D u s h a n b e – What role should the Russian language play in the mission work of Tajikistan? The 1.000 Baptists in this Central Asian country have differing views on the issue. European Baptist Federation (EBF) Missions Coordinator Pastor Daniel Trusiewicz (Wroclaw, Poland), discovered this during his four-day visit to the country. Alexander Vervai (Dushanbe), President of the Tajik Baptist Union, is convinced that Russian can serve as the bond that links the country´s various nationalities and be their bridge to the outside world. Eighty percent of its 6,4 million inhabitants are Tajik, 15% are Uzbek and 1% Russian. The remaining are Tartars, Kyrgyz or Germans. Trusiewicz also met with local Baptists convinced that only the Tajik language will open the door to peoples´ hearts. For an increasing number of children and youth, Tajik is the sole language which they will ever speak and understand.

Trusiewicz paid this country a visit to test the prospects of supporting a church planter under the auspices of the EBF´s programme to support indigenous missionaries. Swiss Baptists have agreed to fund such a worker. Dushanbe´s Baptist congregation has already planted approximately 20 missions stations. The guest from Poland was told that an additional Tajik-speaking congregation could be started in the capital. Yet Vervai remains convinced that Baptists in a given city should hold a single Sunday worship service for all.

Trusiewicz was also informed that congregations are suffering from a lack of menfolk. Most working-age men are employed as immigrant workers in Russia. Only 10 foreign missionaries are active within the entire country; their work is not appreciated by the government. Baptists are not welcome in this strongly-Muslim land. Reportedly, government officials view the nation´s 230.000 Christians – including Baptists – in the same light as militant, extremist Muslims.