Intensive Care Ministries Russia Nathaniel and Svetta Houlmiere: Ministry in Anisomovo

A few years back ICM (Russia) was blessed with some sizable land in Olga Prokopyev's home town of Anisomovo. It has been a desire of ours for a long while now to plant a church there and open a training center for pastors and missionaries, as well as possibly an elderly home. We were blessed with enough land that Igor felt led to give half the property to Andrey Sorokin so that he could build a house there and start working with kids and teenagers. He also has an idea of possibly starting a camp for youth retreats. We are still not sure who will be the pastor of the church, or exactly how we will be able to do the training center.

Last month God opened the door for Andrey and Sveta to make the first steps towards that goal. An apartment in Anisomovo opened up right next to where we want build the church. So Andrey and Sveta heard the calling of the Lord, sold their apartment in Cherepovets and bought the apartment in Anisomovo.

The apartment in Cherepovets sold for considerably more money than the cost of the apartment in Anisomovo, so Andrey was also blessed to be able to buy a mini-bus so he can start a shuttling business between Cherepovets and other cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. It is fun to watch him follow the Lord and witness the hand of God helping every step of the way.

The Sorokin family. From left to right Sveta, Syoma, Ulyana, Andrey, and Andrey's mother.
A few weeks back the ICM team gathered together in Anisomovo for a time of fellowship and blessing the Sorokin family in their new adventure. We had a great time swimming, talking, eating and hanging out with friends. We do not get together as a team like this very often and it was quite a treat to be all in one place. I was glad to able to hang out with and get to know certain members of the team more personally. I look forward to the next time we are able to gather as a team like this again.

Now it is time to get to work. There are already a few believers in the village, mainly Olga’s family, and we are hoping to start doing home-group Bible studies sometime soon. We are planning on doing evangelism there soon, possibly in September. Andrey says that he has been able to befriend some people already and has been able to get to know many of the kids in Anisomovo. He thinks that the people will be pretty open. I just pray that the Lord would already be working on their hearts to receive the gospel, and not only the material aid we plan to bring. Please join us in praying for the work in Anisomovo. There is a lot to do, and only the Lord is able to it,

“‘Not by might nor by power, but My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

Pray that the people would respond the gospel and be saved.
That Andrey would have the wisdom and discernment to know what the Lord is telling him as he gets more involved with ministering there.
For the time being Andrey is driving 200 km from Anisomovo to Cherepovets and back every week to lead worship. Please pray that he would continue to have the strength to do this and that the Lord would raise someone up to take his place.
Also Andrey's mom is suffering from multiple sclerosis and Andrey has moved her to Anisomovo to take care of her. Please keep her in prayer, that her last years before she goes to heaven would be painless and peaceful. Keep Andrey in prayer as he is going to have to deal with her getting worse, pray that he would have the strength needed to deal with this.
That we would have over all wisdom and discernment on how to do the whole project in Anisomovo: the church, youth, possible youth camp, training center, and elderly home.