Fear not... God’s Church still stands, even as the world around it falls The images of St. Peter’s Lutheran town St. Petersburg. Sixteen years ago, ownership of the Church in the village of Kolpanny, property was set to return to St. Anne’s parishioners after Russia are stunning. Rubble and decades of government occupation when someone set fire smoke to the building. surround the church built While the outside of the in the late 18th century, but church has been reconstructit remains relatively undamed by the state, the interior aged as buildings around displays the vivid scars of it lie in ruins. Stanzas of the fire. Ironically, it has Nikolai Gruntvig’s clasintrigued many young artists sic hymn come to mind... who come into the church, “Built on the Rock, the where there is an exhibition church shall stand, even of church art. when steeples are falling.” LHF’s book distributor, St. Peter is of particDeacon Yevgeny Raskotov, ular importance to LHF, introduces the youth to the because the church houses Lutheran church and its long a precious store of LHF’s history in Russia. But more Russian-language books. importantly, he uses LHF Above: St. Peter, Kolpanny Though we were concerned books to tell the timeless Below: St. Anne, St. Petersburg that those books would be story of our Savior’s love for lost, we needn’t have feared: mankind, that He gave His all are safe. God has preown life for our salvation. served His Word. There is no theology of glory inside this church. On A History of PersecuSundays, the altar is surtion and Fear rounded by a prostrate cross Like many churches in lying on a pile of rocks (see Soviet Russia, St. Peter was photo below). Yes, built on seized and desecrated by the Rock the Church will the Communists in the late stand. 1930s; its graveyard was levGod’s sure Word has eled and ultimately replaced been a comfort to our Rusby a pyrotechnics’ factory. It sian friends throughout the was only in 1990, as the totyears as they have suffered tering Soviet Union began grievously for the Faith. its precipitous fall, that St. Peter’s parishioners were able While we struggle in our lives and it seems as if plans and to return to their church and hear God’s Word publicly dreams crumble into the dust of our own desires, our proclaimed. Lord assures us that He knows the plans He has for us. Other Lutheran churches in Russia bear the marks We need not fear, because He promises to stand with us so of persecution. For example, one of LHF’s central book that in the end, we also will stand. Jesus never fails. distribution points is St. Anne’s Lutheran Church in down― Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise, LHF Executive Director
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