Alyona’s Update

Here is an October Newsletter from Alyona, our missionary in Turkey, I received it a few days ago and would like to share it with you. It exciting to know what the Lord is doing in Turkey and how He uses Alyona for His glory. I hope you’ll enjoy this news as well as I did! Natasha

"Dear friends, Greetings to you from Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and the third largest city in the world. As many of you know, for the past year I have been praying and thinking about serving in Turkey. Last December I heard of a wonderful opportunity to serve in Istanbul in a Christian school. I started to pray about this opportunity and corresponded with the school Headmaster. Meanwhile the Lord gave me a job in Moscow that led me to Turkey for a short time in June and I had a chance to see the school and meet the teachers and students before moving here. For the past few months God has been faithful in leading me here through doubt, unbelief and temptations. The hardest thing was to face the questions from both believers and unbelievers who kept asking: do they pay there well? Do they provide the airline tickets and the insurance? Do you know where you will stay? But just like a couple of years ago, when I left my career to go to a Bible college, I was confident of God's will for me. I packed my 30 kg of weight permitted by Aeroflot and flew in. The school I am teaching at is a Christian school founded 2 years ago by the Istanbul Protestant church and a British enthusiast who has been living in Istanbul for over 30 years. Registered as Turkish "School of Tomorrow" in England, the school is called The English Club here for it is not officially recognized in Turkey. Certain laws prohibit Christian or any "different" curriculum to be used for teaching to Turkish children . School education is a very important element of control for the Turkish government . Since education reforms in 1995 when mandatory school education was changed from 5 years to 9 it had become an organization with uniform, strict discipline and a special emphasis on patriotism which often includes a message of how evil and wrong Christianity is. The English Club is a unique educational institution. Along with good education in English based on ACE curriculum it provides a safe environment for the children of Christian parents and Christian workers here. Although Turkey is not as strictly Islamic country as, for example, Iran once you step out of your home you are bombarded with Islamic ideology. The Club is a place where kids are nurtured and taught the truth about God and Bible, good attitudes and manners. Our Turkish students ( there are also children of the Christian workers from Korea and Romania ) have to start Turkish school at the age of 7 , therefore, after 2 years of pre-school at the Club, they attend both schools doing twice as much work as their Muslim classmates but by God's grace they manage to be the best students in their Turkish schools. There are 6 teachers at the Club and just like our students we come from different countries: US,England,and, surprisingly, Peru and Russia! To keep the cost of the English club affordable ( students only have to pay a small fee to help with the rent) all of the teachers are volunteers and usually come to serve for one year. Our constant prayer is for more stability and also for another English Club on the European side of the city since some children have to travel 1,5 hours to get to the Club. Having lived here for 1,5 months I begin to realize the importance of Christian education here. Every day I talk to different people: Christians, Muslims, atheists. Also, I talk to my Turkish flatmate who has been going to church for 2 years yet can't trust the Lord with all her heart, and I understand that their doubt and antagonism to Christianity has a deep root that goes back to their childhood where everything they heard about God was that He is there to punish you for the wrong doings and does not care for you once you are outside of the mosque. The children at the English Club have Christian parents but they still live in Turkey, watch Turkish TV and visit their Muslim relatives. They need to be fed spiritually and prayed for more than any other children. They are the future of the Turkish church and the hope of all the foreign workers here who, like our pastor from Spain, have been struggling through visa process for 24 years praying for the Turkish Christian leaders to rise and witness to their nation about the living and loving God who died for them.
Please pray for:
*safety of the Club ( after the murders last year an alarm system has been installed but we know that Lord is our shield)
*my Turkish friends Osman and Arzu who I can call open minded atheists, Arzu even came to church twice
*healing of my little student Connie who broke her key bones yesterday and will not come to school for a few weeks
*my language studies : time and finances *financial provision for my rent
*spiritual and physical health

Thank you for reading my newsletter and for your prayer support. Please pray.. we need it here. If you would like to support the school or the teachers please contact Beryl Simsek beryl11148@gmail.com or Rosa Orriols romaorma@hotmail.com In Christ Alyona "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers" 1Pete 3:12"

Mira’s page

Dear friends and family I would like to introduce a new addition to our blog – it is Mira’s page. As some of you already know from our previous posts that Mira is a Jews for Jesus staff servant and she is writing monthly reports and updates on her ministry in Moscow. If you are interested and want to know about this ministry, please follow this link, which you will also find in the sidebar of this page.
We will try to keep Mira’s page as up to date as possible. I hope you’ll enjoy reading and keep Mira’s and Jews for Jesus ministry in your prayers.
May the Lord bless you as you read. Natasha

Fall is here

We are having a beautiful fall here in Moscow.

