GROZNY, Chechnya — Every Sunday, 30 elderly women make their way through the rubble of what was once a thriving, bustling city to meet in the ruins of the Grozny Baptist Church. There, they read the Bible, worship God, and sing and give thanks for his blessings.
These women, who have seen so much tragedy and face hardship and danger every day, have a common purpose – to continue working for God, sharing his Word with other people living in fear and despair in the destroyed city.
Olga was one of two women from the Grozny Baptist Church found by Hungarian Baptist Aid (HBAid) workers on their first visit to the bombed city to bring food and comfort to people living there. She was living in the ruins of the church.
“I first met Olga on Easter Sunday when we were giving out bread,” said Pastor Sandor Szenczy, HBAid Director, who has been on several of the weekly visits to Grozny. “For her, the most important things to ask for were Bibles and Scriptures so that she could give them out to neighbours and other people she met.
“Her husband had disappeared, her pastor had been kidnapped, her church leader decapitated, her granddaughter abused, her church destroyed and many of the congregation killed,” continued Mr Szenczy. “She was living under the ruins with no food or medicine, no electricity or water, and no family. And yet she comforted me, saying:
‘Pastor Sandor, it is so good that you are here and to know that the Baptists of the world have not forgotten us, but are helping and praying for us. We are in hard trials, but I have a message: Jesus has not left us and we continue our mission – “Not by military might or by your own strength but by my spirit,” says the Lord.’”
It was mainly through Olga’s ministry that the 28 other women who now meet at the church every Sunday came to Christ. Now they, in turn, are helping to reach out to others, using the Russian Bibles and Scriptures brought to them by HBAid and its partner, Mission Vera (Faith).
“HBAid and Mission Vera go to Grozny mainly to distribute basic food items,” explained David Gal, an HBAid worker. “But, knowing the demand for Bibles, we never forget to take some along with us.”
Mission Vera is run by the only elder of the Grozny Baptist Church who escaped with his life. This young man, who is now based in Ossetia, leads the weekly trips into Grozny – a dangerous and difficult journey, which involves passing through various military checkpoints. (WR 355/22 - 11.00)
Over the past five years, the Bible Society in Russia has provided tens of thousands of Scriptures for distribution among people affected by the conflict in Chechnya. These Scriptures have been taken to Chechen and Russian civilians and soldiers still inside Chechnya, as well as to refugees living in camps in neighbouring republics. (Please see World Reports 322/3, 347/5, 353/17, and Latest News # 106.)