Spring Update

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

These words echoed in churches last week in the States. It was a special time for us as a family to be able to attend Easter services at our home church. But these words will be proclaimed in churches throughout Russia on April 15th when they celebrate Easter. Easter is considered the major religious holiday in Russia, enabling our Russian churches to use this day to share the message of the resurrected Christ. Will you join us in praying for non-believers who attend these services and for future follow-up.

Family

We want to express our thanks to all of you who having been praying for Lisa's recovery following her surgery in February. It has been a slower recovery than we expected but we are thankful there have been no complications. Lisa continues to gain strength and actually drove the car for the first time this past week. She continues to battle an infection requiring antibiotics. Please continue to pray for her complete healing.

Benjamin has settled into his house in Seattle where he lives with two of his former housemates from Seattle Pacific University. He is enjoying his job as a manager at a local business for now.

Michael had a great experience during his Spring break at John Brown University. He traveled to Joplin, Mo. where he served under Samaritan's Purse in helping to build a house that was destroyed during the hurricanes last year. He is in his last weeks of classes before the end of the school year. As you remember him please pray for good sleep during this hectic time of studies. He will also be looking for a job this summer back in Seattle. Join us as we are asking God to provide him a place to work.

Timothy is looking forward to getting back to Black Forest Academy for his senior year. In the meantime, he has had a great year here in the States, making new friends at his school. He has been very involved in the drama department and thoroughly enjoys acting on stage (picture above). He continues to chauffeur Mom and Dad around town with his driving permit.

Tyumen

Many of you read the news report about the recent plane crash in Tyumen. It was not the type of aircraft we regularly fly on in our travels in Russia. The Tyumen region is the oil capital of the country and this was a small prop plane taking mostly oil workers to a city in the northern part of the region. Having a plane crash within minutes of take off in a city the size of Tyumen has a dramatic impact in the lives of everyone. We started a church in Tyumen 5 years ago which today sees over 50 people worshipping on Sundays. We want to ask you to pray for Pastor Sasha and the church as they have unique opportunities to share Christ with people as a result of this tragedy. Ask God to open doors to share as people contemplate their lives in light of this event.

Speaking Tour

Bob continues to share in churches throughout the Pacific Northwest. It has been an incredible time of connecting with people, hearing the stories of what God is doing in the lives of believers here in the States, as well as sharing the ministry we have in Russia. Continue to pray for Bob as he is scheduled to speak in churches until the middle of June.

Partnering with you,

Bob & Lisa

Spring Missions Tour

Bob had an incredible tour in the fall speaking in Alliance churches in Western Pennsylvania. One of the highlights of the tour was visiting the Flight 93 National Memorial . Bob has already started his winter/spring tour here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. He is looking forward to connecting with many of you as he shares what God has been doing through our ministry in Russia.

Back to Russia

Bob, Lisa, and Timothy will be heading back to Russia the first of July. In the fall Michael will begin his Sophomore year at John Brown University. Benjamin, who was recently promoted to management at the store where he works, will stay in the Seattle area. Many of you have asked if we know where we will be living next term. We just received the news of our next assignment: Bob will be serving as Field Director for the Alliance work in Russia. We will be living in Moscow where the field office is located. We will also continue in our partnership with the Tobolsk/Tyumen churches.

New Barn at Tobolsk Rehab Center

December 2011 Merrill Family Update

Home Assignment

This fall was a busy time for our family. We all learned to adjust to Michael being away at college, Benjamin being home after college, and Bob away for fall mission’s tour in Pennsylvania. Bob had an incredible time in western Pennsylvania sharing in churches about the exciting things God is doing in Russia. Being people who are committed to praying and supporting missions around the world was a huge encouragement. Memories were definitely made as Bob was able to visit the Flight 93 Memorial, the Jimmy Stewart Museum, attend a Penn State game, tour downtown Pittsburg, and enjoy Pennsylvania cuisine (but he chickened out of trying scrapple!).

