From Russia with blogs | 1st impression

… feeling the joy of the angels

Certain strangers can be picked out right away. And when you pick them out, there is a concern that appears on the inside. Once, a man came to our service and instantly began to attract attention. The service had already begun and the worship team was playing a song. It was obvious that this man was alcoholic due to his swollen face and ragged clothes, and he behaved like a former convict.

Deep inside, I prepared myself for problems. He acted in a challenging, confrontational manner. He spoke loudly and laughed often while the rest of the church praised God. Of course, others became distracted by his behaviour. He did not shy away from starting a dialogue with them. There was no rudeness or aggression from his side, but the usual peaceful atmosphere common to our worship services was absent too. Some of the displeased “veterans of faith” in our church began to turn around and give him direct looks, as if suggesting that only their exceptional holiness and integrity stood in the way of them getting up and showing the obnoxious gentleman the door.

The situation became critical. More and more people drew their attention to the person and not the worship experience. Then he left for a smoke. I decided to take advantage of the moment and to tell to him that such behaviour is inappropriate in church. When I approached him and greeted him, he replied with a smirk on his face, “It is nice here, of course, but I turned away from God because He turned away from me when I was in trouble.”

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From Russia with blogs | Christmas

Joyous holiday, celebration or supermarket?

It is nearly Christmas.  People in St. Petersburg [Russia] can be seen practicing their various traditions and customs.  Western and Orthodox beliefs stand equal during this season; people celebrate Christmas on December 25th as well as January 7th. As a result, everything blends into a long holiday season filled with Christmas trees, oranges, champagne and dinners.

According to the Orthodox calendar Christmas happens to fall after New Year’s, on January 7th.  Under the rule of the Soviet Union, all Christmas celebrations were grouped together with New Year’s celebrations.  Instead of an angel, a Kremlin star was placed on the tree.  For a long time, Christmas was sustained only in private, family celebrations.  I remember Christmas celebrations at my grandmother’s house, but I do not recall hearing anyone speaking of Christ during that time.  This day was meant for going to other people’s houses to celebrate by exchanging gifts.

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From Russia with Blogs | hammered

Cynicism, the quick painkiller

Usually, while talking with the friends who I serve with, I get encouragement. I feel better even simply knowing that these people are in the same boat with me. They understand me because they are engaged in the same tasks as I am. We are soldiers who are fighting in the same battle. With some of them I have been through a lot. I saw their triumphs and defeats and they saw mine. This is why we value each others words and relationships.

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From Russia with Blogs | influence

Who influences you? Who do you influence?

While reading books by different authors about the church, I sometimes get a feeling that I am reading the stories of some mysterious fairy tale heroes. They do everything and their prayers get a response from God even before the utter the final “amen.” And God comes to them daily as their personal secretary, providing them with the daily schedule every morning. These heroes are always surrounded by positive people, full of joy and contentment.

But in my life I have not met people like that. The people who come to my corps often seem to embody the word “negative”.  And if you are prepared to listen to them, after awhile everything around you will inevitably darken. People like this whom I’ve met have many problems. Every day they face temptations and often they end up giving in rather than gaining victory. Many pray regularly. But the answers to their prayers are more likely to be a rare Christmas gift than an everyday reality.

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From Russia with Blogs | support

Who cares for those who care?

I am old enough to have experienced the end of the Soviet era in Russia. When I was in school, I was a young pioneer. I was taught then that the well being of society comes before my personal desires and needs. There was a saying that went something like this: “The Party claims ‘It is needed,’ and everyone simply says ‘Yes, sir!’” But soon after the Soviet Union collapsed, those communal values were no longer common. Everyone started to live by their own principles.

The new values that dominated claimed the following: “Everyone for himself/herself” and “After my needs are satisfied, you could flood the world if you wanted, and I would not care.” But I remember that even then, I could not pursue only selfish goals. It was not difficult for me to give to others. But to ask for something was inappropriate and shameful. Asking was always out of place, or so I thought. And, of course, there would always be someone who needed help more than I did.

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From Russia with Blogs | invisible exchange

Inundated with vision

Walking into a bookstore, attending a seminar of some kind, or sitting in a gathering of the soldiers of the corps, one can hear many different opinions and valuable advice. When we meet our friends, we often share our opinions on events and people who we know. And we think that this is the point of our conversation. The phrase “we conversed” often implies “we discussed something or someone.” It seems there is nothing bad about this, if it’s not gossip — until the subjects of our conversations become prayer, reading of the Bible, and ministry.

In this aura, one can encounter many views, perceptions and outlooks. There are different schools, movements of interpretation or certain forms of prayer, and everyone has his or her own opinion — or, as it is customary to call it today, VISION.

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From Russia with Blogs | begging

Vadim Khurin - our newest blogger

“Poverty is not a flaw, but an opportunity to affirm one’s actions.”

In Russia, this is a common proverb. Often people who are not poor act as if they were. On the other hand, some who are actually poor live active, contented and interesting lives. I used to think that all those who begged for money out on the streets were dispossessed and unfortunate. I thought about how I could help them. I invited them to attend our Sunday services and programs at the corps. But then I realized that for the poor, begging for money is a job. While standing in the thickness of crowds with a tin can or sitting out on the street with a sign, one can collect quite a bit.

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