Photo by: Lolly Gish

As far as we know, Russia is the only country in the world to sponsor special activities recognizing 2000 years of Christianity. One of these activities was a conference held in Moscow, March 23-25, entitled "Christianity and Education." Prominent educators and scientists from several countries and Russia participated in the conference. These included Dr. Duane Gish of ICR, Dr. Robert Beckett of Northern Ireland, Dr. David Rosevear of England, Dr. Paul Kienel, for many years the president of the Association of Christian Schools International, and Roger Oakland representing Canada. The conference was jointly sponsored by the Russian Ministry of Education and the kindness Foundation, a Russian Christian organization establishing Christian resource centers in Russia.

Dr. Olga Polykovskaya-Lutsenko, formerly Chief Specialist in the Russian Ministry of Education is president of the Kindness Foundation. She and her husband, Fred Lutsenko, helped, along with officials in the Ministry of Education, in arranging the conference. The purpose of the conference was to explore the importance and relationship of Christianity to education. As well as the attendees from other countries, educators and Christians from Russia participated in the conference.

The keynote speaker was Professor Dr. Nikolai D. Nikandrow, President of the Russian Academy of Education. Chairman of the conference was Dr. Valeri Polyakov, Vice President of the Academy of Education. Dr. Paul Kienel described what he believed to be the role of Christianity in true education. Drs. Beckett, Rosevear, and Gish, and Roger Oakland each emphasized the importance of teaching Russian students the alternative of theistic, supernatural creation along with the non-theistic mechanistic theory of evolution. Each briefly described from their particular fields of science the scientific evidence that provides powerful, positive evidence for creation.

It is hoped that this conference will encourage educators and Russian authorities to carry out the goals expressed following a conference held several years earlier. At that time, Dr. Gish, Roger Oakland, and Ian Taylor met with Dr. Alexander Osmolov, a Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Alexei Brudnov, Director of Supplementary Education, and Dr. Olga Polyskovskaya, Chief Specialist. Dr. Osmolov expressed their desire to end indoctrination of students and to teach alternatives, including creation, to restore a moral and ethical code in their schools, and to restore the students to their parents. It might be noted that these goals seem to be exactly the opposite to those supported by educational authorities in the United States.

Creation in a Russian Classroom