SLAVIC GOSPEL ASSOCIATION

The Promise of Russian Youth

February 8th, 2010

Pastor Eugene Bakhmutsky
National Youth Director of the Russian UECB

Editor’s Note: This article was adapted from Eugene’s remarks during part of SGA’s 75th Anniversary Celebration and Conference held at Chicago’s historic Moody Church. Eugene’s story is a wonderful example of how God is preparing the hearts of young men and women to make an eternal difference across Russia’s vast expanse.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me (Galatians 2:20).

I am someone who would not have been born if the Soviet government at the time had its way. Both of my great grandfathers were killed for their faith. Both of my grandfathers were sent to Siberia as young men to die there. Some of their brothers and sisters died in Siberia, while others were just killed in the prison camp. When they reached 18, some of them were sent for hard labor in coal mines located in miserable places. They were expected to die, and it was all legal.

One of my grandfathers was taken away six times by the Soviet KGB to be killed, but I didn’t find that out from my grandmother until he had passed away. Another grandfather just went to be with the Lord last March. Before he died, he gave me a handwritten Bible as an heirloom. When I was a small boy, he would listen to SGA programs with me. He said, “Grandson, I only have one present to give to you, this Bible. His own martyred father had written some notes in it. It’s our family heritage now. And I’m very grateful to SGA because they helped my grandparents to be faithful. They helped me to study at a Strategic Bible Institute and helped me to get a seminary degree from Novosibirsk Biblical-Theological Seminary. SGA is like my family, and really is family in so many ways.

There is a great future for Russian youth who give their lives to the Lord, and my own story is an example. For most of the last century, Christians were not admitted to the universities, but with the new freedom I was accepted for study and I preached the Gospel to my classmates. When it came time for me to enter the military training department, the colonel said to me, “We are concerned about you, because we hear many men have become Christians because of your witnessing. We’ve asked you to join us because we need more army men, not Christians. And he tried to convince me to deny my faith by promising me such a great future. Finally I said, “You know, I am a Baptist.” He knew then it was useless to pressure me, and asked me to write a letter saying that I freely wanted to leave the army just two weeks before I was to get my lieutenant rank.

Reaching Friends with the Gospel

One day at the university, I saw my friend Dmitri sitting in the auditorium. He was the only young guy in my class to whom I had not yet preached the Gospel. Before I could say anything, he told me about a special psychological meeting he was to attend — a meeting where he would be “plucked” into “universal knowledge.” Dmitri said, “Don’t hope to be the first one. I’m the first one and I purchased a really special ticket. I looked at the ticket and said, “Dima, you’re too late. I was plucked already.” I said that I was plucked into the Bible and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. So I shared my testimony and told him about Christ. Two weeks later, he repented and believed. A few months later, Dima’s fiancé also came to faith after some initial struggles.

After I moved to Novosibirsk and was renting an apartment, Dima wanted to come for a visit, but I had to be away at a youth conference. He came anyway and was staying at my place when the apartment owner came by. When I got home, I saw them sitting together at the tea table and Dima said, “Eugene, you need to greet our new sister in Christ.” He had been witnessing to her, and she repented and believed. And that’s not the end of the story.

Today Dima is the leader of the youth group in his town. He recently told me, “Eugene, young people are coming to faith just like they did when we were college kids.” And that is what I want to emphasize to you — SGA’s partners in ministry. The young people today are a new generation. They have never heard the Gospel. They’re searching for their identity, and yes, they are coming to faith. Every missionary in Russia and the former Soviet Union reports the same thing — young people are coming to faith! They are actually chasing after us just to hear the Gospel.

I recently committed to do one week of street evangelism. After five days, 14 young men repented and believed, and they were willing to speak about it! We went to a university in Moscow just to share the Gospel. We knocked on the students’ dorm rooms and asked them if they were willing to talk with us about Jesus. None of them said no, everyone was willing to talk to us about Jesus. We don’t have enough workers now to work with young people who really want to listen to the Gospel. And this is my Macedonian call to you. Please stand strong and continue to pray, and encourage our hearts to gather this harvest. The Lord Himself is really preparing these young hearts to listen and to respond. So please pray for revival in the former Soviet Union! The best days are ahead for SGA.