Bible Mission International (BMI), which delivers the gospel to all generations of people in the former Soviet Union, has continued its work despite the recent violence in one former Eastern bloc country. For years the BMI has been providing Bibles to locals in Uzbekistan for free, offering Bible studies and youth evangelism summer camps, further Christian education, training, and has been preparing individuals for ministering.
Even though its work has often proved dangerous and difficult, this ministry has endlessly been progressing forwards, said Mark Reimschisel, BMI spokesman. Reimschisel was recently a guest of Mission Network News, and he emphasised on the rewarding work that the ministry carries out in Uzbekistan.
"Evangelism is very difficult when people are trying to share Christ with their neighbours of a different nationality and a different faith background," the BMI spokesman says. But the threat of violence and the hurdles of cultural differences are not the only obstacles to evangelism, he continued.
"There are some laws that the believers have to be aware of," notes Reimschisel. Christians must always bear in mind that "they are in danger of being put in prison, of being fined heavily," he said, "so we are always very careful in what we're doing there."
Earlier this month in Anijan, the Uzbek city, after demonstrators stormed a local prison and government facility, prompting a violent crackdown by police, rioting broke out.
The BMI spokesman Reimschisel said that the plans of the BMI ministry have not been seriously affected by the regional violence or the other difficulties. One of the further programs of the ministry is to hold its summer camp for children in Uzbekistan this summer.
