Participants:
Series Code: CR
Program Code: CR002100S
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00:02 Three Hundred miles east of Moscow
00:04 lies the old city of Gorky 00:06 now called Nizhny Novgorod. 00:09 Since the brutal days of the tyrant Stalin 00:11 until just a few months ago, 00:13 Nizhny Novgorod was closed to the outside world. 00:17 Foreigners were not allowed to walk 00:18 its streets or talk to its citizens. 00:21 Even the powerful Russian Orthodox Church 00:24 was allowed only a limited influence. 00:27 Here the name of God was almost banished 00:28 from the minds of the two million citizens. 00:31 Yet during the short summer of '92, 00:34 just a few months after the city was opened 00:36 2,530 precious Russian souls were baptized 00:41 in the cold waters of the Volga River, 00:43 confessing their faith in Christ 00:45 and their rejection of atheism. 00:47 This presentation is a story of the triumph 00:49 of the cross of Jesus Christ 00:51 over the hammer and sickle. 00:56 Carter Report presents Victory at Gorky. 01:03 Christianity first came to Russia in 988, 01:06 then followed 900 years of oppression 01:09 when the church joined with the state to enslave the bodies 01:12 and the souls of the Russian people. 01:14 This awful state of affairs 01:16 led to the bloody revolution of 1917 01:19 when Lenin's fiery oratory galvanized the Russian masses 01:23 to cast off the yoke of double bondage, 01:25 the slavery of the czars 01:27 and the intolerance of the church. 01:30 What began in 1917 01:32 as the dawn of a so-called new era of freedom 01:35 soon gave way to a night of terror. 01:38 Systematic purges of all 01:39 who could be considered potential threats, 01:41 exterminated tens of millions Jews, Orthodox, 01:45 Catholics, Protestants, and even atheists 01:48 were cast into the great winepress 01:50 of the wrath of the demigods, 01:52 Lenin, Kosygin, Stalin and Khrushchev. 01:56 A fearful Iron Curtain descended upon the borders 01:59 of Russia and her colonies. 02:01 And within that vast prison house 02:02 that called itself the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. 02:06 A reign of terror deprived the people of hope, 02:10 peace, prosperity, life, and liberty, 02:14 but great changes as revolutionaries of 1917 02:18 were eventually to take place. 02:20 The coming of Mikhail Gorbachev in the mid 80s was soon 02:23 in the providence of almighty God to dramatically change 02:27 the USSR and the world. 02:29 His policies of glasnost and perestroika, 02:32 Russian words that may be translated, 02:33 openness and restructuring 02:35 were destined to blow the doors off the hinges 02:38 and smashed the bars on the windows. 02:41 During the first part of '92, 02:43 before the breakup of the Soviet Union, 02:46 John Carter, an Australian pastor and evangelist 02:49 visited Moscow and experienced firsthand 02:52 the new political and religious freedoms 02:54 that were shaking the whole nation. 02:56 For 10 nights, he spoke at the Palace of Culture 02:59 to crowds whose appetite 03:01 for spiritual information seemed insatiable, 03:04 his proclamation of the resurrection of Christ 03:06 at the tomb of Lenin, 03:07 an area previously off limits to preachers and TV cameraman 03:11 was a dramatic reinforcement of the reality 03:13 that the Russian people were experiencing 03:16 a second revolution. 03:18 Behind me here in red squares, is the tomb of Lenin, 03:22 the founder of communism. 03:24 If you go through those great doors, 03:26 you will actually see the founder 03:29 of the communist state. 03:32 I have an amazing story to tell you today. 03:35 I have visited also another tomb, 03:38 a tomb over there in Jerusalem, the tomb of Jesus Christ. 03:43 But when you go through the doors, 03:46 into the tomb of Jesus, 03:48 there is no body there because Jesus Christ 03:52 was raised from the dead. 03:54 Jesus is alive. 03:56 You see, we don't serve a dead man. 03:59 We serve a living Christ. 04:03 They did everything here to get rid of the Christian Church. 04:06 They persecuted the believers, millions were put to death, 04:10 but the church today is stronger here 04:12 than it's ever been before 04:14 because the church is not built upon a dead person. 04:19 It is built upon our living Christ. 04:26 During January of 1992, 04:28 Pastor Carter returned to Russia 04:30 to visit Nizhny Novgorod, 04:32 a city of 2 million souls that had been closed 04:35 to the world for almost 60 years. 04:38 During the reign of the communists 04:39 Nizhny was called Gorky. 04:42 This strategically located city is a major industrial 04:45 and military center with products ranging 04:46 from Volga cars to nuclear submarines were manufactured. 04:50 Unlike Moscow and St. Petersburg, 04:52 Nizhny Novgorod had never had an evangelistic campaign. 04:57 The communists had declared that God and His church 05:00 would be outlawed in Gorky. 05:02 The name given to the city by the Marxists 05:04 in honor of the poet Gorky 05:06 whose works that glorified communism. 05:09 In this closed city an awful experiment had taken place 05:13 to remove the name of God from the lives of the people. 05:16 We will so indoctrinate your children 05:18 that they will not even think about God 05:20 said the communists of Nizhny Novgorod. 05:25 As the snows of a fierce Russian winter 05:27 held the city in its icy embrace, 05:30 John met with the survivors of the church 05:32 to plan an evangelistic campaign. 05:34 The first ever in Nizhny Novgorod 05:36 to bring the hope of an eternal spring 05:39 to those whose lives had been frozen 05:41 in the wastelands of atheism. 05:44 The only suitable meeting place for the crusade 05:47 was the Palace of Sport, 05:48 a stadium that could seat 6,500 people. 05:51 Negotiations with the director and his staff 05:54 resulted in the signing of a contract 05:55 to use the hall for six weeks. 05:57 The large stadium is situated in the heart of the city 06:00 on a main city thoroughfare. 06:02 It was built by the communists to take the place 06:04 of the Christian churches that were destroyed 06:07 by the atheistic government. 06:09 City officials expressed their doubts 06:10 that many would be interested 06:12 in attending religious meetings. 