The information on this post maybe inaccurate
We recently received this letter from Lena a young lady living in the village. It has been our concern for the literally 10,000 of villages over the 10 time zones of Russia, that do not have any access to any evangelical influence. Through the Russian postal system people such as Lena can be built up in their faith, and can have access to solid biblical teaching.

To: Alexey( director of SFR)

Hi, My name is Lena, I am 28.I'd like to study the Bible of the New Testament. But it is not possible as I live in a village. There are no such books in our village library and impossible to buy them. Because of the times and the moral condition of my village, I have no one to ask for help. That is why I’m ask for help… Thank you very much in advance.

 Lena
Amurskay oblastVoskresenovka 10/08/25

The information on this post maybe inaccurate or a scam.

2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Greetings from Moscow, we are experiencing what we call a “Ladies Summer” here in Moscow. You would know it as an “Indian Summer” the fall weather has just been beautiful…For all of you that have been following the journey of Spiritual Freedom Russia, we are still moving ahead. Even though the ministry has had to make adjustments because of finances, Bible courses are being received, courses are being corrected, letters are being answered and new believer packets are being sent. After 17 years the work continues to the often forgot group of society in Russian prisons. We are thankful to the small group of faithful supporters that have made the difference in the last 3 years of this ministry. The fact that SFM continues is testimony to the faithful prayer support of all of you who have a heart for this ministry. Recently a new DVD has been created by Alexy our director. It tells the story behind the office doors of Spiritual Freedom Russia and behind the walls of life in a Russian prison. The new DVD records some rare footage of the people SFR has the opportunity to reach out to. You can view this DVD at the SFR blog site. www.sfmrussia.org.

Prayer requests:

1.) Please continue to pray for Alexy our director, he has been through quite a trial over the last year as his wife Rita has had many different health issues.

2.) Pray that Alexy will have the wisdom need to lead the SFR team. God has gifted Alexy as a leader and we are thankful for his leadership.

3.) Pray for the staff as some of them have had to seek other employment. We know God is faithful and will provide for each one.

4.) Pray for the work of the Holy Spirit in the Russian Prison system and that the doors would remain open for Evangelical work in the prison.

5.) Please pray for the men and woman and teenagers that receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior then are released into society, that they will grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and be a blessing to Russian society.

Thank you all so very much for your faithful prayer support of this work, if only you could come and visit us and see the faithfulness of the Lords work here. Thank you for your concern for men woman you may never meet this side of eternity. God bless you and the work the Lord has called you to. From all of us at SFR

Calvary Chapel Modesto Team+CC Sokol Moscow

Happy Birthday Moscow 863 years young!

Moscow's City Hall has scrapped two major events connected with Sept.

4 celebrations to mark the capital's 863rd anniversary today so that the funds could be diverted to help the victims of the recent wildfires. Still, more than 5,000 concerts, street shows and traditional Russian merrymaking with prizes and cakes will be held across the city.Military orchestras from nine countries will march in the central Red square at the opening of the Spasskaya Tower international festival of military bands.

Moscowvites suffer

Moscowvites suffer from 1,000 year record high temperatures , but not only that Moscow is surrounded by forest fires and underground peat fires which are nearly impossible to control. We have had 6 days of very high levels of smog. Most Moscowvites including myself are without air conditioning and a open window is our source of fresh air. However with the high levels of toxic smoke widows are kept closed. Please pray for the situation, it doesn’t seem to letting up much

Haiti has not been forgotten

The information on this post maybe inaccurate
Just wanted to let you know that Haiti has not been forgotten. It has been only 8 months since a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 mw earthquake rocked that country. Haiti is a country where the 29th chapter of the Book of Acts is still being written. Calvary Chapel's from all over the US have made a long term commitment to take the love of Christ to Haiti. This is a recent letter from some dear friends of mine Dave and Darlys Bird who the Lord put on their hearts to move to Haiti and be apart of the work the greater body of Christ is currently doing in Haiti. Please pray for the work that God is doing in that precious country.

