STRUCTURAL AND PRACTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN BAPTISTS IN KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

This article examines the religious activity of Evangelical Christian Baptist communities in Kazakhstan from structural and practical perspectives. The distinctiveness of the study lies in its comprehensive approach, which goes beyond historical or legal analysis to include community-based practices, religious rituals, missionary strategies, and processes of adaptation within the national and cultural environment. The study explores the internal pluralism of the evangelical Christian Baptist movement by comparing Alexandrian, classical, and Pentecostal Baptist congregations and analyzing their theological orientations, organizational models, and patterns of interaction with the state. The article systematizes field empirical data on contemporary Baptist religious practices in Kazakhstan and the analysis of the transition of missionary activity from traditional formats to digital platforms. The authors identify the role of the baptismal ceremony, the practice of witnessing, as well as programs for youth and children in the formation of community identity and the preservation of religious continuity. In addition, special attention is paid to the adaptation strategies of ethnic Kazakh converts living in an Islamic-dominated environment, highlighting the importance of peaceful coexistence and intra-community support. The research results contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the development of Protestant communities in Kazakhstan and provide an analytical framework for analyzing religious diversity and interfaith interaction. Overall, the article offers new scientific insights into how evangelical Christian-Baptist communities reconcile religious identity, social boundaries, and institutional constraints within modern Kazakhstani society.