Greetings, and a Call to Prayer
By J. T. Boettcher
A Message for the Coming Week of Prayer
Greetings from Russia (Ps. 103:17, 18): “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, . . . to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.” The church elders assembled for counsel in the city of Kiev (Russia’s sacred city) send greetings to all our brethren in the wide world. Because of several decrees issued, we, as ministers, have not been able to visit the churches in this field as we should like to have done, so we have called in the elders to pray and study. A number of our meeting-houses have been closed, so that we hardly know what to do. But our brethren are of good courage, knowing this to be the truth for this time. Their desire is to see the cause triumph. In one of our cities we held a canvassers’ institute. This had to be done without permission; but God blessed the effort and protected us, and we already see good results. However, one of the workers, upon his return home, was put in prison because he did not let his home police know where he had gone. He had previously been charged with making propaganda. We do not know how long he may have to remain in prison. We pray God that the hand of oppression may be stayed a little longer. Our people are glad to suffer for a righteous cause. We can testify that God is good, and has answered our prayers many times. It strengthens our faith and gives us courage to know that our people everywhere are praying for us.