Please, pray for "Spiritual freedom" ministry

Dear friends and family, I want to ask you to pray for the ministry called “Spiritual freedom”. Dale, who is substituting at the church while Dean is away, and who is serving at “Spiritual freedom”, shared that the ministry is going through a very difficult time right now and it seems like it is under attack from every possible direction. So, your prayers will be absolutely vital and appreciated. This ministry is a very important one for Russia because it is reaching out to those people who are presently in prisons or in a zone, helping them with their physical needs, providing things that they are unable to get because they do not have any family or because their family does not want anything to do with them. But most importantly “Spiritual freedom” gives an opportunity to these people to obtain true freedom and to come to the knowledge of Jesus. I personally know some of those who came out of prison having a new life in the Lord and if I am not mistaken, Geno is the fruit of this ministry as well and the Lord is using him mightily to bring more people to Himself. So please, join us in prayer for “Spiritual freedom”, its director Phil Wagner and all the people who’s been serving the Lord faithfully. Thank you very much and may the Lord bless you for your faithfulness. Natasha

Trip to Europe

Dear friends and family, I want to share the wonderful blessing of the Lord that I’ve received this August and may the Lord encourage you through this and speak to your hearts.

Preparation
Every August for the last 4 years, I was attending conference in Millstatt, Austria and every time the Lord would have something special for me, it usually is a highlight of the year. However, this year I was not going, because I had a very difficult time getting my visa for my last trip. Well, when I received an invitation this spring to attend the conference, I knew in my heart that I should go. I prayed about it for some months and I made all the necessary preparations: got my ticket early (ticket is necessary to get the visa), my insurance and application and went to sign up for the interview. To make the long story short: when I got to the embassy the guard told me that I am already late, if I wanted to make my trip I had to come earlier, all the slots for interview were taken up to the mid August and it is when I needed my visa. I told the guard that I already have everything and my official invitation is coming in a few days, he responded that for my type of visa, it is too late, but I still can try an agency though it will be more expensive. I said that I cannot pay any extra money, his answer was short “Well, then you are not going…” but after thinking for a moment he added “come on Monday” Later I read on the embassy’s site that going through an agency may result in refusal to grant the visa. Go figure.
As I was leaving, I told the Lord that I give up and I do not care if I lose my ticket, because I have no desire to fight for this little sticker in my passport called visa. Then there was a still small voice telling me gently: “Do not worry about this and do not give up, I will take care of everything.” And the most wonderful peace entered my heart.
I can tell you it was the easiest getting of my visa and I did not do anything for it. The Lord helped me through Dean, who got hold of ambassador and also took my invitation to the embassy. What a blessing to have a pastor like that:-)! This was only a prelude.

On my way to the conference.
When I came to Austria, first 2, 5 days I stayed in Vienna and it was a very nice but also interesting time, because I did not get hold of any of my friends and had to spend this time by myself, which was fine since I like to walk around beautiful places taking pictures. However, one thing really bothered me: three weeks before my trip I cut a cold, I recovered really quickly, but a sore throat would not go away, even though I was taking stuff to cure it. Now it got so bad that I could hardly talk. I asked the Lord to heal me, but He did not answer. Finally I decided to get a stronger medication, which I rarely do, but after taking it, I felt even worse, the food had no taste and I even could not enjoy coffee:-\.
Well, I believe it was in the morning of my departure to Millstatt, I was talking to the Lord saying that it is ok with me if I will not be able to talk to anyone, I’ll just sit and listen, and I will not sing, but if I cannot sing how will I praise You!!!? It was my question to the Lord and He instantly gave me an answer…the sore throat was gone right that moment. Hallelujah!!! …This is just a beginning.

