BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

02/02/2008

Pastor takes message to Minsk

By HANK SNYDER, Staff Reporter

The Rev. Roger Knowlton taught four classes a day in Minsk. "I focused on preaching, praying, leading the church and shepherding the church," said Knowlton, shown here with his interpreter Julia.

WAUPUN - For nine days last month the Rev. Roger Knowlton, pastor of Edgewood Community Church, left his family, friends and congregation, to teach a class in pastoral ministry in Minsk, Belarus.

Belarus, formerly part of the Soviet Union, is a landlocked nation about the size of Kansas with 10 million citizens squeezed between Poland, Latvia, Russia and the Ukraine. Although the country is a republic, the government has a grip on religion.

A United States State Department report said in 2002 that despite protests, the parliament approved a new law on religion with a number of restrictive elements that make it extremely difficult to register any church the government considers to be non-traditional.

In practice all religions but the Russian Orthodox Church face some level of interference in their activities.

"They only recognize the Russian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal and Baptist churches," Knowlton said.

Belarus has been run by the authoritarian Alexander Lukashenko since 1994.

"They call him the last dictator in Europe," he said.

Knowlton taught four classes a day to nine students, who were in their second half of a two year program. He enjoyed the students and was especially encouraged by the staff.

"They are delightful people, serving God in meager conditions. The average salary is $300 per month, and the average apartment for rent is $300 per month meaning families have to double up," he said.

This was the second visit for Knowlton, so he was familiar with some of the people and places.

"My driver was the same one I had before," Knowlton said. "He was a delightful guy. He greeted and hugged me at the airport."

When he wasn't teaching, Knowlton had a chance to attend the ballet, taste some of the local dishes and look into a McDonald's "that had wall to wall people."

While there he was also warned to unplug the phone in his room. Twice he forgot, and twice he was called by prostitutes. After that he learned to follow the warning.

Comparing the two visits, Knowlton said, "Two years ago I spoke in an underground church. This year I spoke in a legitimate church, a church that has the state's blessings. Both churches were small. It's a delight to worship in a far away country. I didn't know what they were singing but they were exuberant."

Knowlton thought one reason the churches are so small might be a lack of financial support for pastors.

"Perhaps it's a throwback to Communist times when they said pastors were lazy."

"I'm very happy he gets to go and minister to people," said his wife Diane who stayed behind with their three children. "And though we miss him, this time I got a new perspective on those who have loved ones overseas; especially when I think of my neighbor whose husband will be gone for a year."

Knowlton said he wouldn't mind returning a third time, but it would have to be with the blessing of his wife and church.

"And it wouldn't be in two years. I think I'd like to wait at least three years," he said.

Source:

http://www.wiscnews.com/bdc/news//index.php?ntid=270636

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