06:14 We've been taught for 70 years, 06:16 not to even think about God, was their comment. 06:19 Later events were to move those same officials to say, 06:22 "God sent you here. 06:24 You have a message from Him. 06:25 And we wanna hear it." 06:28 During the week in January, 1992, 06:31 that John Carter spent in Nizhny Novgorod. 06:33 It was evident that the Russian people 06:35 were struggling to survive the harshness of the winter. 06:38 Food lines were long 06:39 for the little bit of food available. 06:42 It was not uncommon to see people forming lines, 06:44 not even knowing what was for sale in the hope 06:47 that they just might find something 06:49 to bring relief and comfort. 06:52 While the Russians were hungry for food, 06:54 John and his team were soon to discover 06:56 that the Russians had an even greater hunger. 06:59 Seventy years of the most brutal atheistic dictatorship 07:02 had been unable to remove from their hearts, 07:05 their hunger for God. 07:07 In America, the members of the Community 07:09 Adventist Fellowship, Glendale, California, 07:11 and the staff of Three Angels Broadcasting Network 07:14 in Illinois, worked to raise support 07:16 both physical and spiritual for the coming crusade. 07:20 Donations came in small and large amounts 07:23 and the Australian Adventist Church 07:25 raised $200,000 for Bibles for Russia, 07:29 13,000 Australian sponsored Bibles 07:31 were earmarked for Nizhny Novgorod. 07:34 This number was later increased to 25,000 Bibles 07:37 as people across the United States 07:39 gave the help to the Russian people. 07:42 Not only was money given to help 07:43 the Russians spiritually, 07:45 but dollars were hand carried to Nizhny Novgorod 07:48 and converted into rubles to help them buy food. 07:52 Members of the community Adventist fellowship 07:54 worked with ADRA, 07:57 the Fred Jordan Mission and Delta Airlines 07:59 to arrange and deliver food and clothing 08:02 for the people of Nizhny Novgorod. 08:06 Commencing May 1st, 30 second television messages 08:09 were beamed into the homes of the 2 million citizens 08:12 of Nizhny Novgorod. 08:25 One hundred twenty five thousand color brochures 08:27 were distributed. 08:29 And the daily newspapers carried ads 08:30 that had been prepared in Los Angeles. 08:33 The advertising that presented powerful archeological evidence 08:36 for the creator God and the Bible 08:38 had dramatic impact. 08:40 Twenty thousand precious Russian souls 08:42 packed the opening evangelistic sessions 08:44 on the weekend of May 9th and 10th, 08:47 with thousands unable to gain entrance. 08:50 God loves Russia and God is working for Russia. 08:56 And God has opened up the gates 09:00 and the gospel is being preached. 09:03 Now there's one other sign, 09:05 the Bible says that in the last days, 09:09 while the nations are preparing for war, 09:15 they will also be talking peace and safety. 09:19 Now, my beloved Russian friends, 09:21 if you put all these signs together, 09:25 it is very, very plain. 09:27 It is absolutely clear 09:31 that the Bible prophecies are being fulfilled. 09:35 And I have good news for you. 09:38 It is the news that I preach in Russia. 09:41 It is the news that I preach in America. 09:44 It is the news that I preach in Australia. 09:48 Here's the good news. 09:51 Jesus is going to come again. 09:54 He is going to raise the dead. 09:57 He is going to set up a new world order, 10:00 and you can be a part of it. 10:03 You can be a part of the kingdom of God. 10:05 From the very start, it was evident 10:08 that God was about to do a special and mighty work. 10:11 Among the 3,000 unable to get into the stadium 10:14 for one session was an elderly Russian gentleman 10:17 who cried out, 10:18 "I've been waiting for 70 years for Jesus, please let me in." 10:23 Waiting for Jesus, waiting for God, waiting for truth. 10:27 Instead of communism obliterating the hunger 10:29 of the Russian soul for God, 10:31 it had only intensified longings 10:33 for spiritual realities. 10:35 After 70 years of atheism, 10:37 the heart of mother Russia is now crying out for God. 10:43 As the meetings continued, 10:45 the interest of the Russian people grew 10:47 until two sessions every night were inadequate. 10:50 City authorities warned that the meetings 10:52 might have to cease. 10:53 If some way could not be found to restrain the crowds 10:56 that nightly were unable to find places inside 11:00 the 6,500 seat stadium. 11:02 At one stage, 11:03 the Russian army was called to control the masses. 11:07 The soldiers arrived in trucks with guard dogs. 11:10 Some Russian soldiers were later baptized. 11:13 After the meetings had continued for seven nights, 11:16 John Carter made an appeal for the people 11:18 to accept the Bible as God's word 11:21 and Jesus as man's only savior, 11:24 14,000 positively responded. 11:27 I'm gonna ask you to raise your hand. 11:31 And by raising your hand, 11:35 you will say, "I want to be ready when Jesus comes. 11:43 I want to be in the kingdom of God. 11:47 I will be a believer. 11:52 I will be a Christian. 11:54 Who were these people who were struggling to gain access 11:56 to the hall where God's Word was being preached? 11:58 It quickly became obvious 12:00 that the majority were atheists and agnostics. 12:03 When prayer was said for the first time, 12:05 hardly one person in the vast audience 12:07 knew what was happening. 12:09 Prayer was an unknown experience, but not for long. 12:13 During the first altar call 12:15 to publicly accept and confess Christ, 12:17 10,000 Russians left their seats and came forward. 12:20 I'm going to ask you to stand up, 12:24 and then I'm going to ask you to come down the front. 12:29 And we want you to come 12:31 because this is an act of faith. 12:37 And we're saying tonight, 12:41 Lord Jesus Christ, 12:44 I'm coming forward in faith. 12:49 And I'm so glad to see so many young people here, 12:54 because this is a new day for mother Russia. 13:02 But I want to tell you, 13:05 no power on this earth can get rid of Jesus, 13:12 because He's alive. 13:15 He is the living Christ. 13:20 And the living Christ loves the Russian people. 