Cor.1:27)
More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2012/July/New-Law-Could-Restrict-Ministries-in-Russia/
It's no secret that the purity of family life is in jeopardy. The nation houses a large number of orphans (over 700,000 in fact) and contains thousands of parents plagued by alcoholism, reports Mission Network News. But according to one Russian professor's recent studies, the family may be in even more trouble than previously thought. Abortion rates and divorce rates are both rising quickly in Russia, according to Professor Vasily Zhukov of the Russian Social University in Moscow. Joel Griffith with Slavic Gospel Association says the information matches what they've seen. Griffith notes that in a recent article by Zhukov, ‘He was basically making the case that the number of abortions in Russia is really vastly understated. He says that you have 1.3 million abortions officially reported in Russia, but you can actually up that to 3 to 4 million abortions that are annually carried out in Russia.’
Pray: that marriage would be accepted as central to family life and relationships. (1Cor.7:39)
For weeks, evangelical churches across the lands of Russia have been praying for their annual Christmas outreaches, culminating in Russian Christmas on January 7. Slavic Gospel Association sponsored Immanuel’s Child outreaches will be a key part of these evangelistic efforts. We eagerly await their wonderful reports - which sometimes do not arrive until later in the spring due to the remoteness of some locations. As several SGA sponsored missionary pastors relate, the fruit of the previous year’s outreaches often lead to further ministry opportunities. In Lyubashevka, Ukraine. the Lord opened doors for us among the local Roma people. After we conducted Christmas services last year, a Roma woman named Kalava allowed us to conduct a group Bible study in her house. We have these studies every Saturday. About ten adults and the same number of children are attending, and we are planning to start a children’s ministry in this village. Every time, some new people come to our study. They open their hearts, telling us of their worries and problems.
Pray: that the churches' outreach will lead many to find Jesus as Saviour. (2Sa.22:47)
For decades, the Russian Orthodox Church was persecuted under the Soviet Union's Communist Party. For eight years, Yuri Sipko ran one of the largest Baptist organizations in Russia. Now, 20 years after the fall of Communism he worries about the growing threats against the country's evangelical movement. ‘The government recently introduced religious classes based on the principals of the Orthodox Church in public schools, Then the president announced appointing Orthodox chaplains to all army units. Our constitution clearly states no religion can be the state religion.’ Sergey Ryakhovski, head of Russia's Pentecostal Union, worries that the Orthodox Church's influence is coming at the expense of religious freedom, especially for minority groups. Muscovite Human Rights advocate, Roman Lunkin, said the head of the Orthodox Church is on a mission to expand its powers and influence.
Pray: for God to strengthen, empower and renew all the Russian churches. (Mt.16:18)
More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2011/April/Russian-Evangelicals-Leery-of-Orthodox-Church-/
A gun battle on the Karachayeva-Stavropol border stirs fears of violence spreading across the ethnically divided Caucasus. Violence in that particular area has been less frequent than in neighbouring Dagestan, or Ingushetia and Chechnya where deadly attacks take place almost daily. One of the bombers behind numerous attacks has been Marina Khorosheva, a young Russian woman also linked to the failed suicide attack in Moscow's Red Square on December 31. She and her husband, Vitaly Razdobudko, were Orthodox Christians who converted to Islam - leading press to dub them ‘the Russian Wahhabi’. Pray: for God to calm ethnic conflicts and religious fanaticism and release a Holy Spirit revival to the region. (Pr.3:7) More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/02/2011215172731379883.html
The Russian Orthodox Church has ruled that hierarchs (church leaders) and clergy can run for office in exceptional cases when their presence is needed to fight ‘forces striving to use electoral power to fight the Orthodox Church.’ A document passed on 2 February by the Bishops' Council, which was meeting in Moscow, describes potential opponents of the church as forces ‘including schismatics and those of other religions,’ without naming any specifically, and says the church has the right to pass moral judgment on political programs and statements when they touch on issues including moral relativism, family values, historical monuments and the environment. The document also makes clear that it is referring not just to clergy within Russia’s borders but extends across the former Soviet Union. In another document, passed on 4 February, the Bishops' Council said clergy and lay people must use all legal means to fight ‘blasphemy and slander’ against the church in modern society. Pray: that God will speak through His chosen leaders into the political arena. (Pr.10:2) More: http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=4704
Three churches in a predominantly Muslim province in Russia were set on fire by arsonists early Monday. One of the buildings, an Orthodox church in the village of Ordzhonikidzevsky, was almost totally destroyed. An Orthodox church and a Baptist church in the nearby city of Karachaevsk sustained only minimal damage after the night guard for one put out the fire and the night guard for the other called fire fighters. All the three arson attacks happened between 4:00 a.m.and 6:00 a.m. on Monday and were set when flammable objects were thrown through the churches’ windows. Vandalism of churches is rare in Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus. The head of the regional Spiritual Administration for Muslims believes Monday’s arsons were aimed at destabilizing the mixed Christian and Muslim society. Pray: that these attacks will not influence the different religious communities living in the region. (Ps.2:10-11) More: http://www.christianpost.com/article/20101101/arsonists-target-3-russian-churches-burn-1-to-ground/