SWAT REPORT # 82   04-12-07

Psa 14:1   The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

"Eternal glory for the soldiers of the Soviet army, that gave their lives fighting for the liberation of the world from fascist slavery."

In photo 8201 is the dark shadow of left-over communism here in Romania.  The quotation above is from the obelisk behind the concrete Communist guard (see photo #8204) at the Communist military cemetery not ½ mile from my home here in Brasov.  Imagine the irony of Communists speaking of eternal glory…the only thing a Communist knows of eternity is the excruciatingly painful memory of a wasted life and the eternity of the flames of an unbearable hell.  Imagine the joke of a careful scrutiny of the above quotation…for instance, the use of the word “liberation” from “slavery” in regard to their goals and legacy.  Truly, only adjectives such as oppressive, fearful, merciless, cruel, harsh, black and bleak should be employed in the description of Communism.  What comfort could any soldier or family of such possibly derive from a visit to this place of final deposit for his mortal body?  What futile inspiration could this brave but bitter, concrete but callous, deaf, dumb and defeated statue offer to young aspiring atheists to conquer the world for the eternal glory of Soviet Communism?  Photo #8202 captures the rows of dead whose bodies will continue to decay long millenniums past the glorious rapture because they trusted in this black cement idol instead of the Living Liberator of all men.  What gallant words of remembrance could possibly be composed to engrave the tombstone in Photo #8205 that would embolden a grandson to aspire to carry the torch of his ancestor?  The crosses of the adjoining Orthodox cemetery, (Photo #8203) though Catholic in origin, at least offer, in stark contrast, the testimony of a comforting Saviour who will conquer the entire world and liberate any fascist, communist, Orthodox or Democrat who will “Isa 45:22  Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”  Thank God for something to point enslaved people to other than a concrete Communist with a toy gun.

Notice in Photo #8206 that the European Union and all of its financial hopes has not fully made its impact except to draw away the hearts of the people toward the fickle promises of creature-comforts.  If only we could persuade the multitudes in photo  #8207 that the good Lord stands ready to supply all their need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

Along with Spring comes a whole host of encouraging changes in our ministry.  Bro. Zander and family will arrive in another month, some of the equipment for the printing ministry was delivered this past week, although the rent has doubled on our present church building the prospect of a new and better meeting place is dawning on the near horizon, one student will graduate from our three-semester Bible institute next month, and all the workers in this team are well, happy and looking ahead with great promise.

We are standing in the gap here in eastern Europe…just pray we aren’t trampled by the throng of fortune seekers.

Holding the front line in eastern Europe
Gerald Sutek
And the SWAT TEAM for Christ