Opening the Red Door
The Inside Story of Russia's First Christian Liberal Arts University
by John A. Bernbaum
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Pub Date Sep 17 2019 | Archive Date Sep 13 2019
InterVarsity Press | IVP Academic
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Description
After the Berlin Wall fell, a group of Christian colleges in the U.S. seized the opportunity to begin strategic faculty and student exchanges with universities inside the Soviet Union. They could not have foreseen the doors that would open next. During a 1990 visit to Russia, John Bernbaum and his colleagues received a surprising invitation from a Russian government official: come help build a faith-based university in Moscow. Thus, after seventy years of fierce religious persecution under communism, the Russian-American Christian University (RACU) was born.
In Opening the Red Door, Bernbaum presents an insider's account of the rise and fall of a Russian-American partnership. As a founder and later president of RACU, Bernbaum offers a ground-level perspective on Russia’s post-communist transition and the construction of a cultural-educational bridge between the two superpowers. He describes how American RACU staff worked to understand Russian history and culture—including the nation's rich spiritual heritage—so they could support their new Russian friends in rebuilding an educational system and a society. He documents the story of the first private Christian liberal arts university to be accredited in Russia's history, from its first steps, through its major successes, to its facing increasing opposition during the Putin era.
Opening the Red Door offers unique insight not only into Russian culture and post–Cold War history but also traces the dynamics within international educational institutions and partnerships. When he first traveled to Russia, Bernbaum writes, he thought of it as a nation of mystery. But after more than twenty-five years of work there, he believes Russia can be understood. His journey of understanding will prove instructive to educators, administrators, students, missionaries, and anyone interested in international relations.
Advance Praise
"This book recounts an amazing opportunity: an invitation from Russian reformers at the end of the Cold War to found a Christian liberal arts university in Moscow. John Bernbaum was at the center of that adventure, and in Opening the Red Door he shows, in frank and colorful prose, what made this enterprise possible and what brought it down in the end. Christian higher education today is a global endeavor, but it is not just about growth and success. It is a risky business, and we can learn much from our struggles and failures. I commend this highly instructive account to all who engage in Christian higher education."
-Joel Carpenter, Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity, Calvin College
"The history of establishing a university could be dry and boring. However, in light of the upheavals taking place in Russia during that time, a word such as boring does not apply to this book. Opening the Red Door reads more like a spy thriller."
-From the foreword by Philip Yancey
"Although the Russian-American Christian University has now closed, its history as told by its president John Bernbaum is both important and fascinating—and a riveting read. The university's twenty-five-year existence is a story of Russia's fraught transition out of communism and of extraordinary feats of international cooperation, a nearly unbelievable record of perseverance through official roadblocks and of unanticipated achievement by Russian students, and a moving account of deep person-to-person friendships. It is hard to imagine a more illuminating narrative of recent Russian history and Christian-inspired cooperation."
-Mark Noll, author of A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada
"What a book for such a time as this! John Bernbaum, a friend and longtime Christian educator, has given us something special in this volume. Academically trained in international relations and experienced in diplomacy, he shows himself to be a gifted writer with keen insight into recent Soviet and Russian history as well as one who understands the hard work of Christian education. Moreover, John writes about the country and its people from the inside. He shares with us his experience of both high hopes and heartbreaking dismay for Russia and his beloved colleagues and friends there. The dark door may have closed, but it will not extinguish the light from Christ's transcendent lordship."
-James W. Skillen, president (retired), Center for Public Justice, Washington, DC
"Christian higher education is expanding around the world, often in the face of political and religious opposition. Opening the Red Door is a fascinating story of one determined attempt to establish an academically rigorous, spiritually vibrant Christian university in postcommunist Russia. Though it was established during a thaw in United States and Russian relations in the 1990s, the Russian-American Christian University ultimately could not survive the deterioration of that relationship following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. But it was not for naught. Seeds were planted. John Bernbaum's firsthand account of the rise, decline, and enduring legacy of the Russian-American Christian University serves as a vivid window into the momentous years between the end of the Cold War and the formation of new global alignments following 9/11. It is also a testament to the incredible dedication of Christians who believe that the growth of the global church needs to be supported and guided by Christian academic institutions. As such, it will inspire as well as instruct readers interested in international politics and the complex relationship between Christian universities and their social context."
-Shirley V. Hoogstra, president, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
"This is the story of a remarkable man with a remarkable dream. In establishing Russia's first Christian-based liberal arts university, John Bernbaum came to know key players in the Russian government and the Russian Orthodox Church. His gripping account provides a unique perspective on the new Russia—and on the challenges to Christian witness as Russia seeks its way into the future."
-John P. Burgess, author of Holy Rus': The Rebirth of Orthodoxy in the New Russia
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780830852611 |
| PRICE | $30.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 260 |
Featured Reviews
Becky B, Librarian
When Communism started to crumble in the USSR, the Christian College Coalition (CCC) started to explore opportunities for student and faculty exchanges with universities in Russia and other Soviet states. Shocking everyone, the CCC found top leaders from Moscow strongly encouraging these exchanges and even asking the CCC to found a Christian university in Russia. Bernbaum shares his experience as an insider and leader in the CCC tasked with leading this initiative. He shares how the CCC formed relationships with Russian university professors, Russian leaders, and where opportunities led from those first days after the Iron Curtain came down until 2018. The road was not always smooth, but he shares the good he’s seen come out of even the bleakest situations. Throughout the book, Bernbaum also gives an up close look at what has happened in Russia politically, economically, culturally, and educationally, and how that affected country, foreign relations, and the programs the CCC was involved in.
This was an amazing, crazy, eye-opening read. It was fascinating and inspiring. It was informative and full of details, but also highly readable. It’s also a unique read in that what started off so promising ended in a way many would label a failure. But Bernbaum has a great perspective and shares several ways that God has used what happened during the highs and lows for good. Besides the crazy stories about a Christian group being welcomed warmly into a previously closed country, I learned so much I didn’t even know I didn’t know about modern Russia and what went on there during the 80s, 90s, up to present times. I was old enough to remember Gorbachev and Reagan’s meetings being in the news, but I had no idea what all was going on in Russia and how radical Gorbachev’s measures were. And I barely knew anything about Yeltsin or Putin besides them being the leadership faces of Russia before reading this. I really appreciate Bernbaum’s respect for the Russian people and understanding of where they were/are. Working cross-culturally and with a binational team can be super challenging, but he talks about working hard to create bridges and respecting both cultures. As an expat, I can tell you that is hard work, but is super important. He never talks about turning Russian education systems into American systems, in fact, he flat out says many times that forcing Russia to turn into America in any area won’t work and isn’t desirable. But he also doesn’t paint everything with a rosy glow, he is brutally honest about pitfalls of both Russian and American ways in various areas. It’s a healthy balance of finding the good, and encouraging change in areas that need it. If you want to better understand why the Cold War was dead and now it is coming back, this is a great read for that. If you like amazing stories of God opening impossible doors, you will like this. And if you like stories about how God opens and then shuts doors, working in ways that are sometimes hard to see, this is good for that too. And if you are interested in working cross-culturally in education, especially at the university level, this should probably be required reading. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