SFM update

Spiritual Freedom update: SFM ministry here in Moscow enrolls inmates into a Bible correspondence courses (see link) in the month of October SFM received 431 new student enrollments. 1019 students continued their studies. 1450 courses were mailed out in the month of October and 1249 courses were graded. 580 personal letters of encouragement were sent to the students. Every letter received from the prisons is personally responded to. This ministry for over 15 years has reached out to 100,000‘s of prisoners. The last year has been a pretty bumpy road for the ministry but God continue to show His faithfulness to SFM. Please pray for the future work of SFM that all needs will be met, and for more and more new requests to enroll in the Bible correspondence courses. And also pray for the staff and for Alexey the director for wisdom to lead SFM.

God's word will be preached to the ends of the earth

Geno, whom many of you know, is the leader of a fellowship in the prison in the Arkhangelsk region in far north Russia. We recently sent Geno an MP3 player and Pastor Chucks MP3 teaching on the New Testament translated in Russian. Geno asked if we would pray to see if the teachings could be aired on the prison radio station inside the prison that reaches about 800 inmates. Well, less than 2 weeks later Pastor Chuck's Bible teaching were being aired 3 times a week. It caused quite a stir with the Moslem and the Hare Krishna’s wanting equal time. Geno said that several guys were trying to sabotage the speakers in the prison yard. Please pray for the teaching to be aired 3 times if not more a week. It is a real miracle that the teaching are being played. Also the fellowship received a new brother in Christ, Mikale (in the middle) Sergey on the right shared with Mikale who is from the same city Sergey is from. (Picture: Geno is on the left)

The celebration of new birth

In 1977 over 200,000 Russian Jews immigrated to Israel. In 1988 to 1993 over 600,000 Russian Jewish immigrated to Israel. But many more Russian Jews remained in Russia. Here in Moscow, Jews for Jesus have had seen many of them to come to know Jesus Christ..

During one recent street outreach many Jews received Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Recently Jews for Jesus held a celebration for those who made decisions to follow Christ. Many more attended that had not made a decision. It was an evening filled with songs and teachings from the Bible. Please pray for the work of Jews for Jesus here in Moscow. God is doing a good work among the Russian Jews' community here in Moscow. Please pray for Max, Mira and Ilya - all are on the JFJ staff.

Refat’s Story

Refat is from a big family, and He and his brother and sister moved to Moscow from Uzbekistan about 5 years ago. Refat and His sister started visiting the church about that time. I have over the years seen the hand of the Lord on Refat’s and his family. It is not an easy thing to move to one of the most expensive cities in the world. But God has been faithful in their lives. Refat recently gave testimony of God's faithfulness before the church. I thought you enjoy reading Refat’s story.

A two week long conversation with God

Looking back I figured that it was a conversation of a capricious son with the Father. In this conversation the Father doesn't let His son to do foolish things for his own good.

Two weeks ago – I have an attractive offer to change the job. The salary is to be tripled comparing to current. One thing, I feel uneasy about it. Notice, acceptance of the offer will put me in a discreditable situation in the future. I accept the offer anyways. Right after I accept the offer – my heart starts to convict me. I begin to pray, diligently telling God how I need the money, listing all the good works I can do with them. I tell Him that I need to pay for my tuition, and that this salary is most welcome.
Beginning of last week – my heart continues to convict me. I continue to pray, simultaneously looking for at least one layout at which I would "land on my feet". Sincerely, I was looking for an excuse. Monday, last week – 6 rubles in my pocket, approximately 30 cents. I have places where I can borrow some, I just don't want to. I walk home from the office, around 3 miles. Another week to go to advance payment. I trust God, I know He has not forgotten me. No excuse found yet.
Monday night – phone rings at 2 a.m. My brother calls and asks if I would like to make some money. I agree without even understanding what's going on (very surprising). One American lady had food poisoning and is urgently placed to an infection hospital. Translation for doctors required. Money for taxi is found very quickly, landlady hasn't been taking the rent money for over a week now, so borrow some until morning. This very day nobody is at the hotel who could translate, everyone is busy. Well this is another story. Overnight I get paid amount of money equal to monthly salary. Wednesday – I am invited to the hotel to be introduced to two Americans. They were told how I came to the hospital at the middle of the night, and that I had two different socks on because I was tired when I was dressing up. One of them is the president of a foundation. He gives me an amount of money equal to half of my monthly salary.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday – I'm like a baby rejoicing that God is blessing me, I continue to pray and look for an excuse. No excuse yet.
Sunday – I have a great desire to visit Zelenograd Baptist Church. I visit this church quite seldom. This time we are discussing how we try to make excuses of our disobedience, excuses for things we want to do, not God. Many examples from the Bible of bad consequences after excusing the disobedience. Such as Adam and Eve, Saul and David, Jonah, apostle Peter. Second part of the service tells how God shuts the doors when we want to do something that contradicts His will and that at these times we better listen to what God has to say. At this moment I run though the latest events and understand. God, for my own good, doesn't want me to changes the job. He replies to my prayers very plain and clear, - "Son, here is the money, if you need more for tuition I will give you more, just don't go there, no need to be making excuses, trust Me."
On the way home – I feel that my heart is not convicting me anymore. I think of how I talk to the bosses. What will I say when I refuse the offer and what I will say to the boss, who was actually looking for my replacement. And as a closing, two passages from the Scriptures. (1Jn.3:20) "For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things."And (Je.29:11) "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD,thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