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.
On my train ride I’ve noticed a small group of Americans and I guessed that all of us are going to the same station. Later, already at the Castle, I was able to get better acquaintance with Steve and his wife Anita; they came from Costa Mesa and traveled through Europe with an evangelical outreach.
After an evening session, I got to talk to Anita and we prayed together. I had a personal request and I really desired to hear from the Lord about this matter at the conference, because it was an important matter for me that I’ve been praying for the last 4 years and it was not clear to me whether I should continue to pray and to wait or just to let go. Anita gave me verses from 2^nd Chronicles 20 and I read them, trying to understand if there was something that would speak to my heart, but nothing really clicked at the moment, besides that she pointed out how king Jehoshaphat put Levites to the front lines of the army that they would praise the Lord. Well this I could do! The Lord gave me my voice back and now I could worship Him aloud and it was the most beautiful time of worship I’ve experienced in a long time.
During the conference we had women’s sessions and this time they were on prayer. First, we had a teaching and then we would break in to groups for a discussion and a prayer time, we’ve also received a little study outline which we were to read before each session and to do some home work.
One of the studies was called “Keep it real!” and the passage we were to read that day was in 2^nd Chronicles 20!!! Well this time the passage really got my attention, because when the Lord speak twice it means …pay attention!!! I was literally taking every word in, this chapter started to make perfect sense to me, and now I could understand what the Lord is saying to me. When King Jehoshaphat faced a challenge, he was afraid and he set himself on seeking the Lord. And as he prayed he reminded to himself and to God too of His power and His wonderful deeds, of His promises and His will. The answer to this honest and humble prayer came right away and the Lord said not to be afraid, but to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Jehoshaphat in response bowed and worshiped the Lord. The next day the Lord gave His people and the king His victory as they were worshiping Him they saw how the Lord is fighting for them. I think it is so important that Jehoshaphat not only received the answer from the Lord, but he also believed it and acted upon it and gave Him praise. It is such a beautiful picture of the way our relationship with the Lord should be. Because sometimes I can ask for something and God gives me an answer and I might receive it, but then my mind begins to think…and I refuse to believe it, to “walk by faith and not by sight”. Or maybe I received and believed what the Lord said but then do not act upon it, because I am still afraid of … whatever; either I had a bad experience before, or because it might hurt or it costs me something … and I do not praise Him as a result.
Later during the worship time Dave Sylvester, who was leading it, prayed, “Lord, as you told King Jehoshaphat to stand still and to see the salvation of the Lord….”
I think the Lord REALY wanted me to pay attention to what He told King Jehoshaphat:-) wouldn’t you agree?
Besides this absolutely wonderful blessing of hearing the Lord’s voice and an answer to my prayer, He also blessed me with beautiful time of fellowship with my friends that I’ve known for a while and with those I just met.

Back in Vienna.
Djudji whom I met at this conference for the first time has truly blessed me by inviting me to stay with her family in Vienna on my way back. I had only 2,5 days, but it seemed like a whole week or even longer, I felt like I had another vacation. We got to do a lot and I do not remember sightseeing so much, it is because Djudji is a very good tour guide:-) I got to meet her family and each member has an incredible testimony. Djudji’s father came to Austria from former Yugoslavia about 30 years ago and found God in this new land, then his wife came to the Lord, later their son and after all Djudji. She shared her testimony with me and I would have never guessed that she went through many trials, because the Lord made a big change in her. She went to the Bible College in different countries – Japan, Brazil, US and Israel. She has a desire to go back to Israel and serve there.
On Sunday, we visited Calvary Vienna. Before the service there was a reading of Psalm 34, it is one of my favorites and I love the verse 8: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”
It was a nice service and it was good to see friends, to have mission’s conference reunion and also to meet some new people. One girl came up to greet me and asked where I was from, as soon as she found out she begun to speak Russian. The girl’s name was Nurzy and she came from Kyrgyzstan to work and to study in Vienna.
On Monday, Djudji invited Nurzy and some other girls for a prayer meeting, but only Nurzy made it and we ended up having time of sharing, fellowship, encouragement and prayer. First Djudji wanted to share a verse with us and it was from Psalm 34 verse 8: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”, it is so interesting, but hearing it again made me to realize that it ties together with “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” from 2^nd Chronicles 20. It was another blessing for me – to see the Lord opening His Word to me and speaking to my heart.
Nurzy shared her testimony with us. I had no idea that she is just a baby Christian; she received Jesus a little over two months ago. She told us that back in Kyrgyzstan she worked with missionaries translating for them and this was going on over the period of last 5-6 years. People sometimes would ask her if she believes what she translates and being from a Muslim family this question would leave her bewildered often times. Earlier this year she came to visit her Christian friends in Switzerland and one time when the family was praying together, Nurzy had a strong desire to join with them as if she heard a voice inside telling her “I want you to pray too”. So, she prayed and it seemed very natural and beautiful experience for her. Then Nurzy begun to ask God to reveal her the way He wants her to go, she wanted Him to show if it is going to be Islam or Christianity. What a prayer!!! On the way back to Austria, at the airport, she saw a group of Christians praying (talking about Christian witness!!!!) and she took this as the Lord’s answer. She begun to attend CC Vienna regularly, and decided that she needs to be baptized. Please pray for Nurzy if you would. She is a baby believer and she has to face the challenge of a Christian in a Muslim family. At the time when we met, she had not yet told her family that she received Jesus, but maybe she already done this by now.

