Slavic Gospel News. Lost on Roadside, Found by God. News from the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Transcription

1 Slavic Gospel News News from the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Lost on Roadside, Found by God In Belarus, a man named Vasily Kuretz, was driving to the city of Logoysk, when a couple on the side of the road flagged him down. He noticed that there were two young children with them a boy about six and a young girl who appeared to be about four. They had been wandering in the forest along the road and this couple had stopped out of concern. The children pleaded with Vasily to take them to Logoysk to find their parents. Vasily readily agreed. When they arrived in Logoysk, the kids could only say that they lived where the road is wide and full of holes. Vasily then asked if the children knew where their father worked. Again, they replied yes, and that he worked at a place with a large, green metal gate. Vasily kept driving and finally, the kids recognized a business where a friend of their parents worked. He was able to leave these lost children with the friend, who assured him the children would get back to their parents. After some time had passed, Vasily became a missionary pastor in Logoysk. He began his ministry at a transition home, where recently orphaned children are sent before being assigned to an orphanage. As Vasily visited, he noticed that there was one boy who kept following him around. Finally, he stopped and asked the boy why he was following him. The boy responded, Don t you remember me? You picked up my sister and me in the forest and took us home. Vasily then found out that the parents had split up, and did not want their children. God had provided a sweet and caring face for these dear kids to meet again as if by chance on the side of the highway, and then amazingly at the very children s facility where Vasily would be ministering! Vasily began sharing the Gospel with this young boy and his sister. They both asked immediately if they could attend the local Baptist church to learn more. But before long, they were transferred to an orphanage. He has not seen these children for a while, but he asks that we join him in prayer that their hearts will turn to the Lord. SGA-supported Vasily Kuretz says support for the work is vital Vasily is supported in his efforts by the SGA-sponsored Orphans Reborn ministry, and he says this support is vital for his work among these children. Slavic Gospel Association Inc. Reg: A27142A National Office: PO Box 396 Noble Park Victoria 3174 Tel:

2 Touch of Sunshine for Little Family with Nothing Elena Liskina is in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, and part of her ministry is to reach struggling mothers with the Gospel. Recently, she conducted a class for some disadvantaged ladies, beginning with topics on parenting and concluding with the Gospel message. The church-sponsored meetings allow the women-in-need to associate with believers in Jesus Christ and observe the love of God in them. Evidence of Christ s love, as demonstrated by his followers can be a most effective way to reach the hardened heart. However, Elena nearly missed a God-given opportunity to demonstrate His love. Thankfully she changed her plans at the last minute... Among the mothers that I have regular contact with through our ministry, is a lady named Tatiana. She is a single mother raising three children. It was her birthday coming up on May 3rd, and she invited me to visit. I was very busy and didn t have time to drop in on her and soon the actual day of her birthday arrived. She called me again and invited me to visit. I had a strong impression then, that the Lord wanted me to stop what I was doing and go. Elena purchased flowers, a cake, candles and balloons, and took them to Tatiana s apartment. When she entered, Elena was impressed that the children had all dressed up in their best clothes, but then she noticed there was no food on the table. No food at all! After a few games with the balloons, they sat down at the table and put 28 candles on the cake, the right number for Tatiana. The children were screaming with joy and I could see that such events are not regular events in their lives. Afterwards, we had tea and cake together and played more games. The children were glad and their mother was, too! The small celebration was filled with so much joy. And with trembling, Elena considered what would have happened if she hadn t taken the time to go... They have almost no friends. She had no money to put food on the table or buy a cake. At times we can bring joy to people s homes. May they see God s love for them in this! Once again, I was assured that at times we need to lay aside all our business and go visit the weaker ones, to encourage them and bring them joy. Especially when we feel impressed of the Lord. Elena is grateful that God has filled her heart with His love. Now, she says, her task is to help all those mothers come to church and become part of the Christian family. I am grateful