wfn.org | GEORGIAN BAPTIST CHURCH ATTACKED

[RICH.SCHRAMM@ecunet.org]

To: wfn-editors@wfn.org

AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS SERVICE 
Office of Communication  
American Baptist Churches USA 
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851 
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320 
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director 
 E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

POLICE ATTACK BAPTIST CHURCH IN REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA
 A Baptist church in the Tianeti district of the former 
Soviet Republic of Georgia was attacked Aug. 20 by local 
police, American Baptist International Ministries sources 
report.  The chief of the Tianeti district police led the 
attack, breaking up a worship service, damaging the church 
property, and taking into custody Pastor Kalatozishvili--
indicating that if he wanted to pray he needed go to an 
Orthodox church.  In addition Kalatozishvili was told that 
if he continued worshipping in that prayer house he would be 
incarcerated for progressively longer periods of time.
 Despite continuing threats to the congregation the 
church plans to continue meeting.  The presiding bishop of 
the Baptist Union of Georgia, Malkhaz Songulashvili, met 
with the region's governor about the attack.  Georgian law 
guarantees religious liberty and Governor Kistauri promised 
to investigate the attack.  Songulashvili and Kalatozishvili 
have since contacted the Georgian ombudsman, the head of the 
Department for Human Rights and other government officials.  
Songulashvili said that most of the government officials 
have been supportive. 
 International Ministries Area Director for Europe and 
the Middle East Reid Trulson has communicated American 
Baptist concern and support to the Georgian Baptists and is 
monitoring the situation.  If the Georgian Baptists indicate 
that government officials are not adequately investigating 
the incident he will be involved in petitioning the Georgian 
government to call for the enforcement of Georgian law 
guaranteeing religious liberty.  
 American Baptists have been partnering with Georgian 
Baptists in their ministries of evangelism and church 
planting, vacation Bible schools, camps and humanitarian 
relief work among Chechen refugees.  Bishop Songulashvili 
was a guest and keynote speaker at the World Mission 
Conference earlier this month in Green Lake, Wis.  

WFN829A

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