A few words about myself:
My name is Serguei. I am 26 years old, married and have two daughters. We are Russian and live in a suburb of Moscow. I think that others would be interested in my story. That is why I have written this short article. Before finding Friends I have had experience with a few other denominations, but their dogmatism and concern for insignificant details puzzled me.
I spent a lot of time thinking about how to interpret one or another verse in the Bible, and in trying to resolve such questions as whether baptism is essential for salvation, whether the human soul is eternal by nature and many other hard points. I feared that my salvation and closeness to God depended on my ability to judge and interpret Bible details accurately.
Suddenly, the thought came to me that I should learn more about Friends or Quakers, of whom I knew only a little. I formed my concept of Friends as a religious body by reading reference literature and books of history and fiction. I also explored Quaker resources on the Web, including The Autobiography of George Fox, which I downloaded and printed out. I asked the London Yearly Meeting via e-mail if they knew of any Friends in Russia. They soon answered, directing me to a small group of Friends and sympathizers here in Moscow. My process of experiencing Quakerism began.
However the version of Quakerism introduced here was some kind of liberal universalistic religion with little if any emphasis on the Bible and the personality of Christ. My first idea of Friends had been that they were firmly Christian, and I was embarrassed to learn that many Friends think the Bible and the Christian message are no longer important.
My own view is that the testimonies of Friends flow clearly and naturally out of the Gospel and the teachings of Christ. My current perception is that Quakerism is the spiritual essence of Christianity and that Quaker worship is a very good way for humble and simple souls to find the indwelling Christ and establish a relationship with Him.
Step by step I came to understand that there is only one Authority who can speak to me, answering my questions Himself. The first thing I realized was that I could not have an adequate understanding of the Bible unless I got His help in interpreting it. The second truth I learned was that a spiritual and inward sense should always prevail over a material and literal one. My interest in Biblical details and difficulties has not disappeared, but the themes of the great love of Christ, even friendship with Him, and His direct revelation to us through His own Spirit are now at the forefront.
One day I searched the Web looking for new resources on Quakerism, and opened the home page of the Rockingham Friends Meeting. I was not aware of Ohio Yearly Meeting of Conservative Friends before, and did not even know that a distinctive body of firm Christians existed within the Society of Friends. When I found the Conservative Friends, I felt I had discovered a simple message which spoke to my heart. These Friends seemed to uphold Quaker doctrine as it was revealed to George Fox and experienced by many of his early followers. I was so deeply touched by the clear and strong emphasis on Christianity expressed on the Rockingham web site that I contacted them. To my great surprise and delight, the Rockingham Friends soon answered me. A few members of this Meeting have been corresponding with me since then, and have given me precious encouragement and a lot of new information, which I appreciate. I hope to develop spiritual ties with other Christian Friends and believe that this will foster spiritual growth and a deeper knowledge of Christ for both my family and me.
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