to you, dear friends, for your prayer and your support! I am grateful to God for opening your hearts to support this ministry. May the Lord bless you in your walk with Him, may he strengthen you and help you in every way! In their best clothes but with no food, the little family waited for Elena As in many places of the world, the number of single-parent families is on the increase. In Russia the divorce rate is more than half of all marriages, at 52% (2011), which is higher than Australia s 42%. Other factors such as unmarried childbearing and increased widowhood contribute as well. When the USSR was dismantled in the early nineties, many state-run institutions were closed and welfare payments were reduced. Thus, the ever growing number of single-parent families have become very impoverished - especially those that can t be accommodated with extended family.* SGA-supported workers like Elena have a vital role to play, as oftentimes they are the only help available to destitute mothers like Tatiana. May the Lord help Elena and others like her, as they reach out in love and practical assistance - in His Name. (*Report: Single Mothers in Russia, 2000, World Bank Development Research Group) 2 Slavic Gospel News October/November 2017

3 Disasters Overcome at Camps As summer has now drawn to a close in the northern hemisphere, information is coming in from various places about the evangelistic camps that were held. These are known locally as Vacation Bible Schools (VBS) and also Summer Camps. Here are two of our the latest reports... As is customary when the summer holidays are approaching, many Evangelical churches in the former Soviet Union start making preparations for camp season. If the church has built its own campsite, volunteers will usually go and prepare it by tidying up, making repairs and doing renovations. This year, Pastor Konstantin s church had a difficult time preparing the campsite as one thing after another went wrong... A not-so-happy sight met us at our campsite after the winter in April when we finally managed to go there after a period of bad weather. Our purpose was to check out the property and outline the work for the upcoming camp season. Earlier, we had laid foundations for another children s dormitory so we could accommodate more children into each shift, and we were hoping to get the building ready before summer. The team discovered that wild storms had damaged the property, There were delays to our construction because some of the old building had to be dismantled after the storm. To make matters worse, a pipe broke in the church back at home. Water flooded the building and was running down into the cellar. The pastor had to call back the volunteers so they could address the flooding problem - as it was interrupting church services and other ministries. After spending three weeks on replacing pipes, our preparations were resumed and we set about reconstructing the dining-hall. With God s help, and through the contribution of church members, we were able to do all the necessary work before the camp shifts started. I am Pastor Alexander in Belarus. During June, we hold a tent camp. This year as in every year we were getting ready and praying about it. Then the unexpected happened. The sauna, barn, and garage burned down - the evening before we were supposed to set up. All the camp equipment was stored in the garage including sleeping bags, mattresses, tents, an electric generator, and a trampoline. We managed to save only 15 sleeping bags and some tents. Someone asked me if we would still have the camp and I said no. Nevertheless, the Lord had other plans in mind. I was looking for an answer from the Lord about what needed to be done. All the kids knew the camp was coming. When they called me, I couldn t bring myself to tell them that we would not have any camp. I asked them to call me later. Our team discussed what we should do. I thank the Lord that everybody felt free to express their ideas. Finally, we realised what needed to be done. Everybody agreed that we should have the camp in spite of the big loss. We prayed and got on the phone to ask everybody we knew to give us at least sleeping bags and tents. The Lord always provides more than we ask for. I thank the Lord for all the brothers and sisters who stretched out their helping hands. I thank God for Peter Konstantinovich (Director of SGA s Regional Ministry Center) in particular, since he and his sons brought some ground cloths, a trampoline, and other equipment. I thank the Lord that he led us out of our trial. In spite of our big loss, we fulfilled God s will, so that children and teenagers could come to our camp and hear the Good News about our Lord. We had 75 kids at children s camp. The teenage camp had 40 people. Praise the Lord for everything He sends us in life! 3 Slavic Gospel News October/November 2017

