The 2012 marked the new trend in the religious relations in Kyrgyzstan. Different Christian organizations started to unite and share their values. “Breath of Life”, a new Christian youth movement in Kyrgyzstan, created one month ago to work closely with young people. The day is set once in a month, and youths from different churches gather and worship together in one place.

By inference, this trend happens due to Christian immigrants, especially missionaries. Christian missionaries in Kyrgyzstan are very active. They devote their affection on locals to bring up as disciples. Further, these people become a leader of some kind of Christian organization that unites all local Christians.

According to Emil Nasritdinov, a professor of American University of Central Asia who teaches Anthropology of Religion course, the gathering of people in religion is representing that they are having strong community. Convergence of such Christian religious youths or churches means that they keep their faith firmly and steadily.

Since the beginning of 2012, a group of young Christian people in Kyrgyzstan started to gather once in a month and do religious practices. This is youth movement named as “Breath of Life” which appeared in Kyrgyzstan on January 2012.

Roman Kim, one of the organizers of “Breath of Life” mentioned “Breath of Life is a movement of young Christians who are not indifferent to what is happening in their homes, community, school, neighborhood, country and church.”

Further he adds that originally this movement birthed out in the hearts of two young men from two churches which then called other young Christian leaders from other churches and shared our vision and expectations. This movement is not rigid with some harsh guidelines or something. There are also different kinds of nationalities such as Kyrgyz, Russian, Koreans and others from different churches as “Jesus Christ’s Church”, “Great Grace Church”, “Grace Church”, “Hope Church” and others. Youths from this movement love to make a prominent contribution into Kyrgyzstan's society development by being faithful, loving and responsible Christians that love God and love people.

According to Roman’s saying, the main purpose of this movement is to unite and ignite young Christians to take responsibility over their homes, families and country for the glory of God. One of the primary tasks that they put ahead of them in the moment is to unite young people all across Kyrgyzstan and push them to share resources between one another for the purpose of more effective service to the body of Christ and society.

Emil Nasritdinov said “any evangelical religion is not considered as sects. This movement will not bring much harm to youths, and their family. Generally, it will effect positively to young people’s life. They will find their bad habits and try to overcome it. Personal improvement is very essential.”

Sergei Vyatchanin, 18, a Russian young man, one of the students of American University of Central Asia, who is not in favor of this youth movement, said “I believe that a movement uniting young people under the principles of Christian moral is a good tendency. It is absolutely better than pseudo-subcultures like goths or emos in Kyrgyzstan as the latter ones do not deal with virtues. I also believe strong faith could help to escape scourges of modern times: drugs, crimes, etc.”

The youths who are in the part of this movement are having satisfaction in “Breath of life”.

“It has already been held two meetings, on January 9th and February 6th, through which many young people have already responded to serve who are in needs and to develop not only within the limits of Bishkek, but also in other towns and villages in all areas of our country, which has great potential,” said Aijamal Abdrahmanova, 21, a Kyrgyz young lady who studied in Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University.
She also claimed that both meetings were very good service, saw a lot of people that are really needed in this "spiritual recharge” and received a great grace and God's presence through prayer and worship.

Edilbek Manabaev, 27, a Kyrgyz young man from Osh, said “Youth Movement is most of what is now the youths of Kyrgyzstan desperately need. As young people live in the hectic life with no communication within each other, this movement allows communication with each other, and as it is written in Bible, where two or three, then Jesus there”

However, there were opinions that including some concerns about this movement.
Sergei Vyatchanin said “At the same time as a Christian myself I am concerned with the issue of religious fanaticism: all the religions basically teach about the same moral principles and a belief of preponderance of one religion over others could be dangerous for such a diverse society like Kyrgyzstan's. I hope latter-day movements won't turn out to be fanatic.”

“There may be conflicts between Muslims,” said Emil Nasritdinov, “convergence is not accepted to them. Especially in rural areas they have strong conflicts with Christian communities. For Russian, or Koreans or other European people it is not big problem. However, for Muslim community it is not ignorable. Kyrgyz youths who convert to Christianity have been facing difficulties in family. Although Kyrgyz people don’t do Muslim acts, they are sure that they are Muslims. That is the potential.”

According to a document in the U.S department of State website, an estimated 75 percent of the population is Muslim in Kyrgyzstan. However, some Christian pastors noted a growing number of ethnic Kyrgyz convert to Christianity. Protestant Church of Jesus Christ is the largest, with an estimated 11,000 members, of whom approximately 40 percent are ethnic Kyrgyz.

As Muslim is Kyrgyzstan’s country religion, Christian movements is meeting resistance in Kyrgyzstan. In the U.S department of State website it is mentioned that according to the 2009 religion law of Kyrgyzstan, all religious organizations must apply for approval of registration from the State Commission for Religious Affairs (SCRA). Organizations applying for registration must have at least 200 adult citizen members, a significant increase from 10 members prior to the passage of the Religion Law, and must submit an application form, organizational charter, minutes of an institutional meeting, and a list of founding members to SCRA for review.

Several religious groups had difficulties registering, but, one staff from this youth movement also said that at the moment, fortunately, they did not face any difficulties, and they hope they will not encounter them, because they do not do it for themselves. They have gathered in the church named as “Blagodat’” (in English it means “Grace”) which is already registered few years ago.

After the second meeting of “Breath of Life movement” Yerang Kim, 24, a young Korean lady who is a student of Kyrgyz National Medical University, said “I went to the both meeting, and I was amazed that came lots of youths from different churches with different nationalities. About hundred people came to this meeting. In the beginning of the meeting we worship God, i.e. sing gospel songs. Then, a preacher gives sermon, and, lastly, we all pray together. After service I had discussion with some young people. I’ve learnt that they believe in Jesus with all heart and were ready to serve God and people. “

Also, Edilbek Manabaev said that “all that was there is not possible to convey by words, we must be there to feel His presence.”

Emil Nasritdinov claimed that “to look in broader scale, any kinds of religion and diversity are a positive sign of democracy. As a Muslim I’m bit concerned. However, comparing with other Islamic countries, the fact that we have such movement is positive sight. It’s tolerance, diversity, and democracy.”