Eastern European Baptist History: New Perspectives, 2007

. 158 converts. However, this new “wave’, when compared to “the children of believers’, was more effective in building relationships and witnessing to their friends. Duane Pederson’s Jeesusrahvas [Jesus People] was translated into Estonian and reproduced by samizdat methods.” The Jesus movement as a counterculture, though comparatively short-lived in the USA, had its impact on Estonian Christian youth. From the mid-1970s, the presbyters’ council repeatedly discussed issues related to youth work. Though still semi-illegal, youth work had come “above ground”. A younger generation was there and this fact could not be denied. In 1976, the presbyters’ council stated that there was an urgent need to find youth leaders both for local churches and at the Union level. The council recognised tension between different generations in churches, which some church leaders interpreted as “a non-brotherly and disobe- dient mentality” spreading among the young people.” Such statements reflected traditional ECB thinking about authority. By the end of 1976 the council worked out some simple advice: in churches where young people are present, they should be given the opportunity to have separate youth work for “self-education and evangelism”; youth work should take place in consultation with the congregation in general and with the church board; youth leaders should be persons trusted both by the church board and by the youth; and every local church is free to organise its youth work inde- pendently, but in order to avoid misunderstanding, it is recommended that work should be coordinated.” However, only in May 1979 was a coordinating body for youth work established.” This “youth council” expanded to eighteen members in 1980, and led by Ingmar Kurg, was supposed to work directly under the supervision of the Senior Presbyter and with the close cooperation of local presbyters.” The members represented primarily the larger and stronger ”° Duane Pederson, Jeesus-rahvas [Jesus People] (n. d.). Personal library of T. Pilli. The Esto- nian translation was probably made from the Swedish version of the book, published in 1972. 7° Minutes of the presbyters’ council meeting, no. 44 (12 September 1976). PNProt1969- 1985, Archive of the UECBE. 7” Minutes of the presbyters’ council meeting, no. 45 (7 December 1976). PNProt1969-1985, Archive of the UECBE. 78 Members of this initial “youth council” included Ingmar Kurg (Tallinn Oleviste), Jiiri Puusaag (Tallinn “Kalju”), Aamo Remmel (Tallinn Noémme), Dimitri Lipping (Tapa), Avo Rosenvald (Tartu “Kolgata”), Jiiri N6élvak (Haapsalu), Eduard Kakko (Parnu “Immaanuel”). Minutes of the presbyters’ council meeting, no. 57 (23 May 1979). PNProt1969-1985, Archive of the UECBE. ”? Minutes of the presbyters’ council meeting, no. 57 (23 May 1979), no. 68 (13 May 1980), 159 ECB churches. The “youth council” set a goal of preparing Bible study mate- rials for youth and supporting evange