13:26 At this time Bibles were given 13:28 to those who had attended seven meetings, 13:30 thousands of Russians with great joy 13:32 received God's Word for the very first time. 13:35 Unforgettable was the moment when John Carter read 13:38 John 3:16 and invited the audience 13:41 to repeat these beloved words after him. 13:44 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son 13:48 that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, 13:51 but have everlasting life." 13:54 One of the most powerful and feared organizations 13:57 in Russia is the Department of Internal Security. 14:00 It's long been recognized as an arm of the infamous KGB. 14:05 How amazed they were Russian church leaders 14:07 to receive an official invitation 14:09 from a distinguished Russian officer, General Vladimir, 14:13 head of the Department of Internal Security 14:15 for Nizhny Novgorod requesting that John Carter come 14:18 and preach to his staff and officers. 14:21 At first, the Russian church leadership thought 14:23 that some mistake had been made, 14:25 but the invitation was urged upon the church 14:27 until an acceptance was gained. 14:30 Pastor Carter with his team 14:32 visited the College of Internal Security 14:34 and was escorted by a Russian colonel 14:37 to the general's private quarters. 14:39 After words of welcome, John and his close associates 14:42 were taken to an auditorium 14:44 that was packed with 1000 officers. 14:47 General Vladimir then introduced the evangelists 14:49 to the audience and remark 14:51 that he had been attending the meetings. 14:53 John then spoke for 60 minutes 14:55 on evidences for the creator God 14:58 and why true freedom is impossible 15:01 without a recognition of the fact that God made us. 15:04 And therefore, every person is unique and glorious. 15:08 You are not an animal. 15:10 You are not a machine. 15:12 You are a child of God. 15:15 His appeal to accept God as creator, 15:18 climaxed an invitation for all present to join in prayer. 15:23 The general rose and with him 1000 of his officers 15:26 among whom some were openly weeping. 15:29 A further 60 minutes were spent answering questions 15:32 and then Bibles were presented to the general and his staff. 15:36 One thousand Bibles were later given to the entire group. 15:40 This was the first time in history 15:42 of the Russian people that a preacher 15:44 had been asked to speak to the staff 15:46 of the Internal Security. 15:48 Some of these officers later were baptized. 15:51 How God has opened the doors. 15:57 During the dark ages of communism, 16:00 millions of Russians perished at the hands of the state, 16:04 more died through the political 16:05 and religious purges of Lenin and Stalin 16:08 than through the ravages of Hitler's Stormtroopers 16:11 who wiped out 20 million Russian lives. 16:14 The fear generated by the ultimate police state 16:17 forced the Russian people to keep to themselves, 16:19 avoid eye contact with strangers 16:21 and hide their feelings to all even family members. 16:25 During the opening meetings of the crusade, 16:28 there were few smiles 16:29 and almost no display of any emotions, 16:33 but as the love of God was proclaimed in Jesus, 16:37 a dramatic change took place in the audience, 16:39 a mighty river of love, long dammed up burst forth. 16:44 Nightly the people came bearing flowers and crying out 16:48 "thank you for coming. 16:49 We love you." 16:52 The first baptism was held on Sabbath, June 6th, 16:55 when thousands of new believers filled waiting buses 16:58 and moved in a convoy to the Volga River. 17:01 Just five years ago, 17:03 police officers had raided the church in Nizhny Novgorod, 17:06 beaten up the members and confiscated their property. 17:08 Now, the police were providing an escort 17:10 and clearing the way through traffic. 17:13 Arriving at the site on the banks of the Volga, 17:15 the Carter Report team was greeted by soldiers 17:17 of the Russian army who had provided and pitched army tents 17:20 for those planning baptism. 17:22 An army truck was also provided as a platform for the speaker. 17:26 Newspaper reports like in this baptism in the Volga River 17:29 to the baptism of John in the Jordan. 17:32 The same newspaper also compared this baptism 17:35 to the coming of Christianity to Russia in 988, 17:38 when Prince Vladimir baptized Russians in the Dnieper. 18:17 Or God's mighty power of saving grace 18:19 manifested through this great Pentecostal outpouring 18:22 of His Holy Spirit. 18:23 The members of the Carter Report team say, 18:25 "To God be the glory, great things He has done, 18:29 all glory, honor, and praise be to the Lamb forever and ever. 18:37 The power of God to change lives 18:39 is also seen in the life of the man 18:40 who was John Carter's translator, Leonid Fundo. 18:44 Leonid is a Russian Jew whose grandfather 18:46 Levi Matthew Braginsky was co-founder of the KGB. 18:51 As a little boy, Pastor Fundo 18:53 played beneath the table in his grandfather's house 18:56 where Lenin, Trotsky and Braginsky 18:58 had plotted the 1917 revolution. 19:01 Ten years ago, the hopelessness of Leonid's grandfather's 19:04 atheistic philosophy led him to join 19:06 a pseudo Christian group whose stern legalism 19:09 drove him deeper into despair. 19:11 After four years with this cult, 19:14 that called itself the faithful and true witness, 19:17 Leonid returned to atheism. 19:18 Then a shaft of light flashed upon him as Igor, 19:23 a converted Jew in Moscow 19:24 explained to him the good news of Jesus. 19:27 Leonid is now an ordained pastor 19:29 and was used mightily by God during the meetings. 19:32 His fervent and professional translation of 70 meetings, 19:35 plus 35 baptismal classes was a powerful testimony 19:39 to the power of God's gospel 19:42 that his grandfather had sought to destroy. 19:45 Leonid whose work brings him in contact 19:48 with officials of church and state 19:49 believes that liberty is to proclaim the gospel 19:51 in Russia may soon be curtailed. 19:54 Talk of the development of a Russian state church 19:57 brings to his mind dark images of Czarist oppression. 20:01 Leonid with many others 20:03 believes that the time is short. 