To Russia With Love
by Melanie Hemry
Rick Renner absorbed the sights and sounds of the ancient city of Jelgava, Latvia, in the Soviet Union. Standing against a faded sky, it appeared weary with exhaustion. It was May 1991 and parts of the little city stood as if it was at the end of World War II.
Long lines of people snaked down the street, hoping to buy bread. Dark spiritual oppression hovered over the city, casting it in shadows. Rick felt his heart move on behalf of the people who needed the light of the gospel to drive out the darkness and bring hope to the hopeless.
The underground church had thrown off restraint and shot up from its hiding places like a green shoot of grass after a long winter. Young adults—the children and grandchildren of formerly persecuted parents and grandparents—were now attending the first above-ground Bible school in the Soviet Union.
That’s why he was here. He had been asked to speak in the school. In truth, he hadn’t wanted to come. It wasn’t that he didn’t care. It was that God had blessed him with a growing ministry in the U.S.
Just months earlier, Rick had been in Michigan when his friend said, “I’m going to speak at the first above-ground Bible school in the Soviet Union. It’s in Jelgava, Latvia, and has 200 students. I want you to go.”
“I’m not going to Latvia,” Rick told his friend.
“That’s fine. You stay in Tulsa with your new house. Enjoy yourself while people go to hell. We’ll go to the Soviet Union and help.”
Guilt!
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12 : BVOV
