April 6, 2017
Lenten Devotions — Ivan Prokhanov

On this day, April 6, 1924, Ivan Prokhanov, a member of the Molokan sect in Russia, died in Berlin.

“The Molokans were a Russian sect dating from the late 18th century. Molokans believed the Bible was the soul’s guide for salvation and rejected the rituals, icons, fasts, ornate churches, and worship of relics that were common in the Orthodox Church. They were called Molokans or “milk people” because they drank milk during Orthodox fasts. The government sent many Molokans to the Caucasus. One such family was the Prokhanovs. In 1869, Ivan Prokhanov was born into this heritage. When he was about ten years old, Ivan fainted and lay lifeless. A doctor pronounced him dead, and he was placed in a coffin. But as the elders read the Bible over him, preparing to bury him, Ivan opened his eyes and began to cry. In 1886, he took up a New Testament and saw Christ’s claim, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man comes to the Father but by me,” (John 14:6). He read Paul’s words, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain,” (Philippains 1:21). He sought forgiveness for his unbelief and thanked God for salvation. Ivan wanted to be useful to the Russian people. He studied mechanical engineering at the Institute of Technology in St. Petersburg. At the same time, he taught children and preached. His meetings had to be kept secret, because religious gatherings were illegal outside the Orthodox Church. Ivan was convinced that the Russian people needed spiritual reform more than anything else. He produced an illegal Christian magazine. He established a Bible school and organized youth groups. Two years before his death he wrote, “As I look back, analyzing the events of the past fifteen years, I cannot but see that every incident, every hindrance, even persecution and imprisonments, served definitely and positively for the growth of the Evangelical Christian Movement in Russia….” (Death of Ivan Prokhanov, One of the Milk People, Dan Graves, MSL based on a draft by Diane Severnac, Christianity.com)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:1-6

Jesus said, “I am the Way and the truth and the life”. Ivan Prokhanov came to understand a truth “..to live is Christ, to die is gain”; he found new life through Christ; and therefore he understood that the Way to eternal life was through Jesus. And so he found ways to live the Christ-like life, like producing an illegal Christian magazine, establishing a Bible school, organizing youth groups, and other ways to follow his call.

If we believe that Jesus is the “Way, the truth and the life”, then we need to listen for the Holy Spirit calling us, and also to find ways to live out our calling as we seek to live the Christ-like life.

This week collect one roll of paper towel to bring in for Trinity’s Table.

Pastor Dave