Belarus
For the most part, the story of Belarus has been a difficult one. The people have faced one hardship after another. While Stalin was in power, a genocide campaign was begun in Belarus killing a suspected 250,000 people. Then during WWII the nation lost a quarter of its population and suffered severe damage in Russian-German battles. In addition, Belarus fell victim to 70% of the radioactive fallout released during the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The most recent issue Belarussians have had to face is an increasingly repressive government, which fell back into the form of a dictatorship in 1994. Media and opposing political parties have been effectively blocked out by the current government in a political move much like the propaganda and intimidation factors so prevalent under Soviet rule. Conditions remain poor in the country as alcoholism is rampant, and the standard of living has declined even further since the fall of communism.
Sixty-five percent of the population claims Orthodoxy, though 46% say they do not believe in God. This paradox is not unusual in Eastern European countries where membership in the church is closely tied to national identity. The Orthodox Church and the government have worked together to restrict other Christian groups including Baptists. In 2002, a law was passed restricting missionary activity including the banning of church planting. Even with these restrictions, recovery groups for alcoholics as well as English lessons have opened the doors for God’s love to be shared to the hurting people of Belarus.
In spite of anti-evangelical policies, Baptist churches have multiplied and grown. Many Belarusians are earnestly searching for ideas or beliefs to improve their personal lives. They understand that temporal security is unreliable, but many lack the realization that permanent stability requires more than a political or religious philosophy-it requires a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Our Lord is calling out for the broken and hurting to come to Him. He can’t wait to move in and through his people in Belarus.
If you would like to be a part of what God is doing in Belarus by adopting this people group, contact us at hope4cee@pobox.com.