20:06 The time to proclaim God's Word 20:09 and distribute Bibles in Russia is now. 20:12 During 1000 years of Russian history, 20:14 there have only been a few years of peace and liberty. 20:18 The pages of Russian history are crimsoned with blood. 20:22 The question on millions of Russian lips 20:24 is how long will peace last? 20:27 How long will we be free? 20:30 The words of Jesus 20:31 read in the dramatic content of this Russian scenario 20:34 sound a note of urgency and warning. 20:36 Work while it is day, 20:39 the night comes when no man can work. 20:44 Therefore let all who believe in Christ, 20:47 all who rejoice in liberty, 20:49 all who enjoy peace and prosperity 20:52 do everything possible now to take the good news 20:55 of salvation to the Russian people. 20:57 The victory at Gorky 20:59 must be repeated across Russia while it is day. 21:04 My name is Tanya Serova. 21:05 I am student of the Institute of Foreign Languages 21:08 in Nizhny Novgorod 21:10 where the meetings of Pastor Carter took place. 21:12 I've been to many of them 21:14 and found out that God loves me. 21:16 And now I love Him. 21:18 The meetings were meant much for me because I realized 21:23 that tomorrow life is meaningful now, 21:25 and I know there is light before me. 21:29 And anywhere I go, 21:32 I will go to the kingdom of God. 21:35 I know that the wages of death, 21:39 the wages of sin is death, 21:41 but the gift of God is eternal life. 21:47 My name is Svetlana. 21:49 This month, I've graduated 21:50 from the college of foreign languages in Nizhny Novgorod. 21:53 I have been to many lectures of Pastor Carter. 21:56 And during those lectures, 21:57 I've learned that God loves me and I love God. 22:00 That God needs me and I need God and He's ready to help me. 22:05 During the lectures I was taught to read the Bible 22:07 and to talk to God. 22:09 And now, I believe that I've managed to come closer to Him. 22:14 Now, I got Bible and I'm very thankful to that. 22:18 And now I can read it, analyze it 22:20 and find answers for my numerous questions. 22:24 And now I feel happiness and joy in my heart. 22:30 People need the Lord 22:36 People need the Lord 22:42 At the end of 22:44 Broken dreams 22:48 He's the open door 22:54 People need the Lord 23:00 People need the Lord 23:05 When will we realize 23:11 That we must give our lives? 23:16 For people 23:19 Need the Lord 23:22 People need the Lord 24:27 Now is the time to preach the Word of God in Russia. 24:32 There are storm clouds on the horizon. 24:36 We don't know how long liberty is going to rain here 24:39 in this great land. 24:41 Freedom could be taken from these people any moment. 24:45 I want to say to you today with all my heart and all my soul, 24:50 now is the time to preach the good news of Jesus Christ 24:55 to these wonderful Russian people. 24:58 God is working in the land of Russia. 25:01 Let us work with God while we have the opportunity. 25:08 This campaign would not have gone ahead 25:11 without the assistance of our friends of 3ABN. 25:16 They've helped us with the finance. 25:18 They've helped to raise money. 25:19 They've sent a television crew, 25:22 and I want to say to every person watching this telecast, 25:26 thank God for the wonderful, 25:28 the consecrated people of 3ABN. 25:33 Jesus 25:37 Is coming, 25:41 though we know 25:45 Not when 25:50 Yes, 25:52 He is coming, 25:58 Jesus is coming again 26:07 Jesus 26:11 Is coming, 26:16 though we know 26:19 Not when 26:24 Yes, 26:26 He is coming 26:32 Jesus is coming again 26:41 Jesus is coming again 26:50 Jesus is coming again 26:58 Since coming back from Russia, 27:00 there have been some amazing developments 27:02 with our good friends of 3ABN, 27:04 we've just purchased 10 prime acres, 27:07 right in the very heart of old Gorky. 27:09 On those 10 acres are two massive buildings. 27:12 You know, what's going to happen to those buildings. 27:14 They are going to become temples for the glory of God, 27:17 the house of two and a half thousand 27:18 brand new Christian Russian converts. 27:21 Listen, my friend, we need your help. 27:24 I'm going back to Russia in just a few days, 27:26 and we can use right now, 100,000 Bibles. 27:31 The Russian people are crying out for God 27:33 and they're crying out for Bibles. 27:35 We need to go and preach the Word of God 27:37 while we still have the opportunity. 27:40 Listen, friend, the door could close any time, 27:43 we need to go and we need to move with urgency. 27:46 Therefore I need to hear from you. 27:49 I need you now as I've never needed you before. 27:52 Write to me, please. 27:53 John Carter, Box 1900, 27:56 Thousand Oaks, California 91358. 28:00 Seventy years is a long time to keep people waiting. 28:04 Let's not keep them waiting any longer. 28:16 In the year of our Lord, 988, 28:18 Kiev, the capital of Ukraine 28:21 witnessed the coming of Christianity 28:23 to the Russian and Ukrainian peoples. 28:25 Prince Vladimir decreed that his people 28:27 would become Christians. 28:29 He conducted a baptism in the Dnieper River 28:31 and hundreds were immersed professing faith in Christ 28:34 and the Orthodox Church. 28:37 In 1995, Kiev saw another page of history unfold 28:42 as thousands of Ukrainians and Russians 28:45 by their own personal decisions 28:47 were baptized into the Lord Jesus and the great truths 28:50 of the three angels' messages. 28:53 The Carter Report for the greater glory of God 28:55 presents Victory at Kiev, 28:59 3,488 baptisms. 29:04 Kiev, a city of 3 million 29:07 is the cradle of Russian and Ukrainian civilization. 29:11 Historically and culturally, it is arguably 29:13 the most important city of the former Soviet Union. 29:17 It is a city of gold dome churches, 29:20 freeline boulevards and magnificent parks. 29:23 It is the proud capital of the newly independent nation 29:27 of Ukraine. 29:29 It is a city that's had more than its share 29:31 of trouble and suffering. 29:32 Hundreds of thousands of brave Ukrainians died 29:34 defending Kiev against the onslaughts 29:36 of Nazi's Stormtroopers. 29:38 More than 100,000, perhaps even 300,000 Jews 29:42 were murdered at this Kiev site 29:44 by the German forces that occupied Ukraine 29:46 from 1941 to 1944, 29:49 even more Ukrainians were slaughtered by the communists 29:52 who carried out a reign of terror against intellectuals 29:54 and dissidents. 