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Protestants Protest Religious Restrictions In Belarus
By Worthy News Europe Bureau in Budapest
MINSK/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) -- Some 50 Protestant pastors, many of whom were punished for religious activities, have written to President Aleksandr Lukashenko complaining of long-standing restrictions, an advocacy group said Tuesday, August 25.
Forum 18 said the letter came as officials defended fining Baptist Christians in the Western town of Baranovichi about one month's average wages for for using their home for religious worship.
"They violated the Religion Law," ideology official Sergei Puzikov was quoted as saying. He denied the measure contradicted Belarus' Constitution, which apparently guarantees religious freedom. "In any country there is not only the Constitution, but individual laws."
Puzikov was reportedly also involved in a fine handed down to another Baranovichi church in July. Police in nearby Malorita tried to have Baptists punished for singing hymns on the street, but the judge threw out the case, said Forum 18, which has close contacts with the Christians.
NEW LIFE
Pressure also continues on one of the largest evangelical churches, the the New Life Full Gospel congregation in the capital Minsk, after they refused to accept official demands to give up their place of worship they bought back in 2002.
The church's church's lawyer, Sergei Lukanin, has said that Court executors delivered an order to vacate the building by August 20, but church members instead have held a series of prayer meetings on the site.
Religious officials have refused to comment.
European Union ambassadors in Minsk were due to hear the church leaders' concerns on Tuesday, August 25.
There has been growing pressure on Protestant churches and evangelical groups in several former Soviet Union republics.
Praying!
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;"
"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."
"But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
James 1:2-4
Knowing Jesus Loves You
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2
And Your Father In Heaven Too
"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."
Mark 18:10
Pray For The Sinner Men
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ephesians 6:12
Blinded By saTan
"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:"
"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
God Calls
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
John 3:16-18