Rehab center
Last year an Armenian woman, who had just moved to Tobolsk, came to a church service with a friend. During the service several people shared how God had delivered them from alcohol. After the service the women told her friend that she didn't believe any of what was shared, that people say those things just to get others to come to church. On her way home this women hears God speaking to her, “Because you do not believe, your son will become an addict.”
One month later her son gets involved with a group of friends who introduce him to drugs and alcohol and he becomes an addict. For over a year she tried to help her son with his addiction but to no avail. Discouraged over the situation with her son, she returned to a church service and confessed, “God, I now believe that you can deliver people from addiction.” Two days later she sent her son to a Christian rehab center and he became a believer. He hasn't taken drugs or used alcohol since.
This past spring this woman opened a restaurant in Tobolsk. She told the rehab center director that she will buy as much food as the rehab center can produce for her restaurant (i.e. potatoes, cabbage, greens, etc. as well as any meat). This will help move the rehab center to being totally self-supported!
Will you join us in praying for this exciting step. The rehab center will need to build a barn in order to raise enough animals to sell. They already have one cow, ten chickens, and 3 pigs housed in a small wooden shed. The goal is to purchase 50 piglets to raise and sell to the restaurant (it is an eight month cycle from when they purchase a piglet to the time of slaughter).
Women’s prison
Tobolsk is home to a women’s correction facility. It houses over 200 women, ages raging from 16-35. Six years ago the church went to a local women’s prison and asked if they could hold services for the women incarcerated there. They response they received was an emphatic “NO.” During this past year word of how people are finding freedom from drugs and alcohol at the rehab center has been spreading throughout the city.
Recently the head of the prison called the church and asked to meet with the pastors. At that meeting the director asked the pastors if the church would be willing to come and hold services in the prison, at any time they want. The director also asked if the church could help them set up a satellite Christian TV broadcast for the prison so that women could watch it when they have free time and listen to Christian messages.
As this story was shared in the church service the pastor asked to take a special offering to help purchase a television and satellite for the prison to receive the Christian station. After the service we were in tears as we heard the news –the offering was the exact amount needed to set up the Christian satellite programs. Join us in praying for the women in this prison who will be hearing about Jesus Christ and for the church as they begin this new ministry outreach.
Praises
In our last update we asked you to join with us in praying for our summer outreaches. Although all of our August outreaches had to be canceled due to the heat and smoke, we were excited with the new relationships we were able to form at our English Language outreach (11 showed up), the first church picnic (over 30 enjoyed our BBQ in the park), and over 250 children were able to attend camps in Tobolsk.
The Boys
Benjamin will be starting his senior year at Seattle Pacific University. He will be living in a house with 5 other seniors for the year. His job that he has worked at for the last two years is no longer available. Pray with us for God to open a door for a job for Benjamin that can fit into his schedule.
Timothy and Michael have just returned to Black Forest Academy in Germany where Michael is a senior and Timothy is starting his sophomore year. Many of you have joined with us in praying for Michael during this past year. He continues to manage his pain with medication. Some days are more difficult than others, but overall he has been able to function on a normal schedule. Please continue to join with us in praying for the boys and the new school year at BFA.
Closing
As we were checking the boys in at the Moscow airport for their flight to Germany we heard a scream at the counter next to us. An elderly man passed out on the floor. People shouted for medical help from anyone in the terminal. We stood there and watched as several people performed CPR on the man as they waited for an ambulance to come. We needed to get the boys to their gate and don't know if this man was revived or died at the check in counter. It was a sobering moment and reminded us of why we are here in Russia. People are dying all around us who have never heard about the love and forgiveness of sins that is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. We desire to share this hope with as many as we can while the window of opportunity in Russia remains open.
