Radical Muslim missionaries to Central Asian countries are desperate to thwart the spread of Christianity. So desperate, they used the medium of television to spread the lie that Christians support Osama bin Laden and his ideology.

While under Russian control, neither Muslims nor Christians were allowed to proselytize on television, radio or any other public arena. Today Muslims dominate TV evangelism, while Christians are still banned from any kind of public speaking regarding their faith or beliefs. When Muslim radicals got on TV and presented a picture of Osama bin Laden alongside Christian missionaries and other worshippers, they tried to say that this is who the Christians really were and this is what they really stood for. Our brethren had no recourse for refuting this lie.

Despite this kind of persecution, progress is being made. An indigenous missionary that Christian Aid began assisting in 2002 started an underground fellowship several years ago. Today he is active in the underground church movement in Central Asia as a preacher and evangelist. He estimates that there are over 30,000 Muslims who came to Christ - officially. Unofficially, the number is probably three or four times greater. This brother’s ministry has started over 200 Christian churches – 138 in Uzbekistan alone and 62 in surrounding countries.

Historically, countries such as Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have practiced a relatively mild form of Islam – what is sometimes referred to as "traditional" Islam. But Islamic missionaries from the south (such as Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey) are infiltrating Central Asia with what they call "true" Islam. In order to gain dominance in this area of the world, they employ a variety of tactics to convert moderate Muslims to a more radical form of Islam while, at the same time, dissuading them from Christianity.

Under new laws in Uzbekistan, a person with 2 Bibles is considered to be a missionary and, if found out, can face from 3 to 5 years in jail. 2,000 mosques have been built within the last few years in Uzbekistan alone – there is a mosque in just about every village. Besides religious avenues for manipulation, money and businesses are also part of the process. Education is another opportunity -- there is a Muslim center of education in a one city where students are trained as missionaries.

Christian Aid is anxious to get behind our brethren who want to conduct an intensive short-term Bible School in a key city sometime next year. Participants will be chosen from those already involved in any kind of ministry work. Training will include in-depth strategies for reaching Muslims. Fervent prayer for their protection is needed. Students will sacrifice their time and money to attend as most all workers depend on a regular job for survival. They will carry their own roll-up mattresses and stay with fellow believers or sleep in the church building where classes are held.

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