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.
