RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


 

Baptists in rebel republic get their church back

LPR MILITANTS RETURN CHURCH BUILDING TO BAPTISTS IN ANTRATSIT

Religiia v Ukraine, 24 March 2015

 

The building of the House of Prayer for all Peoples church in Antratsit, Luhansk region, that was seized by militants in the Luhansk People's Republic [LPR] on 4 March, was returned to the church, Religiia v Ukraine reports, with reference to the website of the Baptists of Ukraine.

 

A deacon, Igor, of the local Baptist church said that two weeks later, on 18 March, in the evening, neighbors called on a cell phone and reported that it was necessary for him to come and get the keys to the house of worship. While the minister was coming from the opposite side of the city, the "temporary owners" did not wait and they gave the keys to the neighbors and left their contact number. When the neighbors delivered the keys to the deacon of the church, they phoned the given number. In reply, they said: "We are returning the house of worship; do your work there."

 

"This caused great amazement," Igor confided. "You know, everything was returned clean and in good order—the yard and the building. The floors were even washed and the stove was running. Everything was in its place and in the condition that it was before. This time they came politely and did not harm anybody and did not insult us."

 

As reported earlier by Pastor Leonid of the Antratsit church, believers have a clear understanding of what to do in this situation properly and with dignity, without panic and indignation.

 

Earlier the pastor of the confiscated house of worship commented on the situation: "They consider us 'ideological opponents' and 'workers of the American and English intelligence services." (tr. by PDS, posted 25 March 2015)


Background article:
Ukrainian rebels seize Baptist house of worship
March 5, 2015

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