Many consider Belarus to have the most repressive religion law in Europe!
1 Belarus stumbled into an unexpected independence and is still searching for a national identity. Progress is crippled by the lack of political and economic freedom needed for growth. Pray for true democratic and religious freedom.
2 The cultural dominance of Poland and Russia lasted for many centuries. Pray for a truly indigenous expression of Belarusian Christianity to be developed and then spread using all methods: church services, theological education, literature, broadcasting.
3 The Chernobyl catastrophe in 1986 occurred in the Ukraine, but affected Belarus most severely. The environmental, economic, and psychological impact of the nuclear fallout has since devastated the country. Twenty-five percent of the land area — much of it formerly productive agricultural land — is considered uninhabitable. Radiation-related health problems still occur at 80 times the global average. Pray that in this climate of despair God may use believers as ministers of restoration and hope.
4 The post-Communist honeymoon with religion is ending. While the Orthodox Church enjoys privileged status as a Slavic religious entity, other denominations are experiencing opposition from the establishment. While many call themselves Christian, there is still a great need for renewal within the large Orthodox and Catholic structures. Pray for the Holy Spirit to sweep through Belarus, bringing people to personal faith in Christ.
5 Evangelical Christians are increasing despite low-level persecution. Pray that the various evangelical groups — different denominations, registered and unregistered churches — might be able to work together in unity. The inability of Evangelicals to use public buildings for church meetings and the forbidding of public evangelism hampers growth. Pray for:
a) The governmental and social pressure against any evangelism by believers to be lifted.
b) The cultural bias against evangelical Christianity to be overcome by Spirit-led sharing of the gospel.
c) Training of the hundreds of Belarusians in full- or part-time ministry. Ask the Lord to raise up bold and godly leaders to guide the church in His steps.
d) Greater cooperation to replace the mistrust between many denominations.
6 Missions. Belarus has received far less attention from missions than her Slavic neighbors, Russia and the Ukraine. Pray that the Lord might call more people to serve long-term in this needy land. Pray that Western missionaries in Belarus might have a sensitive and humble spirit, working as servants with the local churches. Pray for a spirit of wisdom in ministering which avoids drawing negative attention from hostile authorities and the media.
7 The less evangelized. There are some significant non-Christian minorities:
a) Jews. Nearly 50,000 Jews live in Minsk, but many are emigrating. There is a Messianic Jewish group in Minsk, but the majority still need to be reached.
b) Muslims. Small communities of Azeris and Tatars exist. Diverse Muslim immigrants are moving illegally into the most contaminated regions of the country, and have little chance to hear the gospel.
8 Christian help ministries for prayer:
a) The Bible Society (UBS) has found a widespread desire for the Bible and Children’s Bibles in both official languages. Thousands are being distributed, and a new Belarusian New Testament has been commissioned in cooperation with the Orthodox Church.
b) Christian literature needs to be made more available. CLC has a presence in the country, but more solid evangelistic and teaching material needs to be translated into Belarusian and then distributed throughout the country.
c) EHC has reached every home, with millions receiving Christian tracts.
d) The JESUS film has been seen by most of the population in Belarusian or Russian. Resources for follow-up are still too limited to help all who are touched.
e) TWR has established a local base for programme production. They are also broadcasting into the country in both major languages.
hmmm well belarus is definitely an inteersting country.. been there twice..
here is the photoreportage i made about it!
http://www.photobreathe.wordpress.com/belarus
and found thir religius habits really uncoomon, as a mixture of othodox church (imported douring the 19the century), comunism (the president declares himself to be a orthodox atheist) and many other confessions, among wich protestantism strucks as beeing (so they say) the original faith of Belarus before the russian empire came about…
I think any kind of desire to contribute to the world, in a material, social or spiritual way is definitely helpfull: freedom in Belarus (especially religius freedom) is a major challenge… i spendt one week with an ex political prisoner who is also a fervent protestant and was very frustrated for it’s country’s political situation.
I really appreciate people taking concern for such a forgotten but beautifull and interesting country.
Nevertheless if i may make a critical remarkit would be, that paring, for how usefull it might be hides within itself the danger of wishfull thinking: hoping for something, and not doing something, sometimes mean leaving people with power, in controll, and the peolpe who suffer passive.
Forgive me for this critical remark, but i feel that our efforts in changing the world must be alwais as compleete as possible.
My second remarc (and this might be taken even worse and i apologize) is that even tho we consider our own faith to be the best for all people, sometimes we forget that what is different in religion is most of the time what is less important and what is common is what is most valuable.
For this reason, arguing about specific beliefs, rather than simply appreciating peoples concern in spirituality might do more harm, to people who still need the right to even worship.