Serbian church.
I had no idea that Austria has a fairly large Serbian population. So after attending American-Austrian-Multicultural Calvary, Djudji asked me if I want to visit Serbian church. I hesitated at first, but then decided to go. Serbian language has much in common with Russian, so most of the time I could understand what the Pastor was saying; besides it is always easier to understand when the Bible is taught. This church is very young, it started in March as a home group, but now they rent a meeting place at one of many Evangelical churches in Vienna. It is a small baby church, but it has a wonderful family like atmosphere. Pastor Dragan shared his testimony and it is so amazing how the Lord can take people from their comfort zone to bring them to Himself. As I can recall when Dragan was in his early 20s, he left his country to go to Western Europe to look for different life and to find a job, after trying for sometime he ended up in Austria. One day as he was walking on a street, he heard people singing Serbian worship, I believe, it got his attention and soon he begun to attend church and grow in the Lord. Then the Lord put on his heart to reach out for Serbian community in Vienna and now he became a pastor.
So, this trip for me was unlike any other trip and I am very thankful to the Lord for everything He did during this time and for His many blessings. I am yet to see His answer to be unfolded before my eyes, but that will be another story:-)

I hope you got to the end of this entry. I know it was long, but as I said in the very beginning, my hope is that the Lord will speak to your hearts and bless you with an encouragement. God bless you all! Natasha

Another prayer request.

I have another prayer request. At the last Jewish fellowship meeting, I met a lady who was invited by Mira and who is not born again. We were going through the book of Jonah and almost every time Mira would ask a question Raisa (lady’s name) would have either a good answer or a comment. She seemed to know the Bible very well. However, after the Bible Study she began to share her testimony and her point of view. She said that at the most difficult time of her life she was looking for answers and because she is a Jew, she went to a synagogue. Listening to people praying, and crying in her heart out to God, she asked Him to help her in her trouble. Then she opened the Torah and the first thing she saw there, was a commandment for women to bring a sacrifice after childbirth. She begun to ask rabbis to help her to fulfill this commandment, but nobody could help her with it. Meanwhile she begun to read the Bible, recognizing that Jesus is playing an important part in history of Israel, but she believes that people – all those who believe in God, have to go back to the Mosaic system of worship and restore the tabernacle.
Raisa sent me several pages of her contemplations on this subject and she wants to know what I think. We begun a conversation while at Mira’s home, but did not finish it for the lack of time. I am not sure if Raisa really wants to know the truth or she is just truing to convert others in to her way of thinking. From the letter she addressed to me personally I begun to think the second. But the Lord knows and He put on my heart to take time and answer, I just really need His wisdom for that. Please pray for the answer I’ll write and for Raisa’s heart to be softened and to receive the truth and the freedom from the bondage of sin she’s been carrying all these years. Thank you! Natasha

Marriage is God's idea!!!

Alex and Lilya were married on Saturday. It is truly a match made in heaven, God brought them together from two different parts of the world so they could become one flesh. They both are active in the work of planting churches in Russia, and Lilya just received her certificate to practice law in Russia. Congratulations!!!! Alex and Lilya.

