One Week in the Moscow Mood Drinking from Moscow Theology

Main Street felt like a walk through Jericho; instead of destruction, we brought benedictions with 800 lbs. of smoked tri-tip.

We arrived at 1 am this morning and our luggage is somewhere in the inferno, which is to say, it’s at the Dallas Airport. It may explain the timing of my lunch missal instead of the early-bird special.

But I did want to make a few quick observations about my trip to Moscow, ID.

This is my eighth visit in the last two years, but this was a week long. It allowed me to have some meaningful meetings and meet some CREC pastors around the country and the world.

In some ways, it was the coalescing of planets. The NSA students were returning—that’s 104 freshmen. The convocation was spectacular. Joe Rigney offered a wonderful charge to the new students. It has been an honor to serve on the board of New Saints Andrews!

The Grace Agenda attracted over 1,000 attendees. Imagine adding another 1,000+ visitors to a population of less than 26,000. The end result was a block party of a lifetime! Main Street felt like a walk through Jericho, but instead of destruction, we brought benedictions with 800 lbs. of smoked tri-tip. I treated that thing like a Disney ride. I went back 5-7 times. It was a carnivore extravaganza. Thanks, Luke Jenkovic, for the manna from heaven!

Singing at the Block Party

My daughter and I had a stupendous time together. I met some old friends and made many new ones. When I walk the streets of Moscow, I am greeted by many dear people, but my rental was the talk of the town. I cannot tell you how often I heard, “Nice ride, Pastor Brito!” Anyone who knows me knows that my general description of vehicles ranges from black to white. Everything in between is obscure to me. So, when the individual at the counter asked if I wanted a Challenger instead, I said, “Sure,” and asked no further questions. Apparently, that’s a big deal with the kids. Next time, I will ask them to give me the homeschool special.

The week provided great opportunities to spend time with distant acquaintances like Brian Sauve, Dusty Deevers, my dear friends Virgil Hurt and Joffre Swait, and my old parishioners. Preaching at Emmanuel Reformed Church in Moscow, ID, was a real treat. I am grateful to Jeff and Lori Harlow for the lovely hospitality and a Sabbath meal I will not soon forget. And then closing the Lord’s Day with some dear friends made the whole thing extra jubilant.

Brian Sauve

David Eley, Joffre Swait, and Virgil Hurt

McCabe and Lang Tribes

I have described the Christian culture of Moscow as electrifying for a couple of reasons:

a) There are always events taking place in the community. Music, theater, theology, books, sports, debates, feasts, and worship shape the town's ethos. It is safe to say that without the Christian presence of our CREC congregations, the local businesses would struggle greatly. There would be a marked decline in joy. My brief interactions with the unbelieving community and perusal of their demeanor from afar would indicate that they ain’t got much jubilation to offer. But on the other hand, the joy of the kirkers is palpable. They truly love life, and the community events are a picture of that life being played out in the public square.

b) The place attracts hundreds of ambitious men. These men love the Lord Jesus and are eager to make his name known in their labors. The business owners perpetuate the cycle of migration to the place. More business owners lead to more jobs, and more jobs make room for more people, and more people build the community. I have always said that our congregations attract men who want to conquer, especially in this little town.

c) No control or power is being wielded by some guy on top. There is no authoritarianism or edicts from anyone. There are visions implemented and immediate delegation to capable hands. Any assertion that this is some sinister sociology making plans behind the curtain does not see what’s happening on the ground. All the major leaders, beginning with Doug Wilson, are intimately engaged with the people, and participants of the life of the community. You can spot Wilson, Sumpter, or Longshore in any number of places. There is a clear understanding that this project will only endure if there are successors and control of certain elements of the community are distributed to capable leaders. This is demonstrated in the proliferation of CREC bodies. There are seven CRE Churches for a population of 26,000 people. That’s 10% of the population!

It’s hard to minimize the place's virtues, which makes accusations that it is associated with cultic-like tendencies even more absurd. If a cult is composed of Trinitarian religion that dances and sings, then here’s a toast!

An Appeal

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