4 07 July 2016 Looking Back It was the 7th of July, a Thursday. But not just any Thursday, because a significant event took place in Russia with little fanfare or warning. President Vladimir Putin had just signed two federal bills: 374-FZ and 375-FZ. Prepared by Deputy Chairman Irina Yarovaya and her associates, the amendment bills have come to be known as the Yarovaya Package. Journalist Victoria Arnold of Forum 18 made this report the following day, President Putin has signed amendments imposing harsh restrictions on sharing beliefs, including where and who may share them, and increased extremism punishments, introduced with alleged anti-terrorism changes Christians across Russia were alarmed as their religious freedom was suddenly taken away. With the stroke of a pen it became illegal to hold meetings in the home, hand out tracts on the street, or discuss faith with an unbelieving friend. Heads of church groups made public appeals to Mr Putin... It is impossible for believers to comply with the requirements not to express their religious beliefs and to be silent even in their own homes as required by the legislation The religious situation in the country will grow considerably more complicated and many believers will find themselves in exile and subjected to reprisals because of our faith - Protestant Churches of Russia. The authors of the bill did not ask for the views of those who are the most affected by the new amendments. The law violates the constitutional right freely to choose, hold, and disseminate religious and other beliefs Baptist Council of Churches One year later, we can now see how the Yarovaya Package has played out... so far. The most dramatic result being that Jehovah s Witnesses were banned outright in April this year... The Supreme Court declares Jehovah s Witness headquarters and local communities extremist, bans all their activity immediately, and orders their property seized by the state, said Victoria Arnold of Forum 18. Over the course of the year, more than 180 cases were brought before the courts, resulting in 138 convictions under the Anti-Terrorism legislation. Formal charges began sporadically, but have been gathering pace. Activities as diverse as holding prayer meetings in homes, posting worship times on a religious This American Baptist Missionary was convicted under Anti-Terrorism Law community s website and giving a lecture on yoga, have all been interpreted by police and prosecutors as missionary activity... people from at least 15 different religious traditions have faced charges, says Ms Arnold. The 138 convictions resulted in: fines of up to 100,000 roubles, deportations of 5 individuals and destruction of religious literature But the laws were not repealed and it was anyone s guess how the different religious groups would fare. SGA s Joel Griffith stated, It s been signed into law, now it s all going to depend on how this gets interpreted down the food chain within the Russian Federation There are potentially very wide-sweeping ramifications to this law. It just depends on, again, how it is going to be enforced and that is a very huge question mark. Deputy Chairman Irina Yarovaya after whom the Yarovaya Law is named 4 Slavic Gospel News October/November 2017

5 Protestants Targeted It is clear upon review, that most of those targeted under Anti-Terrorism legislation are little threat to public safety but rather threaten the traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church. Foreign policy journalist, David Aikman said from the outset... The Russian Orthodox Church is part of a bulwark of Russian nationalism stirred up by Vladimir Putin. Everything that undermines that action is a real threat, whether that s evangelical Protestant missionaries or anything else. More recently, Roman Lunkin of the Russian Union of Evagelical Christians - Baptists (UECB) confirms... The law is applied selectively to certain groups of believers who do not fall under the status of traditional, but at the same time, cannot be accurately termed as extremists... [even] the Human Rights Council of the Russian Federation identified Protestant Churches as the main victims of the Yarovaya Law. Nationalism and Traditionalism are encouraged by President Vladimir Putin Naturally, this is having a huge impact on Christians all across Russia. Many of them recall former days under Communism... I lived almost 60 years as a Baptist Christian in Russia. I have witnessed my parents life and now my own. I ve seen many things, and I know the state always does what it wants whether it s according to the law or not... Yarovaya s Law is supposed to protect Russian citizens from the threat of terrorism, but it isn t working to it s intended purpose. I do not know of any case when it was used against terrorists. Alexey Telus, Pastor of Noyabrsk Evangelical Baptist Church My wife and I were supposedly fined for doing missionary work, but in fact it was for our beliefs, which hurt no-one but have the power to change lives... Persecution of Protestants has been in history more than once. Stalin and Khrushchev failed to put a stop to the truth, and it will fail again. History hasn t taught them: you cannot stop the Good News! Andrei Matyuzhov, Kemerovo Protestant Church Moving Forward The anniversary of the Yarovaya Laws (Anti-Missionary Laws) has given the world a glimpse of the trajectory Russia is taking, in terms of religious persecution. So far, punishments haven t been too severe and only the Jehovah s Witnesses have been banned outright. But only God knows where the path will lead. We ask you to pray earnestly for the situation in Russia. Pastors, missionaries and lay people all need your support as they feel the grip tightening around them. The time to share the Gospel in Russia is apparently closing. Now is the time to invest in the Kingdom work of bringing the message of salvation-by-faith to as many Russians as possible. