Light of Hope Church and Homegroup

Homegroup Taken a little while ago.

Svetta and I have been blessed to be able to do more seminars since we came back to Russia. Finally we are starting to feel like ministry is moving forward, which encourages us all the more to continue on and further confirms the calling that we have to bring solid Bible teaching to Russia. As we have traveled these last few months, we have seen the desperate need for the ministry of ICM!

We have not only been encouraged by the seminars. We have also been teaching a home group every Tuesday. Abner and I have also been taking turns teaching on Sundays. The home group is going through the book of Acts and on Sunday we are going through the book of Colossians.

The Latest Homegroup Picture

The home group is held at the apartment of Nelya and Sasha Borisov. It is the same group of people that came to the group we held in my apartment before we went to America last summer. We have seen the gradual affect that solid Bible study has had on them. Those that come regularly have a hunger for the word awakened in them, and they have become more confident in their faith.

The church has not grown in number much since it started, but the people have grown in a similar way as the home group. There has been some resistance to sections of scripture that reveal incorrect doctrines, which have been widespread through the church in Russia for a long time, but over all people are growing in faith. Abner has a strong burden to free people from the religion and legalism that has bound the Russian church. He strongly believes in the power of the Word. Since Abner works a job and pastors, he has asked me to take turns with him teaching on Sundays. Svetta and I were glad to step in.

God’s word is moving forward. We are interested to see what is ahead as we go to America this summer. Our desire is to be able to finance at least one seminar a month in Russia and assist in the church as much as possible. Our monthly income will need to increase and we are praying for more people and churches to partner with us to meet the expenses of our goal. We are very grateful for those who have supported us in prayer and financially the past three and a half years and we are excited to see what the Lord has in store for the future.

Abner worshiping the Lord on Sunday.

Food and Fellowship after the homebroup Bible study.

Nely the blini chef.

Ira and Abner's cute little daughter Natalia.

IBS In St. Petersburg

Last week, it was our great pleasure to do an IBS seminar in Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg. On Sunday the fourth Svetta and I went to both Central and South Calvary Chapels to make an announcement about the seminar. It was great to come back and see people that I had known while I lived in St. Pete in 2008-2009 and went to CC Central. After spending three days back in Cherepovets working, we returned on Wednesday with Alexey to do the seminar on Thursday and Friday. In Russia, March 8 is Women’s Day, so they had a three day weekend. We used that opportunity to do a two day seminar.

There was a huge difference between the people at this seminar, compared to the people we usually encounter at Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Baptist churches in Russia. Like in the States, Calvary Chapel in Russia puts a lot of emphasis on the teaching of the Word, and as a result, the people that go there are more grounded. However, people are still not used to studying the Bible and thinking for themselves.

One of the difficulties of or our ministry is that we are not only trying to teach people to study the Bible, but how to look at the text and pull out truth that cannot be seen at first glance. Learning how to study the Word requires work, but it is worth it! Once the participants were able to dig into the Scriptures themselves, the Bible came alive like never before and their Christian walk became much deeper.

Everyone was encouraged by the ministry of the Word and the personal application we received. Pastor Dima has invited us to come back to do more seminars, possibly to do the second course, and to attend a pastor’s conference that will hopefully open new contacts. We look forward to working together to equip God’s people to grow in their relationship with Him and to raise new Christian Bible teachers.

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IBS Seminar in Berezniki

Pastor Vitaly

Alexey, Svetta, and I got back from a fruitful trip to Berezniki, in the Permskii Krai, last Sunday. We met the pastor from this church when Alexey and I were in Izhevsk. They came to a conference in the same church we were doing the seminar at and spent the night where we were staying. The church is only five years old and most of the members are ex-drug-addicts. Pastor Vitaly started the church by first starting a rehab center, and as the amount of believers grew, the church started.

Center: Asistant Pastor Mirad

The first night of seminar was packed. We were told to expect around sixty people, so we brought sixty-five manuals, but there were about seventy-five to eighty people. Afterwards the assistant pastor told us that they did not expect so many people because the response to their notice about the seminar was met with not very much interest. However, after hearing Alexey teach from Luke 6 they all got excited. They said that it seemed like the scripture was simple enough but where shocked by how much Alexey was able to get out of just using the simple method of Observing, Interpreting, and Applying the Scripture text. This is a testimony of the effectiveness of the Inductive Bible Study method.

As we fellowshipped with the people we were again reminded of the necessity in Russia for solid Bible teaching. They are hungry for the word. Question after question revealed hearts belonging to people desperate for spiritual wisdom and unable to find those answers themselves. The constant storm of conflicting doctrines that flow through Russia has led them back into bondage of legalism and religion. We believe the Lord would have us set the people of Russia free by teaching them how to get the spiritual truth they so desire by simply studying God’s word.

Now our thoughts turn forward to March 8-10. We will be doing a seminar in Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg. Please pray for open hearts, safe travel, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit as we move on in the ministry.

Teaching at the rehab center.

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Sharing the Story of Christmas with Orphans

Every month a team from Light of Hope goes to two orphanages to share the gospel with them and try to meet their material needs. This month we came to celebrate Christmas. Olga and Alla joined us this time from the children’s ministry at Good News church. They put together a very good program with different games and skits, all teaching the story of Christ’s birth. It was a good fun time. Then we gave them gifts.

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Christmas at Light of Hope Church

Light of Hope church celebrated Christmas this year in an entirely different way. It was great fun! The Russian Christmas is on the seventh of January, so for our Sunday service, on the eighth, we had a party. Abner gave a message about Jesus’ birth and what it means for this world. Then the fun began. I will let the pictures tell the rest…

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