Soviet Evangelicals Since World War II, Walter Sawatsky, 1981

on of former Soviet Pentecostal leader Ivan Voronaev) freely attack Stoian as a KGB agent. As evidence Voronaev claims the admission of one Soviet churchman who confessed in the privacy of the car that he was forced to report everything and that Stoian was in fact an officer in the KGB,*° Little is served in at- tempting to prove or disprove this charge but it does demonstrate how the international department is an albatross around the neck of the AUCECB. Ilia.M. Orlov, the vice-chairman, is the son of the famous Michael Orlov, who preserved the Evangelical Christian Union from total extinction during the war, who served as vice-president of the union until 1954, and remained on the council until his death in 1961. Michael Orlov’s children were able to obtain a good education; Ilia was trained as a dentist. He, too, studied in England (1956-58) and returned to become active in the Moscow church. Young Orlov had inherited the tremendous energy of his father and revealed impressive ability. He has been the leading organist of the church 366 Soviet Evangelicals Since World War II for many years, takes his turn at preaching while maintaining a gruelling schedule in the international department. Not only are there letters to answer and trips to accompany, he is also busy approving articles for publication in the journal and producing the English-language information bulletin. I once heard him translate a sermon into English for a visiting scientist sitting in the balcony, punctuating the translation with additional biblical quotes which improved the sermon. At the same time he and I were conducting a conversation on another subject. He is indeed a very complex person and his loyalties to church and motherland also appear complex. He, too, is widely distrusted and feared for the power he wields, but to my knowledge, he is accepted as a Christian brother. The other staff have less influence. Klaudia Pillipiuk had been study- ing to be a teacher. Evgenii Ruzski had studied for a career in journalism, came to faith through a healing experience, and studied two years at the Baptist seminary in Hamburg. He is fluent in both German and English. He, too, demonstrates great intelligence and ability, but his aggressive man- ner has alienated many. The younger men, Anatoli Sokolov and Nikolai Zverev, joined the department after two years of study in England (1973- 75). Alexander Savel’ ev has studied in Hamburg. The youngest member of the staff, Valentina Ryndina, speaks English and a little Spanish and has of- ficially represented the AUCECB at international youth conferences. She is a quiet-spoken person. During the past year, Nikolai Zverev became vice- chairman. The international department has gained international prominence while criticism of this department has grown within th