Hi Prayer Warriors

The information on this post maybe inaccurate or a scam.

Hi Prayer Warriors,

Thank you for all your prayers and emails in regards to our Women's Events.

As an update, the Event Saturday night went so well. We had about 100 women

and God's spirit was there through pampering the ladies with massages,

worship, teaching and 1 on 1 prayer. I wish you could hear these woman

worship the Lord in song. They sing accapella and sing with their whole

hearts loudly and joyfully. It is truly humbling to serve among these Haitian women who love Jesus somuch and trust Him fully, even for their next meal that day.

Enjoy the photos. I'll send more updates after the other 2 Events.

Tonight is our second event at another church, and we are expecting another100 women.

As you pray for the Haitian women here in Haiti, here are 3 of the most difficult things in their lives right now:

1. The economic situation (especially after the earthquake,

unemployment rate is 90%).and we think it's bad in the States, huh?

2. Stress - Every woman has been impacted with stressful situations

since the earthquake (all of some of the following: loss of family, loss of

home and living in a tent, husband & children relationships, etc,))

3. Sick Children - Since the earthquake, their children are getting

sick more often

Thank you SO much for your prayers and love. Personally, for me, as we are

in the hottest and most humid time of year here, your prayers for enduranceand strength are so needed and felt.

Darlys Bird - Field Coordinator
Calvary Chapel Haiti Initiative
US 909.214.5686
Haiti 011. 509.3881.6098
dar@dbirdfamily.com
http://www.calvarychapelhaitiinitiative.org/
Face Book - Calvary Chapel Haiti Initiative

One+One=One

ONE +ONE=ONE God's math.........Amen!

Ge 2:23-24 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.

What a beautiful expression God gave a man and a woman to show their love for one another by coming together and becoming one flesh in marriage. On July 3rd Artom and Nastya became husband and wife. It was really a beautiful wedding. They were blessed to have the ceremony at the Calvary Chapel dorm, which is located out in the beautiful village. The CC staff did an excellent job with the food and with the details that made it a special time for everyone. It was a great blessing for me as I had the opportunity to officiate the wedding service. I have known Artom for about 7 years and to be a part of Artom’s and Nastya’s wedding was huge blessing. Many of Artom’s and Nastya’s friends that attended are non believers. Many are fans of their band and have a great love for Artom and Nastya. Many for the first time hearing that it is God’s idea and not man’s for marriage. The worship band from Calvary Chapel Vladimir, (3 hours from Moscow) did an awesome job with the worship. Artom even wrote and sang a beautiful love song to his new bride! God Bless their union, amen!

Believer’s Baptism

Romans 6:1-6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,6 knowing this that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Jesus gave His church a wonderful ordinance, Believer’s Baptism. He gave the believer the opportunity to participate in a physical act that would best symbolize what He did for us on the cross. For a believer not to experience water baptism is to miss the profound understanding of what Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit was speaking in Romans 6. As baptism is a symbol of a funeral to the believers old nature that once was under the bondage of sin and that as Christ died, we likewise died in Him. In water baptism it is powerfully symbolized as the believer is lowered under the water and reckoned as dead. Then as Christ was raised from the dead, we also are made alive never to die again in Christ. As the believer is raised back out of the water and given a new opportunity to live it is a dramatic example of the great price that Jesus paid through His death, burial and resurrection, conquering death and the grave, so that we could live with Him forever.
Nastya and Nikita in obedience to Jesus Christ were baptized on Sunday, July the 19th. The place where there was water also happened to be the most popular place to be as Moscow has been experiencing a heat wave. There had to be literally 10,000 people going to the same small lakes where we were going too. But the Lord gave us a place where we could baptize them. It was all very special as Nastya wanted to be baptized before her upcoming wedding to Artom. Artom was able to baptize his bride to be. Nikita is a band member of Nastya and Artom. (see earlier blog on their band)

Roma's birthday! С день рождения!

Roma's birthday. Tall guy is Roma, the couple Mr. and Mrs Sokolnikov, left is Zalina, and right is Mark the Physicist. (Mark contemplating a quantum theory perhaps) С день рождения, Рома!!!!!