Tyumen

--In August the church was asked to leave the hall they had been renting for over two years. No reason was given as the church had a good relationship with the owners. Unfortunately, with the national elections for the State Duma (like our congress) in December and the Presidential elections coming in March 2012, many public meeting places become more restrictive of whom they allow to rent their facilities. Without any options, the church returned to meeting in Pastor Sasha’s apartment.

PRAISE: God opened an unexpected door for the church to rent a hall in a facility that is located on of the main streets in Tyumen. They can only use the meeting room in the afternoon, but it does give the church a place to gather and worship. And the rent is the same price as the other hall they were renting.

--Pray for special Christmas outreaches that the church is planning during the holidays. Most Russians still celebrate Christmas on Jan. 7^th. Pray especially for the Christmas service being planned on that day.

Butovo (Moscow church plant)

--We have been asking you to pray for months for Pastor Shenya’s wife, Delara, to find a job that would fit their families schedule and not be hard on her health.

PRAISE: Delara was recently hired for a job she can physically handle, is close to home, and has a normal 8 to 5 work schedule.

--The church is still in need of a place to meet on Sundays. They continue to meet in Pastor Shenya’s apartment, which is small and can only accommodate twenty people.

--Pastor Shenya continues to develop relationships in the theater groups. Recently he was invited to appear in a Moscow television drama in a small role. He also was invited to appear on a popular cooking show in Moscow, in which he won a brand new stove.

PRAISE: Shenya had many conversations with actors and people involved in these shows. He was actually introduced as a minister on the cooking show. This opened a unique opportunity for him to share his faith to a large audience of people.

Tobolsk Rehabilitation Center

--The Center recently celebrated their second anniversary of ministering to those addicted to drugs and alcohol. Please continue to pray for this difficult, yet much needed ministry.

--Pray for the Center as they try to develop the farming portion of the ministry. By raising animals the Center is able to supply food for those to whom they are ministering, provide work for those in the rehabilitation program, and sell food to make money to help pay for expenses to run the Center.

PRAISE: The Center rejoices over their first harvest of hay from the land given to them by the local city government to use (see picture above). The 10 acres, rent free, will enable the Center to feed their livestock through the winter without incurring any extra expenses.

September Update

Butovo (Moscow)

--Place to meet on Sundays. Still meeting in Pastor’s apartment

--Delara, Pastor Shenya’s wife, is looking for a job. Because of her health she is not able to stand for long times. Most jobs in Moscow require long hours. Pray for the Lord to provide a job in the Butovo region that would enable Delara to work and still have time for her family.

--Pray for church outreaches this Fall. In September they are inviting friends to a picnic in the park, Delara is starting up the women’s craft nights, and Pastor Shenya will be involved in the local theater group.

Tyumen

--The church just found out the meeting hall they were renting is no longer available. They had been meeting there for two years –it was centrally located, close to public transportation, and affordable for this small church. Pray that they will quickly be able to find a new place to meet. For the time being they are meeting in the Pastor’s apartment.

--Praise the Lord Pastor Sasha and his family qualified for a program to low income families to purchase an apartment. Several people involved in the program were surprised that Sasha and his family were given this option (only 40 apartments were granted last year with several thousand families applying). Pastor Sasha just wrote that they have moved into the apartment. This helps provide some stability for this family, as well as for the church.

Tobolsk

--Pray for the Rehabilitation Center has they begin to harvest the potatoes and wheat from the summer growing season. This provides food for those being ministered to in the center, as well as food for the animals being raised in the barn.

--Praise for the completion of the barn (see picture above). The roof is on and the animals have been moved in. Pray for the Lord to provide for more animals for the Center to raise in order to fund the ministry.

--Pray for Pastor Timofei’s health. He has struggled with health issues all year. He travels often throughout Russia speaking in churches. Pray for strength and wisdom as he continues this ministry.

Bob

--Will be speaking at mission conference in Alliance churches in Pennsylvania (Pittsburg area) for the next nine weeks. We are thankful for this opportunity to share in Alliance churches that support us through the Great Commission Fund.

--Pray for the different meetings where he will be sharing about our ministry in Russia. Pray he will be able to communicate effectively and remain healthy.