29:55 This peaceful forest, just outside the city's boundaries 29:58 is the resting place for a multitude of victims 30:01 whose only crime was the desire 30:03 for political and religious freedom. 30:05 Tens of thousands were transported here 30:07 made to kneel and then shot in the back of the neck 30:10 by the communists. 30:13 During 1932 and 33, 30:15 8 million Ukrainians died of starvation. 30:19 This genocide occurred 30:20 when the Marxist government in Moscow 30:22 decreed that the bountiful harvest of the Ukraine 30:25 were to be sent to Russia, 30:26 a number equivalent to the population 30:29 of New York City perished 30:30 because they were forbidden to eat the food, 30:33 the bread, and the potatoes that they had produced 30:36 with their own hands on their own lands. 30:39 Stalin while living like a czar in the Kremlin remarked 30:42 that it was impossible to avoid breaking eggs 30:45 when making an omelet. 30:46 He further observed that the death of a million people 30:49 was just a statistic. 30:51 For 70 years, the godless Marxist carried out 30:55 a war of terrorism against all who professed faith in God. 30:59 Millions were sent to prison where they were beaten, 31:02 frozen interrogated, tortured, and starved. 31:04 The soil of the former Soviet Union is drenched 31:07 with the blood of a great multitude of martyrs 31:10 who did not count their lives dear into themselves. 31:13 More recently, communist incompetency combined 31:16 with a callous disregard for human life 31:18 caused the deaths of at least 125,000 persons. 31:22 Just 60 miles from Kiev is the city of Chernobyl, 31:27 reside a four carelessly constructed 31:29 maintain nuclear reactors. 31:31 On April 26th, 1986 at 1:23 AM a meltdown occurred. 31:37 The great concrete containment shield 31:39 over reactor number four was blasted into fragments. 31:42 A cloud of radioactive gas, 31:44 many times more deadly than that of Hiroshima 31:46 and Nagasaki exploded into the atmosphere. 31:50 Workers wearing inadequate protective clothing 31:52 were ordered by the communist authorities 31:54 into the area of greatest contamination. 31:57 Armed with shovels and brooms, 31:59 these people who had been promised a worker's paradise 32:02 waged war against chunks and fragments of uranium 32:05 that were scattered like monstrous autumn leaves 32:08 over an apocalyptic landscape. 32:10 They died in agony a few hours or days later. 32:13 It's estimated that at least 125,000 died 32:17 as a direct result of the meltdown. 32:20 Others still suffer without hope or compensation. 32:23 These children in Kiev 32:25 are victims of the worst nuclear accident in history. 32:28 They live in orphanages with a minimum of medical care. 32:32 All this suffering has prepared the soul of the Ukrainian 32:35 for the gospel of Jesus Christ. 32:37 That alone gives light in darkness 32:39 and hope in despair. 32:42 John Carter, an Australian pastor and evangelist 32:46 went to Kiev during January of 1995. 32:49 It was his mission to explore the possibilities 32:51 of conducting a citywide crusade. 32:54 He had in March of 1991 32:56 conducted the first evangelistic series of meetings 32:59 in the Soviet Union when he proclaimed God's Word 33:02 at the Palace of Culture in Moscow. 33:05 Subsequent Carter Report meetings in Nizhny Novgorod, 33:08 Russia resulted in more than 5,000 baptisms. 33:12 The baptism in June of 1992, 33:15 when 2,530 precious Russian souls confessing Christ 33:20 were baptized in the Volga River was an historic occasion. 33:24 At that time, it was the largest baptism since 988, 33:28 when Prince Vladimir opened the door 33:29 to Christianity in Kiev. 33:32 Providence had directed the Carter Report team 33:35 from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod to Kiev, 33:38 birthplace of a great Slavonic civilization 33:41 that was to shake the world. 33:43 What will happen here? 33:45 Will Kiev respond to the public proclamation of Christ 33:48 and the truths of the three angels' messages 33:50 were questions with which John Carter 33:52 and Ukrainian Adventist believers wrestled? 33:56 The Palace of Sport downtown Kiev 33:59 is a prestigious auditorium that seats 9,500 people. 34:03 It was chosen as the site for the crusade 34:06 and negotiations with Ukrainian government officials commenced. 34:09 Ukrainian church leaders spent days 34:11 and weeks meeting with officials 34:13 who were reluctant to give permission for the crusade, 34:16 months passed and no positive word was forthcoming. 34:19 Then a significant event occurred. 34:21 Some would even call it a miracle, 34:23 almost all the churches of Kiev, 34:25 including the Baptists, Pentecostals and Orthodox 34:29 signed a petition requesting the government 34:30 to allow the meetings. 34:32 In response, government officials, 34:34 including the mayor and the minister of religion 34:36 placed their signatures on the authorization. 34:39 With only weeks to go before the opening night 34:41 of July 29th, 1995, 34:44 great printing presses in Texas, 34:46 USA rolled into action to produce 34:49 1 million color brochures to advertise the crusade. 34:54 Delta Airline employee 34:55 and community Adventist fellowship church member, 34:58 Javier Piraino organized the air freighting 35:01 of the 30,000 pound load of handbills to Kiev. 35:05 Pastor Norman Matiko, Carter Report manager 35:09 left Los Angeles for Kiev and carried newspaper, 35:12 radio and television advertising ready for release. 35:15 One week later in Kiev teams 35:18 of hundreds of Adventist Christians 35:20 distributed 1 million handbills 35:23 as the media carried the message that the Carter Report 35:26 was about to commence at the Palace of Sport. 35:59 Two days before the opening nights, 36:01 John Carter and his team of Australian, 36:03 Canadian and American laymen and women arrived in Kiev. 36:08 The question foremost in the minds of many, 36:10 both local and foreign was will the advertising work, 36:14 after all Kiev had in the past for years 36:17 many crusades sponsored by many denominations. 36:21 Would this unique approach 36:22 so different from anything previously seen 36:25 captivate the masses? 