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. - Acts 13:47 5 Slavic Gospel News October/November 2017

6 Graduating Orphans What happens to orphaned children when they grow into their teenage years? They graduate from the orphanage and are left to make their own way without the shelter of a government institution. Some have estranged family members that may be of some support, others have not a soul to turn to. Some start university training and live on campus. Others end up homeless, form a gang and turn to crime. Fully aware of the risks, many evangelical churches make an effort to extend the orphans ministry to support graduate orphans. Here are a few examples of outreaches to graduate orphans and their latest news... leaders gave out practical items, such as frypans, saucepans and food. Our desire was to show the children our care of them, not only through words, but also in practice, he said. At the time of graduation, an evangelical church in Grodno organised a dinner for the graduating orphans. Thirty youths were invited from the surrounding orphanages where church members conduct Bible lessons. Our desire was to express our love to the children through the atmosphere, said Pastor Pavel. We did what we could in order to create an atmosphere in the meeting that was as warm as possible. At the end of the meeting, the It s a worry to think of the challenges and temptations that will cause some of these teenagers to reject faith and ruin their lives. Some have already made wrong choices. There were two boys at our meeting, Pavel said. Their names are the same, Misha. Unfortunately, they have committed a crime and are facing a prison sentence. We talked with them and it became obvious that they acknowledge their guilt. The crime was encouraged by their peers and they carried it out. Yet Pastor Pavel believes that God s Word will work in their hearts and help them to live righteously especially as they expressed recognition of their sinfulness and desire to change. We showed the boys some examples of others that were changed by God s grace and encouraged them to come to God. Please pray for us. We ask you to pray for the two that committed a crime for God s mercy upon them - and pray for our relationships with leaders in the orphanages. Childh0od Bible Lessons Bring Fruit in Time After serving his prison sentence, a certain young man went into a rehabilitation centre for help. There, he was counselled by evangelical believers who minister to former inmates like himself. But this was not the first time he was challenged to live a righteous life for God. In fact, this man had confessed faith in Jesus Christ while he was a child in an orphanage. But when he became a graduated orphan, he fell into temptation and committed a crime. His childhood Bible teacher remembers when he first believed... I remember, even now, that wonderful event, says Tatiana Kiseleva. As he heard the call of Christ in one of the lessons, he came forward in front of all the children and said that he wanted to repent. Although some of the children teased and mocked him, Tatiana asked God to help him stay faithful. He had a special place in my heart... but soon after his graduation from the orphanage, he committed theft and went to prison. During his time in prison, he couldn t forget the Bible lessons and he realised that Jesus still loved him even though he had wandered away. So when he was released, he sought out a rehabilitation centre, came under the ministry of faithful believers and laid his life on the altar again. This testimony really encouraged Tatiana, who had invested herself in nurturing his faith. Her prayers were answered, and this graduate-orphan is living a better life thanks to the Lord and His sacrifice. We rejoice that the Lord continued to show mercy to this young man, and that the seeds so diligently sown eventually brought the fruit of true repentance. 6 Slavic Gospel News October/November 2017