Lisa

--Pray for strength as she keeps the home together while Bob travels.

--Continue to pray for her Mom’s health. She has had many medical issues recently and Lisa is helping by taking her to different appointments. Lisa’s parents live 2 hours away from us.

Benjamin

--Pray for Benjamin’s work. At the end of September he will find out if he will be able to continue to work full time at his job.

--Pray for Benjamin as he is seeking the Lord for direction for his future. He is living at home with us during this year (which is an answer to prayer with Bob traveling for nine weeks this Fall).

Michael

--Praise for his smooth transition to college at John Brown University. Bob was able to travel with him to get settled in. The faculty and staff have done a great job of helping him get oriented to college life.

--Michael is taking a full load and working 8 hours a week on campus. Pray for him to be able to balance school, work, and fun time.

Timothy

--Praise for his adjustment to a new school while we are in the States for the year. Several families have reached out to Timothy and helped make the transition smoother. Pray for his adjustment, for new friends at school, and for his studies. He really misses his friends and classmates at Black Forest Academy in Germany.

--We have a new driver in the family! Timothy passed the exam and is now the proud owner of a driver’s permit. Pray for Mom as she begins to teach him to drive while Bob is in Pennsylvania.

July 2011 Tobolsk Rehab Center

In May, a team from Smokey Point Community Church arrived in Tobolsk to build a barn. With the rehab center housing up to 30 people, the small, wooden barn they have been using to raise animals was quickly running out of space. The team was able to build the walls and put the frame of the roof on. The rehab center is finishing the final tasks. The barn, 4 times the size of the old, wooden one they were using, will be complete by the end of July. This will enable the center to raise more animals for food as well as to sell to help make the center self-supporting.

The week after the Smokey Point team returned to the States, Pastor Timofei was asked to come to a meeting in the mayor’s office. The leader of the Orthodox Church was also present at this meeting. Timofei was afraid the city and Russian Orthodox Church were going to cause problems for the church. But God had other plans. The Mayor’s representative shared how they have been hearing about the ministry of the rehab center. For example, a local women’s prison, where the church has tried for several years to visit but was continually denied access, approached the church and requested the church to conduct weekly services. The city official went on to share how much they appreciate the ministry of the rehab center, how great a need there is for centers like this one, and then turned to the Orthodox Priest and asked: “What are you doing to help people with addictions?” The meeting ended with the city officials asking the church to help them with the increasing need to help people with additions. Praise God for this testimony.

The city officials also heard about the barn being built, which will enable to rehab center to raise more animals, and wanted to offer help. They shared with Pastor Timofei that the city would give them 10 acres of land where they could grow hay for feed for the animals AT NO COST to the center. Thank you to everyone who has prayed and supported this project. In the past 18 months over 100 people have been ministered to at the rehabilitation center.

Many of you have been asking about the “half-way house.” Although many that come to the rehab center return to their cities after finishing the program, many have nowhere to go. The half-way house is intended to help these people get back on their feet. They live in the rooms at the Old City Tobolsk Church and work during the day at different jobs. Several members in the church have started businesses (making cinder blocks, working in a small toilet paper factory, and construction) with the intent to hire those who are living in the half-way house. It was a special treat to sit together with the Smokey Point team and these men as they shared their stories of how God freed them from addiction and gave them new life in Christ.

May Update

Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! These words rang out on a beautiful Easter day in our church plant in Moscow. This was one of the few years when the sunny, warm weather outside matched the warmth of the fellowship of our small church family as we gathered to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. Here are some snapshots of what has been happening in our ministry:

Butovo Church plant

We saw 25 people pack into Pastor Shenya’s apartment to celebrate Easter. Two families (Sasha & Olga and Sergei & Olga), who have attended different outreaches we have held throughout the year, came for the first time to church. Please continue to pray for their openness to the Gospel.

Continue to pray for a meeting place for this young church. Russians are skeptical of meetings held in apartments, especially religious ones as they are perceived to be a cult. In addition to this obstacle, Pastor Shenya’s apartment cannot hold more than 25 people. For this church to continue to grow we need God to open doors for a place to meet.

