NOVEMBER 5, 2021
RUSSIA

UPDATE | Brother Aleksey Yershov’s Spiritual Routine Helps Combat Discouragement

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On April 7, 2022, the Tomsk Regional Court changed the sentence previously imposed on Brother Aleksey Yershov. He will now serve a suspended prison sentence of three years. He was immediately released from prison.

On January 19, 2022, the Severskiy City Court of the Tomsk Region convicted Aleksey and sentenced him to three years in prison. His sentence begins immediately.

Time Line

June 22, 2021

The criminal case was submitted to the Severskiy City Court of the Tomsk Region
March 30, 2021

Aleksey was formally charged based on video recordings made by a person who feigned interest in studying the Bible for more than a year
July 14, 2020

FSB (Russia’s secret police) and Investigative Committee agents invaded and searched Aleksey’s home for seven hours. Officers confiscated bank cards, electronic devices, the Bible, passports, and Wi-Fi routers

Profile

Aleksey Yershov

Born: 1953 (Seversk, Tomsk Region)

Biography: Father died the year of Aleksey’s birth. Raised by his mother. Worked as an engineer and taught vocational school

Married Lyudmila in 1976. They have two adult children

After one of his students invited him to a meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Aleksey felt drawn to study the Bible. Was attracted to the Bible’s practical advice and the Kingdom hope. Baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1994

Personal Comments

What has helped your relationship with Jehovah grow during these trials?

My wife and I pray together more frequently. I realize that I would not be able to manage this situation without Jehovah’s help. Given that, I try to keep up with my spiritual routine of personal study and daily Bible reading. Every morning, my wife and I discuss the daily text and pray to Jehovah together.

How have you been able to overcome feelings of discouragement?

Personal study helps me to deal with discouragement. I meditate on the examples of faithful servants in the past. There are many accounts recorded in the Bible highlighting how important it is to keep calm and to show trust in Jehovah. Meditating on them, I try to understand what has helped God’s servants to keep calm. Acts 5:29 says: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.” When the Sanhedrin ordered the apostles to stop preaching, the apostles did not panic. Even when they were flogged, they did not become fearful. The apostles knew that Jehovah was with them and that he was pleased with them.

Daily Bible reading and prayer will continue to strengthen and comfort our brothers and sisters in Russia. Psalm 9:9 assures us, “Jehovah will become a secure refuge for the oppressed, a secure refuge in times of distress.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses

UPDATE | Brother Aleksey Yershov’s Spiritual Routine Helps Combat Discouragement

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Profile

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