In 3 Years, 100 New Believers Join St. Petersburg Church

LHF’s books seem to be intricately woven throughout the faith life of Rev. Evgeny Raskatov, pastor of St. Anne’s Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Born into an atheist family, Evgeny was introduced to the Christian faith by a friend who invited him to a Salvation Army youth camp, where Evgeny received his first Bible. After years of unsuccessful attempts to make his way through the large volume, as well as visits to many different churches in search of Truth, he received a book that would change his direction in life: LHF’s Russian translation of Christian Dogmatics, by J.T. Mueller.

“Before, my mind was a mess [when trying to understand what the Bible teaches],” said Rev. Raskatov. “But Mueller put many things in order for me.”

After attending a Finnish Lutheran church for a few years, Evgeny decided to start taking courses at the Theological Institute, the seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia, to become a deacon.

There, he again found more LHF books.

“We studied at the institute for perhaps 8 different weekends, and each time, we would be given one or two books to take with us,” Rev. Raskatov recalled. “By the end, we had a full library provided by LHF. For me, this was like a treasure! I still use these books and have them on my bookshelf. They are not books you read and forget; they are books you actually use!”

And use them he has. After completing seminary - now to be a pastor, not simply a deacon - Rev. Raskatov has gained a reputation in his community for leading Christian information classes at St. Anne’s.

"It’s actually like confirmation classes, but the difference is that we invite everyone,” he explained. “You are welcome even if you are not Lutheran. Some are atheist; some are Muslim.”

As students progress through the classes, Rev. Raskatov gives them LHF books. “I have plans for what I want to give each person,” he said. “The very first day, some I might give the Small Catechism with no commentary. After three weeks or so, I might share the Small Catechism with Commentary. Then I give a Large Catechism.” As Rev. Raskatov testifies, the Word works!

In just 3 and a half years, about 100 new members have been confirmed at St. Anne’s. “I feel myself being the observer,” Rev. Raskatov said. “I’m not the one who is doing it; it is the Holy Spirit. It is almost like magic!”

Read more about this work at www.LHFmissions.org