Tyumen church

Over 40 people attended the Easter service in our Tyumen church. Each month more new people are showing interest in coming to small groups to hear about Christ. Continue to pray for the church as they disciple new believers and plan outreaches to develop more contacts.

Thank you for praying for Pastor Sasha and Nadia and their apartment situation. May is the critical month for this to happen. They have qualified for a government program for low income, multiple children families to receive help in obtaining an apartment. They are number 530 on the list. Last year only 40 families received apartments. Because of your prayers, God has intervened and provided a contact that will give them an opportunity to receive an apartment this year. Pray for the remaining finances to come together. This is a major step in the development of the church in Tyumen.

Tobolsk

Over 400 hundred people attended the Good Friday and Easter services at the church. Several prayed to receive Christ at end of service. Pray for the many visitors who heard the Easter story, that they would be open to hearing more about God.

This summer 8 youth from the church will be traveling to Mongolia on a missions trip to conduct a children’s camp. Pray for this team as they prepare for the trip and for all the details of the camp to come into place. Pray for safety on the roads as they will be traveling three days just to get to Mongolia.

The church is beginning the preparation for summer camps. They are expecting 150 kids for the children’s camp and 50 youth for a wilderness camp. Pray for the finances for these camps and for the leaders as they work through all the details.At the end of May the church will be receiving an Armenian believer who is coming to start an Armenian speaking ministry in the city. Several times during the past years the church has had special outreaches for Armenians. As many as 70 have come to these events, but they have been conducted in Russian. Pastor Timofei’s vision is to reach the Armenian speaking population in Tobolsk with the Gospel in their heart language.

Old City Tobolsk Church

This church is located in the predominately Tartar (Muslim) section of Tobolsk. For the first time, the church held their Easter service in the Tartar language. More than 50 people came, many from contact with the church through the children’s camp we hold each summer. Pray for Pastor Tahir as he leads this ministry. Pray also for Tahir and his family as they have submitted documents to obtain Russian citizenship (they are from Central Asia). For the past three years their whole family has had to travel across the Russian border every three months due to the present laws. Obtaining citizenship will enable them to live here permanently, saving time and money which will enable them to devote more to ministry.


Rehab Center

May 7-17 a team from Smokey Point Community Church in Washington is coming to build a barn for the Rehab center. This will enable them to raise more animals, especially during the long, cold winters, to sell to help make the center self-supporting. Pray for safety for the team and good weather so they can finish the project during the time they are here.

Ten new people have recently entered the rehab center program. It is exciting to see those treated in the center transitioning into our half-way house where they work at jobs during the day and are discipled by mature believers in a safe, structured living situation.

The director of the rehab center, Maxim, and his wife Larissa recently welcomed a healthy baby girl to their family. Mom and daughter are doing great.

Our family

As I write this update we are surrounded by boxes. We are in the midst of packing and storing our stuff in Moscow in anticipation of our one year Home Assignment in the States. We will be living in Woodinville, WA for the year. Pray for us during this time as we pack up and begin saying our good-byes to our Russian brothers and sisters, many of whom have become like family to us.

In the midst of the sadness of leaving Russia for a year, we have several events to look forward to celebrating. Michael will be graduating high school from Black Forest Academy on June 3rd. After all that occurred medically in his life last year, we are praising God for how he has worked in Michael’s life, even the reality that we can celebrate his graduation from BFA. Michael will be heading to John Brown University in Arkansas later this summer.

And as soon as we land in Seattle, we are able to join with Benjamin in his graduation from Seattle Pacific University on June 12. We can't believe it has already been four years since we dropped him off at SPU. We are proud of all that Benjamin has accomplished as an MK and thankful to all of those who have, and continue, to speak into his life.

Not to be out done by his brothers, Timothy will be celebrating his 16th birthday this Sunday, May 8.