Emanuel's dream

Many of you may have known Emanuel’s mother Veronica who went on to be with the Lord several years ago. (read her story in an earlier blog) Emanuel was born in Moscow, and Moscow is all he has ever known. He has a brother who was born in Ghana where his parents were from, and Joseph now lives in Las Vegas. Theadora his older sister also was born in Moscow and lives with Emanuel. Emanuel is wanting to live with his brother (whom he has not seen in many years). Also Emanuel has a younger sister who went back to live with his Mom’s sister about seven years ago. Brother Joseph is wanting to bring the family back together in America.


It is a complicated situation to say the least. Even though Emanuel and Theodora were born in Moscow, they attended Russian schools their entire life, they are still not recognized as citizens of Russia. Emanuel is not a citizen of Ghana either even though both his parents where Ghanaian citizens. Please pray the family would be joined once again.

Photo on the left was taken on May 8 2003 with his sister Jovana who is living in Ghana with her auntie.

Photo on the right is a Recent photo.

The Ministry of Dr. Tom

Those of you who have followed the blog or have visited us, may know Dr. Tom. “ Tommy” as I call him, has been in Moscow many years. We have worked together 10 years. As he treats mostly homeless men and women, it has given us the opportunity to treat their spiritual needs. Through reaching out with medical care people will listen to what you have to say regarding their spiritual needs. Despite having a hip that needs to re replace Dr. Tom continues to provide Medical assistance and advice to a very forgotten people in Moscow society. In Many cases just cleaning a filthy wound so that infection doesn’t set in. Most street people need just very basic Medical attention. Recently the city of Moscow has established a “ Homeless Patrol” with men in vans look for those on the street that need help and can take them to a place where they can find shelter. Unfortunately most homeless get comfortable with that life style and prefer to stay on the street and suffer all its consequences. Each one has their own story and not one of them grew up dreaming to be an alcoholic living on the street.

The man in the picture with Tom is named Sergey, he kind of reminded me of Nebuchadnezzar when he was in the field for 7 years, long finger nails, and wild beard. We recently sat down to speak with him and to find out what his medical needs were. It was interesting that Sergey was so concerned with maintaining his health, and showed a genuine desire to do it, even though he was in such a filthy condition. We talked about Jesus Christ with him, and it was not easy for him to understand. Please pray for Sergey that he will come to the knowledge of the one who loves and gave His life for his.

Valentine’s story

Valentine’s story. We first met Valentine 7 years ago (see photo) he required medical attention due to a fall. At that time his home was the street. Over the next 3 years Dr. Tom and I maintained fellowship with him having many Bible studies together. We lost contact with Val until just over a year ago we found him once again in the street repeating the same lifestyle over again. It is amazing to me how much one person can endure. Valentine is still holding on and to that little bottle of liquid that gives him a few hours of numbness. Please pray that Valentine will finally come to the place of surrender. There have been so many times over the last 7 years that should have brought him to surrender, but he picks himself back up and continues on his way.

Picture of Valintine taken on June 10 2003 as Dr. Tom, treats him

Current picture of Val.

Refat's heading to America

Refat is heading to America for one year to attend Calvin College in Michigan. Refat was chosen as the recipient of a scholarship from the Russian American university here in Moscow. (an amazing University) I have known Refat and his sister for about 6 years. The family moved here from Uzbekistan where Refat was born. You can read about Refat’s testimony in an earlier blog.
I believe this is a great opportunity the Lord has provided for Refat. He is bright and the Lord has really opened up opportunity for him as I have watched him grow over the last 6 years. Please pray for Refat that his time in America will be a blessing and that Refat will be a blessing to others. I will be losing a roommate but I am excited that Refat has this generous opportunity.

