{"id":2760,"date":"2013-05-07T21:53:36","date_gmt":"2013-05-07T14:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/martianuswb.com\/?p=2760"},"modified":"2013-11-26T21:58:07","modified_gmt":"2013-11-26T14:58:07","slug":"5-5-5-challenge-uzbekistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/martianuswb.com\/?p=2760","title":{"rendered":"5-5-5 Challenge: Uzbekistan"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"5-5-5<\/p>\n

[en]Lena, Ayoub and Latife faced intense persecution when the police had found Christian materials in Ayoub\u2019s father\u2019s house. Police arrested him and Ayoub\u2019s brother, and then took Lena to the police station, where they were all questioned. They were also looking for Ayoub to arrest him as well.<\/p>\n

Preparations for court cases were made: the first one being under administrative law, the second one would be more serious and under the criminal law. The tension and stress seriously affected Lena\u2019s health.<\/p>\n

Ayoub recently sent Open Doors a note saying:<\/p>\n

“First of all, I would like to express our gratefulness to all those who prayed for us during this time of severe persecution. I would like to share the good news with you: God heard our prayers!<\/span><\/p>\n

During the first court case we faced we were fined for our activities and had to pay 5 minimum monthly salaries, which amounts to approximately US $160. We worried about the second court case as this was going to be under the criminal law and would be far more severe and difficult for us.<\/span><\/p>\n

We were totally amazed by God\u2019s intervention when we heard that the second court case had been cancelled. God had softened the hearts of the people who were in charge of our case and for some reason or other they decided to close the case. A serious illness of one of the officers\u2019 relatives had occurred and significantly delayed the proceedings. That is probably why the decision was taken to cancel the court case.<\/span><\/p>\n

We believe that God was in control of each day. What happened was a real miracle to us! We have never heard about a case like ours where the investigators just asked for a traditional meal of \u2018plov\u2019 to be served and closed the case. God greatly encouraged our family and we felt your prayer support.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Source >> http:\/\/opendoors.org\/<\/p>\n

The regime will do anything to stay in power, so no religious activities outside state-controlled institutions are allowed. The Russian Orthodox Church has more freedoms, but evangelical Christianity is seen as a destabilizing element that needs to be eradicated. Churches live in fear of raids, termination of services, confiscation of literature, and the imposition of heavy fines, which are frequent and increasing. Church members face harassment, detention and arrest for holding private prayer meetings or possessing illegal literature.<\/p>\n

PRAY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n