(story written by Refat)

SFM Russia update

These doors are remaining open here in Russia. "Spiritual Freedom" has been an arm here in Moscow reaching out to 100,000's of prisoners over the last 15 years. Over the last year the ministry has experienced some great challenges. Recently it was decided that the staff would take their vacation time in the hopes that funds would come in to support the ministry. During that time the office was closed down the requests from new students and the finished cources ready to be graded by existing students began to stack up over the last 2 1/2 months. This only confirmed that God has his hand on this ministry. Over the last year God has shown Himself faithful in the work of SFM. It appears that we will be able to pay off aboout two months of bills and have the budget for 3 months paid for. God answered, as He does many times, at the last hour. We give thanks to our great and mighty God for all the great things He has done. We now have a few months to breath as the staff returns and is working hard to get caught back up. Please continue to pray for SFM, a great friend to those behind bars here in Russia

Story of the Bible courses

1 Peter 1:6-9: "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls."

The amazing story of these Bible study courses is that they were saved from a burning house. The Bible student wrote "Spiritual Freedom" to give testimony that her house had burnt, but that she rejoiced that her SFM Bible correspondence courses were saved from the fire. (You can listen to the full testimony about these saved from the fire courses, just click on the SFM video on the right side). What a great perspective this student has in regards to the important things in life.

Alyona is on her way to Istambul

Alyona(standing center) is on her way to Istanbul, Turkey where she will be teaching English in a Christian School. This is a great opportunity for Alyona to bring the Good New to a thirsty land. Please pray for her as she is going into a country that is not so friendly towards the Christian faith. Pray that God will send her divine appointments, and that she will be an encouragement to the believers there. To keep updated on Alyona click on her blog in our links.

Andre and Rita become man and wife

Congratulations to Andre and Rita who recently became man and wife. Rita has been a part of our fellowship over the last 7 years. They are a sweet couple. They sing together and Andre is a great teacher of the Word.

2008 Missionary Conference in Millstatt, Austria.

Taylor family in Moscow

the TAYLORS are back!!!!!!

THE Taylor family is BACK!!! The Girls - Shannon and Britney and their brother JT are doing concerts outside of Moscow and in the Russian cities Tombov and Kuluga. Please, pray for the many young people, they attract to their concerts, would surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. Also pictured is their mother Maureen. Ron will be joining his family in a couple of weeks to support the outreaches. It is always good to have the Taylors stop in on our Sunday service.

Eggar goes to Ghana

Wycliffe Bible translators

This is my friend Eggar Petrov from St. Petersburg Russia. I have know Eggar for about 9 years. Eggar on his way to Ghana, Africa stopped by and stayed a few days with me in Moscow. Eggar is part of a 7 member team from Russia that will be doing outreach and a vacation Bible school in Ghana. I think it is very exciting to see missionaries from here going out across the world. Eggar and his team will be visiting a Russian family who were sent from Moscow by Wycliffe Bible translators to create a written language and then translate the New Testament into a Ghanaian tribal dialect. I was amazed to know the Wycliffe bible translators were here in Russia. Then I learned about William Cameron Thompson the founder of Wycliffe Bible translating society. After serving for 50 years on the mission field Cameron decided that he was not quite ready to retire. So at ripe young age of 71 Cameron and his wife decided that Russia needed Bibles translated as well. Cameron asked himself, “What about the Iron Curtain countries? Shouldn’t all languages there have God’s Word?” Cam and Elaine arrived in Moscow on October 3, 1968, on their first visit. They both felt strongly that any further invitations to the Soviet Union and, hopefully, permission to do Bible translation would depend first of all on God and, second, on extending a hand of friendship to all they met.
As Cam said in a letter to a friend in the Soviet Academy of Science in 1969 after the first trip, “I am determined to do everything we can to draw our people more closely together in bonds of friendship—the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. In this way we’ll be performing a real service to our country and to the lovers of peace everywhere.”
The Door Cracks Open
By their eleventh trip in 1979, the Townsends had traveled more than 10,000 miles and given away hundreds of scripture portions. They openly shared about linguistic research and Bible translation taking place in Latin America. They had written two books, The USSR As We Saw It and They Found a Common Language.
Cameron and Elaine had also been invited into hundreds of homes where their hosts showered them with gifts and courtesies. They were graciously given the privilege of importing a car and travel trailer and were allowed to travel unaccompanied for months at a time. The Townsends enjoyed wonderful fellowship in packed churches, especially in Moscow.
Cameron never shied away from presenting his hope to university academics and others that one day the 160 languages of the Soviet Republics and Eastern European countries would have God’s Word available to them. Through friendships they had made in the Soviet Academy of Science, four translations of First John were eventually completed by a Russian linguist. What an amazing testimony of God’s hand on Russia.

