Azim and Elvera became joined together as man and wife recently. Elvera has been attenting the fellowship with her brother for about 3 years. It is great to see a young couple do it God's way!!!
Ge 2:23 And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
This is the new Spiritual Freedom display board that can be used for presentations of the ministry. It will be a helpful tool for presenting the ministry at Christian events. The display boards, (one in southern Cal and one in Modesto) were donated by friends of the ministry. Thank You from all of us at SFM Moscow!!!
Due to financial difficulties the Spiritual Freedom offices have been closed since July. We are confident that God will provide the needed resources to continue this 15 years fruitful ministry to 1,000's of Russian prisoners. The letters, requests for new courses and completed courses have been coming in each week. Alexy the director of SFM recently went to the Post Office and picked up a huge bag of completed Bible courses by the prisoners. the Post Office complained to Alexy for not picking the mail up very often, but Alexy told them that he already picked a bag of mail a few days earlier. It was amazing to see so many courses coming. Some of the bible graders have been coming in without pay to keep things going. We know God will come through for us. Thank you for your prayer support and please tell others about this ministry. Direct them to the web site of SFM. (
see our link to SFM)
The Mitino fellowship celebrated its 2 year anniversary. It was a home group that had been birthed with Russian Jewish Christians who came to know the Savior through the ministry of Jews for Jesus in Moscow. They began to meet in the home of Mira for Bible study and fellowship. Many of the believers were led to the Lord by Mira who is on staff with Jews for Jesus. (
see the link to Mira’s blog) Our 2 years anniversary was a great time of fellowship, worship and testimony. Max, the director of Jews for Jesus along with Ilya also on staff with Jews for Jesus provided the worship and joined our celebration. God is doing a great work here in Moscow in the hearts of the Russian Jewish people, please pray for the continued faithful work of Jews for Jesus.
Isa 62:1 For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns.
Brendon is from the beautiful Island of Sri Lanka, perhaps you may know that his country for over 25 years has had a the civil war that has caused significant hardships for the population, environment and the economy of the country, with over 80,000 people officially listed as killed during its course. I met Brendon when he was in the hospital. We pretty much met once a week over the course of his one year stay in the hospital. Brendon currently is employed by the Sri Lanka embassy here in Moscow and is their official translator. Brendon has been in the country for many years and came as a student. He will be going home for the first time and stay in Sri Lanka. Brendon's desire is to publish various Journals. Please pray for his spiritual growth as we have spent literaly hour upon hour talking about the Bible.
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Most of you that visit our blog know Geno. He is our missionary pastor in the prison zone in the far north of Russia. Geno has recently been promoted to director of the cultural club organizing different activity in the prison. Please continue to pray for the hard hearts of his fellow inmates. Geno says there is a real blindness for the things of God. If you would like to write Geno a letter of encouragement please do so, he speaks great English and he would love to hear from you. Here is his address ( Name) Григорвич Евгений Борисович (city)Архангельская обл. (street) Плесцкий р-он п/о Северо-Онежек п. Икса уг 42/21-9 (zip) 164268
Sustenance is from Brazzaville Congo, He has been in Russian for over 15 year. It has not been a pretty 15 years for him, but through all the trials he has an amazing testimony and finding Jesus Christ as his Lord and savior. Recently Sustenance has decided to return home to his family and mother who he has not seen all these years. Sustenance also wanted to make a public declaration of his faith in Jesus Christ so last week we baptized him. Even though he will be returning to his homeland with relatively little monetary worth, he indeed returns a rich man having found his Savior and Lord. Please pray for the work of the Lord in the life of Sustenance.
Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
On May 29th all over the world Jews celebrate the Shavuot, the Feast of weeks. God commanded the children of Israel to keep the Shavuot once a year. The feast has many aspects to it but most Rabbis agree that it was the day that God gave Moses the Law on Mt Sinai, and conclude that this was the day that the nation of Israel was birthed. On this same day some 1450 years later, would also have a distinction of the birth of the Church of Jesus Christ. Luke records this most famous day in church History in the Book of Acts:
Acts 2:1-4 "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Happy Birthday Body of Christ!!!!!!
Victory day may 9th Moscow Russia 2009.......
Every May 9th the entire county of Russia celebrates the victory over Nazi fascism. It is the day when all of Russia honors its veterans. Victory Park is my favorite place to be with thousands of other Muscovites and hundreds of heroes of World War 2. Victory Park as well as Moscow are filled with monuments to remind future generations of the heroic efforts of men and women who gave their lives in the great war. The Memorials remind us all of the great and tragic price that was paid to stop Nazism.
