Deadly Baptisms

The church building looks like any other house in the neighborhood. That is precisely the intention. In the predominantly Muslim Republic of Chechnya, social life is governed in many places not only by state law but also by Sharia and the traditional customary law known as Adat. Anyone who professes faith in Jesus and leaves Islam risks their life.

Nevertheless, Muslim parents now entrust their children to the local pastor for retreats and children's camps. This trust has grown over the years—in a society where mistrust is almost a matter of survival. Since 2024, at least four people have been baptized. They attend church services and Bible studies and meet in home groups.

Many women in the region face particularly difficult circumstances. The practice of so-called “temporary marriages” leaves some of them alone and without support. Often, they are not allowed to remarry afterward. This is where the Christian Society of Mercy, supported by ACP, steps in. At Easter, staff members brought the women food packages containing oil, flour, and grain—and included a Gospel booklet in each package. One staff member recounts how a woman tearfully confided her story to her and, through shared prayer, accepted Jesus Christ into her life.

Whether at the children's camp in the church hall or at the front door of a single woman's home, the local staff members are committed to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. ACP supports them in this work—quietly and persistently—just as the church continues to grow.