Voice of the Martyrs, November 21, 2024
Samal suffered a head wound and impaired movement in one arm after her drunken relative, Arman, attacked her with a shovel. Kazakh police arrested Arman and said he could face seven years in prison for the assault.
While meeting with police, Samal, a new Christian, said she experienced an angelic vision during which she was encouraged to forgive Arman.
Though she initially resisted, Samal eventually forgave her relative. When she did, her pain vanished, and her arm was healed. She then dropped all charges against Arman and told the police she had been speaking with an angel. Arman is now visiting her church, and its members are praying that he will also come to know Christ.
Formerly under Communist rule as a republic of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan is one of Central Asia’s wealthiest nations because of its vast mineral resources. Islam has experienced a resurgence since the fall of the Soviet Union, and many have returned to what they consider their Muslim heritage, which was restricted for decades by atheistic communism.
Today, Kazakhstan emulates its European neighbors, undertaking massive construction projects, enjoying a growing economy and adopting the Latin alphabet used by Western nations.
Christian converts are often disowned by their families, publicly shamed and even beaten. All religious activities must be registered with the government, and believers are commonly fined for distributing unauthorized religious texts, discussing faith or holding worship meetings.