Although it is a few weeks since I came home from the EBF Council in Lisbon (see previous post for more details!), I remain haunted by some of the stories I heard there. In particular, the accounts from the churches in Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. In both these contexts, Christians - and Baptists in particular - come under real and sustained pressure. We heard the story of one brother who had had to escape from Turkmenistan, because the threat to his life and the life of his family was so great. After enduring imprisonment and torture, he went into hiding. Eventually making contact with the US Embassy, they told him that, as long as he remained in the country, they could not help him. He and the family escaped to Russia and lived for 10 months underground there. However, that became unsafe as well, and they were eventually smuggled out to Scandinavia, where he now lives, and where he devotes his time to maintaining a radio service to Turkmenistan, broadcasting Christian teaching, and encouraging those who remain.

There is one registered Baptist church in Turkmenistan - a church that is recognised by the government, and allowed to meet in restricted circumstances. Under their umbrella, there exist five congregations. But the other congregations are not allowed to meet together. And so they meet in relays through the week. Each day, some of the fellowship meet together. And they face opposition, arrest, the threats of imprisonment and torture.


Similarly in Azerbaijan, there is pressure. At the Council meeting last year, we were being asked to pray for Pastor Zaur, who had been arrested and accused of keeping a firearm in his flat. This year, he was able to be with us. He showed us some slides of home - and of the feast that the village, most of whom are not part of his very small congregation, had put on in hnour of his return. Physically, he's a small man, quite slight. And he told the story of how the police who had arrested him had filed a report saying that he was violent, and had beaten up the five of them who had come to arrest him. And he laughed as he told it.

There was a lot of laughter.

The Turkmen who came to the Council were there for the first time, and to celebrate their coming, they had brought a traditional hat worn by authoratative figures - as they put it themselves, it looks like nothing so much as a dead animal; round, white, and very furry. They presented it to our General Secretary when the Council his reappointment for another period of service. He promised to wear it whenever he is being official - and we very much hope he doesn't, since he looks extremely silly in it.

There was a great deal of laughter.

This bringing together of stories of persecution, danger and dogged faith with laughter, new friendships and the gratitude of these brothers for the support they had been offered has left me with such a lot to think about. The claim of Christ to Lordship is deeply political - if Jesus is Lord, then nobody else, no other regime, no other leader, can have the total and complete loyalty of a disciple. That is what makes this small and apparently weak churches such a fearsome threat, and why there are such determined efforts to get rid of them.

And part of how it all works out is through laughter. Because these folk know - dare to trust - that the Kingdom into which they are being called through the Lordship of Jesus will come, they can afford to laugh at the pretensions and even threats of "the kingdoms of this world". They don't do it lightly. They pay the costs. But they do it deeply. And they invited us into that joy and celebration. And it remains with me, making the prayers in which I regularly lead our congregation for those who suffer for their faith much more connected; I have faces and names now for these people. They need our support, our voice, our encouragement. But we need them too - to teach us holy laughter and celebration in the face of danger and suffering.

It brings a new meaning to the words of Ps 23; Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies.

Thy Kingdom come.