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Siberian Church Marks 100 Years in the “Shelter of the Most High”

OMSK, Siberia — A birch forest was an appropriate setting for the 100-year anniversary of the Omsk Brotherhood, July 29-30. None of the churches could accommodate the 1,500 people who attended and a secluded clearing was a vivid reminder of past persecution when large gatherings had to be held out of sight of police.

The celebration, under a large tent near the western Siberian village of Miroljubowka (or Alexanderkrone), honored God’s faithfulness over the 100 years of the Omsk Brotherhood and remembered the brutal oppression of the Communist regime.

Special attention was given to the spiritual awakening of the 1950s which gave rise to the Evangelical-Christian-Baptist Church, a fusion of the earlier Evangelical Christians, Baptists and the Mennonites (mostly Mennonite Brethren).

The Sunday program went from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and continued Monday evening. There was preaching, testimonies, historical lectures, choral music and ensembles, and poetry, an important literary genre for the Russian churches.

Five sermons focused on the nature, suffering and mission of Christ’s church. Four historical lectures related the devastating times of oppression, spiritual renewal, reorganization and finally the so-called time of freedom since the beginning of perestroika.

The lectures demonstrated that Russian Mennonite history writing has entered a new era. They were based on Peter Epp’s 864-page history, 100 years in the Shelter of the Most High (from Psalm 91:1), sub-titled “The history of the Omsk Evangelical Christian Baptists and their Brotherhood 1906 - 2007.” The book is an extraordinary historical contribution, authored by someone who was close to the unfolding history and quite often an eye-witness. The high-quality production contains 125 pictures, 29 documents and 12 maps. Each family in the Omsk Brotherhood is to receive a copy.

Visitors from Germany, Canada, USA and Paraguay conveyed greetings via translation. It was my honor on Sunday to bring greetings from the International Community of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) and also the Mennonite World Conference (MWC). My sermon on Monday evening, titled “Biblical Faith,” was given in Low German, translated into Russian.

The Omsk Brotherhood is an independent conference with 1,350 members in more than 32 local churches. Its vitality today belies its history of bloody persecution, kidnapings and shootings in the 1930s. During WW II men and women were forced into the “work army.” The brutal persecution continued under Stalin, with many leading preachers condemned to 25 years in prison. When Stalin died, most believing prisoners were set free.

Spiritual life and faith expression has been shaped by spiritual awakenings in the 1950s after years of prayer, especially by older mothers and grandmothers. Many conversions occurred throughout the villages where there had been churches before Stalin shut them down.

After this followed a time of organizing churches, but persecution and imprisonment of many continued. Youth and children are held in high regard and churches and leaders refused to keep them away from the services. Churches and their leaders learned not to fear official warnings and disturbances. Rather, they courageously developed a kind of “flower protest” when a leader was condemned to prison.

Mikhail Gorbachov’s perestroika made possible a large emigration to Germany which began in 1988, when the conference had 2,306 members. Some 3,000 members emigrated over time. By 2006 the conference had 1,350 members. New missionary efforts brought changes, most notably the transition from German to the Russian language services and today’s emphasis is on more effective missionary work.

Most church buildings are relatively new and well maintained, with several services a week. The prayer spirit of these sisters and brothers is quite astonishing. Also striking is the importance of music and singing, influenced strongly by Russian styles.

Leaders and churches now fear worldly influence and have a cautious attitude towards government and the country as a whole. They are reluctant to get too excited about religious freedom, since there lingers the fear that things might again change for the worse. In their view, the possibility of renewed persecution cannot be excluded.

While the current challenges are different from those of the past, the Omsk Brotherhood wants to be faithful, confessing, “The Lord is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2).

During the week following the anniversary I was invited to preach and report on ICOMB in various churches (in Low German, translated into Russian). I visited churches in the Slavgorod area and preached every evening. The church in the city of Slavgorod, still quite Mennonite in character, organized short seminars for married couples and entrepreneurs.

Coming from Paraguay to Siberia and being so well accepted was a real thrill. Sharing with sisters and brothers who have just recently come out of the “great tribulation” was a moving and transforming experience.

— Victor Wall, executive secretary, ICOMB

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Photos available on request:
1. Omsk tent
2. Omsk festival choir