KGB’s Most Wanted Warns American Church of Parallels With Communist Persecution
By Jenny Rose Spaudo, Contributing Writer
Pastor Joseph Bondarenko is calling the church in the United States to wake up to how growing government restrictions could turn into full-blown persecution.
In a meeting with California worship leader Sean Feucht, Pastor Bondarenko, who used to be one of the KGB’s most wanted, offered a dire warning to the American church:
“Don’t they realize what is happening now in America is exactly what happened to us in communist Russia?? It started with ‘Don’t gather. Don’t sing. Spread apart. Listen to the government.’ Then it quickly turned into full on persecution and the church did not wake up in time. I am here to beg you to call the church to WAKE UP, STAND FIRM, CONQUER!”
Pastor Bondarenko drew the ire of the KGB in the 1960s because of his commitment to Christianity and refusal to embrace communism. According to Bondarenko’s autobiography, he even went to jail for 10 years, where he endured near-starvation, beatings, and toture.
Bondarenko was “told every day his entire family would die because of their faith,” Feucht wrote. “He refused to deny Jesus. Many of his friends were martyred, but God spared his life. His story of boldness has now circled the globe.”
Feucht said the pastor “prayed in Russian, anointed me with oil and commissioned me for this hour! SOMETHING CRAZY CAME OVER ME THAT I HAVE NEVER FELT BEFORE GUYS!!! A new level of boldness and faith!!! IT’S ABOUT TO GET REAL!!!!!!! LA TOMORROW MAY BE CRAY.”
Movieguide® reported last month that Feucht and his Hold the Line organization protested Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ban on singing in church by worshipping publicly across California.
Movieguide® reported at the time:
“Nobody was angry,” Feucht told Fox News. “We were just like, ‘We want to worship. We want to declare a blessing over the state of California.’ When they persecute and discriminate, we bless. We want to release hope and we want to unify the sound of the church.”
He continued, “In response to the ban on singing, I believe, either one, it’s hypocrisy, because the state officials are largely encouraging protests, and I’m not discouraging them, and at worst, it’s discrimination against the church because we can’t meet in groups more than 100.”
Feucht said a dozen San Francisco police officers even showed up to protect the worshippers.
“We got to pray for each one of the police officers,” Feucht said. “It was pretty rad.”
Over 5,000 gathered for public worship in San Diego despite the singing ban in late July.
“It’s just the most raw, organic, gritty Gospel,” Feucht told Fox News at the time. “It’s been very eclectic, very diverse in terms of people praying and singing. People got healed, saved and delivered.”
Feucht has led illegal worship in several places around the world, now including California.
As a result, Feucht is encouraging his following to take Bondarenko’s advice to the American church:
“WAKE UP. STAND FIRM. CONQUER. I am following this hero’s advice and ask you to do the same. LETS GO!!!”
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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