Journal of European Baptist Studies, Volume 7, No. 3, 2007

t. In spite of critical remarks, the writer in the Konigsberger Zeitiung in East Prussia in November 1851 pointed out that Baptists attracted outsiders with their sermons, their ‘very melodious singing’, and ‘by a constant prominence being given to conversion and repentance... rather than by the subtle definitions of religious sentiments....’ 34 Foreign missionaries who, in any case, were outlawed, were not the primary agents in spreading the Baptist message in Russia. It was the personal witness of laypersons and indigenous evangelists, beginning generally in their twenties, whether they were German-Russian, Baltic, Ukrainian, or Russian, who carried most of the work. It is not to say, however, that Baptists abroad did not pay supporting roles. Oncken himself and other Baptists from Germany brought both inspiration and needed expertise to the fledgling Baptist and Mennonite Brethren movements. Financial assistance also came from abroad, particularly from Germany, the United Kingdom and the USA. A most valuable foreign resource for leadership was the missionary school of Oncken in Hamburg, which provided training for a number of Baptist leaders in the Empire. In many respects, a proper balance was maintained between evangelical forces from within and from without. In any case, the penetration of Baptists into the Russian Empire is an inspiring story and a model for today. Dr Albert W Wardin, Jr. is a renowned Baptist historian . 35 34 Baptist Missionary Magazine, March, 1852, p. 78. 35 Albert W. Wardin is well known to readers of this journal because of his splendid introduction to Baptist life, country by country. Baptists Around the World: A Comprehensive Handbook (1995) and his amazingly thorough bibliography and commentary. Evangelical Sectarianism in the Russian Empire and the USSR (1995). We are greatly in his debt. In this issue we are pleased to include an article from Albert Wardin which was presented as a paper at the International Conference on Baptist Studies in 2006, held at Acadia University, Nova Scotia, Canada. 48 Journal of European Baptist Studies Central and Eastern European Association for Mission Studies The Central and Eastern European Association for Mission Studies (CEEAMS) is organising a conference for Central and Eastern European missiologians in Papa, Hungary from 6-10 June 2007. The major focus of the conference will be the current situation of the church and mission in the countries of the region as well as the need to network between different missiologists, theological institutions and churches in their mission thinking and praxis. History and present standing of CEEAMS CEEAMS gathers together scholars in mission studies who are actively involved and work in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). All the countries in this area were historically part of the Warsaw Pact and thus their missiologists have a relatively short history. Spontaneous meetings of individu