Ministering in Anisomovo

Some of you may remember me talking about possibly starting a church in a little village called Anisomovo, about 200 km from Cherepovets. A little over a year ago Andrey moved out there with his family and have started a small home group. Andrey leads the group when he can, but his work requires that he travel a lot, so Igor and Abner often cover for him.

Last Sunday Igor and Andrey went to Cherkesk with a team from Northern Ireland, and Abner taught in our Light of Hope Church, in Cherepovets. So they asked Svetta and I to go and do the service. We had a good time. It is a quaint little Russian village. It was good to spend some time with Svetta, Andrey’s wife, and with Olga Prokpiev’s parents. We also had a good service. Right now the group that comes faithfully is rather small. There was Andrey’s family, a little girl that hangs out with Andrey’s daughter, and a young man named Sasha. We taught on Mark 1:14-15. We expounded on what the kingdom of God is and how to enter that kingdom through repentance and belief in the gospel. Then we went over what the gospel is.

You can definitely keep this church plant in your prayers as the Lord leads. In Russia if you are not Russian Orthodox you are considered part of a “cult.” So many of the people are resistant to Andrey and the gospel, thinking that we are trying to deceive them, take their property, and even take them into the forest and kill them. Strange ideas have gotten into their heads, but they believe it. They are very provincial. Andrey and his family need prayer for strength and wisdom, and the people need the Holy Spirit to touch them and break through the lies of the enemy that has them so trapped. Please keep them in prayer as they seek the Lord and to spread his kingdom in the hearts of men.

Back to School Celebration for Orphans

This last Saturday the Light of Hope children’s ministry team went to two orphanages in Krivyets and Cuda to bless the kids there with school supplies. Often times the orphanages are not able to order the materials that their kids will need, or if they can they will always get them so late that they might as well never got them. Thanks to the support given both from the members of our Light of Hope church and from the generous help from foreign supporters we were able to provide them with them with what the kids need to be prepared to go to school.

At Krivyets.

We went with a team of six: Igor, Olga, Abner, Nelya, Sonya, and I. It was a good trip. The kids were happy to see us. The orphanage workers were happy to see us as well, which was nice, since sometimes they are very leery of us sectarians. We gathered the kids while Abner did a short message encouraging the kids to study at school because it will prepare them for their future. Then he asked them if what they learned at school would help them not sin and enter heaven, and they all agreed it would not. He continued to tell them about the freedom and salvation of Jesus Christ and how Jesus has changed his life. Then we gave them their school supplies and played games.

Nelya prepared several games to play and the kids had a great time. They don’t have very much and for us to come spend time with them is a big deal, even more than the material blessings. It is great to see the once shy kids come out of their shells and have fun.

Igor and Olga have been coming to these orphanages for quite some time now and know some of the kids pretty well. One boy in particular is more receptive of our message than the rest. This time he was proud to show Igor his certificate of baptism. In the Russian Orthodox Church they issue a certificate when you are baptized. This is a good sign. He has been listening. But still the message has not been able to fully sink into his heart. Keep this young man in prayer that the seeds of faith would continue to grow and blossom in to salvation.

Igor talking to the boy that was baptized.

We hope to be able to spend more time with these kids in the following months. We would like to go out the orphanages monthly and teach them skills for life like how to manage money, how to cook, how to sew and knit, and to do a small Bible study. When we brought this up to the orphanage leaders they were very receptive of the idea. Keep this in prayer please that we would be able to do this and that this would produce fruit in the lives of these kids.

Thank you for your prayers and all that you have given. I can’t say enough that is through your prayers and support that we are able to do these things. Please continue with us in the ministry as the Lord leads you.

In Suda.

click here to see more pictures :)