Tyumen Church Plant -- Pastor Sasha and family

March is a time of celebration in our family. Bob celebrates his birthday on March 6th, followed by Lisa on March 17th. She is always quick to remind everyone that she is 11 days younger than me. March is also when we look forward to celebrating the beginning of spring. Living in a country with long winters, spring can’t arrive soon enough. Unfortunately, this year we are still seeing snow and below freezing temperatures during March. You can guess what both us would like for our birthdays—sunshine!

In January, we sat down and looked at our calendar. It was looking full. Bob was to travel for 10 days visiting all our staff as part of a Strategic Field Review for our mission here in Russia. On the heels of that trip, we would be hosting a short term team from our home church in Woodinville. March was booked, but we were ready and excited. But as God often does, He took over our scheduling for us. In February, the Strategic Field Review was canceled due to the heightened conflict within the national church that we work with. Instead of visiting our staff in Russia, Bob was asked to represent the mission at numerous meetings with the national church leadership. It is always hard to see conflict in churches and Christian organizations, and the national church in Russia is no exception. There are many pastors who have experienced hurt and feel betrayed. Can we ask you to join with us for a peaceful and God honoring resolution to the conflict that is on going in the churches here? We need the God of peace to move in the hearts of the leadership of our churches.

In March, Lisa and I were asked to travel to Kiev to help with the orientation of a young couple who will be joining our team later this summer. Since we had been to Kiev four times over the last three years for visa trips, we were able to get around the city and introduce this couple to many of the ministries taking place in the city. This couple will be coming to set up a short term mission base as part of the Alliance’s Envision program. If you would like to learn more about opportunities to serve overseas for 3 months to one year, please visit the Alliance’s website at www.cmalliance.org.

Bob then traveled to Tyumen and Tobolsk to minister in the churches we have partnered with for over 8 years. It was encouraging to see and hear what God is doing in Western Siberia. Look below for more details.
We can now look back and see the purpose in the changes the Lord brought into our schedule. Will you pray for the following events still coming up:

March 18-22 We will be in St. Petersburg visiting our team and the church plant in the city.

April 1-6
Our whole mission family will gather for our annual field forum. It is a time to refresh, reflect on what God has done in our ministries during the last year, and look ahead to plan for the next stages of our mission. Tim Barton from Canby Alliance Church will be our speaker for our time together.

April 7-9
Bob will travel to Black Forest Academy in Germany to escort our kids back to Russia for spring break.

April 9-26
Michael and Timothy will be home for the last time before we leave Russia for our home assignment year in the States.

Pray for:
--safety as we travel through airports. Security continues to remain high after the recent bombings.
-- our health as the long winter continues.
-- refreshment and renewal at our field forum.
-- good family time with Michael and Timothy while they are home on spring break.

Tyumen
Pastor Sasha and his family have been ministering in this church plant for 5 years. The church started in their living room and now meets in a hall with 35-40 attending on Sunday mornings. In spite of the difficult financial situation in Russia, this small church continues to reach out into the community and share the love of Christ. Last fall two people were baptized. This spring, two more people will be taking this step of commitment by being baptized. God is at work!

We have an urgent pray request for Sasha and Nadia. The Russian government has established a program to help poor families with more than one child to purchase apartments. Sasha and Nadia, along with their three children, are considered poor enough to qualify for this program. Most families that apply to receive this aid do not get accepted. Sasha and Nadia will find out in April whether they will be accepted and receive aid to purchase an apartment. This would be a crucial step not only for their family, but also for the church as well. Rents continue to climb unrealistically in Russia. Sasha and his family have had to move three times in the last four years due to this problem. If they can get into their own place it will provide stability for them and the church family.
Pray for:
--God to intervene with all the officials who handle the paperwork for Sasha’s family to receive aid to purchase an apartment.
--Natasha and Olga who will be baptized at Easter.
--those in the church who are unemployed and looking for work.
--preparations for their Easter outreach, that many new relationships will be developed.