Worship songs

Hello everyone! Please, listen to some of newly uploaded songs on our site CCSokolWorship.
Also some of you may know Zalina Fedotov - talented song writer and dear sister in the Lord, who was leading worship at CC Sokol some years ago. She is currently serving at Koinonia Fellowship in Rochester, NY and is a part of Koinonia worship team. Zalina gave me permission to upload her songs and you can listen to them over at http://www.esnips.com/web/ZalinaSongs
As you read posts on this site, you can scroll down, turn on the player and listen to a worship song. Enjoy! Blessings! Natasha

Our God is an Awesome God!!

Saturday as I was studying for our Sunday service, a hard rain had ended and I got ready to see the rainbow to appear out my window and sure enough it appeared, a rather large section of the arch full of color. My camera recently broke and so I pulled out my mighty 4 pixel Kodak digital that I bought in 1998 before moving to Russia. The battery case is held by some good old scotch tape, and it has seen better days. As I started to take pictures of the rainbow, the batteries kept dying. So I found 2 used batteries and kept shooting. Well the clouds moved in again and an electrical storm started. I was thinking “God it would be great to get a photo of the lighting” Considering the condition of my mighty Kodak, that was a real prayer of faith. Well I took five shots trying to anticipate the sequence of the electrical storm which is really saying I was just wasting my time. So I went back to my studying. I then noticed that the clouds had a beautiful color and so I snapped one last shot. To my amazement at that very moment the lighting struck and my mighty 4 pixel digital Kodak, which has a very slow delay between the click and the image registering on the memory card, caught this shot. Knowing the odds of the speed of my camera catching a lighting strike, God showed me that even in the little things He loves to bless His children.

You have served Russia well!

Hello everyone, today Rick and Rebecca Emenaker returned back to California after serving here in Moscow 7 years. Rick was the director of Mission Aviation Fellowship here in Russia.

Rick has been a good friend over the years and I will miss him. I will surely miss the wonderful thanksgiving dinner (with a real turkey) that they have hosted. The Emenaker family lived in South America before coming to Moscow and have been on the mission field since 1992. They will be returning to their home in southern California for the next year. Their home church is Calvary Chapel East Anaheim. Their three children Hannah, Nathaniel and Rachel are already moved back to the US. Please pray for God’s will for the Emenaker family. We will miss them, they have been friends to Russia.

That the word of God will go forth...

Please pray for our good friend Dima, he has returned home for one month. His home town is in the coutry of Tajikistan. Dima is a Christian and his faith in Jesus Christ is not well received in his town. Please pray for Dima, for the Lord to open up the opportunity for the Good News to be shared to his mother and his relatives. thank you

Geno's update

Here are some recent photos of Geno from the zone. Usually I speak to him once a week but these are the first photos of him that I have seen in a couple of years. He is looking healthy. For those of you who may not know our dear brother Geno, he is in prison in the Arch Angel region in the far north of Russia. Geno is the church leader in his small fellowship there. Geno also is a worship leader, writes songs, and is seriously studying the language of His ancestors, Hebrew. We consider Him our missionary to the Russian Prison zone. Geno is a part of the tremendous work God has done through Spiritual Freedom Russia. Dale was the first known American to be allowed into the Russian solitary confinement of the prison. He then was allowed to speak with Geno and share the gospel with him. Please pray for Geno and his small faithful fellowship. That the blinders would fall off the eyes of so many of his fellow inmates and they would come to the knowledge of Christ. Pray for Geno’s continued health. Thank you.

Geno's photos

Summer smells and wedding bells

Greetings from Moscow, hard to believe we are already knocking on the door of July. Summer is always a nice time to have weddings here in Russia. On the first of June, Steve and Julia became man and wife. It was a sweet simple wedding after our morning church service. Julia is an amazing woman and has been a part of our fellowship for about 5 years. Julia rarely misses the opportunity to study the Bible. She and her 3 children Veronica, Dima, and Sveta have been a great blessing to our fellowship. Steve came to Moscow to build a golf course in north Moscow, Steve is a professional turf grower. Steve now is building a golf course on the coast of China, and Julia and the kids will be moving there soon . It will be exciting to see what new adventure God has for this family, we are going to miss them……

Mr. and Mrs.Steve Bruton

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Kalinin

Evening on the Volga River, Cheboksary Hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Kalinin