Refat( left) pictured with his sister Elvera, and her husband Azim (pictures of the wedding in and earlier blog)

The Moscow Times news

These two articles appeared in the June 11th 2010 addition of the Moscow Times....very interesting

Church Wants End to Darwin School 'Monopoly' The Russian Orthodox Church has called for an end to the "monopoly of Darwinism" in schools, saying religious explanations of creation should be taught alongside evolution."The time has come for the monopoly of Darwinism and the deceptive idea that science in general contradicts religion. These ideas should be left in the past," Archbishop Hilarion said at a lecture to Foreign Ministry officials.
"Darwin's theory remains a theory. This means it should be taught to children as one of several theories, but children should know of other theories, too," he said Wednesday.
The atheist Soviet state used Charles Darwin's theory of evolution to disprove the biblical teaching that God created the world. The theory, which biologists say gives a verifiable explanation for how life forms develop through natural selection, now dominates in Russian schools as it does in science teaching in most countries.
Hilarion said the theory that one species could evolve into another had never been proven. Children "should know about the religious picture, the creation of the world, which is common to all the monotheistic religions," he said.

Children Encouraged to Pray for Putin

Even as Prime Minister Vladimir Putin denied that a personality cult has grown around him, news broke Thursday that St. Petersburg children were being encouraged to pray that God bless Putin and shield him from "demoniacal temptation."

Greetings from Moscow, spring is here and it is a great relief from winter. On May 9th all over Russia celebrated Victory Day. It was the 65 anniversary of the World War 2 victory. A huge parade on Red Square where soldiers from all the nations (America included) that were apart of that great end to the world war marched together. A total of 161 tanks and other vehicles rolled through the Square on Sunday morning while over 120 various types of aircrafts flew above. In total, more than 102,000 Russian troops participated in military parades around the country. Among the foreign leaders who attend the Red Square parade were, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese President Hu Jintao. To insure that the sky's would be sunny Mayor Yuri Luzhkov had special air craft circle the out skirts of Moscow and seed the clouds with dry ice and silver #@*? and kept the skies blue during the 65th anniversary. What a great price that was paid by the Russian people as they defended their Mother Land. However there is a greater battle that has been waged against mankind from time of the Garden of Eden, a spiritual battle that continues relentlessly day in and day out that rages against the soles and minds of God’s creation. The Apostle Paul when addressing this foe said Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Jesus Himself spoke Mt 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Joh 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. We who have put our trust in Christ also have a Day of Victory that we celebrate. A Victory that was won over death and the grave 2000 years ago through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Nikolay Golovkov 12/21/1958 to 3/1/2010

Nikolay Golovkov 12/21/1958 to 3/1/2010

If ever there was  a student that typified the ministry of Spiritual Freedom it was Nikolay Golovkov and this is his story..........

some time in the early 90’s Nikolay Golovkov was convicted of murder and was sitting on death row in the famous 300+ year old Butirka prison here in Moscow. Nikolay lived in the Urals, in eastern Russia, where he was arrested. He was transferred to Moscow because he appealed to the Supreme Court regarding his case. According to Nikolay, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. One night he was arrested for a murder that took place in a park where Nikolay was found hopelessly drunk. The police arrested him, and because he was an ex felon, they thought they had their man. Nikolay’s appeal was rejected and there he sat on death row waiting for his execution, a bullet to the back of the head. In 1993 then the director and founder of SFR Phil Wagner, and the Alexy Tikhonov our current director were given miraculous permission to visit men on death row. It was there that sitting in death row cell #70 that Nikolay first heard the Good News and came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. God kept Nikolay from being executed so that he could hear the Good News of the gospel of His Son Jesus Christ. Here is a sample of the many letters received by Nikolay over the last 17 years.

“ Good morning, afternoon, or evening in our Lord Jesus Christ my dear beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. Grace, peace, and mercy to you my beloved, from our God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ our merciful and faithful High Priest! Blessed is the Lord God, who never leaves us without His mercy and truth. I thank our Father in Heaven for our brothers and sisters from Spiritual freedom. Bringing to us the Word of Life, our daily bread. With all the depth of my heart I am thanking our dear Lord God for you.

Your brother Nikolay. 05/19/04 Mordovia .