Tobolsk
While in Tobolsk Bob was able to hear Pastor Timofei challenge the believers to be a missionary church. They adopted this goal: every Sunday 5 teams from the church travel to towns and villages to evangelize where there is no church and to train up leaders in those places where people come to know the Lord. How many churches in North America have this kind of vision? He went on to share that everyone in the church can be involved. Musicians, people who have cars to drive teams, people to share from the Bible, and those who go to help the team and meet with the people. And the challenge wasn’t just for the adults. In fact, the Sunday Bob was there the youth of the church sent a team to two different towns to conduct outreaches.
Pray for:
--people who live in these towns and villages who have never heard the gospel.
--God to raise up leaders to shepherd those who choose to follow Him.
--preparation for their Easter outreaches.
--Pastor Timofei’s health. He has been sick for much of the winter.
--the Uzbek pastor in the Old City church. He is applying to get Russian citizenship. This is a long, and often corrupt, process. Pray for God to grant favor for this pastor in the eyes of those making the decisions.

Rehabilitation Center
Many of you are asking about the Rehabilitation center. Here are some reasons to praise the Lord:
--8 people are living in the adaptation center (like half-way house)
--20 people are currently in rehab program
--numerous animals, including chickens, rabbits, pigs, and cows, are being raised at the center
--3 weddings have already been held at the rehab center. Maxim and Larissa (director), Vadim and Olga (asst. director), and a couple who were drug addicts living in a one room communal apartment building. The church received a phone call asking for someone to help them. They literally picked them off the floor, gave them a bath, and put them in the rehab center. Both of them came to know the Lord, were freed from their addictions, and are now helping with the rehab ministry.
--8 people from the rehab center were baptized in January.
Pray for:
--Maxim’s wife, Larissa. She is due to give birth to their first child the first of April. Pray for a safe delivery and healthy baby.
--transportation for the rehab center. They are in need of a van to transport people to work jobs during the week and church services in Tobolsk on Sundays.

February Update

We have lived in Russia for over 17 years. During our first years, while living in Southern Russia, we were constantly aware of the war Russia was conducting in Chechnya. Bombs went off in the markets where we shopped. Tanks rolled down the highways that we traveled on. We didn't live in fear, just the constant reminder of living in a part of the world that was unstable. During this past year we have been reminded once again of our need for God’s protection and safety as we minister here. Last March, two terrorist bombs went off at two subway stations in Moscow. Since we often travel by subway to get around the city, it was a visible reminder of God’s daily protection of even our weekly routines. Then just weeks ago, on January 24, a terrorist bomb went off at the international arrivals gate at Domededovo airport, killing 36 people. This is the main airport we use for traveling around Russia and Europe. In fact, just one month prior to this incident, we were standing at the exact spot where the bomb was detonated while waiting for Benjamin as he arrived to spend the Christmas holidays with us. Once again through this tragedy we were reminded of why we are here—to share the message of the Gospel so that Russians can have the opportunity to choose to follow Him. The vast majority of people whose paths we cross daily have never heard what it means to know God personally and live in relationship with Him.

Thank you for your continued prayers for our health, safety, and protection, especially during these days of ethnic tension in Moscow.

Family

Lisa has been dealing with pain in her back for several weeks. From what we can tell, she has a bulging disc that has made it difficult to walk or stand for long periods of time. We have medications to help ease the swelling and deal with the pain. Each day she is feeling better but it is a long, frustrating process. Will you join us in praying for healing and strength in her back?

Michael will be graduating from Black forest Academy in Germany this June. He has been accepted at John Brown University in Arkansas and has also applied to George Fox University in Oregon. This is a major decision for him and he is praying for God to show him which school to attend. Please continue to pray for these last months of high school, for him to finish well, for continued health to attend classes, and for Michael to clearly see God’s leading in his choice of colleges.

Butovo
Lisa is not the only one dealing with back pain. Delara, pastor Shenya’s wife, has been in bed for over a month with a serious back problem. Her doctors tell her she needs surgery, but this particular surgery in Russia is expensive and risky. This has also added stress to Shenya and the ministry in the church. We are praying for God’s touch on her body. Join us in praying for Delara, for their family during this time of uncertainty and frustration, and for Shenya has he ministers to Delara and the church.