Also on June 14th Olga and Eugene were married in Olga’s home town Чебоксары (Chebokcary) it is a beautiful city almost 400 miles east of Moscow located on the Volga River. It was a wonderful 2 day event. Olga‘s brother Misha , who is a Calvary Chapel Pastor in Sochi officiated the service. I have known both of them for the last 8 years. After a very intertaining wedding party, we all that evening took a river cruise on the Volga, it was very charming. The next day Eugene and Olga put on a BBQ and then later we all went on bus tour of the city on the river Cheboksary. Cheboksary has it’s own unique culture, and language. It also has its own Calvary Chapel. It is so wonderful when you see the Lord bring two people together and Eugene and Olga are a sweet witness of God’s plan for man and woman. Also Christina Dixon came back to Russia to visit. Christina is a great friend to Russia and has many friends here. She worked at the CCBible College in Moscow. It was great to see her back. (see photo Christina on the left, Olga who did a great job with the wedding party, on the right)

Please take time to view the SFM video

Pray for Spiritual Freedom

Please pray for "Spiritual Freedom" (SFM) the ministry to the prisoners in the Russian prison system. (Please take time to watch video about this great ministry.) The ministry is going through a difficult time. Please pray for the resources to continue. The Lord has blessed this ministry for 15 years. We believe the Lord will provide the resources to continue. Please pray for our situation. As we met with the staff today the life of George Mueller was mentioned and how the Lord provided for his ministry to the orphanages in Bristol even to this day. George never sought money; He just prayed and believed God for their needs.

Andre " Growing in the knowledge of Christ"

Please pray for Dr. Tom he still is waiting to have a hip operation. It has been drawn-out for 3 years now. Tom desperately needs to have his hip replaced, please pray that the operation will come, and that all resources needed, will be supplied. Also Tom is living with his friend Andre. I have known Andre for about 6 years. He was one of the guys who would hang out with a group of homeless guys at the University Metro. Andre would usually show up at our outdoor meetings under the influence of alcohol. Andre was never interested in the gospel. He was one of the few that did not responded to Christ. Fast forward 6 years and Tom moved in with him. So we started meeting once a week for a Bible study. Andre would join in and listen and he started responding to the Good News. Andre one night last December left the house to join up with one of his friends for a night of drinking that resulted in Andre severely breaking his femur bone. A metal rod put in his leg. It has left him for about 6 months confined to his bed. But the blessing of all this is we have seen Andre grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. He now understands the gospel. Both Tom and Andre are pretty confined to the house. Please pray for God's continual work in his life and the recovery of his leg.

Pray for Dr. Tom, waiting for a hip operation

Pray for Victor

Please pray for an opportunity to visit another TB hospital. I met Victor when Dr. Tom was in the hospital as his roommate. Victor was next to Sasha the young man who past away in February. (see blog the March link) Victor was in the hospital to have his leg removed. He went home in December. I got a call from Tom last week that Victor just had his other leg removed and that he was back in the hospital. So I was able to get back into the hospital to visit Victor. I visited Victor for the first time last week. Victor is not a believer. Please pray that he will be open to the gospel. Perhaps with the loss of his second leg God may have his attention. Also the last time I was there a group of patients were sitting outside. So I handed them all the book Daily Bread in the Russian language. As I walked away one of the young guys yelled to me, "Sect!!" I just kept going and he yelled it again. I believe what happened next was as close as you can get to righteous anger, I turned around and headed back to the young man and told him that what I had given him was God’s word from the Bible. He listened closely and when all was said in done we were the best of friends. Hospitals are a great place to share the gospel. People have time on their hands and usually they are under difficult circumstances.

Victory 60 years ago, and a greater victory 2,000 years ago

Today on the 9th of May all of Russia celebrated Victory Day. It is a salute to the victory over Nazi fascism of World War 2. There is an estimated 3 million surviving veterans living in Russia and its former Soviet states. Many celebrate Victory Day at Victory park where 1,000’s of families come for a day of remembrance and celebration on the grounds of Russia largest war memorial. With day long activities, concerts and huge firework display it is a popular place on the 9th of May. Every year Jews for Jesus takes advantage of the multitude of people and the theme of victory, by handing out a track that speaks of a victory that was won 2,000 years ago on the cross. And just as many brave men and woman gave their life to save Russia, that Jesus also gave His life, and defeated the enemy of death, and paid the price for man’s sin. That the greatest victory in the history of the world was won on a hill in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago.

Over 10,000 of these tracks were passed out today. It was amazing how many people took the time to read them. I personally only had two returned to me. I even had one older woman come up to me and ask if she could have all the tracks I had in my hand. I thought she was going to take all I had remaining and throw them away. But she told me I’m Christian too and I want to help pass them out also!! I have to admit I was a bit nervous as there police all around the area I was standing. At one time a group of 6 came walking towards me and I thought, well they are going to want to see what I’m passing out but they just walked by un-concerned! How exciting that we have the freedom to pass out the good news freely in Moscow!! What a true victory that is!

Heros of World War 2

Max (center) and Mira to the right are on staff at Jews for Jesus Moscow. Today with about 18 others passed out over 10,000 tracks at the May 9th celebration at Victory Park, Moscow

Representing the former Soviet Times

The face that went around the world, with a gospel track in his bag.