In 2000 the death penalty was lifted and all who where on death row were given life sentences. But Nikolay had already received a pardon from heaven above! Later Nikolay would tell Alexy that even though he was imprisoned falsely, he knew that is where God wanted him to be so that he could know His Son Jesus Christ. Nikolay said that if he would have been free, his life would have ended in destruction. According to Alexy, Nikolay was very zealous about Jesus Christ. He did every course, and then began to write commentaries on the Bible studies. Nikolay had a reputation for not allowing any conversation that was contrary to the Word of God. Once, two things happened, when men were cell mates with Nikolay, they either became members of the family of God , or they begged to be moved to another cell. Nikolay would not back down when it came to the truth of God’s Word, even if that meant going toe to toe with orthodox priests. This simple man grew in his knowledge of the Bible. Nikolay knew how to defend the Word against false teaching that might work its way towards him. We will never know how many inmates and guards were influenced by this disciple of Christ. God kept Nikolay miraculously alive for many years. Nikolay suffered from the effects of TB and was missing one lung and the other was deteriorating but God kept him alive for 17 more years. Pictured is a photo in a frame that Nikolay made and presented it to Phil and Alexy. Notice the very intricate design done all by hand. Nikolay, as far as we know, was an orphan, but this we do know - he is part of the eternal family of God and all we who are in Christ will meet our brother one of these days. 

Joh 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..."

Calvary Chapel leadership conference 2010

“Jesus was and is and is to come”

Servants of the Lords from all over Russia, Ukraine, Finland and Belarus gathered together for 3 days of teaching, worship, fellowship, and the breaking of bread together. Pastor Ken Ortiz, Senior pastor of CC Spokane along with Pete Nelson, pastor of White field community church in Colorado taught from the scriptures. Pastor Ken taught on the family. Also sharing in the teaching of the Word was Pastor Pasha and Pastor Yaroslav from the Vladimir region, and Pastor Bart from St. Petersburg. The setting for the conference was on the shore of the Gulf of Finland surrounded by a beautiful pine forest that seemed very similar to parts of the coast of Oregon. CC Spokane who is a sponsor of the conference brought a team to help out with the children’s church and to serve the guests. They did a great job. Pastor Boris, Pastor Dima and Pastor Bart all from St. Petersburg did an excellent job of organizing the conference. It was truly a blessing for all of us.

April 12 National Cosmonaut day

Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin( Юрий Алексеевич Гагарин) 9 March 1934 – 27 March 1968), Hero of the Soviet Union, On April 12 1961 he became the first human in outer space and the first to orbit the Earth Yuri was born in the village of Klushino near Smolensk Russia. His parents worked on a collective farm. The famous statement that Yuri was said to have made while he was in space as he looked out his window “ I don’t see any God up here” was never said by Yuri.  According to his earth to space conversation and Colonel Valentin Petrov a close friend of Yuri, Yuri never said such a statement from space.One of his recorded quotes from space was “The Earth is blue..How wonderful. It is amazing” Isaiah 40:22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

Greetings!!!

Greetings from Moscow everyone,  first of all we as a fellowship want to thank all of you that have prayed for us and have taken the time to view our blog. Last Sunday as a fellowship we joined with believers all over Russia and the world to celebrate the reality that Jesus Christ the Son of God conquered the greatest enemy of mankind. As with many holidays they come and go in 24 hours. The decorations are put away for the next year. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one holiday that can be celebrated every day.
Lamentations 3:22-23: "Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." For the believer every new day is a reminder that we have a citizenship that is not of temporal earth, but is of the Kingdom of God. Php 3:20: "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." As we see the world in a state of crisis it should be as a reminder to all believers - this is not our home. This earth has been in crisis from the Garden of Eden, what else is new under the Sun? This world is not our home address, heaven is. Don’t be disappointed if things are not going the way we'd like. Hold lightly to the things of this world, for as believers God tells us we are just passing through. As the days become more and more the way Jesus predicted, let us “Seek First the Kingdom” So as this world under the watchful eye of our mighty God is coming undone, recognize it as a fulfillment of "Your Kingdom come Your will be done!" We serve a God who has conquered death and has given us eternal life!

