DOI: 10.25549/pcra-c14-2554
title: Primiritel' = [Reconciler], vol. 1, no. 1 (August 1929)

description: [description english/roman)] A decision to publish the “Reconciler” journal was made at the all-Polish united congress of the Pentecostal communities in the village of Old Cholnitsa in May 1929. The Eastern-European Mission became a publisher of the journal. First it was published in Riga city, and then in Narva city. G. Schmidt was selected editor. The number of copies was 4-5 thousand. The first number issued in August 1929. It attracted great interest of the readers at once. The main purpose of the journal was formulated by the Eastern-European Mission. It was in the following: “to preach Christ and Christ crucified. We shall speak not only about salvation, we will let you know the will of God (Acts 20:28)”. The last number of the journal issued in August 1939, just several days before the Second World War began. In general, 121 numbers of the journal issued during the decade. G. Schmidt and Donald Gee, prominent figures of the Pentecostal movement, were permanent authors of the journal. There were 150 articles of Gustav Schmidt on different theological and practical themes. There is rich theological meaning in his articles. There are some names of them: “Reality of eternity”, “Does Christ give full salvation”, “Consequences of sin”, “God is above all in our lives”, “A good soldier of Jesus Christ”, “Two sons of Joseph”. As a Pentecostal teacher, Schmidt always paid special attention to the personality and actions of the Holy Spirit: “Power from above”, “Perfect following Jesus”, “Divine healing”, “The Day of Pentecost”, “Work of the Holy Spirit”, “Spirit of your Son”, “The Holy Spirit in the age of grace”, “Pride”.Schmidt took care of order of church work in evangelical communities, he gave an example of church order and life of Christians (“What Christ’s community has lost and what resides in us”). He wrote a lot about children, teaching church ministers: “It’s important to teach children the Word of God. Parents are the first who are responsible for this. Nevertheless, leaders of the community are responsible for the children of their members as well. If the leaders do not take care for the Word of God to be taught to children in the community then how can children learn it?”. He answered readers’ questions about the Bible on the pages of the journal. He expounded Christian doctrines, explained passages from the Bible difficult for understanding: “Triune God”, “Where do the dead dwell”, “Prototypes in the life of Moses”, “The second coming of Christ”, “Signs of the near coming of Christ”. Over 50 articles of Donald Gee were printed in journal in different years. He paid attention mostly to the Pentecostal doctrines, and personality and work of the Holy Spirit. He became very popular because of the series of articles “About the gifts of the Holy Spirit”, “Shall we refuse speaking in tongues?”, “About spiritual fruits”, “About pastors and flocks”, “About spiritual gifts”, “Ministry of a woman”. They still have value. Nature of spiritual gifts and methods of how to exercise them, inward world and character of a man who “lives in Christ not by flesh but by the Spirit”” are presented in the articles.Many of church documents, responses, messages, sermons, news about religious life in the world, information about the Pentecostal movement not only in Poland and former Russian territories but in Bulgaria, Canada, England, Germany, and Latvia as well were published on the pages of journal. By now, “Reconciler” journal has become a rare one. Nevertheless, many of the articles published on its pages haven’t lost their spiritual value and significance for the modern Pentecostal movement in Russia. Besides, they have valuable information on Church History on the territory of the Former Russian Empire in the XX century.