Pray for him that he would know the Savior

The Day before Victory Day I was down at Red Square to check out some of the preparation for the next day ( May 9th) which is closed off to the public because of the parade. Many veterans from all over Russia come the day before and lay a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There was one veteran that got my attention, (see picture). He was waving a red Flag and he looked right out of the Soviet Times. I could not resist taking his picture and he was quick to pose for me. Then he began talking to me in a loud voice, and with real conviction about the great victory! He let me examine his metals and I told him that he was a real hero and he looked at me and said “just a little bit of a hero”. As I walked away I thought why I didn’t give him a gospel of John. I was a bit timid to return back and find him, not knowing how he would respond, but as I look back there he was once again out of the crowd of people. So I walked up to him once again and handed he a gospel booklet that had the word Gospel ( in Russian of course) printed on it. He took one look and he let out with a loud voice I have read the bible before! I thought oh no what have I got myself into. He went on and one and I did not know if He was going to throw it at me. But he stopped and thanked me and with a calm pleasant voice said I put it here in my bag and I will read it later! The interesting thing is that when I got home today I checked the internet to read the coverage of the parade at Red Square today. As I when to a link, AP had a photo of my friend on its front page! He probably will never know his face went around the world. Please pray for him that he would find the true savior of the world Jesus Christ, that one day he will behold Jesus face to face.

Jesus has Risen " Христос Воскрес"

Greetings from Moscow! Yesterday was Pesach ( Russian Easter) rightly named from the Jewish holiday Passover. We had a wonderful time together as a fellowship. We studied together the Resurrection and Jesus' victory over death. We also had the opportunity to pray for two dear couples one who recently got married, Billy and Katya and Zenya and Olga, who are going to be married on June the 14th. What a blessing it is to see God bringing mates together.
The Jewish Passover ended on sundown on Saturday and so on Saturday Jews for Jesus had a Passover celebration, with a Seder meal, and pizza, that’s right pizza. Over 100 Jewish people came and a large majority our believers. The gospel was clearly presented through the symbols in the Passover. Every believer should see a Passover “Seder” meal performed, it is amazing how Jesus just reveals Himself thorough the symbols of the Passover meal.
We received great news and answered prayer to begin once again with our mid week Bible study. For more than a year we had not had a place to have a mid week study, but the first of May, with the persistence of Natasha the director of our meeting place gave us the go ahead. So starting on May 7 we will resume with great joy our mid week Bible study. Thank you all for your prayers, In Christ, dean

Still celebrating the Passover for over 3500 years!

Grateful to be back in Moscow with the Fellowship!

Hello everyone, I’m finally back in Moscow after 3 months in the States waiting to receive a visa to return back for another year. God has been gracious in allowing me to serve in Moscow for the last 8 years. He continues to open the door for me to be a part of what He is doing in Russia, for that I’m grateful. I want to thank my home church Calvary Chapel Modesto and all the support they have given to me and the encouragement that I received in my over extended stay in the Golden State. Thank you all that blessed my time home!!! The day I left I had my good friend Ed Barton who is the battalion chief of the Burlingame Fire Dept, take me to the airport for my flight home. Ed’s Firehouse and office is near the San Francisco airport. Ed graciously gave me a tour of the Fire house. (When I grow up I have a secret desire to be a fireman) I took full advantage as you can see. It is great to see God placing men in places to serve the safety of people. Ed is a great public servant and a servant of the most High God. Thanks Ed!

My friend Ed " Servant of the most High God"

Chaplain Dale with Daughter Dasha

WHAT’S NEW? is not so new…..

I have had the opportunity over the last 8 years to observe a very unique ministry called Spiritual Freedom Russia. SFM for the last 15 years has been an outreach to the mostly forgotten - prisoners in the Russian prison system. Over 80,000 men and women have had the opportunity to study over 40 Biblical sound courses. Dedicated SFM workers have sent and received over 500,000 completed courses. My close friend for over 8 years here in Moscow, Dale Tweedy, has been a prison Chaplain for many years, in the notorious Cook County jail in Chicago, and for 7 years was the first known foreign Chaplain in the 300 year old Buterka prison here in Moscow. Dale is part of the team working with SFM Alexey Tikhonov and a gifted staff of course graders, by the grace of God, is bringing the opportunity for men and women to study God’s word in over 600 Russian prisons. Please, remember to pray for the staff and the work of SFM in Russia. It is truly the hand of the Lord that this ministry is moving forward. Please view the video about the ministry and staff ( click on www.sfmrussia.org) thank you,dean

Sasha; now face to Face

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

The Apostle Paul understood the reality of Gods promise to the believer. That to die is to gain. That the Father by the giving of His precious Son, He gave the beliver victory over death. Paul would declare to be absent in the flesh (death) is to be present with the Father for all eternity. This is the reality of a relationship restored to the True and Living God. Death has no sting for the believer in Jesus Christ

