The Great Soviet Awakening: The True Story the West Was Never Told

By Tom Kraeuter

What would you do if the government confiscated all the Christian churches in your city?
Further, what if they said that all Christ-followers would have to worship together in one location, regardless of denominational affiliation?
No, this isn't some sort of doomsday prediction. It really happened. But the outcome was nothing short of a God-ordained miracle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 4, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483541341

Book preview

Kraeuter

Prologue

Just three brief decades ago, something startling happened in the Kingdom of God here on earth. I would dare to suggest that it was an occurrence of biblically-epic proportions. When I first heard an extremely condensed version of the story, I was shocked. It was an overwhelming tale of God’s grace made tangible in amazing ways.

I have been a Christian for more than thirty-five years. I’ve been in full-time ministry for twenty-five years, ministering in churches all across North America and even other parts of the world. However, I had never heard so much as an inkling of this story before. The truth is that the vast majority of Christians know nothing about it, but it is a faith-strengthening story from which we can learn much.

The opening chapter is entirely true, except for Matti, a fictional character. Matti is only there to fit the pieces together. The specific details have all come from eyewitnesses of the actual account. †

Chapter 1

According to the calendar, spring officially began four days ago, but winter was clearly not ready to loosen its grip. Large snowflakes floated gently downward and seemed to increase in size as they passed the bluish light of the lone streetlamp. It was an older, mostly residential neighborhood in a large city, and an elderly woman with an oversized bag trudged along the sidewalk, obviously being very cautious not to slip on the newly fallen snow.

Fortunately, this late-March snowfall didn’t show signs of any real accumulation, and Matti was glad as he tried to hurry along opposite the old woman. He didn’t want to be slowed down any more than he was already. He had left his house later than he intended, and that was compounded by his sprained ankle that hindered his movement as he hobbled along the sidewalk. He was already late, and he felt as though he was getting later by the moment.

For just a brief instant Matti’s thoughts about his tardiness were set aside. Instead, his attention was drawn to the nearly empty street. It seemed odd to him that this area was almost barren, especially since he knew that just two streets away there would be a bustle of activity.

He did his best to hurry along on his swollen ankle. When he finally turned the corner, sure enough, he could see dozens of people pouring through the doors of the old church building. He knew that hundreds more were already gathered inside.

Just a short distance down the street, Matti heard a group of people laughing. As he turned and glanced toward them, he nearly stumbled on the one worn stone step that led to the door of the church. He caught himself before falling, but it made him remember. Just a few months earlier Matti had visited the old church for the first time, and he had tripped on the same step then. Matti had smiled when it happened originally. This time, though, he winced in pain as he steadied himself on his impaired ankle.

As he walked into the crowded foyer, his eyes quickly adjusted to the light. He made his way to the sanctuary door on the right, trying to skirt around a small group of people who were talking in a language he didn’t understand. This door to the right was the one he had used on his first visit, and he had continued that same pattern each time since.

Through the open door, Matti saw hundreds of people. On his last visit, he had speculated that there were well over a thousand in attendance, but he didn’t actually take the time to count. The worn wooden benches were filled to overflowing, and people stood — some even sat — in the aisleways all around the perimeter. With so many people packed in like sardines, and given the size of the auditorium, surely there must be more than a thousand, he thought. Matti had been told that these three-times-a-month meetings had begun with only youth. Now, a few years later, there were people — and lots of them — of all ages, infants to the very elderly.

Glancing upward, Matti wondered again — for the umpteenth time perhaps? — how high the ceiling really was in this ancient cathedral. It never ceased to amaze him how the place could have been built without the aid of modern machinery. It was a huge edifice, and he had often wondered what it must have looked like when it was new.

Matti was trying to decide where he might sit — he knew he should have left home sooner — when he heard someone call his name. He turned and saw a group of his friends waving to him. He had only recently met most of them, but they had become friends quickly because of their shared experiences at the church meetings. Most people in their society didn’t look too kindly on church people, so they had a tendency to hang together.

Matti quickly made his way through the crowd to where his friends were sitting. They greeted him enthusiastically, glad he had made it.

Did you hear the news? asked one of the girls excitedly. Joanna became a Christian yesterday.

Joanna?! responded Matti, obviously skeptical. Joanna was one of their classmates who was very vocal about her opposition to the Christian faith. Are you sure?

Yes. She told me herself last night. She came to the meeting two weeks ago just to get more information to challenge us with. But apparently she was convicted by what she heard. Yesterday she received the Lord’s forgiveness. The young lady looked around the sanctuary. She should be here somewhere.

Matti shook his head, once again astonished by God’s amazing grace. Joanna, of all people, he thought.

Just then a man at the front of the church began talking. We welcome all of you here tonight. We want to especially welcome those who have come from far away. We are very glad you have joined us. The man smiled. He looked out over the congregation as the crowd began to settle in for the service. We believe that God’s Word should be preeminent, so we will begin by reading Scripture. He paused as he opened his Bible. I will be reading from John chapter 8, verses 31 through 36. Another quick pause for a breath, and the man began reading. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, You will become free?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’ The man stopped, closed the Bible, and looked out at the people.

There are some here tonight who need to find freedom in the Son of God. He is here to offer you that freedom. Let’s pray. The man bowed his head and began, Father, we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ that You would send Your Holy Spirit into this place tonight. Convict hearts and bring new life as only You can. We thank You that You hear us when we pray. Amen. With that he turned and nodded at the choir director.

As the choir stood, so did the members of the band — guitar, bass guitar, piano, and drums. This was one of Matti’s favorite things. Truth be told, it was a large part of why people originally started coming. The music was definitely geared for the younger crowd. Of course, they sometimes did a song that had stood the test of time, but they always did something that was decidedly more modern. The music was not like what most people thought of as dull, drab church music. Instead, it was cheerful and lively. Many young people who were not even Christians came just because of the music.

The choir director stepped to the microphone and said, "Tonight we’re going to sing a new song called, ‘If My People Will Pray.’ It’s about turning our backs on our old life and turning to God, and allowing Him to renew us." With that, he turned toward the choir and band.

The band started with a gentle, but decidedly contemporary, feel. The choir soon joined in and sang,

"If my people, which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves, shall humble themselves and pray...

If my people, which are called by my name,

shall seek my face and turn from their wicked ways...

then will I hear from heaven, then will I hear from heaven,

then will I hear and will forgive, forgive their sin..." ¹

The words of the song reminded Matti of his original visit to the church. That night he had heard — for the very first time in his life — a message about turning from sin and seeking God. He had never before conceived of the idea that the Lord wanted to have a relationship with him. But Matti had suddenly realized it was true. The Holy Spirit had gently but powerfully tugged on his heart, and Matti was born-again. As he thought back, he marveled at how much his life had changed since that evening. The