Bible Believer Notes From Russia

The document is a personal report from Pat and Leon Bates detailing their three-month Bible distribution and teaching mission trip to St. Petersburg, Russia. Contrary to pre-trip expectations, the authors found that food was generally available, though a limited diet of cucumbers, tomatoes, and simple meats was common due to the short growing season and an economy still reeling from the failure of Communism. They observed that the Russian people were remarkably slender and healthy, largely due to a lifestyle that necessitated walking several miles daily, often just to use the efficient subway system.

The report highlights the severe financial hardship faced by Russians, where highly educated professionals like doctors and teachers often earned only about 1,000 rubles ($10) a month, making even an inexpensive restaurant meal a luxury. Politically, the authors noted that Communists were fighting to retain control, manipulating the economy to make the new "free enterprise" system appear worse than the past. Spiritually, the Russian people were found to be without hope in their lying government or their empty state religion. The core of the mission was successful, as the Bateses, working with over 300 other Christians, distributed 2.5 million Bibles and tracts and taught over 100 hours of Bible classes, leading many new believers to Christ and establishing a budding future Bible Church. They concluded by expressing their commitment to continued Russian ministry.