Teaching The Kids at the Light of Hope Center The Miracle of Christ's Love

Last week there was no school. So we used this time to put together a program for the teens and children at our Light of Hope Center. Olga and Andrey decided to pick the theme “The Miracles We Take for Granted.” We used videos, activities, games, and the Word to show the kids that the things we take for granted; like the ability to walk, see, hear, love, and even life; are gifts from God. Therefore we need to be thankful and give Him the glory in and for our lives. We did two programs, a three day camp outside the city at a Christian orphanage for the teenagers, and one for the children in the city in the mornings at a nearby youth center. I spent the week bouncing back and forth between the two programs, spending the morning at the children’s center and the afternoons at the teenager's camp.

We designed our activities to show what it would be like not to be able to see, or hear and how hard life would be with everything you would miss. It did not take long for the kids to realize and become grateful for their eyes, ears, legs, and arms that work, allowing them to see, hear, walk, and feel. We then tried to show them what a miracle it is to feel love from others, and have love for others. Using this concept to show that it is better to help, be kind, and be careful with your words, rather than waste this gift from God hurting each other with our actions and words.

Most of these kids don’t have any example of true love and have a hard time feeling loved or loving others at home. They are taught only to answer evil for evil and pain for pain. As I watch the way they treat each other so cruelly and harshly, I realize that this is a sign of how hurt and insecure they are. I know that when they leave the center they are instantly surrounded by friends, family and influences that are hostile to love and truth. The only thing that has the power to change anyone’s heart in this hostile world is the love of Christ. It is our desire to teach, show, give, and be an example of this love to them. I know that through the patient ministry of prayer and the Word we will be able to reach these kids' hearts for Jesus. Jesus longs to welcome these kids into His kingdom, waiting for them with open arms like a mother hen trying to protect her chicks.

I thank those of you who continue to help our ministry in prayer and support. Please continue to pray for these kids that they would open their hurting hearts to Jesus, and that we would have the love and wisdom to reach them.

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Fun Activities Field Trips with the Center Kids in Cherepovets

I was glad to see that after a week to get used to the time change and the extreme change in temperature back in Russia, it did not take long for me to get busy again ministering with the kids at the Light of Hope Children’s Center. I am really happy to see the progress here at the center over the last few months. You know how when you don’t see a child or a teenager for a little while you are always surprised with their growth and maturity, that is what it was like stepping back into the Center.

Olga, Andrey, Nelly, Ira, and Sveta have been doing a great job working hard to reach these kids and broaden their world view. I believe that one way of reaching these kids with the gospel of Jesus is to show them that this environment they live in is not all they can look forward to, that there is a whole world out there waiting for them to come and discover it. They need to understand there is hope out there, and that they can step out and change their lives if they choose to. I believe that if we show them this they will begin to trust us more, begin to grow curious about life, start asking questions, and then they will be more open for the gospel. This last week the team was able to take the kids to the city library, to OMON (the Russian armed militia, which is kind of like SWAT), and to organize two tournaments with some fun games.

I was really impressed by the Cherepovets library and I think it was good for the kids. They did not seem too interested, but it is good to show them everything that they have available to them, especially the wealth of information and knowledge. We have no idea what is going to spark a fire in these kids. All we are able to do is pray that we are led by the Holy Spirit, and that He blesses what we do to reach these kids.

The trip to OMON was fun for all! There was a short presentation about what they do there, and the different types of weapons they use. I was surprised when the man asked if there were any questions and one of the kids asked if he could come hold one of the weapons, he said they all could come up. Of course nothing was loaded, but still, I was taught to respect an unloaded weapon the same as a loaded one. The only firearm safety that these kids have learned is what they have seen on TV or in movies, terrifying! But the kids were ecstatic to simply hold these weapons and look down the sights. Watching them I realized that they don’t get to experience very much in their lives. I grew up with guns, and shooting, and just got back from America where I got to shoot some of these very same weapons. But these kids will most likely never get the chance to do that. I can see how in their isolated little worlds, it is easy for them to be trapped by the hopeless fatalism that plagues Russia and prevents the gospel. I do not think that holding a weapon will actually get these kids saved, but the more we can get them out of their worlds and open their eyes to the rest of the world, the words we tell them about Jesus will become more understandable.

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Tournaments are always fun, and the games that Olga came up with were interesting and simple. The youth center not far from the Light of Hope Center has opened their hearts to let us use their facilities. It was fun to see the kids fumble around with blindfolds, chase balls around with a broom, and try to milk water from a rubber glove. We need to get these kids off the streets having good, innocent and wholesome fun. I wish we could be with them at all times and be able to distract them from all the pleasures of this world constantly bombarding them from every direction. During these games it is amazing to see who these kids really are, and see such wonderful potential. The success they feel in wining these games may be small, but I believe it can give them hope and a contrast to the feelings they get from the rest of their worldly activities. If they are honest with themselves and others I am sure they will realize they are not on the right path that leads to peace, joy and happiness. Our goals are to lead them to the path of righteousness, peace, and joy.

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Please continue to pray for these kids. Pray that we would be led by the Spirit as we try to show them the path towards heaven and love, that we would be filled with the Spirit as we share our lives with them. Join us in ministering to these kids. I believe the Lord will do great things through our joined service to the Lord, we can all be missionaries to Russia and the ends of the earth as we join each other in prayer.