One of Moscow’s newest memorials is a memorial to the most tragic event in the history of mankind. It is a memorial that reminds mankind of the source of every war that has been recorded in the history of the world. It is a memorial that speaks of the moment when blood shed, sorrow, destruction and death entered the human race. It's one of the most Moscow’s most unique memorials that depicts the most tragic day on planet earth. In the Garden of Eden when man disobeyed his loving creator and chose to obey the fallen angel. It was on that day when sin entered the human race. Man has had the need for a Savior ever since to save him from eternal destruction. God Himself would shed the innocent blood of an animal to cloth a naked Adam and Eve when their attempt to cover their sin by using leaves failed. (click on photo for a closer view)
Also here in Moscow we have many reminders of the greatest victory over the greatest war ever in the history of the world. It is impossible to walk around this huge city for any length of time and not see the cross of Christ, they stand all over the city as memorials of the world's greatest victory as Jesus Christ, the Son of God came to earth to die for our sins and to overcome death in His resurrection.
1Cor. 15:21-22 "For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive."
John 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."
This is a recent picture of my dear friends Ilya and Ira Gromov. We go back almost 10 years ago when my sister and I came to Russia. We had the privilege of working with them at the CC Bible College here in Moscow. Since those day Ilya and Ira became husband and wife and now have two little boys. Ilya is a very talented guy in teaching and worship and is a pastor in the southern port city of Novorossiysk, Russia. I recently was reunited with them at the CC St Pete’s pastors conference.
Geno is not only seeing spiritual growth in his little fellowship, but as the picture shows Geno is also experiencing growth in his little garden.
My friend Yuri passed away on the 19th of May of terminal stomach cancer. Yuri passed into eternity without any noticeable pain. I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to spend the last 3 weeks visiting Him. Yuri had a great attitude, and I never saw him complain once during our visits. Most of the time together I would just read scripture to him and pray with him. On my last visit he was very weak, and it would be 2 hours after the visit that Yuri passed.
( Yuri second from the right)
1Corinthians 15:51-55: "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
On April 19th all of Russia will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Russian Orthodox calender is a little different and usually follows a week after the Jewish passover and is appropriately called Paskha which means “Passover”. Also interesting is that several weeks before Paskha every business in Moscow has colorful posters displayed in the windows reminding of the day of Resurrection. Many of these color posters display the words “Jesus has Risen” On Resurrection Sunday here in Russia a common greeting is “Jesus has risen", and then the other person replies without fail “Jesus has indeed risen” Even an atheist will respond when greeted. "He is not here, for He has risen" declared the angel, Jesus conquered death and the grave. He defeated the enemy that pursues every person born, death. Jesus said "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 5:24. “Jesus Has Risen”. Indeed He has risen!
I almost forgot. April 12 was
Cosmonaut day.Yuri Alexeyevich Gagarin (Russian: Юрий Алексеевич Гагарин) The first man in space and hero of Russia.
Emanuel and Jowanna
Veronica Gardiner, our dear sister went home to the Lord last week. It was a real shock to the fellowship. Veronica had sent me a SMS on my mobile Sunday and said she would not be at the service, that she was not feeling well. Evidently two days later, while she was home with her son Emanuel, she had a heart attack and went quickly. She was an amazing woman. Our loss, heavens gain.
Veronica and her husband Martin came to Moscow to study at the University here as young parents with one son Joseph. I first met Martin her husband at the church. He attended with a group of other men from Ghana. It was some time later Martin tragically fell down in the street and died of a head wound. It was at Martins funeral that I met Veronica for the first time. We have been friends ever since. While Veronica and Martin were living in Moscow they had three more children, Theodora, Emanuel and Jowanna. Joseph moved to Las Vegas about 4 years ago, Jowanna, the youngest daughter went back to Ghana to live with her Aunt about 5 years ago and has not see her Mom since. Theodora who knows no other country but Russia, and was born and schooled here in Moscow, had to leave the county about a year ago and return to Ghana . Even though she was born in Russia, she did not have a passport to continue to live here. She was with her little sister Jownna at the time of Veronicas death. Emanuel, who is about 17, will return also back to Ghana where both His parents and all his relatives are from. Emanuel speaks fluent Russian and has never been to Ghana in his life. Please pray for Emanuel for having to leave a country that has been his home his entire life. He will be leaving many friends behind. And the greatest trial will be that he no longer has his beloved mother. Also for Jowanna , who has been away from her Mom for many years….. And for Theodora who also grew up in Moscow and has many friends here. She was waiting on a Visa to come back to Moscow to be with her mom and her friend and so she could continue her education . Pray for Joseph who is in Las Vegas, who has not seen his mother in years as well. The entire situation is a complicated one, but we have a great God. Veronica had many trials here in Moscow, but you would never know it. I never witness a time when Veronica did not have a big smile. She knew what trials were all about, raising her family for the last 8 years without a husband in a foreign county was not an easy task. But Veronica by her own testimony would say “God is great” She recently wrote a devotion prayer for the Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy where she was a member and volunteered every week to work in their soup kitchen. Here are a few of her quotes from that devotion : “Prayer plays a very important role in the day to day life of Christians. Jesus is our finest example of how a human being in a world of evil can grasp the mighty power of God through prayer and prevail.”