Our English club is starting up again after all the holidays. Along with our co-workers, Jeff and RJ Ceria, we are planning to expand the contacts for the club. We have a list of 15 people and see 7-8 regularly coming to each club. We are planning to start posting flyers advertising our club at subway stops and entrances to apartment buildings. We are also seeking a bigger room to hold our club. At present we can accommodate only 20 people. We would love to have a room where 40 people could come and participate in the club.

After praying about ways to bridge people from our English club into the church, we have decided to start an English Alpha course. This would be a way to use the attraction of English to those already coming to the club, but focus it on a more spiritual theme. Our desire is to keep the Alpha group small, 5-6 people, to help create an atmosphere where everyone feels free to ask questions and share ideas. We are hoping to start Alpha the end of February.

Pastor Shenya will be starting up his weekly theater group this month. Seven people have expressed a desire to be a part of this initial group. Pray for Shenya as he builds relationships with those coming to this group, none of which are believers.

Tobolsk

The Rehab center has just accepted 10 new people into the program. There are now 30 people living and being ministered to in the center. Pray for this ministry, especially during these long winter months when the average temperatures outside drop below 0 F.

The social center (half-way house) is now being used to help those coming out of the rehab program. Pray for Vadim as he has moved from the Rehab center to live at the half way house to lead this vital ministry to help people transition back into everyday life. This is a time that people will often experience relapses. Pray for God’s protection over each person living in the halfway house.

The Tobolsk church held a baptism this past week. Six of the 20 people baptized were ones that accepted the Lord at the Rehab center and committed their lives to follow Him. Praise the Lord!

2010 Ministry
Butovo church plant started just eighteen months ago. We are encouraged to see how far the group has grown since the early meetings when six of us began praying around the kitchen table of pastor Genya. Some of the answers to prayer we have seen:
*Start of a bi-monthly English club in the fall. An average of 10 people attends each time with over 20 attending the club at some time. Most of those attending are unbelievers.
*Women’s monthly craft night saw 7 unchurched women attend in December. Two of these women came for the first time. Overall, 25 women have attended theses events during the past year
*Pastor Genya participated in a local community theater. Over 100 attended the production of the Chekov play “The Bear.” Since then Genya has formed a theatrical group with plans to perform Christian plays.
*Several outreaches were held to develop relationships with unbelievers: two barbeques, paintball outing, fishing trip and sauna events enabled us to reach this goal.

One of the biggest needs this church has is a place to meet for Church on Sundays as well as hold English club, play practice and other outreaches. The biggest setback during the year was the situation with the national church. Due to the conflict, and the decision of the church planter to align against the national church, the church experienced discouragement and confusion regarding the future relationships with other churches and pastors.

Tyumen church plant continues to see growth as six people were baptized this past year. The church is able to meet on Sundays in a rented hall that can hold 100 people. They now have over 40 attending on Sundays.

*Several outreaches were held to make new contacts: Picnics in the woods, cross country skiing, ice skating, and several themed food nights.
*The church started a college student ministry. Over 20,000 students study in Tyumen. There is now a core group of student leaders beginning this ministry.
*Four times during the year the church ministered to an orphanage outside the city.
*Prayer is the main focus f the church. Three nights a week the church gathers for extended times of prayer.

Tobolsk church celebrated seventeen years of ministry. It continues to look for ways to share the gospel in the community as well as the region.
*Over 30 people were baptized this past year in the church.
*The youth ministry is growing with a full time youth pastor providing direction.
*Pastor Timofei transitioned out of the senior pastor role and now travels extensively speaking and teaching in churches throughout Russia.
*Muslim ministry continues to develop with an Uzbek pastor ministering among the Uzbeks and Tartars in the city.
*The church continued developing the partnership with the Tyumen church. It has also started a partnership with a church plant in Yvat.

Tobolsk Rehabilitation Center celebrated its one year anniversary of ministry in December. Over fifty people have been ministered to through the ministry of the center. God continues to provide for the development of this ministry in miraculous ways:
*A restaurant in Tobolsk has agreed to buy any meat and produce they grow at the center.
*Two construction companies have agreed to hire men from the rehab center for manual labor with their earning being given to the center.
* Both the director and his assistant moved to Tobolsk as single men two years ago. They both married women in the Tobolsk church and their wives are now serving with them in the center.
*The half-way house at the Old City Tobolsk Church is now being used to help people as they come out of the rehab program and need a place to re-enter society.

