TsKhVE CALLS FOR PRAYER FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN RUSSIA
The senior bishop of the Ukrainian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith [Tserkov Khristian Very Evangelskoi—TsKhVE], Mikhail Panochko, called believers to pray for their fellow believers in Russia. The Russian Ministry of Justice has developed a draft law for strengthening control over the financial activity of religious organizations. Under its purview fall all churches that receive help from abroad, including TsKhVE.
"The goal of this appeal is to call evangelical Christians to prayer for the situation which has developed in Russia," Mikhail Panochko declared.
The senor bishop of TsKhVE noted that there appeared in the newspaper Novye Vesti news about the introduction of amendments into the Russian law "On freedom of conscience" regarding the strengthening of control over the financial and economic activity of religious organizations. According to Ya. Nilov, a deputy to the Russian State Duma from the LDPR, the need for these additions is based "on the strengthening of national security."
"Evangelical churches have never threatened the national security in any country; on the contrary, they have made and are making a great contribution to the development of their countries (for example, western Europe, South Korea, etc.), and it is very strange to hear such statements from the lips of people's deputies of the State Duma," Mikhail Panochko maintains.
"I also ask for prayer for the victims of the horrible fire in Khakasia, and if it will be possible for help for these people through our evangelical churches in Russia," the senior bishop emphasized. (tr. by PDS, posted 28 April 2015)
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