PERM CONFERENCE AND CRUSADE – OCTOBER 2008
We approached this big event with some concern in view of the uncertain worldwide economic climate. On the other hand, David’s 12-month multiple entry religious visa was about to expire. Could we count on it being renewed, considering the deteriorating political relationships between Russia, Britain and the West? For David the deciding factor was Sunday 14 September when a Russian Boeing airliner crashed on the outskirts of Perm, on the main Siberian railway line 500 yards from Pastor Eduard’s house, killing all 88 passengers and crew. Russian people are very emotional and close-knit, even in a city as large as this. Everyone knew those who died. Pastor Eduard called David, “Please come. The people of Perm are devasted and in a great depression. They need the Gospel – don’t fail us!”
So David went. The Lord worked amazing miracles to make the event a success – the biggest such event in 15 years. The morning seminar was attended by 3000 delegates from all over the Perm region, even more were present for the second seminar, and 6000 attended the evangelism in the evening with thousands repenting. 1700 New Testaments were handed out that first night. On Sunday 4500 attended the conference seminar, and again 6000 attended the evangelism. Relatives and friends of the crash victims were present in the meetings. One woman had a daughter who had been practicing as a doctor in Norway for 10 years and this was to have been her first visit home. Nevertheless, both the mother and the daughter who died were believers, and the mother said, “Evangelism is the most fitting tribute and memorial to the dead. Everyone needs Jesus!”
The results were two fold. From the evangelism, 1000 new converts came to the church on the following Sunday! To the sceptics this demonstrates that the day of mass evangelism is not over! People will still come to hear the Gospel and repent in their thousands. From the conference, Pastor Eduard will personally distribute the CDs of the preaching to pastors all over Russia – this is the most powerful preaching he has ever heard and he believes it will re-ignite the evangelistic fire all over Russia with a potentially explosive impact on the whole nation.
In addition to the conference and crusade in Perm, David was taken 200km by car, to evangelise in Kudimkar. As we approached this northern city for our open-air crusade, the golden autumn sunshine of the Perm region we had left behind gave way to black skies and the rain poured down. But Eduard, who was organising for us said, “You think the weather in Kudimkar is bad, but these people live here like this all the time – they will come!” – And they did! Attracted by the music, there were people everywhere – standing in the square, sheltering under the buildings across the street, under the portico of the Culture Palace behind the platform, under umbrellas – up to 1000 in the rain! – Teenagers, young couples, the old and the sick! – And no-one moved! But when David got up to speak, the rain stopped, and a rainbow appeared over the people against the red sunset.
Crowds pressed forward to receive Christ in response to the simple Gospel. This was our fourth crusade here since 2004 and every time we have seen the influence of the church grow. – When we first came, the communist mayor wanted to turn us out of town, but was so won over by the Gospel, he gave the local pastor a building for a church! Today the pastor speaks every day on the radio before the news to lift up and encourage the inhabitants of this depressed region!