Bashkortostan literally means “head-land” and is populated by a Turkic people group known to be not very tall. I should have remembered it as I hurried following pastor Renat (5’3”) down the dimmed hallway in his apartment building. Bang!!! I hope I am a true Bashkort now – at least the top of my head is wearing a visible sign of visiting this otherwise very hospitable and beautiful land.  [Read more…]

After a short delay due to my sutcases’ sudden decision to spend an extra night in Paris (who will blame them?) I am now in the Republic of Bashkortostan.

Two presentations in the local Evangelical Churches was as a very good start for the trip. “We are so grateful for your training! What a tool for our Christian leaders to reach out to the next generation of youth!” — said one of the facilitators.

It is a cultural thing: When an American sets up a date and does not cancel it, it will happen. When a Russian sets up a time and does not confirm it, it is cancelled. Guess what I have been doing for these last days before my next trip? That’s right: sending out confirmation messages for each event of my upcoming, very busy teaching schedule in Russia.

First I am flying two time zones east of Moscow to the city of Ufa, the capital of a mostly Muslim enclave within Russia called Bashkortostan. There I will present the FaithSearch Discovery curriculum in the state universities and in local churches. I will then be moving around the Ural Mountains region for five more days, teaching in Sibay, Magnitogorsk and Chelyabinsk, before flying back to Moscow and then on to St. Petersburg for the second half of the trip. I am presenting every single day, and even twice a day on a couple of occasions.

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Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

I have seen it for myself happening in the hearts of hundreds of Russians who filled the church for the overnight service in St. Petersburg. It began at 10 pm on Saturday night and ended at 3.30 am on Sunday morning with a candlelight procession around the church at midnight. Then a group of close friends and families walked (no public transportation at this hour) to a place where the Great Lent was broken by a real feast that lasted until… I am not sure when it ended because I started to feel a little tired and left as soon as the subway system opened at around 6.30 am. These people really know how to celebrate!

Sure enough, the celebration continued in a less formal way by inviting non-believers to the outdoor event in the park this same afternoon. Great time of sharing the real meaning of Easter with people who only think they are Orthodox Christians because they were born in Russia (sounds familiar?).

Please continue to pray for my last two days of ministry here. One more early morning radio presentation was just added to my already packed schedule for tomorrow. It’s going to be a long day.