Out of Russia - Because of Love

By Barbara McCain

Missionary deputation is an exciting time of ministry.  Often there is a special "bonding" between the missionary and a guest church, that leads to years of financial and prayer support.  Other times, needed love offerings help the missionary along his travels, and often churches are revitalized by the special speaker and his message.  But the greatest excitement of all is found in changed lives and in souls that are saved for the glory of God.  During our deputation days, God gave such a precious experience of soul saving excitement, that I will forever cherish its memory.

Our meeting that May weekend was at the First Baptist Church of Ferndale, Washington.  While my husband preached the morning service, my assignment was in Children's Church.  After the Sunday School hour, I made my way through the maze of a large construction project in the educational wing and found a smiling lady standing outside a large room quickly filling with children.

"Oh, you must be the missionary!" she said excitedly.

"And I hope you are the Children's Church director or else I have really lost my way!" I returned with laughter.

"You found us all right, and I was wondering, could you take the whole service?"

"Certainly," I replied, "I have songs and puppets, a flash card story and a Bible lesson."

"I was hoping you would say that.  You see, I haven't been in the adult service for months and I really wanted to hear your husband preach.  Would you really mind if I went into the church service?"

The hopeful look in her eyes made my decision.  "Go on ahead, you just have time.  Will there be anyone to help me if there are decisions after the lesson?

"There are two teens here to help."  Just then we faintly heard the music begin in the church service.

"Go ahead," I said, "Don't worry, it will all be fine."

Inside the room, I was met by close to 50 smiling little faces and the two young teen girls.  My puppets quickly got the attention they were meant to draw and broke down all the barriers a new and different teacher for the day can encounter.  My five year old helped with a magic trick and then, with the puppet's help, the children all learned a new song.  The missionary flash card story held them all spell bound, and when it was time for the spiritual application, every eye in the room was fixed on me.  In the quiet hush of the room, I asked for every head to be bowed.  I gave the invitation and ten little hands went up.  Feeling I had to make certain that they had really understood, I reviewed the invitation and asked all those who really meant it to look up at me.  Ten faces lifted up.  For a second I thought, "What am I going to do?  I don't have enough workers to deal with all these children individually, except the two teens who will have to stay with the others."  But another quiet thought said clearly but softly, "Trust Me."

Quickly I called one of the teens to the front.

"Here, take the song sheets and lead then in a song or two and then give them their refreshments." She smiled and nodded.

Then I told the children that all those who really wanted to make a decision for Jesus could stand up and follow me.  Ten little children stepped to the front and followed me out into the hall.  I found an empty room nearby.  It had a table with 12 chairs around it.  Quietly we all set down, one empty chair next to me.  All ten of the children turned serious and intent eyes upon me.  In my mind I prayed a quick prayer, "Lord, You know I want to do this right, I need to make certain they all really understood, and Lord, You know I have to deal with them all together."

Very quietly I asked for all heads to be bowed.  I asked how many had never asked Jesus to save them before.  Six hands went up.  I asked the other four to come over to me.  They all told me they had been saved and needed to pray about the lesson of the story, which was "living all the way for God."  One by one they sat in the empty chair and prayed with me.  I told they to go back to the room.  The other six kept their eyes on me.  I went over salvation again and they all said that they needed to ask Jesus into their hearts.  A little knock on the door let me know that time was up.  I led in a prayer for salvation which they all repeated together.  Writing as quickly as I could on the back of the bulletin, I got all of their names, hugged them and sent them out the door.

Later in the church office, a nagging sense of doubt was starting to work on me.  I asked the Pastor for same decision cards, and after filling them out, I said, "Please have someone follow up on these this week.  I had to deal with the children in a group and I didn't get to spend much time with them individually."  He promised it would be done.

The evening service went very well.  I could already tell in my heart that this church would be special to us.  At the close of the service, the Pastor announced that we would stand at the back of the church and for each one to shake our hand on the way out.  As the line moved forward, I noticed an excited older woman about half way down, pointing at me from time to time.  The closer she got, the more interested I became.  She was taller than I and wore a babushka scarf around her head.  There was something unique about her.  Soon she was standing directly in front of me. 

She greeted me by grabbing my shoulders and practically lifted me off the ground, soundly kissing me on both cheeks.  Drawing back, she spoke in a heavily accented voice, "You beautiful missionary lady, thank you."

I started to answer, but she continued to speak.  "I can't hear you because I have bad hearing, but you just listen to me, you sweet missionary lady.  I came from Russia many years ago because I wanted to worship the Lord and for all of my children to learn to love Jesus.  It was a long hard struggle to get here, but I prayed, and today, sweet lady, you led my great granddaughter to the Lord.  She came home after church and ran up to me and told me everything you said to her and how she prayed to ask Jesus in her heart.  And I want to tell you: thank you, dear lady, for being used of God to answer my prayers.  What a blessing!  I lived to see my great granddaughter brought to Jesus!" 

She kissed me again, but this time it was on cheeks wet with my tears and my hug was as strong as hers.  She moved on and the line kept going, but that moment was forever sealed into my memory.  Not only did I receive a tremendous blessing that day, but I learned a great lesson, too.  I was just the instrument.  God wanted me to be totally yielded to be used by Him.  He knew each little heart.  He did the calling and He did the saving.  What I had seen were six little faces of six little souls, who had been prayed for by others and loved by God.

Pentecost had seen five thousand saved in one day, I had just seen six.  God is mighty to save.  I need never doubt, He is able to do His work.  On the mission field, I would many times stand in front of 30-40 children in outdoor Bible schools under a tree. Some would pray to be saved whose parents would never allow them to come into our church.  I would learn to trust them to Jesus.

Many years have passed.  I heard that the Russian lady went to be with her Lord, and the little girl must be in her twenties by now.  I wonder if in that church there is a small little great-great granddaughter starting to grow in understanding of the mighty love of God.  I will never forget the lesson I learned that day from "my beautiful" lady who came from Russian for the love of her Lord, and, sweetly, of God's great love for us.