Dima

This is Dima, he has been a friend of mine for the 8 years I have lived her, He goes to CC Kasherskya. Dima got saved through a soccer outreach. He was a former Moslem and is from Kazakhstan. He is a great brother and he works for MAF (Mission Aviation fellowship) in their distribution warehouse.

Visiting Sasha

Last week we had some of the interns at the CC Bible College Moscow come and visit Sasha (see past blog on Sasha). It was a real blessing for him and the Taylor family, who have taken a real interest in him, Shannon, Britney, and J.T (Justin) have been here for 3 months with mom Maureen. Ron (their father) came for the last two weeks of their time here in Russia. Shannon, Britney and brother J.T. are in the rock band Sorrow Underfoot, (see past blog)
(Photo left to right: Galya, Katya, Shannon, Ron, J.T., Eric (from N.J.), Britney,and of course Sasha)

Yuri 2007 and Yuri and Dale (photo below ) 2000, Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn trip

Every 6 months I’m required as a foreigner to leave the country. And so one of the cities that is convenient to go to for a border crossing is Tallinn, Estonia. In 2000 Dale and myself made the journey across the border to renew our visas. As we walked around the city we were approached by a man name Yuri who was a tour guide. It was apparent to us that he did not have much work and being in the middle of the winter, we felt it would be a good chance to witness to him so he became our guide for the next couple of hours. In the time we were to share the gospel. It was a great time and later Dale sent him various Christian books.
Last Sunday night we once again took a quick trip over the border and decided on Tallinn. That morning Dale later said that he had been praying that the Lord would have something more than just a quick trip over the border. Well that morning as we were walking around the city a man approached us selling books on Tallinn. He did not recognize us at first, but it was Yuri!!!! It was great to see him once again and to encourage him in Christ. It was only a miracle that we ran into him, in that small but crowded Old Town Tallinn that was filled with people from the tour boats. God is great to bless us and to use us for His kingdom where ever we find our selves. God Bless and please pray for Yuri.

Outreach update

Hello dear friends and family, here is a little Krasnogorsk outreach update. The concerts went very well and the Lord brought more people each evening. All who came had an opportunity not only to listen to contemporary christian music, but also to hear the Gospel message and Testimonies from Alex, Shannon (Sorrow Underfoot), Dean and Chris. During the time of fellowship, I translated a little for Shannon and Eric (he is an intern at the cccpm dorm) and I would like to ask you to pray for a few people: firstly, for Gosha, who had pretty tough questions for Shannon, but there is only one answer for him - Jesus. Gosha shared that his girlfriend left him to be with one of his good friends and that of course hurt him deeply. He was very depressed trying to ease the pain by drinking and using narcotics. He said that in the moment of greatest despair he cried out to God for help and asked Him that his girlfriend would come back. He wants to get out of this trap, which drives him down to distraction, but he does not have strength to do that and as he goes out to the streets, his “friends” offer him narcotics free and it is too big of a temptation for him. Shannon gave Gosha the Gospel of John, but he said that he does not like to read. We quoted John 3:16 for him, but he did not seem to get it, then we just put his name in it to make it more personal and Gosha promised Shannon that he will try his best to read it. So, please pray for Gosha at this difficult point of his life, that he would entrust his life to the Lord’s hands and become free from his addiction and pain.

Another person that we had an opportunity to talk to was a young girl Olya. She came up to Shannon and said that she is using drugs. I did not know that, but Krasnogorsk is a town with the most drug use in Moscow region. As the conversation went on Olya shared that she believes that Jesus is at each person’s heart. Shannon explained to her that person needs first to invite Jesus into his heart to be Lord and Savior and she asked Olya if she ever done that. Olya gave a positive answer to that, but honestly admitted that she wants Him to be her Savior, but does not really want Jesus to be her Lord. She was afraid to lose her identity and personality. What an incredible lie that satan puts in people’s minds. Olya realizes that she is not free, but still tries to think that she is. Finally, she asked if she receives Jesus as her Lord and Savior would He heal her from addiction. I told her the truth that sometimes it happens, but sometimes person needs to go to a rehab center. I do pray that the Lord would heal Olya and that she would experience Lord’s love and grace through that.
Just one last story about Sasha, who came up to Eric after the concert to get a CD. Sasha was so extremely shy that he could not speak a word. After a while, he said that he wanted Eric to write something for him, and when he saw that Eric wrote his name and “Jesus loves you” in Russian, he became very excited and open. Later I saw him talking to other people too and he did not look as shy anymore. I think some change really took place in his heart that evening when he saw God’s love extended to him in such a simple way as a few words written in Russian by an American missionary. Please pray for Sasha too, he might have the same problem with drugs as many other young people in Krasnogorsk.
I know that the next day (July 11th) the team went back to Krasnogorsk to fellowship more, they had a great time and many people came to meet the them.
Thank you for praying with us and taking interest in ministry here. Blessings, Natasha

