Most Holy Night
Written by Wes Bentley
Wes Bentley and his son, Wesley Jr.
As we flew into Moscow in January to teach two different conferences, I was wondering how much longer the doors would be open to come and share God’s word. When the iron curtain fell, we were able to openly evangelize; however, in this politically changing climate it seems our window of opportunity is closing. That sobering reality made me all the more determined to invest as much as possible into this trip. Being in Russia again took me back to my first love in Christ, and I experienced what I would call one of the most holy nights in my walk with the Lord.
We landed in Moscow and spent the night with our team of five (My son Wes Jr., Ed Gauntt-FRM’s Operations Officer, Mark Piester-our Russian Missionary, Dima-our Russian interpreter and I) before departing by train for Rybinsk. Four hours later, we disembarked into twenty nine below zero weather on the platform. After getting to our hotel, Ed and I took a walk to discuss the upcoming itinerary. I love the Russian winter, breathing that crisp air, and seeing the orthodox domes lit up against the dark sky, but our thick layers of winter clothes were no match for the cold. After thirty minutes we had to head back.
In the morning, everyone gathered at the Rybinsk church for the mission’s conference. Ed and I each shared messages of exhortation and encouragement. FRM catered a special lunch for everyone. The economic hardship hit these families hard. Several people shared that they had not received their wages for months, so this lunch was a great blessing to them. Meat is served only on holidays, so we served each person a half chicken. The women had worked all night preparing Russian potato salad (which was extremely good) along with many other traditional dishes. During the meal, the room was filled with laughter and joy as everyone fellowshipped.
Next, we prepared to give our Christmas gifts. Calvary Chapel Hope, New York knitted warm scarves for each of the women and children. As Mark handed them out and told each person God loved them, you could feel the joy!
The children were just finishing up the winter camp Mark organizes each year. It is a Vacation Bible School format and the children thoroughly enjoy it! Mark gave each of the children a new toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. It was sweet to watch them open the boxes. Excitement was written all over their faces and each one said, “Wow!”
We finished off the day with more teaching. After each session, I was flooded with questions and prayer requests. It was my pleasure to share with them. The ladies of the church were so touched by what they had learned that they asked us to sit down and proceeded to sing for us.
As I joined in the VBS and mingled among the kids, one young little girl kept coming up and sitting in my lap. She would touch my face and smile. Her mother told me her father abandoned them and so she was always looking for a father figure. I felt honored that the Lord allowed me to represent a heavenly Father to this broken hearted little girl. It is often the little things we can say or do that matter most to the Lord. I was reminded of Jesus’ words, “…inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
During the conference, I was praying the Lord would specifically show me how to strengthen this church. Their hearts to reach out were so evident, but I knew they needed help. The Lord kept bringing chairs for their church to my mind. The current chairs were rickety and obviously falling apart. I also saw their passion for reaching the youth; yet, they had no sound system. When Sunday morning came the church was packed! It was the first work day after the Russian long winter holiday so I was told not to expect a very good turnout. Pastor Yevgeny told me that the church body enjoyed the teachings so much that many had taken a day off work (another confirmation that God was moving given the financial hardship so many were facing).
After service, Pastor Yevgeny took us to his home for lunch. He has nine children and lives in a modest 1000 square foot home. His wife and sister made us a wonderful Russian lunch. You all know how much I enjoy a good home-cooked meal…but I could not keep up with the food they kept bringing us. I said, “I just cannot eat anymore.” His wife would say, “Please try just one…” I obliged her thinking I finally convinced her and just then another plate of food would come. It felt like Thanksgiving Day to all of us!
After lunch, I told Pastor Yevgeny FRM wanted to buy the church new chairs and a complete sound system. He told me he had been praying about this for a very long time. We jumped into his van and drove straight to the office supply store to place the order. As we walked through the store, I remembered that Pastor Yevgeny’s desk was also falling apart and he did not have a chair. I prayed and God told me to get him a set so he would have a quiet comfortable place to study.
This church was so thankful to all of you for tangibly caring for them. When we arrived back at the pastor’s house, we were greeted with warm pastries. It did no good to tell them no; they just would not have it. Pastor Yevgeny told us that he wanted to take us to his mother Valentina’s house for fellowship. She also had prepared a huge dinner. I just had to laugh when I saw it on the table, knowing we had just eaten a few minutes earlier. After dinner, she began to tell us about the persecution her family had gone through. The KGB took her father off to a Russian prison where he was eventually executed for his faith. The government also threatened to take her children and husband away from her but she met each trial with utter dependence on God. Her love for God’s Word was immediately apparent and not just the heavenly promises. She was holding onto the fact that He would give her fellowship in her sufferings and eventually the power that had also raised Jesus from the dead as she endured.
It was a humbling moment. I knew we were sitting with a woman who would be considered great in the Kingdom. Then she pulled a carefully wrapped old Bible from one of her shelves. She told us that it was one of the only two Bibles that the church possessed during the 75 years of communism and oppression. Valentia said that the Bibles had cost them a very large sum of money but that it was the most valued possession belonging to the church. Listening to her made me realize these people had lived in utter dependence on Christ. They had no wealth by the world’s standards; yet they had great wealth by heaven’s standards.
Outside, the Russian winter was bitter cold; inside we were being warmed, not by the fire from the stoves, but by Spirit that had enabled this precious woman to stand in the face of incredible persecution. It was one of those nights in my life that I will always treasure.
When we reached the train station, we were stunned to see most of the church waiting there to see us off. As we boarded the train, they sang praise songs until we pulled away. Dima, our Russian interpreter, was deeply touched by their open display of love and told me that he had never seen anything like that in Russia. We met Pastor Yevgeny one last time in Moscow to purchase the sound system. I heard back just a few weeks ago of how the Lord is using the equipment.
The doors for missionaries may be closing in Russian but God has a remnant of believers that will carry the light deeper and continue to look after the flock. Thank you for your support and prayers. I know many of you are longing to hear about Lydia. She is doing great and I will update you in a future newsletter. May God continue to spur each of you on in this race. His return is at the door so press ahead and keep your hearts and minds fixed on the eternal.
In Christ,
Wes Bentley