Butovo Church Plant -- Pastor Genya and Family

During our 17 years in Russia we have observed and experienced the challenge of starting a new church. The years of Communism, with its atheistic teachings, has ingrained into the minds and souls of people that there is no God. That has now been replaced with secular materialism and re-enforces the same principle—you make life what you want it to be. The spiritual element, if acknowledged, is minimized. So even in a major city like Moscow, with over 14 million people, we have identified less than 300 evangelical churches. The same ratio can be seen throughout Russia. In Tyumen, where we lived during our last term, only 10 churches exist for a population of one million people. And where churches are established, the average size is between 40 to 50 members.

So starting a new church, in a region or city where no evangelical church exists, seems almost impossible. It is difficult to find meetings halls to rent for services. Church planters often have to find employment to provide for their families, which in Russia usually involves low pay and long hours leaving little time and energy for ministry. Children in these families often find themselves the only Christian in their school and still experience ridicule from other kids. Church planting in Russia is hard.

This past month we experienced a setback in our church plant in Butovo. Nina, a young woman who graduated from our Bible College in Southern Russia, moved to Moscow and for the past year was working in our church plant. She is gifted musically and was leading our Sunday morning worship services. She often requested prayer for God to send her a Christian man to marry. For several months she began dating a non-believer but eventually they broke up. Recently she shared with the church that she has met a man through the Internet who lives in Moldova. Within a few weeks Nina quit her job in Moscow, packed up her few belongings, and moved to Moldova to get married.

*Join us in praying for our church plant in Butovo. The group is discouraged over Nina’s decision. Pray for God to bring someone into the church who can help with the music ministry, especially leading the church in worship.

*The church presently meets in the pastor’s apartment for services. With 15 -20 people regularly attending it is getting crowded. Plus, in Russian thinking, unchurched people are hesitant to go to “church” in an apartment. There are several families that we would like to invite to these services, but they will not come to an apartment. After much prayer, we have decided to begin the search for a meeting hall on Sundays. Will you join us in praying for God to provide a place. The two major obstacles are cost and an openness to rent to a non-Orthodox group.

*Pray for Lisa as she begins planning the monthly women’s craft outreaches. Last year 20 new women came to these outreaches. Pray for ways to make new contacts as well as to deepen the connection with the 20 women from last year.

*During this past year you have joined with us in praying for Delara, the pastor’s wife, to find a job. This month she was accepted into a two month job training program. After her training is complete she has been told she should be able to find a job. In the process, God not only opened the door for her to get into the training program, but Delara was accepted on scholarship and will not have to pay for the course. As you remember Delara please pray for her health and family during these two months.



English Club

One of the more effective ministries our mission team in Russia has used to make new contacts is through English Clubs. Since just about everybody is interested in learning and practicing English, it is a natural way to make new contacts in a community. To help broaden our net of contacts in the Butovo region of Moscow, where we are planting a church, we are starting up an English Club ministry. During the summer we held several English game nights to get better acquainted with some of the people we have already connected with who speak some English.

*Our first club was held Oct. 23. Praise the Lord 9 people attended, all but 2 being new to us. We are passing out invitations and posting flyers throughout the region. Pray for God to open doors to people who are interested in speaking English. Can we ask you to pray for our next two clubs which will be held on November 6 and 20.

*We have been searching for over a month for a place to hold our English clubs. Several possibilities turned us down because of their fear of who we are. In the news and media foreigners, who are Christians, are still categorized as cults and Russians are warned to be careful not to associate with such groups. Then one day Delara, the pastor’s wife, stopped at a children’s after school program that rents a small hall. The director was open to meeting with us. The next week Bob went down and was able to work out a contract to rent the hall twice a month for the English club. God not only provided a place to meet, but the director shared that she would like to publish an invitation to attend our club in their monthly newsletter that they send out to over 300 families in the Butovo region.