XXXXXOn April 7, violence erupted in several cities of Kyrgyzstan as thousands of angry citizens rallied to protest the government’s recent decision to sharply raise the utility prices. The crowds also expressed frustration over President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and his regime’s corruption, nepotism, brutality, and imprisonment of opposition party leaders. The hope for positive change, which the 2005 so-called Tulip Revolution had evoked in the people through the election of Bakiyev, had died.

When the protesters gathered around the Presidential palace in the capital city of Bishkek, riot police officers opened fire into the crowd, killing 88 and injuring nearly 1,000.

XXXXXConcerned that anarchy would erupt, an interim government was quickly formed under the leadership of Roza Otunbayeva, a former foreign minister and ambassador to the United States. She officially dismissed the President and his cabinet and has restored law and order. The President, who during the riots fled on his plane to his home district in the South, at first refused to resign, while trying to rally support to do a comeback. Today, however, April 16, he resigned and left Kyrgyzstan. This has eliminated the immediate concern that his presence in the country might have led to civil war.

XXXXXOtunbayeva is promising to move Kyrgyzstan from oligarchy into a democracy with free elections to be held in six months. The peace is tenuous, but increasing, as foreign powers are backing the interim government.

This little Muslim-dominated nation with a population of 5.3 million people, is of geo-political significance in the balance between the superpowers. The United States has an air-force base there, through which troops and supplies are flown from the States into Afghanistan. Russia also has an air-force base in the country. Nearby China has economic interests in the oil and mineral-rich Central Asian region; thus, all three superpowers are motivated to see stability maintained in Kyrgyzstan.

This banner was made by the Kyrgyz believers in Bishkek

иисус царь всех народов:Jesus is the King of All Nations!

XXXXXThe text on this banner, carried carried by one of the young men at the Bishkek conference in 2005, expresses the heart and hope of the Kyrgyz believers in Jesus!

The recent events in Kyrgyzstan mirror the events that took place in the country in February 2005, when the then President Akayev also was ousted by the people, due to nepotism and corruption, except — this time, there was blood in the streets! The Kyrgyz people are again longing for new government leaders who will rule with integrity and justice, and care for the welfare of the people and communities entrusted into their hands.

The issues in the country are not primarily geo-political or socio-economic, they are fundamentally moral — arising from the issues of the heart. Psalm 144:5b states, “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord”! Those who are committed to living out the Judeo-Christian faith as expressed in the Word of God — the Bible — find peace and righteousness in their personal lives, in their families, their communities, and their nation!

Above all the wonderful things our ministry team experienced during our 2005 visit to Kyrgyzstan – encountering the young generation of believers in Jesus, impressed me the most! I had an opportunity to meet with 25-30 beautiful, young professional adults engaged as students, in academia, business, and politics (see picture above). When I began speaking about the importance of each of them embracing their destiny and identity in Christ through their own language and culture, as God has laid down a unique aspect of His nature into each ethnic group, there was an eruption of excitement, and everyone began to openly share their thoughts and ideas. They had a lot of questions. I explained, “God has buried a pearl deep into the Kyrgyz heart, and you are the ones to dig to find it and share it with your people. You are the generation whom God has called to redeem your culture for God’s Kingdom”. We had a fruitful, articulate dialogue on integrity, which is extremely relevant in this emerging country where corruption is knee-deep from the President down the line to the grassroots of the people. It was obvious that I touched the anointing of the Holy Spirit in their hearts! Their enthusiasm was contagious as they began describing various practical ways in which they could serve the Lord among their people!

These young adults are now five years older and more mature, but the pressure against the Kyrgyz believers has been intensifying, so there are many obstacles that are testing their faith:

· Economic instability as the global recession has deepened the poverty among the general population, while unduly enriching the ruling class by means of nepotism and corruption.

· Political instability with an ousted President while the interim government is trying to steer the country toward more freedom and democratic rule.

· A sharp increase in limitations on fundamental freedom and other human rights – in both law and practice. In 2009, a harsh new Religion Law was adopted despite international protests, and a similarly severe new Law on Religious Education and Educational Institutions is being drafted. There are also plans for a new Law on Traditional Religions. State actions, including banning unregistered religious activities (fellowships under 200 adult members are disallowed to meet) and raids on worship meetings. Evangelizing (“proselytizing”) a Kyrgyz is a crime.

· Satan is specifically targeting church leaders on a personal level in order to scatter the flocks. The leaders need increasing discernment, wisdom and strength of character to ward off his attacks.

Please pray for the nation of Kyrgyzstan her people and the body of christ — that the believers, "AS children of God, CONTINUE TO BLAMELESS AND INNOCENT, ABOVE REPROACH IN THE MIDST OF A CROOKED AND PERVERSE GENERATION, AMONG WHOM THEY SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD!" X(Philippians 2:14-15).