Catching Fire Family of Missionaries from O'fallon Finds Russian People Eager for Bibles, Christianity

Beginning of article

When the Voegtle family of O'Fallon, Ill., visited Pioneer Youth Camps in Russia this summer, they weren't sure what to expect.

The camps had been organized years ago by the Communist Party to teach party doctrine to children.

"They used to teach them communism," Gary Voegtle Sr. said last week in an interview. "Now, they talk about Jesus."

Voegtle, his wife, Janice, their son, Gary Jr., and daughter, Elisabeth, were proud to deliver Bibles to Russia to help that nation return to its Christian roots. Gary Sr. and Janice Voegtle said that most Russians they met were eager to learn about Christianity and that many couldn't wait to be baptized …