Uzbekistan

Since 2016, the country has experienced an opening both internally and externally, economic development is progressing strongly, freedom of religion officially exists, and liberalization is noticeable.

Nevertheless, unregistered churches (especially Protestant or Evangelical churches) continue to run the risk of prosecution. The lack of rule of law and existing democratic deficits must also be seen as a challenge. Christians with a Muslim background continue to suffer the most from state reprisals and persecution from the Muslim environment.

AVC works in Uzbekistan in a strategic partnership with a local church movement. In the past, the focus has been on church planting in towns and villages where there was not yet a church, helping the persecuted, and jump-starting social works such as rehab centers and soup kitchens.

Today, our work focuses on church planting in the autonomous province of Karakalpakistan in the west and in Surkhandarya province in the south of the country. We are also committed to linking churches and ministries in the form of a staff network. Recently, work among Afghan refugees has taken on an even greater emphasis.