Religious freedom is very precarious in this country where the Russian Orthodox Church is the official religion and the only really free religion in the country. It is almost impossible for Christians, Messianic Jewish people or traditional Jewish people to practice their religion freely. Belarus is known as the last dictatorship in Europe. The government has cracked down on any dissent and imprisoned thousands of their own people. We had the privilege of working with a congregation in Minsk, the capital. We provided this congregation with much needed equipment. I had the opportunity to teach in a number of satellite congregations in different cities. Some of these groups met in unheated barns, the only place available to them. We were able to help meet the physical needs of a number of these precious Jewish people. In spite of the difficult conditions, this congregation in Minsk grew from about 20 people to almost 100. Pray that the L-rd will protect His people and that the government will open to the needs of the people and that freedom will come to the country of Belarus.
