00-20  The Bashkirs  2007   16 Chapters  (146:07)

Script: Bashkortostan 2007.pdf   03/25/2023

The Bashkirs:  Yesterday, Today, Hope for Tomorrow   (25:57)  

Bashkortostan, Russia, a republic about the size of Arkansas, USA, is strategically located on the Eastern edge of the Ural mountains and only 700 miles from Moscow.  Ufa is the capital city.  There are more than 120 nationalities represented in the approximately 4 million people living in Bashkortostan.   Two-thirds of the people live in urban areas and only one-third in rural areas. 

The Friendship Alliance established some 450 years ago signaled hope for a peaceful and prosperous future for the peoples of this land. October 11, 2007, the 450^th Anniversary of this alliance was celebrated and attended by Bashkort President Murtaza Rachimov and Russian President Vladimir Putin along with other foreign heads of state and diplomats.

The Russian – Bashkir Friendship Alliance made in the distant past was indeed a momentous event.  Yet, it is nothing when compared with the cross of Calvary and the salvation offered by Jesus Christ.  He alone is the source of true hope.

In August 2007, we returned to Russia for two weeks. As we gathered material for a new DVD, we were unexpectedly invited to visit three different schools. We made a special DVD for the schools and mailed a copy to each as a way of thanking them for their hospitality. During our time in Bashkortostan, we were uneasy and concerned about the government watching us and were happy to be on our way home.

02  Maps  (1:48)  Bashkortostan, Russia, 700 miles East of Moscow, where the Friendship Monument, erected in1957, is a continuing reminder of the friendship established 450 years ago between the indigenous people of Bashkortostan (the Bashkirs) and the Russian government.

03  The Remaking of Bashkortostan   (6:48)    Bashkortostan is beautiful in many ways, but life all across this Republic is changing. The tree lined hills and valleys, rustic rail fences and green pastures make picturesque scenes for all. Small villages next to fast flowing mountain streams or nestled among the trees are homes to many but, they are relics of the past; slowly decaying into history as the younger generation move to the cities to find employment.

04  Ufa: Then and Now  12:31    A long time ago in the land of the Bashkirs several families sought protection from tribal conflict as they built their homes next to a small fort established by the Russian military. This garrison, with its watchtowers, provided security for those living along the banks of the White River. The settlement grew and, in a few years, the village known as “Ufa” was founded. This was in the year 1574.

05  Where do We go from Here?  (6:42) 

These decaying buildings were part of the Communist farm collective system of the former Soviet Union. It was the centerpiece of an aggressive farm policy where all were to work together in fulfilling the government dictated quota of products.  However, this policy resulted in a significant decline in production causing famine and starvation among the farm families of Russia. 

06  A Sweet Gift  (4:08)     Mmm … mmm sweet Lipa Honey  found nowhere else in the world.  The flavor of this delicious honey is so distinctive that the Bashkortostan honeybee has been awarded gold and silver medals in Russia. The honey produced has received international gold medals. Beehives are everywhere - from the large business to the small backyard family enterprise.  In Bashkortostan, it is the honey, beebread and beeswax that provide the economic venue.

07  Building the Future   (9:39)   Their future before them, their parents beside them and carrying bright bouquets of flowers for their teachers, these students are ready for classes to begin on this first day of September 2007. The bright sunshine of this early morning event is accentuated with the smartly dressed girls and boys eager to begin the new year of building their future place in the life of Bashkortostan, Russia. 

08  “Thank You, Krivlya”   (9:30)    Along this main street there are no sidewalks. There is no need since most everyone walks down the middle of the street. There are a few cars and trucks along with horse-drawn wagons. Occasionally, a fast moving sidecar motorcycle passes by. The only traffic jams are those that occur early in the morning and the late afternoon when the flocks of sheep and herds of cows make their way to and from the daytime pasture. 

09  A Church Without the GOSPEL  (4:58)    A century ago Russian Orthodox Churches dominated the skyline of nearly every city, town and village of Russia. There were gleaming gold-plated domes and ornate towers in the big cities such as Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Following a similar theme, were other cities, from Minsk in Western Russia to Ufa in the East near the Ural Mountains.

10 "Peace and Submission"  (5:28)  It is the year 1574.  Islam has been here for over 500 years and is now the dominant religion among the tribes living in the land we call Bashkortostan.   The word “Islam”, when translated, means “peace and submission” but this new religion did not stop the wars, the killing and the plundering among the peoples of this area. It was a desperate situation for the tribal elders. 

11  HOPE for the Peoples of Bashkortostan 

(11:00)   Rich in natural resources, the Republic of Bashkortostan has reason to celebrate and to hope for a good economic future. A wide range of economic activity provides sufficient opportunity for the ethnic and religious groups who live side by side in this Republic. 

12  Good News for Krivlye  (6:57)   The main street in this small village of Krivlya is only about a mile from the beginning of the village to its end. The pathway for the 700 or so people living here is shared with an old tractor and its grain wagon, the horse and cart, herds of sheep and milk cows and perhaps a motorcycle or car. The public school is along this street - the largest building in Krivlya. Two blocks away is a grain processing and storage facility.

13 “The Morning Comes and Also the Night” (11:07)   “During the 1860’s, it was very dark in the religious world of the Russian people, but the morning had really begun to dawn. This was when the last books of the Bible were translated from the old Slavic language into Russian.The Word of God had a great influence upon the religious condition of the people.  It was like the first rays of the rising sun in the early morning. 

14  Sail of Hope  (12:17)    Out of the Ural Mountains the waters came turbulent, fast moving ... but the river was following a well worn path. It is here in the rich farmland of central Bashkortostan that it found tranquility, peace and solitude. In the cities and towns, - day in, day out - the people travel on the same road; tired, discouraged. But only 30 miles from Ufa and near the Sym River - there is a path that few travel. Those who find this path discover hope and truth.

15  The Forgotten Ones  (7:46)   It is the first day of school and children are all dressed up and carrying beautiful bouquets of flowers for their teachers. However, there are those for whom life is much different. There is no caring family;  no place to feel safe. They might find a place to sleep down the alleyways, behind the graffiti walls, next to the discarded alcohol bottles or, perhaps, in the decaying wood frame buildings scattered throughout the city. 

16  A Lonely Place  (10:14)    All-alone an old man shuffles his way up to a memorial that commemorates a horrendous time for Russia. Seldom alone, crowds of people in the cities are following a familiar path. There may be a few who have chosen a different path - a lonely path. These few are believers in Jesus Christ. 

   Less than .1% of those living here are evangelical believers.  Several small churches have been started often meeting in homes or in rented office space.  Most congregations are small and their pastor is bi-vocational and has limited time to devote to the outreach work.  Half of the churches in Bashkortostan do not have their own building because it is difficult to find a place to rent and very expensive if found. There are four million people living in Bashkortostan but merely four thousand evangelical Christians and only 24 Baptist churches.  The responsibility to take the Gospel to this entire Republic is great.  Your help is needed.  Your prayers are essential.  Your support can make a difference.  You can be part of reaching Bashkortostan for Christ.

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