GLEANER 2 Editorial October 21, 1991 OP€1141011 from Russia with a Bearhug BC,AIIIIUG Editor's Note: the Fol- Tremendous
GLEANER 2 Editorial October 21, 1991 OP€1141011 From Russia With a Bearhug BC,AIIIIUG Editor's Note: The fol- tremendous. The advantage of having an lowing are significant ex- American come in to Russia to preach and cerpts from an interview conducted by Ed teach is that it helps broaden their vision. For Schwisow with Bruce Johnston, president of the instance, we told them that we needed a North Pacific Union Conference, just hours after minimum of 10 churches in St. Petersburg; Bruce Johnston Johnston's return to Portland, Ore., after a you know, it just blew their minds. But by the month of evangelism in Leningrad/St. Petersburg time we were through, that's what they were Russia;. talking about. They were saying, "We've got to have more churches!' around a man, a civilian, and we crowded GLEANER: While Operation Bearhug GLEANER: And yet, to do what you did in and I asked the interpreter who this was. may create sensational headlines and tingle with the help of Duane Bietz, M.D.; Duane She found out this was Alexander Rutskow, our spines with exotic imaginings, does it McKey, and others, couldn't have been easy. vice president of the Russian Federation, really bring the Northwestern Adventist any Time, preparation, legal technicalities, ques- and he was commending these officers. real advantages? It could become a "foreign tions about coup de'tats. How did you These were the officers who had gone down policy diversion" to keep our eyes off real surmount these obstacles? and brought Gorbachev back after the coup.