Articlefor Fellowship News

OnMy Russia Trip

Dr.Robert C. Newman

Imagine: It's Saturday, October 24, 1992, and you're in the Olympicindoor stadium in Moscow, Russia. The 42,000 seats are full and a couple of thousand people are standingbehind rope barriers on the stadium floor. The Russian Army Chorus begins to sing Cfirst, one of those Russian folk songs made famous by their record albums. Then they break into a rendition of"The Battle Hymn of the Republic": "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of theLord... Glory, glory, hallelujah, His truth is marching on!"  What's happening?  Is this a wild fantasy from a dream?  No, it's the truth, which sometimes is stranger than fiction.  This is how the second of the threeBilly Graham rallies in Moscow started, and I was there to see it.  Dr. Graham preached on the prodigalson, the best sermon I've ever heard him preach. At the end, people literally ran to accept his invitation,and more than 10,000 made professions of faith that one night alone.

This was just one of the highlights of mytwo-week trip to Russia with a team of a dozen teachers, pastors and laypeoplefrom the Philadelphia area. Wevisited St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Moscow, and Vologda to share the Gospel withthe Russian people. Our time inSt. Petersburg and Moscow was basically for sightseeing, but we spent fivedays each in the other two cities C both about 300,000 in population Cspeaking in schools and giving a series of evening talks on the Bible to the generalpublic.

There is a marvelous openness in Russiatoday. We spoke in some 50-75 highschool classrooms on such topics as "How to increase your grades withoutany additional effort," "Introduction to computers,""God and evil," "Is Christianity reasonable?" "Angelsand demons," "Solid values in a changing society," and "Isthe universe an accident or designed?" We gave out Russian versions of Campus Crusade's Four SpiritualLaws to each student, and sometimes had time to go through the booklets with them.  We don't get opportunities like that inpublic schools here! And thestudents and teachers were respectful, interested, often excited, andasked numerous questions. Perhaps1500-2000 students and teachers heard a credible presentation of Christianityfrom our team.

Our evening lectures were less wellattended, but they provided good contact with a number of seekers andChristians. Pastor Ed Miller spokeon the Bible's solutions to family problems. Dr. David Dunbar and Pastor David Hine gave a series for newChristians C the life of Christ, and the Christianwalk. My talks were aimed atseekers: "Does Godexist? What kind of God exists?  Why do we believe the Bible?  What's wrong with mankind?  Who is Jesus? Did he really rise from the dead? Is there life after death? How can I know God?"

In Novgorod, our evening lectures wereheld at the "Dialogue Center," formerly the Communist PartyHeadquarters for the city. One ofthe Communist youth organizations is called the "Young Pioneers."  In Vologda, a former Young Pioneerbuilding is now the Children's Creative Center, where we were invited to givethe lectures we gave in public schools. One of the highlights of my time in Russia was giving "Solid valuesin a changing society" to a group of children aged 6-16 in this center andleading them through the four spiritual laws. Some were visibly moved by the story of the prodigal son asa picture of how God is waiting to receive us. Many came up afterwards with gifts of postcards and requeststhat I autograph their Gospel booklets. What a time that was!

Christian Cultural Centers have recentlysprung up in both Novgorod and Vologda, where children are taught the Biblealong with music, literature, ballet and folk dancing.  We gave our evening lectures in Vologdaat the Christian Cultural Center there. The leaders at these centers held receptions for us and showed us whatthey are doing. It was very movingto see the Russian teacher's enthusiasm for the Bible and the children'sexcited participation as she taught a lesson on the creation story in Genesis;to hear the children sing our familiar Scripture choruses in Russian; and tosee the smiles on their faces. What a rewarding experience!

The Lord is doing great things in Russia,but there are many adversaries. Some blame the current economic difficulties on the abandonment ofCommunism and would like to see it restored. Some are hardened atheists, but others are rethinking theiratheism. Many are open not only tothe Gospel, but to occultism, the New Age movement, Jehovah's Witnesses andMormonism. As you have prayed forRussia in the past, so continue, that God may bring many into His kingdom.