Sorrow Underfoot

I have some more videos and pictures from the concerts for you. You can find out more about “Sorrow Underfoot” on their site. Shannon (lead vocal), her sister Brittany (guitar) and their brother Justin (drums) are going to be in Russia for another month and a half (I believe) doing an internship program and giving more concerts. Emily (base) is returning home on the 16^th (together with her father Steve), pray for a safe trip and for whatever the Lord had prepared for her back home. I just want to say a little about Justin, who is 14 years old and is doing an incredible job on the drum set. I guess originally he was filling in for another band member, who was unable to come to Russia, but I would never know, because he fits in so well, as if he was playing with the band from the very beginning. Please keep these guys in your prayers. They are just an amazing group of youth that have a desire to serve the Lord and to share His love with others.
Thank you! Natasha

Please pray!

Dear family and friends please pray for the outreach in Krasnogorsk (town in Moscow region). The first evening concert was tonight(the 6^th of July) and there will be three more (on the 7^th, 9^th and 10^th). I personally enjoyed the music of “Sorrow underfoot”, band from the U.S.,(even though at first I was a little “scared” to hear punk-rock they are playing), as well as Alex Enfiedjian’s performance, he is a very talented musician and a missionary here, serving at the dorm. Tonight a group of young guys came, who were very open. They promised to come again and to bring more friends with them. So, please pray for these young men, for more people to be able to come. For the musicians, that the Lord would keep them strong and bless them as they share His Good News. Thank you! Natasha
P.S. Some videos from the first night (click here)

God's will be done!

Hello everyone, hope all is well with you all. I just wanted to give a brief update regarding the most recent opportunity to secure a permanent place for the fellowship. First of all we would like to thank all of you who have been praying for our meeting with the city of Moscow last Monday, as we were seeking God’s will. What a wonderful blessing we have as children of God to know that when we ask God for His perfect will we can be at peace with what ever the outcome. Knowing the Father did not even spare His own Son for us and we can rest in Him when we bring our requests before Him, regardless of the outcome. We as believers can have such a great confidence that God sees a much bigger picture than we do here on earth. So when after less than a ten minute meeting with the City of Moscow we received a denial for granting us a use permit for a religious gathering, we knew that God had answered, and the door was closed to pursue that building. We have confidence that the Lord has a place for us and we continue to pursue it. We appreciate all of your prayers. God bless, dean
Eph 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (NKJV)

Russian Christian Radio

God is doing great things in Russia. One of the many wonderful ministries going on all over this country is Russian Christian Radio. During the 1990's, Russian Christian Radio broadcast programs over the state-run radio networks, but that opportunity ended later that decade. Many people listened to the various programs and RCR received many letters in response, especially from those who live behind bars. Even though the distribution of radio programs ended over the state network, it has continued in other ways, with a special focus toward providing radio programming to prisons in Russia. This includes distribution of sermons and other programs in MP3 format, as well as via satellite. Also Russian Christian Radio, together with many other Christian missions and churches in Russia, has organized prison ministries and outreach. They have also created a network of seven Christian Centers for those prisoners who have been released back into society after serving their time behind bars. RCR has and excellent high quality magazine called "The Gospel Behind Barbed Wire" it is a magazine that is published once every two months and sent to prisoners all across Russia, Ukraine and countries of the former Soviet Union, as well as Germany and even in the United States and is available both in Russian and German.(text taken from web site) See web site Russian Christian Radio

If you will look at the blog for April the 29 “Farm life for the soul” you will find a story on my first visit to one of the 7 Russian Christian Radio Rehabilitation centers. This past week I was invited to go along with Mark, Alexey, Dima and Nodick on a road trip to visit one of the centers and to re-visit Nikoolino, the village of the Farm. There a satellite was installed to receive the Russian Christian Radio programming for the men. I believe we as a fellowship have a great opportunity to be involved with the work of RCR, as they are reaching out to those that can easily be overlooked by society.

Summer time in the village

Another stop

One of our road trip stops

Both Eggor and Nodick are a picture of God's grace

The farm now has 12 hours a day of Christian Radio

Volodia looking after the baby calves

On the Farm

RCR road trip on the way to Emmaus, Russia (Nodick, Mark and Dima)

Alexey doing a repair on the dish at one of the Rehab centers.

Update

Hello everyone! Just wanted to give you all a quick update on our efforts to find a place to meet 24/7. After looking at many possibilities over the last five months Natasha found a place that got our interest. Size, and location were our greater considerations and we believe we have found a place that would be adequate for what we want to do. We have made the first step, and now our request will go before the city of Moscow to approve or disapprove a religious organization, holding public meetings in that location. If we are approved we will enter a 10 year lease with the city of Moscow. Please pray for the situation. We are very comfortable with the response back from the city either way knowing that God’s will be done. Thank you all who have been praying for our building quest. God Bless, dean
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Day of Russia