Great Commission Media Ministries (formerly IRR-TV)

Last autumn, Caucasus regional Bishop Arthur Magomedovitsh Suleimanov of the Union of Evangelical Christians, expressed the wish to implement a mega-city campaign in Dagestan, the capital of Mahatshkala, in southern Russia.

On July 15 the bishop paid with his own life for spreading the gospel in a predominantly Islamic area of the Caucasus.

We mourn his death and bless his memory.

Arthur, 49, born in the Caucasus region, came to faith in 1993. Shortly thereafter, he began pastoral ministry. His ministry grew and new congregations were planted in many cities of the region.

Arthur had received warnings about the growing danger and received a threat in the previous month. "The so-called ” brothers of the forest” (extremist Islamic warriors) have declared war against Christians. Their message was: "Times have changed. They who have not understood it, will understand now!"

Islam's influence is increasing in the Northern Caucasus, and extreme Islamists are becoming more radical as time passes.

Arthur was fatally shot in the head as he was leaving the church courtyard in his car.