Ministry Update: October 28, 2008

MISSION: Central Asia (October 26-November 6)

Dear friends,

I’m writing to ask you to pray for Genna Gomenyuk, director of CFAR Ukraine.

On Sunday, October 26, Genna traveled to Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan . At the invitation of missionaries, Genna will lead a teaching conference on sound doctrine, discernment, and cults for pastors and Christian workers. He has also been asked to speak in at least two churches in Bishkek.

Kyrgyzstan is a former Soviet republic, and Islam and secularism dominate the nation’s spiritual landscape. While Christianity is a growing presence, it must compete with a host of cultic groups, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, Scientology, Christadelphians, the Bahá’ís, Hare Krishna, and Rev. Moon’s Unification Church.

The parliament of Kyrgyzstan is reportedly preparing sweeping new restrictions on religion. The human-rights group Forum 18 writes that the law may include “a ban on unregistered religious activity; a threshold of 200 adult citizens to gain state registration; a ban on ‘proselytism’; a definition of a ‘sect’; and a ban on the free distribution of literature.”

But the one of the most serious threats to the Gospel in Kyrgyzstan comes from the Word-Faith movement. The so-called “health and wealth gospel” has contributed to apostasy, authoritarianism, and scandal in one of the country’s largest and best-known evangelical churches, and the damage to individual lives—and Christian witness—is extensive. Genna has been asked to address these urgent issues, and much of his ministry will focus on helping restore believers who must rebuild their lives.
 

Please pray…

• That God will mightily use Genna in bringing balance and healing to confused and damaged pastors and lay Christians

• For Genna’s research and witness among the cults in the capital

• That God will watch over Genna’s wife, Tanya, and two little girls, Sofiya and Vika, while he is in Central Asia

•  CFAR Ukraine
•  Genna’s testimony
•  Support Genna’s family and ministry