Sorry for the LATE post! CC Pastors conference 2010

The 2010 Calvary Chapel Russian Pastors conference saw over 70 pastors and assistants come together for teaching worship and fellowship and of course tasty meals! What impressed me during the conference was to look around and see many new faces but to also see so many guys that have been faithful as pastors year after year, step by step, doing the work of the ministry. Many churches have been planted over the last 17 years here in Russia and 99% of them our still alive and still moving along! 

Mt 16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

Moscow sorrows

As a grim reminder that we live in a fallen world on March 29 over 40 innocent metro riders lost their lives and dozens were injured as two separate bombings occurred during the busy early morning commute. Many of us depend on the metro for our daily transportation needs. Over 6.6 million travel the metro daily. It is the 2 heaviest traveled Metro in the world. Jesus Himself  said: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may and that they may have it more abundantly."  John 10:10                    

Friends for all eternity

Ernan (left) just returned to his home in Bogotá, Colombia. Ernan is a strong believer. Please, pray for his future as he returns home after a 9 year absence. Cladio moved to Russia when he was 16 from Cuba. Please, pray for his wife and son as to where the Lord would have them to live. Cladio is a very unique believer and speaks 3 languages. Hernondo is also from Cuba, he came here many years ago to go to school. Please, pray for Hernondo and the many challenges that are before him. He has an amazing testimony of the work the Lord has done in his life. Dale (right) as many of you know, has been a long term missionary here in Moscow for over 16 years. Please pray for Dale and His daughter Dasha as they visit family back in Minnesota in June. Dale has had an influence on Ernan and Cladio in their Christian walk.

"Above my own"

Nikita, Artom and Nastya have a rock group called “Above my own” The name is very appropriate for the times we live in, in a world whose mantra (if I can use the word) preaches that "me, myself and I" should be above everything, that “ first seek ye my kingdom” is the thinking of our day. In our modern world today the emergence of spirituality has become very fashionable, with it’s message "that we recognize our god potential. That we are little gods." It is just the same boring old lie of satan in the Garden of Eden, when he told Eve that she could be like God.

Please, pray for Nikita, Artom and Nastya as they have different opportunities to play in various clubs in Moscow. I attended one of their concerts a few months back and they were far and away the most popular band that played that night. Pray that the Lord would use them to influence a generation of “me, myself and I”

Oleg the linguist learns a new language

Over the last year and a half I have had the opportunity to get to know Oleg Rakito. Oleg is a retired linguist that during the Soviet times was heavily involved with foreign students specifically from Africa. Oleg had a radio program that would broadcast into Africa. Oleg speaks multiple languages: French, Hungarian several different African dialects and even Swahili. Over the last year and a half Oleg has added yet another language, the language of the word of God. He always has some insightful questions about this new language he is learning. Please pray for Oleg that he would continue to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and that Oleg would be bold with the God News of Jesus Christ among friends and former colleagues. One of Oleg’s interesting stories is that his name appeared in the memoirs of former president Bill Clinton.

Bill  Clinton as a young Rhodes Scholar student writes of the time when as a young university student he came to Moscow. Oleg admits that he does not remember meeting him, because he would have been one of the many foreign students he had contact with at Patrice Lumumba University. Bill Clinton writes...

 "One night I took a bus out to Lumumba University (in Moscow) to have dinner with Nikki and some of her friends. One of them was a Haitian woman named Helene whose husband was studying in Paris." On the bus back home Clinton says there was only one other passenger, Oleg Rakito, who "spoke better English than I did and asked me lots of questions and told me he worked for the government, virtually admitting he was assigned to keep an eye on me".

Please pray for Oleg that he would be bold in his witness to his friends and former colleagues...and also for his several heath issues, thank you!

