Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We are very thankful for your prayer and financial support, for the help Western, and especially American, believers, Christian missions and missionaries rendered to our long-suffering Motherland through this time of hardship. With all our hearts we are seeking to help you be most effective in our country. We also want you to understand the real situation in our country and churches.

At present our country is going through an extremely difficult period. The political situation is unstable. Because of the lack of a wise ruler, the country became the object of plunder. Corruption has spread to all areas of our life, including governmental agencies. This has led to chaos and inflation in the country's economy.

Spiritually the nation is also living through a crisis. Like all our society, the church is in need of a spiritual revival. The Russian Orthodox Church is collaborating with the government. Various sects and occult religions are most active. There is no unity among Christians. The people are losing interest in spiritual matters. At the same time national and religious hatred is building up.

In spite of the fact that we received from foreign Christians most of the Bibles and other Christian literature we have in Russia, as well as the majority of humanitarian aid, the Russian Orthodox Church and various nationalistic organizations are actively opposing Western, and especially American, Christian missions. A great number of leaflets, brochures, and booklets accuse Western Christians of seeking to enslave the minds and hearts of Russian people and aim at spiritual usurpation of Russia.

That is why we address all Western Christian missions and missionaries willing to work in Russia:

• be ready to see less spiritual hunger in Russia than existed four or five years ago;
• be aware that now anything coming from the West, from America in particular, is not welcome and may cause antagonism and often open hostility;
• be aware that the Orthodox Church not only objects to Western Christians coming here, but is actively turning Russian believers against them;
• be aware that organized crime controls all areas of the country's economy and politics, including government organs;
• be ready for total economic chaos, to be deceived, robbed, or even killed.

Realize that Russia is in agony trying to find its own way.

We appreciate the experience of other countries, but...Western patterns cannot be directly implemented in Russia without proper adaptation.

The existing traditional church, the Protestant one in particular, is not meeting the needs of today. It's the salt that has lost its savor, it's the "old wineskin," the lamp placed under the bushel. We really need the rich spiritual experience of Western churches, but we need the best part of it adapted to the specific conditions of Russia--everything that applies to us.

Today we critically need Western missions' and missionaries' support, but Russia needs Western Christians who are strong in the Spirit and capable to serve in spite of economic and political hardships. We need people who are immediately ready to serve rather than those who spend 3-5 years studying the Russian language and culture. We can provide translation for immediate and effective service.

In the first place, we need specialists who not only know how to do things, but also have their own rich, practical experience in planting, developing, and strengthening churches. Second, we need youth and music leaders who are able to raise the ministry for our young Christians to a higher level. Third, we need people who not only come to teach for short terms, but who are ready to serve in Russian churches for five years or more.

The Orthodox Church receives from the government all kinds of privileges to use mass media for its propaganda, to buy land and build churches and seminary facilities, while the Protestants face nothing but limitations. Protestant churches pay primary attention to salvation and to winning souls for Christ rather than building churches and training Christian workers. The President's decree banning the use of public buildings and schools for worship services and religious activity is already in force. Very soon the majority of Protestant churches, having no facilities of their own, may find themselves in the street.

No one can be sure that tomorrow our government, pressed by the Orthodox Church or due to a political situation, will not persecute Western religious organizations and missionaries for spreading their beliefs and make them leave this country. As a result, most Protestant churches that are run by Western missionaries will be deprived of their leaders.

The priorities of today are to train Russian leaders for the churches and to make "new wineskins," churches promoting spiritual revival of the Russian people and drawing those who are searching for God. We encourage you to pray and support the Russian brethren.

God bless you,

Peter N. Sautov
Director, Center for Evangelism
Pastor, Evangelical Christian-Baptist Church in Novogireevo, Moscow

 Peter N. Sautov, "An Open Letter to Christians of the World," East-West Church & Ministry Report, 3 (Winter 1995), 6-7