It is with sadness that this week while waiting for my visa in America, Natasha told me of the passing of my good friend Sasha. Sasha had been suffering with the affects of TB for over 2 years. I met Sasha more than a year and a half ago in the TB surgical hospital here in Moscow. And over the year and a half I have seen the Lord working in his life. He was a great inspiration for me of one who was suffering but always had a smiling face. Sasha was literally bed redden for more than a year. He had recently been transferred to a sanitarium out side of Moscow so he could build up his blood count and get ready for the second operation on his spine. We all had high hopes that this would be the end of a long sickness for Sasha. The last time I saw him was a few days before I headed to America to receive my visa. Sasha was a most amazing young man, and I had high hopes for him in his simple faith in Jesus Christ. But the Lord had greater plans for Sasha, His struggle on earth is now over. No more suffering for Sasha, as he left this fallen world behind. Back in January before I left for America, I went with Sasha in the ambulance, to the sanatorium. The ambulance was a small station wagon and in it were all of Sasha’s earthly possessions. It amounted to about three normal sized boxes. Sasha had no home, or car, and no relatives. His total net worth were packed into 3 cardboard boxes. But Jesus called Sasha rich. What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world but lose his soul. Jesus also said in the Gospel of John John 14:1-3 “ Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am there you may be also. I will miss my friend Sasha. I considered it a great privilege that God gave me the opportunity to be a friend of Sasha.

Shockwave 2008

This past weekend 29 February to 2^nd of March, more than 50 nations all over the world were praying for the persecuted church. Our small, but ready youth group was participating in this event as well. I felt that it was very important, because people in our country just 15-20 years ago were persecuted for their faith as well and I am sure that many Christians all over the world prayed for Russia (former Soviet Union). The Lord answered this prayer!!! and I praise Him for that.

So for the last two or so months I was telling our kids the true stories of persecuted people and countries, so they would know the price some Christians have to pay and appreciate the freedom we have now in Russia. So on the 1^st of March our group met and we learned some more about countries where people suffer for their faith and then prayed for them and for specific people, whose stories we read. Then I asked kids to write a few card and to encourage their brothers and sisters in the Lord. It was such a blessing to see how they were thinking about what to write, picking passages of scripture in Russian, then carefully copying those verses in English, and decorating their letters. It was a really special time for our small group and I know that our prayers along with others made a difference. We also called Dasha, she was unable to meet with us this time, but she promised to pray too.

The next day, March 2^nd I shared about Shockwave at church and after the service we had another prayer time for the persecuted church. Two special guests came to our prayer meeting today, Katia (about 11 years old) and Tessie (about 3), they are sisters and their father is from Nigeria. So together, we prayed for their fathers’ people as well as for others and since March 2^nd was the Election Day in Russia, we prayed for our country too and thanked the Lord for His mercy and faithfulness.

If you want to know more about the ministry of Open Doors and the Shockwave, follow the links and please, see this video and be encouraged to pray.

Blessings, Natasha

Alexander (from the http://www.odshockwave.org) -Shockwave 2008

Week of service and encouragement

The following week after the conference was yet another blessing for those who had an opportunity to meet with the ladies from American team, who stayed in Moscow for a week of ministry and encouragement. As the other parts of the team went to Omsk and Volgograd to do two more conferences, the team in Moscow visited different fellowships in the city.
Our church had a privilege to have our guests at the Jewish
fellowship and another meeting at “Prospect Mira” (at the building where the church meets) and to hear wonderful teaching on the “Anchor of hope” by Karen Koczman and her very touching testimony, which to me personally, was a great comfort and an encouragement. Some of the women from our church also went to the meeting in Krasnogorsk on Friday. I was very glad to see Valya with her two kids there, especially because she was going to go to the conference, but at the last moment it deed not work out for her, so it was good that she came to this Bible Study.
Follow this link and will see some more pictures:-)

Women’s conference 2008

This year’s conference took place at the Christian center about 1,5 hours from Moscow on the 15^th trough 17^th of February. It is always a blessing to set aside all the worries, concerns, business and even thoughts to let the Lord to fill this time fully with Himself, to let Him work and soften your heart and speak gently His words. This year’s theme was the “Vessels of Honor” from Ephesians 2:10 and one of the ladies, Darlene, who came with an American team did an incredible performance and teaching on this subject, she illustrated the relationship between Creator and the creation, on the potters wheel. You can see a video of the part of this performance here.

