CENTRAL ASIA: PRAY FOR THE SAFETY OF SUMMER CAMPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Please pray for the teachers and students who were attending a secret Christian summer camp in Central Asia that was recently discovered and raided by the police. Two teachers were detained and questioned for several hours.

Each summer, just like in the UK, Christian camps for young people are held across Central Asia. The main difference is that in the UK, these camps and festivals are widely advertised and are a public part of church life. In Central Asia, they tend to happen covertly due to the risks faced by those who organise them. Even so, many churches still organise camps for young people, welcoming participants from both Christian and non-Christian families.

Recently, a team travelled to a rural area to organise a camp. The region includes many poor families, so Open Doors partners wanted to host something locally, as the children couldn’t afford to travel far and had few recreational opportunities in their area.

Many young people had been attending the camp for several days, and the leaders were pleased with how things were going. However, on the last day of the camp, some locals discovered that it was organised by Christians and that Bible stories and lessons had been shared with the young people. In this region, teaching minors about religion is forbidden. As a result, the locals called the police.

Two members of the camp team—both teachers—were taken to the police station, where they were detained and interrogated for several hours. Eventually, the teachers were released, but the police stated they would continue their investigation. The two teachers are now concerned that they could be arrested and charged in the near future.

As you begin to look forward to a summer of festivals, camps, and more, please remember to pray for your church family in Central Asia as they face danger and threats while sharing and celebrating Jesus together.