Baptistic Theologies, 2009

Tserkovnii Vestnik [Church’s Messenger] N.13 (1880), reprinted in Bratskii Vestnik [Brother’s Messenger], N.2, (1948), p. 69. 34 Heier, Religious Schism in the Russian Aristocracy, p. 111. 35 Istoriya Evangelskih Hristian-Baptistov v SSSR, p. 87. 36 See also I.M. Randall, ‘Eastern European Baptists and the Evangelical Alliance, 1846-1896’ in S. Corrado and T. Pilli, (eds.). Eastern European Baptist Histoiy: New Perspectives (Prague: IBTS, 2007), 78 Baptistic Theologies Prayer meetings consisted of meaningful prayer, hymns and a sermon, and all this was different from the Orthodox liturgy. People were attracted by prayers not taken from books but spoken from the heart. Hymns and songs were sung altogether, which never happened in Orthodox Churches. Sermons were delivered in plain Russian which everyone could understand. Sermons 'Xl included reading from the Bible and explanation. The meetings were so popular that the great halls of Pashkov’s palace could not accommodate all the OO worshippers; sometimes there were more than 1,500 people gathered/ Similar meetings took place in more than forty houses of wealthy people in St. Petersburg. Also Pashkov and his followers organised prayer meetings in the poor districts of the city - for poor students, servants, factory workers and others. Some aristocrats (especially women) who were influenced by Pashkovism began to serve their own servants, thus preaching the Gospel to them. Pashkov himself was involved in ministry to the poor in the city and also began to travel further afield. His approach was simple: he read the Bible and called on people to ask Christ for forgiveness and begin a new life. Apart from speaking in public, Pashkov spent a lot of time speaking to people personally, visiting hospitals and prisons. Charity work was an important field in which the Pashkovites worked. Wealthy Pashkovites did not hold on to their money but would spend it for the benefit of those who were poor and in need. Special schools were opened for poor children and orphans, where pupils studied how to read and were trained in different professions, but could also learn about God. Pashkovites opened kitchens for the poor. Sewing groups were organised in order to give poor people a chance to earn money. The products of these sewing coteries were sold at annual bazaars in the house of Countess Liven. Pashkovites performed many other ministries including visitation of hospitals and prisons. 40 In all their ministries they combined material help with preaching the Gospel. p. 26. Pashkov developed ecumenical thinking. Friendship, e.g. with Baptists, became possible through Pashkov’s literature. Pashkov also supported Baptists financially. Pashkov organised several congresses where the representatives of different Evangelical and Baptist churches were invited. At the congress in April 1884 the participants were arrested and meetings were closed (P.D. Steves, Russian