Darlene's Work
As we were watching, the Lord spoke to many of us: just as the potter’s hands are always holding the clay, shaping and molding it according his design, adding water so the clay would not get too dry, but just enough so it would not get too damp and become useless. Just as he applies strength to push out the clay from the inside and to form it on the outside, but just enough so the vessel would not brake, and at the same time would yield to the patter’s plan. So the Lord works in our lives, holding us close in His hands and shaping us in to His Son’s image. It was a beautiful picture of our Father’s love.
This process of making a vessel and then letting it to wait and dry for some time, just to continue to work on it, reminded me of another teaching on the passage from 2 Timothy 2:20-21. It says: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified (or set apart) and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”
How to become a vessel of honor, a vessel made of gold or silver, if you are a vessel of wood and clay, is it something that is possible to change?
If you try to do something with wood and clay to make it gold and silver, you will fail, because there are no natural ways to change wood into gold or clay into silver, but it has to be Supernatural, something that only God can do and we can ask Him for it. The closer we are to Him, the more we can be like Him and to honor Him with our lives. It is His desire for us to become the vessels of honor and He will do it if our hearts desire to honor Him.
Besides the time of teaching, we had a very special time of prayer, fellowship and fun. First, about prayer – one of the churches from Moscow region prepared a special room for prayer time using prayer stations, where people could come in and pray about different things and needs. I really loved it, because it was time of quite and sweet fellowship with the Lord. You can see some pictures of the prayer stations and more on our picture site just click here.
The time of fellowship was also very special; we had a talent show and a time for making different crafts. It was fun, it was great and it was edifying. I will not write much about it, but let you see for yourselves.

Talent Show - horse race

Talent Show - song

Oh, one more thing, all of us Russian ladies received beautiful gifts from our American sisters. Well conference is already a huge gift for us, but as an addition, we got very nice, worm, pretty, sweet and girly gifts:-) - sleepers, which were a great blessing and very fitting for the pajamas we got at the last year’s conference.
So I would like to thank all of you who took time and prayed for this conference and also to thank the American team ladies, who blessed us so much by giving their love, their time and much, much more to come to Russia and to minister to their sisters here. Natasha

waiting for new visa

Greetings from California, as most of you may know I’m in California and Dale is in Minnesota waiting for our visas to return to Moscow. It has taken longer than we thought. It has proved to be a timely visit back for both Dale and myself. Please pray for the fellowship in Moscow, and for the up coming woman’s retreat. It is one event each year that is truly a blessing to Calvary Chapel’s in Russia and especially to our fellowship. Debbie Bryson, the wife of George Bryson is truly gifted in the area of woman’s ministry and she brings to Russia every year a large group of women from the states that minister so effectively to the women. Also they have planned several meetings with the ladies in the church. Please pray for Natasha as she coordinates these meetings, and also our Sunday services. Please keep her in your prayers. Please pray for the timely receiving of our visas to return to Moscow. God Bless you and all the Lord has called you to, dean

News about Artiom

In the previous prayer request, when I asked you to pray for Artiom, I also promised to keep you updated. So here it is – an update and a new prayer request. Last Friday couple of my friends and I went to visit Olga and Artiom at the cancer hospital. We did not get to see Artiom, because he had to stay in his room for infusions, but Olga met us downstairs and was very happy to see us. I told her that many people are praying for her son and her whole family. She is very thankful for that and it is a great encouragement for her. Olga told us that Artiom just finished his 4^th chemo and now he needs to go through some more tests and then doctors will decide if they can remove the tumor. The tumor is getting smaller (it is actually about 3 times smaller now, than it was in the beginning) and there is a good possibility that it can be removed.
Olga and Artiom were supposed to stay in the hospital for the next a few weeks, but today I found out from a friend that chicken pox epidemic started in the hospital and Artiom was also infected. So Olga and Artiom were released from the hospital and sent back to Smolensk. As I said, the tests and the surgery were supposed to be very soon. I know that for Olga to go home right now is an unpleasant surprise. Pray for the Lord’s peace for her.
Please, pray for this whole situation, for Artiom and Olga to get home safely and that the Lord would strengthen Artiom’s body and there would be no usual complications after the chemotherapy. They will be back in Moscow in 20 days for the tests and possibly the surgery as well, let’s pray for Artiom’s complete healing.
As my friend says: “His plans are not our plans and His thoughts are above all our thoughts.”
May the Lord bless you as you lifting this situation up to Him. Natasha

Thank you!

Dear friends and family, I just wanted to thank you for all of your prayers that you’ve lifted up before the Lord for Julia’s mom(link to previous request) and my dad(link to previous request). Both Julia’s mom and my dad had finished their journeys on this earth at the end of January. I know that your prayers made a very big difference in our parents’ lives and in ours as well. The Lord is faithfully taking us through this time and giving us His peace, grace, strength and comfort.
I had an opportunity to share at my dad’s funeral and it was a very special time. Since most of my dad’s friends and coworkers are nonbelievers, I was compelled to read from the Word. The Lord put on my heart Psalm 139, where David shares an amazing understanding of God’s love for him and a very intimate knowledge of him. I am finding great comfort in these verses and especially in 16: “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”
Again, thank you for being with us in your prayers during this time. Natasha