Righteousness is gained by faith not by deeds. When walking by faith you must learn to trust in the word of God and believe its honesty. With the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13)
Veronica could say those promises of God with conviction because she lived them. This was her closing prayer, “Father, thank You for reminding me that my salvation is not by works, but by faith. You did the work, I simply believed. Thank you for the faith You have put in my heart to believe. Salvation is all of you and I am so grateful. Amen”
We who are in Christ will see her once again…
Spiritual Freedom update
For the month of March 1307 Bible courses were completed by the students. We are excited to see a study rise in new requests to start the Bible courses. We continue to give thanks to the Lord who has put on the hearts of people to support the work here in Russia. As of April the first we were unable to pay the staff payroll for the month. As each day ticked away, we just waited not being able to control the situation at all. But on the 7th of April Lenna the bookkeeper went down to the bank to check on some paper work. She was surprised to see that the Spiritual Freedom bank account had the money to cover the payroll! We should not have been surprise but we were! When Alexey the director heard the news he e-mailed me to let me know of the surprise and exclaimed “Our God is awesome!!!”
Please pray for the students, that there would be a great harvest in the prisons. That new believers would take advantage of the Bible correspondence courses and the many other books and resources offered, as to prepare them for the work of the ministry whether in prison or when they are released. Please pray for the staff at Spiritual Freedom as they grade the courses and respond to the students. The Lord blessed us with a huge amount Christian resources all for free. See photo of Sergey and Sasha.
Geno says hi to all of you. He continues to lead the prison fellowship way up in northern Russia. Continue to pray for Geno, he still has about 8 years left. He is growing in his Hebrew language studies as well as discipling some of the guys. Geno sent us the picture of Alex who just received a new pair of glasses from Spiritual Freedom. Without glasses Alex was not able to read his Bible.
THIS IS MY GOOD FRIEND MIKE, WE GO WAY BACK A LONG WAY. I HAD NOT SEEN MICHAEL IN MANY YEARS......IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THAT HE HAS RETURNED BACK TO THE LORD......IT WAS A GREAT BLESSING AND SURPRISE WHEN I WAS HOME TO BE REUNITED WITH HIM...
Tyler has left for America. Who is Tyler you may be asking? Tyler is no stranger to Russia. He has come with many short term teams over the years to Russian and the Ukraine. Last year he decided to come and live here in Moscow, and for the last 6 months he has been one of my roommates. It was interesting to watch how the Lord opened up unique opportunities for Tyler to bring attention to Jesus Christ. Tyler is a professional Wrestler and had the opportunity here in Moscow to team up with a professional wresting organization. He even appeared on national TV in one of his matches. Then Tyler went from throwing guys out of the ring to sitting down with small children and teaching them nursery rhymes. (First proverb for a missionary : “blessed are the flexible for they shall not be broken”) One other door that opened for Tyler was teaching children English. Olga who is Tyler’s boss has a passion for teaching English to young people. At the time she met Tyler, she was doing a DVD project that used cartoon characters reading English fairytales to children and they needed an English speaking person that they could superimpose in the cartoon. Well Tyler was the one Olga was looking for….. It was no easy job getting a such big guy like Tyler into a little bitty cartoon, but modern technology and a good ole Mac, Olga was able to produce a very professional DVD. We are going to miss Tyler, he was personally for me a great encouragement and was a great blessing to the fellowship. I will miss serving with him and him giving me a “motivational speech”. Please pray for Tyler as he will spend 6 months back in California. Both he and his girl friend Melissa have a heart for Russia. Pray for God’s direction in their lives……..
Back on November 27, 2007 on our blog post we wrote of the story about a young family Olya and Kostia, and their 3 year old son Artiom who was diagnosed with 4th degree cancer. It was a great trial for the young family and many in the church family reached out in prayer and support. Well I was in Smolensk a couple of weeks ago and I attended the Sunday Church service. A little boy came running in so full of energy he was dancing around and singing. Little did I know it was Artiom, the Lord had completely healed him. The photo says it all. Glory to the Lord in the highest, amen
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