ORYOL, Russia — A Baptist missionary convicted under Russia’s new anti-evangelism law and compelled to end his ministry there has lost his first court appeal in Oryol, Russia, but has vowed to continue legally fighting for the cause of religious freedom.
An appeals court judge Sept. 30 upheld the conviction of Donald Ossewaarde on charges of conducting missionary activities in violation of the new law that prohibits evangelizing outside church walls and without a government permit.
“[My attorneys] assured me that this case will play an important role in determining the future of religious freedom in Russia, not just for foreign missionaries, but also for ordinary Russian believers,” Ossewaarde wrote on his webpage.
The Independent Baptist missionary had been charged Aug. 14 for holding religious services in his home, advertising services on bulletin boards in nearby neighborhoods and failing to give authorities written notification when he began his religious activities. He was fined about $600 and was advised by a court appointed attorney that anything might happen to his family while in Russia.
The new law, which went into effect in July, defines illegal evangelism as activity by an authorized representative of an officially registered religious organization who uses media to publicly spread the organization’s doctrine to nonmembers to convince them to join the group, Ossewaarde contends. He and his wife, Ruth, had been sent on the missions field by Faith (Independent) Baptist Church, Bourbonnais, Illinois, and had raised financial support from churches across the United States, but they do not represent an official religious organization. (BP)
Share with others: