Теперь по-русски!!! Now in Russian!!!

Дорогие друзья и семья во Христе! После долгих, но плодотворных размышлений мы пришли к выводу, что церковь в России должна иметь свой блог (дневник) на русском. Наш горячо любимый миссионер Алёна, благословила нас и вас тоже, начав переводить самые последние заметки из жизни церкви. Так что с радостью сообщаю вам адрес: http://ccsokolrussian.blobspot.com жмите прямо на него. Также слева есть ссылка на русский блог. Пусть Господь благословит вас! Наташа

Dear friends and family in Christ! After long, but fruitful contemplations we came to conclusion that church in Russia should have its own blog in Russian. Our dearly beloved missionary Alyona has blessed us and you too, by starting to translate the most recent posts from the church life. So I gladly give you the address: http://ccsokolrussian.blobspot.com click right here. Also, there is a link on the side bar. May the Lord bless you as you read it! Natasha

My long time budddies Egger and Kostia

Natasha and Vova in the Palace square at St.Pete

Peterhof, is perhaps one of the most stunning displays of water fountains in the world. Every kind of fountain you can think of is found at Peterhof.

Night time in St. Pete. One of the many canals through out the city

Please, Pray!

Today as I was waiting for a tram to go home, a guy approached me and began talking to me. First, he asked me what do I think about people infected with HIV and how would I react if I knew that one of my friends had it. Then he said that he is infected himself. Strange way to start a conversation, don’t you think? The guy’s girlfriend was looking at me with interest at first, but I guess my reaction did not keep her attention for very long and she walked away. The guy, however continued to tell me about himself. He said that he is afraid to die and he lives in fear of that day. Of course, I had to tell him that he can have eternal life if he believes in Jesus. Then he said, “Can I have your phone number? I really would like to talk more about it”. Oh, of course!!! But at the same time I was kind of shocked by the request. Moscow is a crazy city, you can meet all kinds of people here, so giving your number to a complete stranger, who also just told you that he was in prison, and there is another case is up for him and that he is high right at this moment…well, I am not so sure about that. At the same moment, his tram arrives and I have to make a decision…and it happened to be my tram too:-) So, we get on and Boris (the guy’s name) tells me that when he began to talk to me he was kind of playing around, but now he seriously wants to hear about Jesus and actually to come to church. He realized that it was not by mistake that he started to talk to me and not another person. He gave me his number and asked me to call him this week, I promised to do that on Saturday (after I come back from St. Pete). Then he and his girlfriend got off.
In a few stops, I had to switch trams and as I walked in to the next one, I saw Boris again. Well, we are practically neighbors. I asked Boris’ girlfriend Jenya if she also would like to come to church and she looked a little confused as she answered “May be”. Please, pray for this young people. I know that God can change their lives completely and deliver them, but they need to make a step. Pray that they would come to church, hear the message, and take it to heart, that during this week the Lord would touch & soften their hearts and help them to see Him.
Thank you for your prayers and support. God bless you, Natasha.

the rewards of fellowship

just walking and talking and leave the rest up to the Holy Spirit

This is my friend Vitalie, I have known him for almost 7 1/2 years. Vitalie first made contact with my sister Lynn as he was looking to study English. I had one lesson with him and we decided it would be a lot more fun to just go visit interesting places in Moscow. So for 7 1/2 years Vitalie have walked almost every place of interest in Moscow and there are many. I had many opportunities to share about Jesus, but until now Vitalie has not made a decision. That is ok, God is patient with Vitalie and so will I. I know that there is going to come a time when Vitalie is ready to surrender to Christ, but until then we will continue to walk the streets of Moscow as friends and leave the rest up to the work of the Holy Spirit. God bless, dean

Never forget!!!

A hero receiving a New Testament on the Hero of Heros

Victory 60 years ago, and VICTORY 2,000 YEARS AGO!!!!

Today is the 9^th of May, and this day is celebrated all over Russia as to the end of World War 2 and their victory over Nazi Germany. It is known as Victory Day. One of the more popular gathering places for celebration and a gathering of the war veterans is Victory Park. Thousands of people gather here for a day of remembering the heroes, and the great victory for all mankind. Today we joined with Jews for Jesus in their annual outreach at Victory Park. Within 2 hours about 10,000 reminders were passed out to the public of another great victory that took place 2,000 years ago. The victory Jesus Christ won over sin. I was so amazed at how many people took time to read the simple tract that told of the Savior. As we first arrived to go through the security check before entering the park, a group of men were passing out Gideon Bibles. It was a great encouragement to see people every where holding the little blue New Testaments. Please pray that today will be the real victory day for many who received the simple tract, and for those that received Bibles, and that the many seeds that were planted today would bear fruit. dean по-русски

Birthday party for Luba, (holding her grandson Daniel)

It's time for outdoor BBQ Russian Style..YUMMMMY!!

And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized...

Not long ago Mira (Jews for Jesus full time servant) invited Dean to baptize some people who had a desire to make a proclamation of their faith. It was a very special time and I had an opportunity to witness to it too. Mira wrote a story about this event and I decided to put a translation of it on the blog for you to read. Also I’ve made some additional comments, which I though would be interesting details to the story. I hope you will enjoy it. God bless you!

Water baptisms in Moscow!
The year of 2007 in Moscow had a very rapid start! The wonderful Easter days had just flown by and I had not completely grasped the revealed miracles of the Lord: sortie, which has been named “Brighton Beach in the center of Moscow”, two Seders in Mitino (some pictures are in previous posts) – 37 Jews called Yeshua their Messiah.
Thanks and glory to You Almighty Lord!
And here are new God’s miracles: April 18^th and 19^th – 4 water baptisms!!! Is anything impossible for the Almighty Lord!!! A little bit about each person:
Polina (on the right): we had met with her 5 years ago in the metro, right then she prayed the sinner’s prayer. And after that, long 5 years of joys and sorrows, drawing closer to God and falling away from Him. All this time I had been calling …often, she was not in Moscow, but in spite of that, Polina was “growing” at our Mitino Bible studies, so her time has come!

Era (in the center): I have met her at Igor Barbanel’s Bible studies, then he moved to Odessa and I lost track of Era. One time Nehama (one of my callers, she is 80) had discovered Era and we began our fellowship, half a year later she invited Jesus into her heart. Then another two-year journey. All of my ladies are 65-82 years old, always blood pressure, illnesses, besides their temper becomes less easy with the years, but the Lord fills my heart with His love and patience, so I take them as little children and lead them God’s way.
Anna (on the left): she prayed with me a little over year ago at sortie, along with her friend Ida. This is the person, who discovered God through grief: in the instant, she lost her husband, her daughter and her granddaughter in a car accident. She did not want to live. Only God’s love can purify such suffering heart! (You would never guess that she went trough such a tragedy. Even though she is a Second World War veteran, she shows such love and excitement about life, that you might completely forget about her age and her past, because she can outclass any, even much younger person in her being joyful and enthusiastic about things. I guess this is why people call her Anechka.)
Marat (Mordecai) – is a man, whom God Himself added to this company. His first contact he gave at 2000-year campaign, and about two years ago, he gave it to me the second time. Occasionally he would come to the Shabbat and Maxim Ammosov was visiting him. He has serious eyesight problems and Anya (they have become friends) helped him to find a doctor, who agreed to do a surgery, but the results will be evident only in two and a half months. After that everything was sheer “coincidences”: he is sitting at the Shabbat almost completely blind and I am talking about third Messianic miracle “Healing of a man who was born blind”, then I prepare Polina and Anna for the water baptism, and he is sitting right there and listening very attentively. It occurred that the Lord touched his heart and he realized that only the Lord is able to help him in his infirmity. “I also want to be baptized, openly testifying about my faith!” Now nothing could be on the way of this decision. (I thought it interesting that Marat first began to think about the Lord when he was growing up, knowing that his mom is praying for her husband, who was in World War battles and watching her helping people who were in greater need than her family. When he grew up and got his education, he began to work in construction industry where he discovered people with beliefs completely opposite to what the political system imposed in those days. It drew his attention then and now being retired and having a lot of time on his hands to ponder, he came to realization that God has been at work in his life and already done many things that expressed His love and care for him and for his family. As Dean was talking to Marat, he was very quiet, but at the same time it seemed like he was drinking in every word that was said. After all he said, “Now I know and even sure that I am doing the right thing”.) Pastor Dean (“Calvary Chapel”) was the one who baptized, he indeed became our pastor and together we thanked and praised the Lord!

P.S. Now you can pray for these incredible people. Please pray for Mira’s ministry to the Jews here in Moscow and the upcoming outreach on the May 9^th – along with other volunteers she goes to the “Poklonnaia Gora” to pass tracts to people, which come to celebrate one of the biggest days in Russia – Victory day. Usually there are a lot of people and many opportunities to talk about the Lord. Also, for Mira’s upcoming trip to Israel.
Please pray for Polina, Era, Anna and Marat – their growth in the Lord and understanding of His will for their lives. For Marat’s healing – that the Lord would restore his eyesight. Also, for his sister’s and son’s salvation,(both of them live in one apartment with Marat), that the Lord would open his sister’s heart to the truth. Thank you for your prayers! Natasha