Russian Church Liquidated, by Heidi Boesl, at Mission Network News
"While the world continues to watch Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Ukraine, the country continues putting pressure on evangelical churches there. In recent years, churches have been bulldozed, pastors have been fined, and property confiscated. It’s happened again.
"Russian Ministries Sergey Rakhuba (left) and Wade Kusack (right). (Russian Ministries Facebook page)
"Project Manager for Russian Ministries Wade Kusack specializes in religious liberty issues in the former Soviet Union. Kusask says the Harvest Church of Saint Petersburg, Russia, is devastated. “The church was liquidated because the government decided that the church conducted unregistered educational activities.”
"Why is registration important in the Russian church? Kusack says, “In Russia, the church is supposed to have registration. Without registration, no one has the right to practice their religion. The church was stripped of its legal registration.”
"Now church members have no right to meet for worship and call themselves a church.
"What kind of educational activities were they conducting? Kusack says, “It was extended Sunday school [classes]. It was conducted during the weekdays for the kids whose parents attend the church. It was Christian educational classes.'”
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