The mission journey of approximately 5000 miles to Eastern Europe by myself and Rev. N. M. Ross was in the merciful providence of God accomplished without too many problems.
Thankfully we had the opportunity of preaching on four occasions in the home of one of those with whom we had made friends since our first coming to the Kiev region. The gathering was small, but there appears to be a genuine desire for the teachings of the Word of God. In fact on our next visit, God willing, we hope to preach in two different homes at the request of those to whom we have already preached.
As well as having had the opportunity to preach the gospel, we delivered our load of Bibles, calendars and Reformed literature and goods at various places. We distributed to churches and homes in Hungary, Ukraine, Moldavia and Romania. The bulk of our distribution was in the capital of Ukraine, Kiev. A number of homes were visited and literature left. These visits were a follow up of letters sent to Scotland requesting literature.
It was most gratifying being able to hand out the Westminster Shorter Catechism now printed in Russian, along with scripture proofs. The translation was done by the Russian Reformation Foundation in Colorado, and the Catechism printed by Settle Graphics, Yorkshire, and the cost of printing borne by the Church. A quantity of these were sent to Colorado and a considerable amount taken with us to the Ukraine. We hope God willing to proceed shortly with a further print of the Shorter Catechism but with Rev. R. Lawson’s notes.
It is not an easy matter to obtain translators. Of two translations of the Shorter Catechisms, one done in Kiev and another obtained through the good service of friends in Scotland, were sent to a Russian Christian, Mr Andrei Valtsev, in St. Petersburg, for his assessment. He concluded that it would be more practical to re-do the translation of the Shorter Catechism as well as Rev. R. Lawson’s commentary and scripture proofs. Funds permitting we hope to proceed with the printing of this Catechism.
We have also, with the labour of a translator in Essex, England, Miss Mollie Robertson, improved the translation of the Mother’s Catechism and intend to go to print as soon as possible.
It becomes more and more evident that there is as great need as ever for spreading the Word of God in the places we visited over the past years. Previously there was the suppression of religion and people could not worship freely, now with freedom to worship, there is great interest in religion and a situation which the cults use to great advantage. The Jehovah Witnesses had their world conference in Kiev when 70-100 thousand Jehovah’s Witnesses descended on Kiev. They are only one of the many cult groups that are busy in the city of Kiev. Our tract by ERGATEES exposing the errors of Mormonism and translated into Russian by Miss Margaret Campbell, Inverness, was well received by those who are fighting against the errors of the cults. One young friend in Kiev, used this tract to good effect, delivering her companions from continuing in the Mormon Church.
There is great need to continue with our Mission work in Eastern Europe and this cannot be without the support of all those who so liberally contribute to this work. The Orthodox Church is antagonistic towards Protestantism and the spreading of anything that sounds like evangelical, while the Arminians are opposed to Calvinism. It is our intention therefore, by the grace of God, to continue with the work of our Church in Eastern Europe, spreading reformed teaching as it is based on the Word of God; praying and waiting for that day when the Lord will open the minds of those to whom we send His Word, that it may be received in its fulness.
D.A.R.