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The new Baptist church, a rarity in Russia, is next to a picturesque river flowing through Moscow. White high-rise apartment buildings form a contrasting backdrop to the red brick of the new church and the deep green of riverbank trees that surround it.
But upon looking closer, one sees the church is far from completed. Broken bricks and other construction debris litter the approach, making it difficult, even dangerous, for older worshippers to enter the building.
Inside, four walls are covered with a roof. Rough-sawed lumber spiked together with bent nails form temporary benches. Electrical wires hang from holes in the walls and ceiling. Many of the rooms are still littered with construction debris. Doors wait to be installed, floors to be completed.
"The former pastor began construction of this church," says Leonid. "But he did not finish it."
The former pastor raised money in the west to finance the construction. But before the church was completed, he went to live in the United States with his sons. Now, the construction is stalled.
"We have the money for putting in electricity," continues Leonid. "But we cannot get the permits to do it. The city of Moscow has no interest in giving us electric service." Consequently, there are no lights, heat or water. Though it is still warm, Leonid worries about the up-coming winter. Without electric, the building will be unusable. "Our people will freeze," notes Leonid.
Those attending the church come from the blue collar class, those hardest hit by the failures of economic reform. Some clearly live in abject poverty.
Outside, a fence encompasses the property. Worshippers have planted vegetable gardens on all available land to provide the food they need to live. When the service is finished, many tend their gardens before they return home. Some sit on makeshift benches with the carrots and potatoes and onions at their feet for a time of after-church fellowship.
I ask one man watering his potatoes what he thinks about Leonid's radio programs.
"I like them," he says. "But I would not like them if they used rock music."
Here, even with the reforms, the church struggles to survive. Before, no Protestant churches existed besides the Central Baptist Church in Moscow. Now, a few are springing up. But facilities are difficult to secure, and when congregations manage to do so, their troubles are not over. In fact, they may be just beginning.
Few congregation will be able to afford the heat, lights and maintenance that a building demands. Some are turning to renting space in their worship centres to foreign ministries to secure the necessary cash. This seems to answer the problem for the moment. But the success of these facilities depends on the presence of these outside agencies. What happens when the agencies leave? Who will keep the church facilities open?
The glory days of western-style worship centres is still a long way off in Russia.
But inside, the warmth of the service, the fervent prayers for God's grace and guidance, and the eager sharing of experience warm the cold walls of Chimiki. Where one or two are gathered, God continues to be present.
Burton Buller, MBC
Return to the M.B. Herald Vol. 35, No. 15
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