Crown of Life Blog

Pastors Fined in Azerbaijan

4/12/2013

Read Full Article at Mission Network News

Azerbaijan
Mission Network News
April 12th, 2013

"A court in Azerbaijan has fined Pastor Zaur Balaev and a co-worker more than $1900. Balaev was jailed in 2007 for failing to register his church, even though he's been attempting to do since 1994. Spokesman for Slavic Gospel Association Joel Griffith says these fines are just another trial for Balaev. "His wife, Nunuka, developed pancreatic cancer, so he's been in the middle of trying to make sure she gets treated for her serious illness. Then, to have to face these legal difficulties is just doubly tragic." Griffith says the government antagonism isn't stopping the congregation from worshipping, which prompted the fines. Christians in the West need to be wise in their response to this. "We don't want to do anything that would cause any harm to come to any of our missionary pastors or any of the churches there. We've seen sometimes where western pressure has the opposite result, and they end up cracking down even harder." Balaev is appealing."

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Persecuted saints benefit most from your heartfelt and earnest prayer.

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;
for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
James 1:12

'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the
devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so
that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 2:10

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Trials make the promise sweet;
Trials give new life to prayer;
Trials bring me to His feet,
Lay me low, and keep me there.

"God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains His soldiers not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and subjecting them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many long miles with heavy backpacks of sorrow. Well, Christian, may this not account for the troubles through which you are passing? Is the Lord bringing out your graces and making them grow? Is it for this reason He contends with you?"

Read Why Do I Face Trials?,
by Alistair Begg, Truth for Life Daily, at One Place

Christian persecution is just a phenomenon in the
Middle East.

Christians aren’t greatly
impacted by persecution.

Whatever persecution there is, the damage is superficial - more a loss of multicultural diversity than anything else.

Christians supposedly bring persecution upon themselves by proselytizing.

Persecution couldn’t
happen here.

Please read 5 Myths about Persecution of Christians, by
Kristin Wright, at Religion Today.

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Pastors Fined in Azerbaijan