Helping Andrey With the Light of Hope Youth-Group

While I was in America Andrey started a youth-group at the center for the teenagers that come to the center. I was very encouraged to hear about that, and I immediately wanted to get involved. However because of discipline problems with the kids, there was a short break. Three weeks ago he started the group again and I made sure I was there.

Andrey is doing a great job with these kids! He has been taking them through the book of Mark, but since three weeks ago was the week of Easter, he did a lesson from Luke 24 about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. We started with a fun game were the kids in two teams had a cake and had to eat their cake fast than the other team without the use of their hands. This was a lot of fun. Then he broke the scripture into several small sections and assigned each section to one of the kids to read then to retell the verses in their own words. Then after going through the verse their task was to do a collage that explained their different verses so that they could tell the story from beginning to end.

I was extremely impressed! The kids don’t even realize as they are having a good time that they are learning the IBS method and growing in the word. I know that this group is going to really affect the lives of these kids and that some will be won to the Lord. Among all the other things we do at the center, none of them really mean much if we do not teach the gospel and the Word. If we just feed these kids a warm meal, play games with them, and love them, they will not leave this place changed, and in the end they will be in the same place they were before. I believe that we need to use all good material things we do to allow these kids to trust and open up to us so that we can help them spiritually, in the end that is all that matters. During this confusing time as teenagers it is crucial that we build these relationships and use the Word to affect their hearts.

The next week for one reason or another only three girls showed up. So they made a salad, we ate and went through the scriptures as Andrey said “like adults”. I was again impresses as I saw the way Andrey tactfully lead them through the Word and as I saw the girls receive, understand, and even expound on the Word themselves. I am really encouraged by this youth-group, this is what I came to Russia to do. I will continue to help Andrey in any way I can, and one day hope to take a more active role.

Last week Andrey took the kids to his mother’s apartment to help her clean up and did the Bible study there. Andrey’s mom has multiple scleroses and is no longer able to walk. This is really good for the kids to learn how to serve and help others, to learn how good it feels to help someone else, and for Andrey to share his life with these kids. Please keep these teenagers and this group in prayer, that they would be saved in Jesus and that Andrey would continue to have the wisdom on how to lead the group. Also please keep Andrey and his mom in prayer, as her condition continues to get worse she will need more help, praise the Lord she is a believer, but this will become harder and harder on Andrey and his sister. I thank those of you who support ICM (Russia) and Light of Hope financially and in prayer. Your support is doing the work of the Lord here in Russia.

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Welcoming American Missionaries to the Light of Hope Center

Last week I was blessed to be able to welcome some of my American brothers and sisters here to the Light of Hope Center. The group consisted of five women, three of which were high schoolers, and two men. They are part of a ministry that has been heavily supporting the Light of Hope Center, as well as many orphanages and centers similar to ours in the Vologda Region.

It was fun to see as a mission group come to the Center to work with the kids, not expecting to encounter another American. At first I was a little shy, I am not sure why, (oops that rhymed) to speak English with them. But after I quickly got over that, I was glad to get to know the team, ask them questions and help them minister here in our city. They did a marvelous job sharing the love of Christ with the kids with a number of interesting crafts and activities, along with some very good testimonies. I was blessed to watch as they shared their hearts with the kids. I .enjoyed watching the kids as they warmed up team and got excited to be involved in the different games and activities. It can be hard to get these kids to open their hearts, which is why I think it is good for missionaries to come, to love them and reach into their hearts with the love of Jesus. We can use all the help we can get to reach these kids

I just want to thank the team that came from Philadelphia to share the gospel with our kids. We were blessed to have them here and encouraged to see the kids hear the gospel. I encourage those who read about and support me, and ICM Russia, to please keep these kids in prayer, and the team. Pray that we would have the wisdom and power to continue sharing Jesus with these kids. Also pray for missionaries as they go to strange countries, sharing their lives, finances, and love with those that need Jesus.

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Teaching English

One way I can best help the team here in Russia is simply by knowing English. We work a lot with missionaries from English speaking countries and of course the language barrier always is a problem. Before I left for America I was teaching English, not only to the team, but to a group of people on Saturdays. But now on the visa that I am on I am not allowed to work and I have to wait till I get my temporary residency to be able to make money teaching. Because of this I was not able to teach the whole group, but I decided to teach just the ICM team for free. We have been meeting in the mornings twice a week at the Light of Hope Center. So far it has been a joy teaching this group. They all are eager and willing to learn, especially my newest student Sveta, not to be confused with my fiancé, there are enough Sveta’s in Russia to populate a small country. She is a little behind the other students, but makes up for it with excitement, eagerness to learn and fearless determination. I am confident that in a year or so the team will be able to speak English, at least well enough to hold a simple conversation. I might eventually start an English movie night club to help give them practice.

I would not say that I English is the reason I am here in Russia, but I do plan on using it to glorify God. When I can I would like to start working and use the money I make to live so that I can use my support only for ministry, to maybe try to start English outreaches, and help integrate ICM Russia with the English speaking world.

Teaching the Word

This past year living in Russia, the three months in America, and on the way back to Russia I have been praying and thinking about how I can help here in Russia the best and what exactly has the Lord called me here to do. There is so much that could be done, and of course almost everything I would like to do now requires that I speak better Russian. My desires in being in Russia are to build up the Church with the teaching of the Word, to teach Inductive Bible Study seminars, and to help orphans and at risk kids.

