In Moscow and Kiev

On July 28, 1993, the front page of The New York Times had a large picture of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow, with the caption: “The unleashing of religion in Russia brought converts into Moscow’s Locomotive Stadium for a mass baptism as Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

The Times reported: “Members with tear-stained faces hug the wet recruits. In contrast to the usual behavior at Locomotive, nobody smokes, nobody curses, nobody is drunk.” For four days Witnesses from Russia and from over 30 other countries comfortably filled the stadium, the peak attendance numbering 23,743.

The experience of a delegate from Spain illustrates how being no part of the world unites God’s people. En route to the convention in Moscow, he sat next to a man from Afghanistan who explained that even people of the same religion were killing one another in the civil war in that country. “What political party does your religion advocate?” he then asked. “None,” was the answer. Since Jehovah’s Witnesses are politically neutral, they are not involved in ethnic fighting, which pits one people against another.

The chief fire inspector of Moscow said: “This convention is most impressive. It is wonderful that so many people of different nationalities can find a common language. I am amazed at the cleanliness and orderliness of your people. I have been working at this stadium for 20 years and have never seen anything like it.”

When the Moscow convention began on Thursday, July 22, several workmen standing on top of a large construction site nearby were seen momentarily stopping their work. They were apparently impressed by the sound of over 23,000 voices raised in song. They would have been even more amazed had they known that the songs were being sung in well over a dozen different languages. Even deaf Witnesses unable to sing with their voices “sang” with their hands by means of sign language.

A favorite gathering spot in the evenings was Moscow’s huge Red Square, right outside the walls of the Kremlin. The evening before the convention began (it didn’t get dark until after ten o’clock), many hundreds of Witnesses from different races and nationalities were there happily embracing. A reporter from the Moscow Times happened to stop by and was curious. “Whom do you represent?” he asked. When told, he said: “I’ve never seen a happy mingling of so many diverse peoples in Red Square. Usually such a large group is here to demonstrate or protest something.”

Citizens of both Moscow and Kiev were indeed impressed by the thousands of badge-wearing delegates excitedly greeting, hugging, and trying to communicate with one another. A businessman from Iran who was visiting Kiev approached a Witness from the United States and said: “You have something wonderful. I have been observing you people the last couple of days. I want some of your literature in English to read.” He explained that if he did not have to leave the following morning for Iran, he would come to the convention.

Throughout Moscow and Kiev​—especially on the streets, in the squares, and on subway cars—​convention delegates approached the people to offer Bible tracts and brochures. Every evening Witnesses could be seen standing near Lenin’s Tomb in Red Square quietly conversing and distributing tracts. The offer was usually readily accepted, often with a warm smile. If the offer was made on a subway car, the person would generally begin reading immediately. It was not unusual to see five or six people in a car reading Bible tracts.

After reading the message, a subway passenger would often express appreciation. “We have not had opportunity to learn of such things,” explained a middle-aged man in broken English. “Thank you very much.” In another instance, a young man and his mother were so impressed with the message that they got off the subway car at the stop of the convention delegate to continue the conversation.

Convention Highlights

For the Witnesses in Moscow and Kiev, the main highlight was perhaps the presence of thousands of delegates from many other lands, including members of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The joy of just being together, united in peaceful worship with so many diverse nationalities, was beyond description. When the concluding speaker at Moscow and at Kiev said that our chief thanks go to Jehovah God, who made the convention possible, the audience rose to its feet and erupted in sustained applause for several minutes until the speaker continued his talk.

Other convention highlights were the talks given each day in English by members of the Governing Body and the brief reports delivered by delegates from various lands. These English presentations were simultaneously translated into many languages.

Still another convention highlight was the release in Russian and Ukrainian of the new brochure What Is the Purpose of Life? Especially appreciated was the release in Russian of the Theocratic Ministry School Guidebook, which is used to equip Jehovah’s Witnesses to present Bible truths more effectively. Also released in Russian was My Book of Bible Stories, a concise, chronological presentation of Bible history written especially for young people. Already over 36 million copies of this book have been printed in more than 80 languages.

Although dedication to God must be based on knowledge, not on emotion, the actual baptism is still an emotional occasion, touching the heart. In Moscow the crowd stood and applauded from the time the 1,489 baptism candidates started moving toward the three baptism pools until all had been baptized, more than an hour later.

Russia (3 conventions) 32,582 2,454

[Pictures on page 8, 9]

Over 23,000 united worshipers in Locomotive Stadium, Moscow

7,402 were baptized in Kiev, and 1,489 in Moscow

Foreign delegates brought tons of food to those in need

Top and center: Many ethnic groups met in peaceful unity Bottom: Witnessing in Red Square