Victor Miller, sophomore digital media studies major, is taking some time off of regular classes this semester and taking advantage of ministry opportunities in Central Asia with the International Mission Board.
Since Jan. 9, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and northern Afghanistan are a few of the countries in which Miller has served and will be serving.
These countries are among the top 25 persecuted in the world.
This opportunity with the IMB came about when Miller’s supervisor for the organization World Changers suggested that he apply.
“After careful prayer, thought and consideration, I applied and was accepted a few months later,” Miller said.
The program especially intrigued him because his position utilizes his media skills, such as photography, graphics and video, to inform people all over the world about Central Asians.
“Central Asia is one of the darkest regions on earth,” Miller said. Only about .05 percent of the area’s population is considered to be evangelical believers.
Persecution for the faith is common in this area of the world, he said.
“The man I’m working with was in a country where local believers could be killed or sent to labor camps for up to 20 years,” Miller said.
Others are kicked out of the country and not allowed to return even to see their family.
Each day is different, but most recently Miller and his team have been teaching farmers from around the region.
“We go to their orchards to help them take proper care of their farms … temperatures have been around -21 degrees Fahrenheit,” Miller said.
Additionally, he takes photos and video and designs brochures of the region for the IMB to use to recruit more personnel and train other staff.
Before arriving at his destination, Miller had issues with his student visa, and he was delayed in Istanbul for a few days. There he was able to connect with and befriend some teenagers.
“Soon after I found out that proselytizing to minors is illegal in Istanbul,” Miller said.
Where Miller is serving now, the law states that attempting to convert anyone is illegal, and local believers are not allowed to meet in a church that is not run by the state.
Organizations such as the IMB are illegal. There are an estimated 5,000 believers in a country of more than 30 million people.
Miller will be serving in Central Asia until May 23.
When he returns to the United States, he plans to work with Compassion International as a video intern.
That internship will take place in Colorado Springs, Colo., until August, including a short trip to Guatemala.
After graduating, Miller said he would consider making a career out of the media work overseas or perhaps working for a nonprofit organization.
Miller said he hopes that others will be encouraged to go and serve this area of the world.
