CEE Story From The Mission Field
God at Work in the Far East
October 31, 2003
"All the brothers here in the Far East are burdened and concerned about when there will be an awakening. As we see a decrease in the number of churches, it creates a discomfort, an inner struggle, and we ask what is going on, what do we do now? And now you have opened the door and given our brothers an idea, and an inspiration for what to do next; how to plant new churches."
These were the closing words of Gennady Abramov, superintendent of the Russian Baptist Union in Khabarovsk, Russia, where a conference on church planting was recently held. More than 50 Russian Baptist pastors and leaders, from churches in an area stretching from Central Russia to the Bering Strait, were in attendance.
The conference, titled "The Church of Acts in Today's World," delved into issues about the nature of a church-planting movement (CPM), universal elements of a CPM, and common factors that facilitate or block CPMs. One of the most evocative aspects of the conference, that deeply affected all of those in attendance, was the personal testimony incorporated.
Two of the key speakers at the conference were Howard Atkinson, IMB missionary to Cuba, and Alberto Gonzalez, president of the Western Cuba Baptist Union. Howard and Alberto were able to bring a hint of Latin American enthusiasm, first hand experience, and testimony of how God is mightily at work and moving in the country of Cuba. The similar persecution, histories, struggles, political climates, and desires of these two countries easily bridged the apparent cultural gap.
In addition to the stirring testimonies from Cuba, Russell Kyzar, Buck Birch, and Ed Tarleton, missionaries to Russia, brought examples of possibilities and challenges for CPMs in Russia; and Rodney Hammer, Regional leader of CEE, gave personal testimony from his experience in East Asia. The small group times, immediately following each session, were full of intense discussions, dialogues and questions among the brothers. Many new ideas were introduced at the seminar to the pastors and leaders, but with evidence straight from Scripture and the available testimonies of the speakers, many hearts began to open to the necessity and possibility of change.
As one of the pastors said in front of the group, "We are in a crisis. If we don't change, if we keep doing what we've been doing, our churches will not grow." The number of Baptist churches in this area, roughly three times the size of Texas was calculated at the seminar to total 117. That means there is currently only 1 church for every 54,008 people.
By the end of the week the word on everyone's tongue was "vision". As they came away from the week they were encouraged that a CPM can take place in Russia, and challenged with new ideas including the gathering of house church groups.
Gennady Kuzmich, speaking on behalf of the pastors from the Primorsky region, reflected this in his closing remarks, "We have realized, after this seminar, that we don't have just 22 churches in our region, but 40. We have called them groups until now, but we need to go back and let these groups know they are no longer groups, but actually churches. We need to teach them to act like churches."
Praise God for the way He is working among Russian Baptist pastors in the Far East, and for the addition of 18 new churches in the Primorsky region!
View the photo essay of "God at Work in The Far East."