The Church in Kazakhstan

The Evangelical church in Kazakhstan has a long history. As early as 1880, a group of Mennonites came to southern Kazakhstan to find shelter from antichristian activity in Ukraine. In 1882 and 1887 other Mennonite settlers moved to other areas of Kazakhstan, starting new settlements and preaching the gospel.

The early years of the Evangelical Baptist churches of Kazakhstan were not easy. In 1902 the Russian government decided to populate one of the villages in Kazakhstan with Baptist immigrants from the Ukraine. When the local Kazak people learned what was happening, they opposed the Baptists coming. About 300 Kazak riders encircled the immigrants and cursed and threatened them with their lives. But, despite persecution, by 1903, the first Baptist church was organized. It is considered by historians to that this was the start of the movement of the Evangelical Christian Baptists in Kazakhstan.

Today the Baptist church, which is largely German and Russian in ethnic background, is vibrant but small. They are actively building mercy ministries with drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, kindergartens, ministry to the elderly, orphanages, children’s clubs, youth ministry and new churches.