There are many nations around the globe that try to hinder the spread of the Gospel. However, this move seems to strengthen the resolve of Christians in some of these countries that have experienced a growth in the numbers of Protestant Christians. One such country that has tried to obstruct the progress of Protestantism is Russia, where restrictive laws have been put in place to prohibit Christians from evangelizing and giving out Bibles.
One day, a police officer saw a man giving out a Bible and he was taken in for questioning. That must have been a very frightening experience for him. Yet, many Christians, including missionaries, risk being arrested and deported to secretly spread the Gospel. It is not easy to get a religious visa to be a missionary in Russia, yet foreign missionaries often find creative methods to live out the Gospel in the nation in order to save souls. Since last year, at least two families have been deported from a Muslim region in the country where they were teachers. It is easier to be detected in remoter areas where there are fewer foreigners, so missionaries become easy targets for security officers. Fortunately, those who live in cities often blend into the multi-cultural environment. However, they still must be cautious. The director of an international Christian school who was from another country had been under surveillance. She was deemed to have committed an offence against the law and was immediately deported.
Protestants are often viewed as heretics by the Orthodox Church, which is the predominant church in Russia. Orthodox Christians usually only go to church on Christmas, Easter and special occasions like baptisms. Attending church every week like the Protestants do, is regarded as quite strange by these traditionalists. Yet, Buddhism, Judaism and Islam are much more accepted than Protestantism. Many young Russian women are getting married to Muslim men and converting to Islam. However, this does not seem to be a problem for the government as many mosques continue to open. Despite this, protestant churches sometimes find it difficult to be legally registered. However, a survey in 2012 found that only 0.3 percent of the population were Protestants and Pentecostals, but the numbers may be up to approximately 1 percent now.
Thankfully, God has not stopped working all things for good for those who love Him and who are called to His purpose (See Romans 8:28). Muslims from a certain country are now accepting Christ, therefore a couple churches for people of this nation have been established. In addition, there are missionaries who are bringing Protestants from different denominations together fulfilling Christ’s prayer for the believers to be unified.
The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. John 17:22-23
God’s glory is still shining brightly through Protestants in Russia despite the restrictive government legislation. And although they may be monitored, they cannot be stopped from loving Christ and spreading His Gospel.
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