Time Magazines Person of the Year: Vladimir Putin"Why did Christ come into the world? "To liberate people from sickness, troubles, from death. In its essence, Christmas is a holiday of hope." Vladimir Putin
"Christmas is a holiday of hope." In a country where atheists are the majority, Mr.Putin has demonstrated that he is an active Orthodox Christian and very knowledgeable about his faith. I was a witness to this man’s personal faith and desire to seek after God. And it was a moment in my life that I’ll never forget and how I was blessed by my brief encounter with him.
Five years ago in November of 2002, I was invited to be part of a Methodist church delegation that went to Russia. I traveled with several pastors and a wealthy American business owner and his wife to Moscow. It was in conjunction with their Russian Initiative program. Because of my art ministry I was given the opportunity to lecture at several prominent universities and secondary schools not only in Moscow but also in the Russian republic of Komi and its capital city of Syktyvar.
Although openly discussing religion was not encouraged in these public forums the very fact my art was "Christian" in nature allowed me to explain my beliefs concerning Jesus Christ that I portray in my work. The Russian people love culture and have a great understanding and passion for the arts. In Russia, I was like a rock star because of my work. Many other wonderful things happened while I was in Russia including visiting many orphanages and personal care homes that are rarely allowed to be seen by foreigners. Those orphaned children were so very precious and I must of drew hundreds of little pictures for them as gifts. Of course we were escorted by the Russian secret police (although they went by an official government sounding name) everywhere we traveled. Eventually, I would like to write a detailed account of all our experiences during this trip including my encounters with the Russian mafia.
In the Garden of Good and Evil
After two weeks of "conquering Russia with my art" we returned to Moscow where our journey began to prepare to come home on Thanksgiving day. The first thing I desired to do was revisit the Cathedral of Christ the Risen Savior. The grandeur and overwhelming beauty of this historical old church that sits directly outside the walls of Red Square is breathtaking. As I entered into her sanctuary and stood in front of the alter I felt humbled before God. I’ll never forget that moment. All of the sudden as we were leaving the alter area it was like we were caught up in an John Grisham Cold War novel. Russian secret service or security forces began to rope off the main sanctuary. And as the main Sanctuary was being roped off the Russian President made his way to its grand alter. This former KGB top agent and leader of the great Russian republic was now bowed down before God only a few yards from where we were standing. I am not naive concerning the "good and evil" character of this man but only God knows the things Mr. Putin is accountable for in this life. Yet this grand cathedral was his own garden and personal sanctuary where he came to seek God’s face.
Richard Stengel of Time magazine in his announcement of their choice for "Person of the Year" characterized Putin as dynamic but dangerous. "He doesn’t care about civil liberties, he doesn’t care about free speech. He was very bitter about the way Americans look at him and the way Americans’ treat him. He is an angry, angry man,"
On Thanksgiving eve 2002 it wasn’t the "angry, angry man" Mr. Stengel described in announcing their reward recipient that I encountered that night. For two weeks I proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ through my art as Mr. Putin’s secret police looked on. The Russian people are free because of the same reason Mr. Vladimir Putin is free. For no man can steal the freedom that comes from knowing Christ not even behind an Iron Curtain.
James Robert Kessler
Because of Him Art Ministry 2007
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