I am now spending time at the Light of Hope center building relationships with kids, and helping in whatever way I can. I would like to someday be able to help more financially, but right now I have to be satisfied with what I am doing at the moment. I have already taught one seminar and we are planning another seminar in April. But I am still not sure in what way exactly I will teach the word, am I to be a pastor, a traveling preacher, or what? I don’t know what the Lord has in store for me as far as teaching the Word is concerned. I am still praying and asking for the leading of the Lord. I have decided that I will not be in a hurry, spending this time to build myself in the Word, learn Russian, and wait for the Lord to show what He has planned. Shortly after deciding this I was blessed with three opportunities to teach the Word.

Before Igor left for America to raise support he started a missionary group that meets every Wednesday. I was blessed to be invited to come and share the Word with this group in Igor’s absence, and to have a fiancé that is willing and able to translate for me. I am not able to commit to the group regularly because I am trying to juggle that and the youth group that Andrey has started at the Center. But I cannot describe the blessing I receive in teaching the Word. I am seeking God to find out if I should commit to this group more or spend more time with Andrey and the kids.


The second opportunity was to teach the home group that Abner leads every Thursday at Olga’s apartment. Abner was going to have to cancel the group, but I was blessed and surprised when he asked if I could teach and have Sveta translate. I was blessed as I led the group through 2 Peter 2. It is getting easier to teach through an interpreter, and Sveta does a great job, often saying things better than I do. The message was interesting and seemed to be more for me than the group. I do not know what goes on in other people’s hearts, and how it works with other teachers, but I know that the Spirit was really working during a Bible Study if I feel like I was ministered to more than those I was ministering to. Sveta and I were talking about this as she drove me home, marveling at how the Spirit can speak so individually to different people in different stages of life and different situations through the same verse.

The third opportunity was to cover for Abner on Saturday in the Light of Hope Church. Abner had to lead a Jesus film outreach and was not going to be able to do both. I taught from Mark 5:35-43. Abner came back at the end of the service in time to catch the end of the teaching. I cannot say how excited I was when he said that they were going to ask me to teach more often. I feel this is the first step to me being able to do something here in Russia. I think the first step to revival is the fanning of the flame in the hearts of believers, starting with those ministering. This is what the Lord is doing in my heart, and I hope that the Lord will use me in somewhat to fan that flame.

Please keep in prayer what the Lord has in store for us in Russia, and for ICM. As I walk the streets of Cherepovets I can easily get overwhelmed when I see all that could be done and the help that is needed. There is so much to do here it has to be from the Lord, in the Lord’s leading, in His timing, and only in His power! Please keep us all ministering over here in prayer as the Lord lays it on your heart. This week I am going to lead the home group through the book of Jude, I am excited! Please pray that we would be changed by the teaching of the word, and that we would be set on fire.

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.

Visiting Home in the States

It has been about three months since my last post. I have had a hard time keeping up with my posts because I have not been sure what I had worthy of posting. Two weeks after my last post about our first Light of Hope Church Service, I had to leave Russia because of paperwork and visa issues. I had been told that once I filed my permanent residency papers I would be able to simply extend my visa till I got my answer, but it wasn’t till I filed the papers that we found I was misinformed. So I was forced to come to the States for three months. But I immediately viewed it as a blessing from the Lord. I had not seen my friends and family for over a year, and I was a glad to see them again. It was also an opportunity to try to get some support from churches and build ministry relationships. But I was most excited about bringing my girlfriend Sveta home to meet the family. Long story short, we had known each other for over a year, and as we started working and ministering together sparks began to fly. We had not been dating long, but I knew it was the best opportunity to get her to meet my family before I was stuck in Russia for well over another year and a half.

So I came home, wherever that is, at this moment Cortez, Colorado. I no longer really have a place in the US that I call home, but I would say wherever God has me at the moment is where I call home. We had to wait to get Sveta a visa, so I came ahead of her. But I did not come back to be on vacation and was blessed to find work right off the bat helping remodel a barn roof. It was also not long before I was speaking at my family's church and then on the road to visit friends as well as other churches.

On December 27th Sveta was able to come to the States, and I was happy to introduce her to my family. She hit it off with my family right away, as I knew she would. It was not long till we had her on a horse for her first time, riding ATV’s around the ranch and hiking in the canyon behind my Grandparent’s house. After a few weeks we were on the road again. We went to Denver, then Kansas, then back through Colorado, on to Montana and made out last stop in Nevada. Sveta got to meet a lot of my family, many of my closest friends, and I was able to meet some close friends of hers, including whom she calls her American parents. It was a blast. I was also able to pick up a little work, meet with Igor and Olga, and speak at a church in Nevada.

However, I haven’t even gotten to the best part. I have known for a little while now that Sveta is the one God has prepared for me. And on Saturday, January 30th, I asked Sveta to marry me, and to my delight she said she would. We are still trying to figure the when and where, but I know that this is the beginning of a wonderful blessed life together, from the Lord! I know my life is going to be different from now on, a little more complicated, a little more full and busy, but I know it is going to be an amazing adventure as we walk and minister together for Jesus Christ.

Now we are getting ready to go back to Russia. We could use your prayers as we go back! Our prayer needs are for: traveling mercies, wisdom for when we go back to Russia to deal with some tense politics going on there, wisdom about our marriage and for wisdom about our ministry. Thank you for supporting us in prayer and financially, it is through your partnership that we are able to minister to the needy people of Russia and share in the amazing work our Lord. May the Lord’s Grace, Mercy and Peace fill your lives in this interesting time! Amen!