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

Hello everyone!!!

Hello everyone, well we have a New Year and one year closer to Jesus Christ returning for His church and the final book of the Bible being fulfilled. As a church we started our way through the Book of Revelation.

Please pray for our fellowship and for Natasha as I will be making an unexpected trip home to receive a new visa. The laws have changed and it requires me to return to the states to receive a visa at the Russian Embassy in the USA. I will be in California for 5 weeks as I wait for my invitation. I hope to receive a one year visa.

Sasha was moved ( see photo ) to a rehabilitation hospital so that his blood count can increase so they can precede with the operation on his spine to remove the affects of T.B. He is a great guy. I called him after we got him all settled at the hospital and I asked him about his room mate ( Dima) and he excitedly said he is a believer!! God is God and has His hand on Sasha. Please pray for them.

Sasha and Dima

С НОВЫМ ГОДОМ HAPPY NEWYEAR!!!!