To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE
Franklin Graham Cancels Persecution Summit in Moscow over Repressive New Law; Believers Say It Won't Stop Them from Sharing the Gospel"The Great Commission isn't just for a time of freedom." -Sergey Rakhuba (Russia)—[CBN News] Rev. Franklin Graham says he is cancelling an evangelical summit in Russia after the government passed a new law placing severe restrictions on Christian evangelization. (Photo: Vladimir Putin/CBN News) "We were looking forward to this significant event being held in Russia because no one knows modern Christian persecution better than the Church that suffered under communist rule. However, just a few weeks ago Russia passed a law that severely limits Christians' freedoms," Graham posted on Facebook in announcing the cancellation of his World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians. The law, signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, puts a stop to sharing faith in homes, online, and anywhere else except for church buildings. It is considered to be the country's most restrictive since post-Soviet history. It gives Putin the authority to crack down on nongovernment affiliated churches, according to Archbishop Andrew Maklakov, administrator of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church of America. "The Russian Orthodox church is part of a bulwark of Russian nationalism stirred up by Vladimir Putin," David Aikman, history professor and foreign affairs expert, said. "Everything that undermines that action is a real threat, whether that's evangelical Protestant missionaries or anything else." The law is forcing Christians to carry out missionary work differently, the Slavic Centre for Law and Justice, explained. According to Christianity Today fines for violating the law are $780 for individuals and $15,500 for an organization. Foreign visitors who violate the law face deportation. In order for citizens to share their faith, people must secure a government permit through a registered religious organization. The restrictions also apply to activity in private residences. "There are potentially very wide-sweeping ramifications to this law," according to Joel Griffith, from the Slavic Gospel Association. "It just depends on, again, how it is going to be enforced, and that is a very huge question mark." However, Sergey Rakhuba, president of Mission Eurasia and former Moscow church-planter, says the law would not stop Christians from pursuing their faith. "They say, 'If it will come to it, it's not going to stop us from worshipping and sharing our faith,'" he told Christianity Today, "The Great Commission isn't just for a time of freedom." "It seems that every week we learn of another example from a part of the globe that shows how critically we need to have this World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians," Graham said.
To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News Courageous: Worship Leader Sean Feucht Prepares to Confront Anti-Israel Evil, Darkness, and Horror New Emails Expose Biden's Connection to Whistleblower Who Got Trump Impeached Tennessee Passes Bill Letting Teachers Carry Guns at Schools Transgender Movement Is Losing Its Influence on Social Media to Shut Down Debate Ohio Attorney General Breaks Down Leftist Legal 'Trick' to Block GOP Efforts to Protect Kids Nearly 2,000 Minnesota Students, 15 Teachers Walk Out of LGBTQ 'Indoctrination' Lesson 'Just a Disaster': Biden's Title IX Rule Empowers LGBTQ Movement, Erases Women and Justice United For Israel March Happening on the Columbia University Campus, April 25th As Anti-Israel Activists Vandalize Texas Congressman's Office, He 'Stands With Israel' Did Letitia James Accidentally Reveal the Real Reason for Her Trump Witch Hunt? Report: the WHO Makes Major Changes to the Pandemic Treaty, and They're Good Ones; But Will It Last? Israelis Remember Hostages, Fallen Soldiers, Terror Victims as Passover Begins She Survived a Death Camp. Facing Biden DOJ Charges, She Is Prepared to Die in Prison Planned Parenthood Committed 392,712 Abortions, Received $699.3 Million in Taxpayer Funding in 2023 Student Loan Forgiveness: Morally Reprehensible and Legally Invalid Columbia Classes Go Virtual Before Passover Amid Protests Search the Articles Archives |
All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.
Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.
Home | Store | Subscribe | Facebook | Article Archive |