From Church Setup Grumbles to Faith Under Fire

“Oh no, our Life Group is on church setup again this Sunday! The school desks are also out for exams. I wonder who is drawing the floor plan this time to avoid the last disaster. Better be right or the school kicks us out! And I am on sound, so the desks need moving before I can roll out the sound cable, so annoying!” Complained Peter Meyer.

Yes, says Peter, that would have been my grumble to my wife when we were attending a church that met in a school hall. Four years of sound desk setup from 6:15am every second Sunday and probably every fifth week for chairs, tea and coffee. I would have to remind myself of who I was serving! Was I allowed to be grumpy for five minutes?

Then I read the book written posthumously about Vanya – a 19-year-old Russian Christian, who in 1970 was conscripted in the Red Army. The book, “Vanya A True Story” by Myrna Grant with a foreword by Brother Andrew, carries testimonies of platoon members and official documents from the Russian Military.

Vanya – Ivan in English – leaves home, finds himself in a cupboard to have a prayer time with God on the military base. On his first day in camp he arrives on the parade ground two hours late! As you can guess this puts a massive target on his back, and being late was a gross insubordination of orders. The ranking official laughs at his reason for being late (which was that he had been praying) and promptly declares he needs “reprograming”! Afterall the Red Army has “scientifically proven there is NO God!” His punishment is seven days with no food; they think, “that will teach him”. The officers have no clue about the Christian practice of fasting. Eventually they fear Ivan might die due to lack of sustenance, so they order that he be allowed to eat again.

As I am reading this my mind starts to wonder if I would have that resolve for Christ? Can I stand up for my belief in Christ, given my attitude in the opening paragraphs? What would I have done in that situation when I was in the military? We complained profusely about our “Ratpacks” – rations – just because we could!

The next passage that I recall from the book involves the KGB. We all know their reputation. They were searching for a serviceman who had challenged Ivan to get him leave so he could go home for his sister’s wedding next weekend. No leave is granted for this type of situation – ever! Ivan speaks to God about the serviceman’s salvation. The serviceman’s deal with Ivan was he would believe in ‘Ivan’s God’ if he got out of camp to attend the wedding. On Friday at 4:30am the train departed with the serviceman aboard! Subsequently the serviceman tells his whole family about ‘Ivan’s God’. On the serviceman’s return to camp the whole Platoon believes in God.

Philippians 1:21-22, 27
"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labour...
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ."

One of the Siberian winter punishments was at night, where Ivan was put outside in the cold wearing a summer uniform. The winter wind-chill was around -50°C and the Generals, wearing their fur coats, would come and intimidate Ivan. There were continuous attempts to break Ivan’s spirit and “reprogram” him.

He was tortured for his faith, and his mutilated corpse was returned to his family in a sealed, nearly impenetrable coffin, to hide the military brutality.

Reading this book had me weeping. Here was a young soldier who never wavered in his faith. He gave his all to Christ.

This spoke to my attitude, and I thought, Peter wind your neck in! Stop complaining and get on with serving our mighty God!

I can’t change the past, but I can build into the Kingdom of God with a better understanding thanks to Ivan’s example.

Blessings
Peter Meyer
Promise Keepers NZ National Director
P.S. I highly recommend this book, “Vanya: A True Story”; it might change you too.

P.P.S. Are you looking for a place to connect, sharpen one another, and be challenged in your faith? Join us this Friday morning for the Zoom Men's Group at 6.30am.

Inspired by the true, harrowing, and miraculous story of Vanya - a young soldier who stood firm in his faith despite extreme adversity - we’ll be asking ourselves these challenging questions:

Friday Morning Men's Group Discussion Questions:

1. Peter admits to grumbling about early morning church setups and tech issues before changing his perspective. What is that one area of service, family responsibility, or daily routine where you find yourself secretly (or not so secretly) complaining?

2. Why do you think it is so easy for us to slip into a mindset of complaint when we are doing things that are ultimately meant to serve God or care for others?

3. Vanya was only 19-years-old when he stood up to the intimidation of the Soviet Red Army, facing starvation and a -50°C winter in summer clothes. Does Vanya's resolve inspire you, convict you, or make you question your own readiness to stand up for your faith?

4. In the story, a fellow soldier challenged Vanya’s faith with an "impossible" request for leave, promising he would believe in God if it happened. Vanya prayed, and the miracle changed his whole platoon. Are we bold enough to pray for "impossible" breakthrough signs for the people in our lives who don't know Christ? What holds us back?

5. Peter uses the phrase, "Peter, wind your neck in!" to check his own attitude. If you were to apply that same blunt honesty to your life right now, where do you need to stop complaining, and just get on with building the Kingdom?

6a. "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labour... Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ." Philippians 1:21-22, 27

6b. Looking at the above Philippians passage, Paul talks about "fruitful labour". Practically speaking, what does shifting from a mindset of obligation ("I have to do this") to a mindset of Kingdom purpose ("I get to build the Kingdom") look like in your workplace, marriage, or church this coming week?