36:26 "Will the people come," they asked. 36:29 They didn't have to wait long for an answer. 36:32 The opening day of the crusade 36:34 saw 25,000 packed the Palace of Sport. 36:37 Every square inch of available space was taken. 36:40 Doors were broken by the crowds 36:42 and a frantic rush to secure admission. 36:44 Tens of thousands stood outside unable to enter the building. 36:47 So great were the crowds that filled the city square 36:50 and flooded into the thoroughfares 36:52 led the authorities close the local railway station. 36:55 During the opening lecture, 36:57 Pastor Carter showed from the world of ancient Egypt, 37:01 that the Bible is historically accurate, 37:03 and that there is a God in heaven who loves us. 37:06 You are not an animal. 37:08 You are not a machine. 37:09 You are a child of God was his message to the multitude 37:13 that had been immersed 37:14 in the hopeless teachings of Marxist atheism. 37:18 I will be on God's side, 37:22 here in the great land of the Ukraine. 37:25 I will be on the side of the great Creator God. 37:30 I will be on the side of Christ. 37:33 From the very start, 37:35 it was evident that God was doing a special work, 37:38 lost souls were finding their way home 37:40 to the father's house. 37:42 The name of Jesus was being magnified 37:44 and the mighty Spirit of the living God 37:46 was moving powerfully upon the hearts 37:48 of the great congregation. 37:50 Then came the first of a series of crises. 37:53 As the meetings progressed with capacity crowds 37:56 attending two sessions every evening, 37:58 Kiev's minister of religion issued a decree 38:01 revoking the authorization to conduct the crusade. 38:04 Church leaders were summoned to city hall 38:06 and charged with violating the law. 38:10 You are teaching religion that is not permitted. 38:13 You have created a public disturbance 38:15 that is against our laws. 38:18 You are teaching children to pray. 38:20 That is forbidden. 38:21 You have covered the city with your advertising. 38:23 That must cease. 38:25 We are issuing an order, 38:27 stop the preaching, stop the meetings. 38:30 Calmly Pastor Murga, 38:32 leader of the Adventist Church responded, 38:34 "We have broken no laws. 38:36 We are abiding by the Constitution. 38:38 We will not close down the meetings. 38:40 By God's grace, we will complete our mission." 38:44 The following day, John Carter, 38:46 Norman Matiko and Paul Mickelson 38:48 visited the embassies of the United States in Canada 38:51 and the Australian consulate general to seek their support 38:54 to influence the Ukrainian government to honor the rights 38:57 of freedom of religious expression. 39:00 The United States ambassador personally contacted 39:03 the Ukrainian government and embassy officials declared 39:06 that the Kiev government was operating outside the laws 39:09 of Ukraine and the United Nations. 39:12 Despite intense lobbying 39:14 by the Australian consulate general 39:16 and protest and pleas by civic and religious liberty groups, 39:20 the harassment and threatening continued and intensified. 39:24 Pastor Carter on August 9th, 1995 was summoned to city hall. 39:29 Accompanied by church leaders, 39:31 he arrived at the office of the minister of religion, 39:34 refusing to allow any witnesses or supporters to accompany him, 39:38 government officials escorted John to an office 39:40 where he was threatened and interrogated 39:42 for more than an hour. 39:44 If you do not close down the meetings, 39:46 we will not guarantee your personal safety 39:48 was the message of the officials. 39:51 Responding to their tactics 39:52 that were reminiscent of the ugly days 39:54 of the cold war, Pastor Carter replied, 39:57 "The Adventists have broken no laws, 40:00 but you are breaking the Ukrainian laws 40:02 that guarantee freedom of religious expression. 40:05 We will not close down the meetings." 40:08 After the interrogation, 40:10 he was greeted by the leaders of the church 40:12 who were anxious to know 40:13 if the evangelist had compromised under pressure. 40:17 We must hold firm and not retreat 40:20 was the resolve of these brave Ukrainian Christian leaders 40:23 who are not strangers to persecution. 40:26 Another crisis occurred when the Kiev government 40:29 issued an order to the police to immediately cease 40:31 their security duties at the crusade, 40:34 because it was unlawful to conduct public meetings 40:37 without a police presence, 40:39 the government now had a legal pretense to stop 40:41 the proclamation of the Word of God. 40:43 Church leaders visited one police station after another 40:47 only to receive the same answer, "Nat, 40:49 we are forbidden to come." 40:52 As the critical hour for the commencement 40:54 of the evening meeting approached, 40:56 the Carter Report team prayed to the God of heaven 40:59 that He would quickly come to the defense of His people 41:02 and provide a legal police presence. 41:04 When church leaders explained the situation 41:06 to a major in the Kiev police force 41:09 that they have providentially met on the street, 41:12 the senior police officer responded, 41:14 "Yes, I will come and I will bring my men. 41:17 These meetings must continue. 41:18 I will protect your meetings 41:20 for the sake of the Ukrainian people." 41:23 Frustrated that the meetings were continuing 41:25 and that the police were providing security services, 41:28 the mayor of Kiev then called the director of the Palace 41:31 of Sport with the order, 41:32 "Close the meetings immediately. 41:34 These people are breaking our laws." 41:37 The director of the auditorium 41:38 during the 90 minute conversation responded, 41:41 "These people are not breaking our laws, but you are. 41:45 They are honorable people. 41:47 I will honor the contract with the Carter Report." 41:51 Day by day the battle for the souls 41:53 of the Ukrainian people continued. 41:55 Day by day God provided our daily bread. 41:58 For 26 days John Carter preached 42:00 twice every day to cumulatively more than 42:03 350,000 spiritually hungry souls. 42:08 When the pastor gave the invitation to the audience 42:10 to accept the great Creator, believe the Bible is God's Word 42:14 and trust in Jesus Christ as man's only savior, 42:17 16,000 responded. 