CEE Story From The Mission Field
Real Life in Russia
THEY NEED YOUR PRAYERS!!!!!!
May 21, 2003
Discrimination against Christians has not stopped in Russia. In fact, pressure from the Orthodox Church to impede the work of missionaries in Khabarovsk, Russia has grown unbelievably in the past year. This increase calls for a desperate need for your prayers on behalf of missionaries and nationals who are endeavoring to spread the gospel. Here are a few examples of Real Life in Russia
* A Messiah concert group came from the States and served as an example of how difficult things are becoming. The leader of the Orthodox Church gave the final approval for use of the concert hall. The choir slipped in because of the Russian orchestra. If they had known that the choir was Christian, or worse Baptist, they would have never gotten in. Earlier, missionaries had tried to be upfront to get a Baptist choir to sing here in a public venue. The Minister of Culture said, "no, they can sing only in the Baptist churches." The success of the Messiah concert was a miracle. The Baptists have tried to rent that hall for various things - to pay money for the rent - and they are turned down.
*One young Baptist lady is trying to rent a place for a Crisis Pregnancy Center. She is constantly turned down, because she is not Orthodox, but a sect. She recently talked with a local Orthodox leader, since they are also for saving the unborn. We have this in common, and she is even using their materials that are in Russian. They refused to work together, because she is a "sectant," and therefore "working with Americans to tear Russia down".
*One Baptist church in town does not have its own building, and is being run out of every place they rent after about 1 year.
*Two Baptist churches are building their own buildings, but can't get the paperwork from the local government authorities. The authorities refuse to give them the paperwork because they are a “sect.”
*One pastor was told that it would be best that he leave the country while he still has the chance.
*Even worse, the missionaries have no right to share the Gospel with others. They have freedom to work only with the Russian Baptists. Legally the Russian Baptists are not to do work outside of their churches, or with people who are not their own members. However, they continue to push the limits and have to gage when to "go for it" and when to be silent.
This is the reality of Russia. So, what are CEE missionaries doing there? They are building relationships with non-believers, being uplifting toward the Orthodox (Rom. 12:17-21), and training Christians in starting small groups and developing leaders. We don't know how much longer we can be there, so the foundation must be set for the rapidly reproducing church. We may be out in one year or 20 years, only God knows. Please pray for your missionaries and pray for the salvation of many in Russia.