I* and my family live in Kazakhstan, where many Christians often face threats and intimidation. Christians with a Muslim background have a particularly hard time. I know many pastors who have faced threats and unpleasantness and are monitored by the authorities who see evangelical churchesr as sectarian and westernized.
Surveillance takes place in many areas. From eavesdropping to the intelligence services' secret moles, who are often apostate Christians, who have gotten into trouble and are offered money, debt relief and penalties if they just help with at Spying in churches. They find things, that can bring of Christian leaders in trouble. Yes, sometimes authorities even set insidious traps and tempt Christians into To go on compromise with the word of God.
This constant pressure and scrutiny often causes stress, fear and uncertainty for Christian leaders. In such situations, the support of other Christians and the knowledge that some are praying is a great encouragement.
Scriptures in BibeIt also provides strength and encouragement. A passage, that has often encouraged and strengthened me is Psalm 37. Especially verse 28: "ffor the Lord loves justice, and he does not let its faithful down. They will always be protectedbut the children of the unjust are exterminated". This word came to me, Once I was sitting at a Sunday meeting and the authorities broke in unpleasantly. "...he does not let its faithful down. They are always protected". This gave me peace in the situationand after an hour or so, the authorities left again.
* For security reasons, the author's name is not mentioned
