With Russia seemingly spinning out of control, an exciting radio initiative is now being pioneered to take the Gospel to 20,000,000 Russians. Dan Wooding reports on RADIO TEOS.

Radio Teos Broadcasters

We can either let Russia continue to spin out of control - morally, spiritually and economically -and then become a threat again to world peace and return to the Cold War, or we can help to "secure the peace" in Russia by broadcasting the Gospel message to them. This stark contrast has been proposed by a pioneer Russian broadcaster.

Dr Eugene N Nedzelsky, general director of Radio Teos (derived from Theos, the Greek work for God) in St Petersburg, Russia, has announced that they have linked with United Christian Broadcasters International of Auckland, New Zealand, for a unique "peace plan" through the cooperative broadcasting project that will transmit the Gospel message to 20,000,000 Russians for the next five years.

I asked Dr Nedzelsky why he thought it was important that Western Christians get behind Project Teos. He first of all pointed out the current situation in Russia that has seen a massive escalation of crime with 40,000 people murdered in 1996, another 70,000 "disappeared", and with prostitution rife. He stated that the Mafia controls up to 80 per cent of small businesses, corruption permeates all levels of society and there is an ever-increasing gap between the super wealthy and the poor. He believes that just as communism has failed, so has democracy thus sending Russia spiralling down into a moral abyss.

"In view of this, I believe it is vital for Western Christians to help us reach our nation at this time," Nedzelsky said. "It is very important to understand that if trends continue, an unsaved Russia could very soon become a great danger for the world again. According to its historic position in the world, an unsaved Russia is not the same as unsaved Bulgaria or Romania.

"We should never forget that freedom in Russia is freedom for both good and evil," continued Nedzelsky, "and we see from reality that currently, evil uses this freedom far more effectively than those who promote good, ie, Christians. What could happen if evil wins again in Russia? Is it not better to learn from history?"

Dr Nedzelsky went on to state, "Somebody may tell you that it is 'God's will' for Russia to be an evil country, to play an evil role in world history. But let me tell you that God is for the Russian people and has opened the Iron Curtain to bring salvation. Those who portray Russia in the evil role are heralding World War Three for you and your children, where the alternative could easily be revival and prolonged peace!

"Participating in the ministry of bringing God's peace to the hearts and minds of Russians means you are fulfilling the Lord's command and, at the same time, securing the peace for your country and for your home. Christian radio programmes are the only effective tool to change the morality of the Russian nation at this time. We need to instil biblical principles as the national moral foundations in Russia and we need to do it fast. Russian chauvinism and communism are competing now for the hearts and minds of our people. They are extremely active in this battle for the souls of the Russian people."

I visited the studios of Radio Teos in St Petersburg a couple of years ago and subsequently wrote an article about the astonishing outreach of this Christian radio station located in the birthplace of the Bolshevik revolution. I had no idea that it would result in a joint project that would take the outreach of the station and help broadcast the Gospel message to 20,000,000 Russians for the next five years.

What happened was, my article was read by Ian Mackie, the Scot-born project manager of United Christian Broadcasters International in Auckland (the umbrella organisation for national radio ministries in New Zealand, Australia, UK and the Pacific island nation of Tonga). Challenged by news of the Radio Teos initiative Mackie went to St Petersburg. Now Project Teos has been launched which will see the outreach of the St Petersburg station, which went on the air on January 20, 1993 extended to Moscow from October 20, 1997.

UCB International and Radio Teos have jointly launched an appeal for $US 100,000 to help kick off the project. (This will help them get the project up and running, though much more will be required to fund the full project including a salvation follow up service linked to the broadcasts.) They are inviting churches, Christian businesses, ministries and individuals to support this ministry financially.

"Project Teos has as its main goal to start broadcasting the programming we already have going out in St Petersburg, 16 hours a day, to Moscow in October," said Dr Nedzelsky. "The reason why this is so important is that Moscow is the capital of Russia and the largest city in our country. It is also the political, cultural and economic centre, making it the real head of Russia's body. So, to be able to influence the head means to be able to direct the whole body."

Dr Nedzelsky, who is also senior pastor of the Evangelical Russian Church in St Petersburg, said that initially they will be broadcasting to Moscow the same programming that has already been so successful in St Petersburg. "However, in the future, we plan to establish our Moscow studio and do some special Moscow programming," he went on.

At this time, 90 per cent of their programming is locally produced, but they are open for more good Russian-language programmes from outside sources. "The response from our local listeners is currently running at 150 phone calls a day and about 1,000 letters a month," he said. "Every month, we receive a significant amount of our budget from the listeners in St Petersburg."

Dr Eugene Nedzelsky

Dr Nedzelsky added, "The most popular programmes we run are the live ones. Especially popular is one called Pastor's Hour, in which pastors from various denominations and listeners get the chance to talk to each other directly on the air. People call the studio and the pastor who is on the air at the time answers their questions, which are usually about the Bible."