Letters from some of the Bible students behind bars

Most of you know about the ministry here in Moscow of Spiritual Freedom Russia. For over17 years Spiritual Freedom Russia has supplied biblical resources to prisoners here in Russia and the former CSI countries. Over 80,000 students behind prison bars have participated in bible correspondence school. Please pray for the ministry as we are at a time where can only wait on the Lord. In human terms we are really waiting on the financal resources to come in. But in reality  God tells us that we should wait not on the financal resoures, but wait on Him alone.

Isa 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

The word God chose to illustrate the word wait comes from the word bind as would be in a  rope with multiple  strands. As we yield (wait) our way to the Lord and look to  Him as our source, as the One who knows the next step we are to take. We then can take comfort as we rest in Him. Bound by the Father, bound by the Son and bound by the Holy Spirit. We are then pulled by His perfect plan, we no longer are a single strand trying to stand. We are surrounded by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit Ec 4:12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Thank you for your prayer support for Spiritual Freedom Russia.

Recent letters from our Bible Students behind bars..........

April 6, 2010
The greatest decision in any humans life is when the person receives Lord Jesus Christ as a personal Savior
from sins. I have a joy to share with you. One of my inmates once came up to me and without saying a word took my book “The Good News” Bible study and started to read it. He told that he also wants to study the Bible. A few weeks ago he was a furious, violent atheist, but today he reads Bible every day. Learning the Bible he has come to Christ and received Salvation.
I’m humbly grateful, thanks to all of you.
Arthur, prisoner
Krasnodar City

March 31, 2010 
Dear brothers and sisters, greetings with great holiday of Resurrection of Christ.
Your books helped me a lot. They stimulated me to study the Bible and I am very thankful for that.
I am sending you a list of people (20 people) from my cell block. They want to study too.
Evgeny Footin, prisoner
Pr. #15, Kopeysk city .

March 15, 2010
Hello to all of you at our most esteemed Spiritual Freedom!
We recently requested from you some literature and Bible correspondence studies from the servants of God Alexander and Dmitry (Staff of SFM)
We want to thank all Spiritual Freedom workers for the literature, which you’ve sent us, and to wish you and your organization only the best .We, as soon as we received your packages were very happy and thanked God for He has heard us. Because this prison is in such a remote place we are far away from any fellowship and there is nobody to talk about the Bible. On the very first day, my friend Alexander and I, have started to work on our first lessons. We will be praying for all of you at Spiritual freedom.
Sincerely and warmly in our hearts, servants of God, Dmitry & Alexander
prisoners, Omsk city

Spiritual Freedom Russia update Jan 2010

Greetings from Moscow, where it is record cold and we are anxiously waiting for a little bit of the predicted global warming. I first would like to thank those who have supported Spiritual Freedom Russia. We made it through another year. Although we were closed for 3 months we ended correcting 9,513 courses. We had 4,000 new enrollments and we had 5770 continuing students. 9770 new courses were also mailed out. The staff responded to 2,993 personal letters. Each month we receive into the offices hundreds of letters from the students, many testifying of the work the Lord is doing in their lives. Every letter received is responded to personally by one of the staff. Many prisoners have been raised up in the orphanage system.

The letters in many cases are the only contact the prisoner may have with the out side world.

Even though SFR correspondence ministry has been received into over 700 prisons with a population almost at one million only 1% of the prisoners have been effected by this ministry,

