Stories tagged with: independent baptists

• Bapt. missionary fighting Russia anti-evangelism law

  by Diana Chandler, posted Wednesday, January 04, 2017 (7 years ago)

  

  BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (BP) -- A longtime Baptist missionary convicted under Russia's anti-evangelism law has returned briefly to his Illinois home as lawyers appeal his conviction and challenge the law's constitutionality.

  Donald Ossewaarde was compelled to end his ministry months ago after his arrest under the July 2016 law. He hopes other Baptists might find ways to continue to minister in Russia as his attorneys defend religious freedom in the nation more than 25 years after the fall of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Read More

• Missionary to Russia loses anti-evangelism appeal

  by Diana Chandler, posted Monday, October 03, 2016 (7 years ago)

  

  ORYOL, Russia (BP) -- 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. Read More

• Russian anti-evangelism case appeal postponed

  by Diana Chandler, posted Wednesday, September 21, 2016 (8 years ago)

  

  Submitted photo

  ORYOL, Russia (BP) -- A Baptist missionary's appeal of a judgment against him for teaching a Bible study in his home in Oryol, Russia, was postponed in the middle of proceedings Sept. 19 when the judge said additional witnesses were needed to continue.

  Donald Ossewaarde, who appealed a $600 fine under Russia's new law prohibiting organizations from evangelizing outside church walls and without a government permit, said his attorney believes the postponement is a delay tactic designed to sidestep justice. Read More

• Russian anti-evangelism law victim requests prayer

  by Diana Chandler, posted Monday, September 12, 2016 (8 years ago)

  

  ORYOL, Russia (BP) -- A Baptist missionary who ended his ministry in Russia after being arrested under a new anti-evangelism law is requesting prayer in advance of his Sept. 19 appeal hearing.

  Donald Ossewaarde was found guilty and fined 40,000 rubles, about $600, a month ago when Russian police interrupted a Sunday Bible study in his home, charging him with evangelizing outside church walls and without a government permit. Read More

• 'Sad' Russian anti-evangelism law ends a ministry

  by Diana Chandler, posted Thursday, September 01, 2016 (8 years ago)

  

  ORYOL, Russia (BP) -- Missionaries Donald and Ruth Ossewaarde always suspected their Gospel ministry in Oryol, Russia, wouldn't last when they began in 2002, he told Baptist Press by telephone from his home in the central Russian town of 320,000.

  But he had not expected to be among the first people arrested under Russia's new law prohibiting organizations from evangelizing outside church walls and without a government permit. Read More