Man of Steel, man of God

This is my friend Sasha. He has been coming to the church for about 5 years. Sasha would come and sit in the back and then leave as soon as the service was over. But over the years he has really blossomed and has been a real blessing to our church and the Bible College, which is close to where he lives. Sasha is a school teacher and is very creative with his hands. Next to his school where he teaches is his machine shop. His shop is absolutely amazing and being a former heavy metal hobbyists, I was very excited to see what he has done. Please pray for Sasha for his family that they would come to know Jesus.

40th day

Today I was invited to attend the 40^th day. It is a tradition of the Orthodox church after the 40^th day of the death of a loved one. Olga who is a strong Christian and her mother who is not a believer (yet) invited me to come and enjoy a meal, and to honor papa's death. It was a great opportunity to talk to Mama about death from the perspective of the Bible. Nina (mama) had invited her close friends Alexei and Ryea. And as I began to share scriptures from the Bible Ryea became so interested as if she had never heard the scriptures regarding Jesus. Unfortunately for mama they seemed to overwhelm her and she turned to the vodka for comfort. But Olga spent some more time with Ryea in the kitchen and she repented and turned to Christ. It was so exciting for me to see Olga share the Lord with her. The door is open to continue to meet with Nina, pray that she would find her comfort in the true and living God. (on the photo left to right: Reya, mama, Olechka and her husband Sergey,and Alexei)

You never know

You never know who will drop in on you here in Moscow, even on the 26 floor be always ready in season, as my friend did his work out my window, he was able to listen to Pastor Chuck's teaching in the Gospel of John in Russian.

Jewish fellowship

Just an update on the Jewish service, we started teaching though the Book of John and it has been a great personal blessing for me. Max and Mira who work with Jews for Jesus in Moscow have done an excellent job in reaching the Jewish community for Christ.

It looks like I will be in California on September 3 to October 18, and hope to meet up with some of you in that time.

Search for a permanent place

Regarding our search for a permanent place to meet for the church, I believe for now will take a break from our intense searching, and try to settle in a place we are currently renting at the All Russian Society for the Bind. It is a convenient location but lacks storage as most of our stuff has been in storage for more than a year. We have requested putting a storage place in the hall so we can at least return to the hospitality of coffee, tea and cookies for after service.

We also as have an opportunity to be provided with a prefab building through an organization in America that has a ministry of providing church buildings. All we would have to do is purchase the land. I don’t have to tell you that in the Moscow area the price of property is unspeakable. If we were to move further out of the city the price comes down. For you that have a heart to pray for the ministry here, this may be a possible option, and it certainly would be the best situation for us.

Hello everyone

Hello everyone, yes I have been a bit uninformative over the last couple of months but life in our huge city is moving on. Usually it is quiet for the church during the month of August, everyone trying to squeeze the last bit of summer. Many people enjoy having a dacha, which is a small little summer house on their own private ground where they can grow a garden. The dacha season is a part of Muscovite culture, and it does not take long living in the city to understand that a trip to the dacha can cover a multitude of frustration. Many grow tomatoes and cucumbers so come fall the canning season begins where cucumbers becomes солёный огурцы salty cucumbers, much like dill pickles just a bit more salty, and boy are they good to have in a soup. Today after I taught on the book of Philippians as Paul spoke about being concerned with others, Luba and Lyda came up and asked if they could come and prepare food for me and the guys that live with me. (That others centered message always works) And boy do they know how to fix vittles (пиша) Olivie salad (I call it Russian potato salad on steroids) it includes believe it or not potatoes, peas, those home canned salty cucumbers, chicken if you please, or smoked sausage, enough mayo to instigate a parcel hardening of the arteries, and a safe pinch of salt. They also simultaneously were making she soup, no they don’t have a he soup. She soup (Щи суп) Щ-s и-e с s- у-o п-p you be speaking Russian in no time. But she soup is made of cabbage, tomatoes, green herbs, fat, and is it great with a big spoon of sour cream (сметана) They prepared us enough food to last the average family about 5 days, but we will probably decimate it in 2-3 days.

I had a great time with the parents of my former business partner, Bob and Diane Campana, they are quite the travelers and so they made a must stop here in Moscow.

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)