The opportunity for the Gospel in the prisons is tremendous

Another great opportunity that has presented itself is to the friends and family of inmates.
Love one’s relatives and friends at the request of the inmates can participate in the correspondence program. Currently 25% of the students have come from people outside the Prison system. Many live in one of literally tens of thousands of villages all across Russia. What makes this area of ministry of interest to us is that in many of the small villages scattered throughout Russia, most of them do not have any access to any evangelical influence. Bible correspondent courses and Christian literature are a way to reach many of these people through the postal system.
I believe along with many other Russian Pastors that the work of SFR is vital to the work God continues to do in Russia. Those that are involved with prison ministry here in Russia have observed that God is doing a wonderful work among Prison population. For many years the gospel was totally forbidden in the prison system .Over the last 16 years the doors have opened and many broken men and woman, have come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior, many now serving the Lord in local churches through Russia. We believe God is preparing men and woman in the prisons for the greater work of the Gospel here in Russia.
Unfortunately with new legislation even evangelism in the prison is beginning to close. However since SFR reaches out to the prison population via the postal system these doors remain open.
It has been our desire for Churches in Russia to fully support this ministry.
And we have seen progress from the local churches, individual believers and even from inmates to support this work. Unfortunately at this time in the life of SFR we have had to seek outside support. I know many of you have ministries and missionaries at home and abroad that you support. However if God has given a heart for Russia, this is one ministry that is worth investing into. I would ask you to consider supporting SFR It cost on an average about $18.00 for a student to complete one bible course. We currently have over 40 bible courses. Please share with a friend about SFR. Thank you and God Bless.
Here are a few of the Letters from the students.
Vladimir Eremeev, Tatarstan
Yes, I was a Satanist – the devil's slave. Yes, it was the Bible which has led me to God. In the beginning, I started to read it with the only purpose - to find mistakes in it. But it turned to be the opposite. The Bible has put me on my knees before God in order to tearfully ask forgiveness from Him and help to quit Satanism. Because Bible has no mistakes indeed! The Bible has made me to destroy all the occult books I had. Because it has become my main book.
Praise God for I have quit Satanism and joined Christ – my Savior. This is my last (* 43 completed) Bible study, but I don't what to part fellowship with you. If you happen to get some new studies, please, send them to me. I will wait for it!
Your brother in Christ, * my note

Galiya Borozdina, ex-con, Yekaterinburg region.
I worry a lot about you because there are no letters for a long time.
I really miss a fellowship with you, which gives me life strengths, as you are given to me by God.
I am doing fine, but not always smooth, but I set my hopes upon God and pray more often with my words and life is getting easier.Sometimes I weep, sometimes I smile, but I try to avoid despondency. Only the Lord knows how it is difficult sometimes.I sincerely concern about your problems, but the Lord will not leave you with no help. This is what I believe and pray about. By the will of God today I have received my pension; it's not large only 2118 rubles ($70.00), but I want tohelp your ministry. It's very little, only 200 rubles ($7.00) which I send you in this letter and I am ensure that they will get to you with God's help.
Please, receive it and I always pray for you.


Denis, prisoner, Yekaterinburg region.
I’m praying for you for and the school that you will continue the work. Thank you for the Bible. I am very happy about it. I read it and I share with others who don’t have one. We all pray for you. Waiting for the next course,Peace to you.

Maxim, prisoner, Kazan’ City.
Our fellowship is praying for your supporters and for your good health,How are doing? Is everything OK? Our prison is waiting for your Bible lessons. Please know that the Lord does not send us trials above our strength! Hold on! Write us and share with us your worries.We pray and we will pray for you without loosing hope and faith.May the Lord keep you,

Alexander, released prisoner Volgograd region.

I was waiting for these courses and I confess that for some time I thought that they would never come. But in a meantime I was reading the Word of God. But of course with your lessons and your help it is much easier to understand the Scripture and I learn it with greater understanding. In this aspect your work is undoubtedly the way for me to the truly grow in the knowledge about our Lord Jesus Christ.

Vladimir, prisoner, Yakut region

I am happy that I’m connected to the Holy Scripture and walk everywhere with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. I thank God for the Bible which you sent me and for the very wonderful and vital lessons. I wish I could spend all days long in prayer and in Word of God…

Prayer requests for Spiritual Freedom Russia

For the staff

For our director Alexy and his wife Rita. It has been a difficult last 3 months. There son Alexy JR has been sick and it was finally diagnosed that he had and infection on his heart valve. God did a miraculous work and He was accepted into the best heart surgery center in Russia. Alexy had the surgery last week and he is already recovering. Alexy Jr. has a restored heart but please pray for his spiritual heart to be reborn.

Please pray for the students

For all of you that have followed this ministry I wish you could all get on a plane and come over and see the work here at Spiritual Freedom Russia. God is doing a good work! God Bless you and all that God has called you to in the building of His kingdom. dean