42:20 This was an audience that had been born 42:21 and bred in Marxism, communism and atheism. 42:25 Now, thousands were turning their lives over to God. 42:29 Several nights later, many thousands received 42:32 for the first time, their own copy of the Word of God. 42:35 Twenty five thousand Bibles were placed in grateful hands. 42:39 Moving beyond words was the unforgettable experience 42:43 when thousands of ex-atheists and unbelievers 42:45 read for the first time, John 3:16. 42:48 "For God so loved the world 42:50 that He gave His only begotten Son 42:51 that whoever believes in Him should not perish, 42:54 but have everlasting life." 42:58 The battle to keep the meetings going continued every day. 43:02 Every morning presented a new challenge. 43:04 Every evening witnessed a new victory. 43:08 The news of what God was doing at the Palace of Sport 43:11 reached the ears of the influential leader 43:13 of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 43:16 metropolitan Filaret, his predecessor, the patriarch 43:20 had died during mysterious circumstances only days 43:23 before the crusade commenced. 43:25 The patriarch had vowed that while he lived 43:29 the Carter Report meetings would never take place. 43:32 Now, his successor welcomed Pastor Carter and his team 43:36 to his palace and warmly greeted the evangelist. 43:39 "We can see that God is with you," he said. 43:42 "You are doing a good work." 43:43 Pastor Carter expressed to the metropolitan, 43:46 the love of all Adventist Christians 43:49 and assured him that their only desire 43:51 was to build up the kingdom of God. 43:53 He also expressed to the Archbishop, their sorrow 43:56 that Orthodox priest had been killed by the militia 43:59 as they had endeavored to bury their patriarch. 44:02 "May God bless you and your work" 44:04 was the metropolitan's response. 44:07 Baptism for the new believer is a significant 44:10 and meaningful act. 44:12 It represents a public confession of faith 44:14 in Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. 44:17 When Pastor Carter invited those who wished to be baptized 44:20 to come forward as an act of faith and obedience, 44:22 more than 8,000 responded. 44:25 Little wonder that the archenemy of souls 44:28 wanted these meetings stopped. 44:31 As the Carter Report team continued to work and pray 44:34 for the victory, God's Spirit held back the winds of strife, 44:37 and thousands of Ukrainian souls 44:39 became members of the kingdom of God. 44:42 To Him alone be the honor, power and glory. 44:47 In a few minutes, this video will show the largest baptism 44:50 in the history of the ex-Soviet Union. 44:53 You will see in here, the story 44:54 of how the government authorities 44:56 did all of their power to stop 44:57 thousands of Ukrainian and Russians 44:59 from travelling to the Dnieper River, 45:01 where the baptism was planned. 45:03 You'll see a multitude of precious new believers 45:05 released from the curse of communism and unbelief, 45:08 immersed in the waters of that same mighty river 45:11 that witnessed the first great baptism of 988 AD. 45:15 But before that grand spectacle meet some of the people 45:18 who attended the Carter Report meetings. 45:22 My name is Katheran Jasmine. 45:27 First I was an earthiest 45:29 and I did not believe in God. 45:34 But now, when I started attending these lectures 45:39 I liked it, 45:42 and faith started growing inside of me. 45:47 Carter's Report really affected me, 45:52 it touch my heart. 45:54 It's very high level. 45:59 And after the first lecture, 46:02 I felt kind of feeling strange a little bit. 46:05 And I told all my friends and relatives 46:09 and all my neighbors about this. 46:12 And a lot of people who I know became interested in this 46:16 and they are here today. 46:19 And they're receiving great blessings too. 46:23 And I'm very glad that there is a report like that, 46:29 group of people who like 46:33 give money 46:36 to bring truths 46:39 to people, truths about existence about Bible, 46:42 the truth they didn't know before. 46:46 Before we had only Marxist theory. 46:50 I think that programs like that 47:00 are really great, they're priceless. 47:05 I want to really thank those people 47:08 who gave money 47:12 for this program, so it can happen. 47:17 I really like these lectures, they're really neat. 47:22 And I would like to, 47:24 this is very essential for our people here, 47:27 so that they can believe that there is something, 47:33 somebody who can support them, and save them. 47:39 The first of a series of baptisms 47:41 was planned for Sabbath. 47:43 The 19th day of August, 47:44 church leaders contacted Kiev bus companies to hire buses, 47:48 to transport the new believers to the baptismal site, 47:51 the Dnieper River. 47:52 Each bus company representative responded, 47:55 "We have been forbidden to allow you to have buses. 47:58 The Kiev minister of religion 48:00 does not want this baptism to proceed. 48:02 We will not help you." 48:04 Friday the 18th of August arrived 48:06 and still there were no buses available. 48:08 Carter Report team members met together and prayed the prayer 48:11 our Lord had taught us to say, 48:13 "Give us this day our daily bread." 48:17 Believing that God would supply their daily needs, 48:20 they planned for the baptism on tomorrow. 48:23 On Sabbath morning, the 19th of August, 48:26 33 giant buses pulled into the parking lot 48:29 at the Palace of Sport. 48:30 These buses had come from outlying districts 48:33 without the knowledge or permission 48:35 of the Kiev authorities. 48:37 God was leading and He was taking charge 48:40 of what was to be the largest baptism 48:42 in the history of the nation. 48:44 Running a shuttle service, these buses conveyed 48:47 thousands of Ukrainians to the Dnieper River, 48:49 where the Carter Report team and 50 Ukrainian pastors 48:52 and elders waited. 48:55 Who were these people who had come for baptism? 48:57 What had brought them to this place at this time? 49:00 They were people who had been born 49:02 and bred in atheism and communism. 