Pastor Dmitry's Family

Marina Shestakov's husband, Pastor Dmitry (40), was arrested for his religious activities in January 2007 and sentenced to four years in prison. He appealed the sentence but soon after he was said to have renounced this right. It is not known whether this was voluntary.

Dmitry is being held in Navoi prison, far away from his church in Andijan. Authorities said his transfer was because he failed to repent for the crime he had allegedly committed. He is not allowed a Bible in prison and is permitted very few visitors.

But Marina was able to visit him in spring 2008: "When I met with Dmitry in prison I thought he was the one who was going to need encouragement," shared Marina. "But he told me: 'I am a free person, even though I am here in prison. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom'."

Marina added, "Sometimes I go to the prison with the children. It is important for them to see their dad in prison, knowing he is not a criminal, but suffers for Jesus' sake. Dmitry looks to Jesus. He tries not to pay too much attention to what is going on around him. He focuses on Jesus and says, 'Jesus, you are with me. I don't care what is going on.' He thinks about God and about his family; that helps him to get through this time in prison.

"I want to thank everyone who prays for us, fasts for us and supports us. We know that people all over the world are praying. Now I really understand what the Bible means by 'one Body'. When one part suffers, we all suffer."

You can write to Marina and her three daughters
Masha, Sasha and Verochka by going to
www.opendoorsuk.org/write