49:05 They were people who had seen their nation ravaged 49:08 by the reign of monsters whose lives had been brutalized 49:12 by the most corrupt and oppressive system 49:14 known to man. 49:15 They were young and they were old. 49:17 They were old women whose husbands had been murdered 49:20 by blood thirsty dictators. 49:22 They were young people longing for a new and better life. 49:26 They were old men who had somehow survived 49:28 the bloody purges of Marxist demons in human form, 49:32 all soldiers who had lived through 49:33 more suffering and sorrow than we can comprehend. 49:37 They were God's children, frail, stumbling, 49:40 courageous with hearts, strangely warmed by a new hope. 49:45 They were part of a great multitude of every kindred, 49:48 tongue and people redeemed by the grace of God 49:51 and washed in the blood of the Lamb. 49:55 Here in 90 minutes, 50 pastors and elders 49:58 under the direction of Pastor Carter 50:00 baptized 2,817 precious souls. 50:04 For each of these new beloved brothers and sisters 50:07 along with another 671 50:10 who were baptized during the following two weeks, 50:13 we say glory, be to the Father and to the Son 50:17 and to the Holy Spirit. 50:18 Let the world and the church know we serve a mighty God. 50:22 And the victory at Kiev was wrought not by might, 50:25 nor by power, but by His Holy Spirit. 50:28 Glory. Hallelujah. 50:30 Hallelujah, Hallelujah 50:34 Hallelujah, Hallelujah 50:37 Hallelujah 50:39 Hallelujah, Hallelujah 50:44 Hallelujah, Hallelujah 50:46 Hallelujah 50:49 For the Lord God 50:52 Omnipotent reigneth 50:56 Hallelujah, Hallelujah 50:58 Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah 51:01 For the Lord God 51:04 Omnipotent reigneth 51:07 Hallelujah, Hallelujah 51:10 Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah 51:12 For the Lord God 51:15 Omnipotent reigneth 51:19 The kingdom of this world 51:22 Is become the kingdom of our Lord 51:27 And of His Christ, and of His Christ 51:59 He shall reign for ever and ever 52:05 And He shall reign for ever and ever 52:10 And He shall reign for ever and ever 52:16 For ever and ever, forever and ever 52:23 King of kings 52:27 The Lord of lords 52:32 King of kings 52:35 The Lord of lords 52:40 King of kings 52:42 The Lord of lords 52:51 He shall reign for ever and ever 52:56 Hallelujah, Hallelujah 52:59 Hallelujah, Hallelujah 53:01 Hallelujah, Hallelujah 53:04 Hallelujah, Hallelujah 53:08 Hallelujah 53:23 I've just come back from Russia. 53:25 What a trip. 53:26 With a team of 16 Russians, Americans, 53:29 Canadians and Australians, 53:31 I've traveled 6,000 miles from Moscow to Vladivostok 53:35 through seven time zones. 53:37 Oh, my friend, I wish 53:39 you could have been there to see the faces 53:41 of the people waiting for us at 35 stops along the way. 53:47 Old babushkas, young men, 53:50 young women standing for hours in the snow, 53:53 crying out slava bogu, praise God. 53:56 Thank You for coming. 53:58 Thank You for not forgetting us. 54:01 They stood there and we gave them Bibles. 54:04 Every person got a Bible. 54:05 Every person got a box of medicines and vitamins. 54:09 And we gave out 62,000 gospel audio cassettes 54:13 that tells them that there's a God in heaven 54:17 who knows all about them 54:18 and who loves them 54:19 and who send Jesus to die for them. 54:22 I said to one little old lady 54:24 who'd been waiting there in the snow 54:25 for three hours at temperature 35 degrees below. 54:30 I don't know what the wind chill factor was. 54:33 I do know it was cold. 54:34 I said, "What are the needs here?" 54:37 She said, "I don't like even to tell you." 54:38 I said, "Please tell me the needs." 54:40 She said, "We haven't been paid by our employers for a year." 54:44 People here are on the verge of starvation, 54:46 but she said, "Our needs are greater than anything physical. 54:49 We need Christ. 54:51 We need the Word of God. 54:52 Go back to America, tell the people, 54:54 do not forget us in the name of God. 54:58 Don't forsake us. 55:00 My friend, don't forsake your brothers and sisters 55:03 in the ex-Soviet Union. 55:04 That's my plea to you today. 55:07 I wish you could come with me to Chernobyl. 55:09 My wife, Beverley has a special ministry 55:11 for the suffering little children of Chernobyl. 55:13 I wish you could see their faces. 55:16 I wish I could describe to you if I had the ability, 55:19 their pains, their sorrows, 55:21 they are the victims of the worst nuclear disaster 55:25 in the history of the human race. 55:27 Recently with the help of the good old United States 55:31 Air Force, we were able to take a great quantity of goods 55:35 to the suffering people of Kiev 55:38 and the little children of Chernobyl. 55:40 This is our latest mission update 55:42 and it gives the amazing story. 55:45 This is the US Air Force Hercules. 55:47 Thank God for what they did. 55:50 I wish you could come with me friend and visit the soldiers. 55:53 I've had generals, colonels, 55:56 thousands of soldiers say to me, don't forget us. 56:00 We've got souls too. 56:02 We've got hearts. 56:03 I've had the privilege of speaking recently 56:06 to thousands of KGB officers, 56:09 their messages, "Don't forsake us. 56:12 Don't forget us." 56:13 I wanna put this in your hands our latest mission update. 56:16 Write to me John Carter, P.O. Box 1900, 56:20 Thousand Oaks, California 91358. 56:25 We wish to thank the members 56:27 of the community Adventist fellowship 56:29 and our loyal and faithful friends across North America 56:32 for making this crusade possible. 56:34 We also wish to record our gratitude too, 56:37 and admiration for our brothers and sisters in Kiev, 56:41 who stood courageously with us when the battle raged. 56:44 Above all, we thank God who gave us grace to fight the good 56:49 fight of faith and who gave us the victory. 56:52 To God be the glory, great things He has done. 57:07 For a copy of today's program, 57:09 please contact us at P.O. Box 1900, 57:12 Thousand Oaks, California 91358 57:16 or in Australia, contact us at P.O. Box 861, 57:21 Terrigal, New South Wales 2260. 57:26 This program is made possible through the generous support 57:29 of viewers like you. 57:30 We thank you for your continued support. 57:34 May God richly bless you. |
Revised 2023-09-28