7 In Belarus, an SGA-sponsored church helped a graduate orphan by organising intermediary accommodation. As she approached the last few years at the orphanage, Nadya was having a very hard time and was desperate to leave early. She determined to quit school and find another institution such as a vocational college. But the church leaders wanted to help and organised shared accommodation in an apartment with some volunteers. This way, Nadya was able to finish school and apply for a degree in medicine at the university. We praise God that His faithful people are demonstrating His great love to the poor and lowly, so they can be lifted up! Graduate orphan Nadya will follow her dream to be a doctor Hello? Do you pray for me? Last month, one of our sponsored Orphans Reborn workers, Vadim, picked up the phone... Hello Vadim, this is Nastya... from Voznesenka Orphanage... please tell me... have you been praying for me? Vadim remembered her. He assured her, Yes, I pray for you Nastya. Of course I pray. Having participated in Christian lessons at the orphanage, the time eventually came for Nastya to leave and take control of her own life. It had not been easy for Nastya, and she told Vadim a little about her life after the orphanage. Vadim explains... She ruined her life completely within two years after graduation. She even wanted to jump off a bridge. Just at that moment in her life, she met a young man who sent her to a Christian rehabilitation centre. Through the counselling at the rehabilitation centre, Nastya was able to believe the Word of God and find hope again. She wanted Vadim to know that she had eventually become right with God and joined a local group of believers that his prayers were answered! She is now a church member and actively involved in children s work, he said. Praise God for His love for orphans and the transformation of broken lives! meetings recently. Vadim is concerned for them... Alina and Taisiya did not attend the meetings for graduates. Like many other children, they chose a wrong path for their lives. Recently they came to one of our meetings... I know that our Merciful Lord, despite all our mistakes continues to call and wait for us, challenging us to seek Him first. So I pray for them. Vadim is concerned about Alina and Taisiya Vadim and his wife also host graduate orphans in their own home during summer holidays. During summer, most of the graduates have to vacate the dorms for vacation, and they go from house to house and sleep wherever they find a place. This year we are hosting Dima, a graduate from the Yemelianovo orphanage. He has no parents. We have another guest that is regularly at our house, Victor. I can t meet all their needs. So I pray. Nastya nearly killed herself but God had other plans Please pray for Vadim, as he coordinates Bible studies for graduated orphans in his area. He tries to organise it so each orphan will have lessons with their own former teacher. Each lesson is run in an informal style, like a discussion. A couple of graduates came to one of the Dima(L) learns gardening and Victor(R) makes repairs The ministries employed to reach orphans for Christ are effective in helping many to avoid disaster, and many others to be restored after things fall apart. Orphans Reborn workers are giving so much of themselves in obedience to the call God has placed on them. Their burden for the orphans is genuine and deep. Your support of this vital ministry is of eternal worth! 7 Slavic Gospel News October/November 2017

8 Christian Books the Prize of Choice Generally speaking, modern children do not like reading, says SGA-supported worker Oleg. They spend more time with their phones and computers. But in one of my Bible classes, there are a few boys and girls who love reading. And this is important, because it opens up a love for reading and understanding the Bible. For SGA, the provision of Bibles and Christian literature had its beginning during the Soviet era. For seven decades, the atheistic communist government tried to rid the land of all scripture and SGA was working to keep Bibles flowing in. Now that the era of communist oppression is over, many are still without due to poverty and in some places, Islamic control. So supporters through SGA continue to sponsor the distribution of Bibles, New Testaments and other well-known Christian books across the former Soviet Union. This is how one of our sponsored workers, Oleg, was able to supply the greatest wish of one of his students... At the end of the school year, we have a tradition of giving prizes to all the children. The cost of each prize is in proportion to the number of points each student scored for effort. As the time approaches they write down what they want. They usually ask for mobile phones, audio devices, sporting equipment, games and so on. As it turned out, the boy with the most points who qualified for the biggest gift asked for some Christian books! When I presented the books to him, the others asked him right away, whether they could borrow them and read them, too. Oleg says it s difficult for these hungry readers to get their own Bible, but when they start to understand Scripture, it creates an interest in spiritual things. One of the goals of my teaching is to help the children develop an interest in reading the Bible. I am grateful to God that at least a few of them have such an interest now. Slavic Gospel News ABN is published by the Slavic Gospel Association Inc. P.O. Box 396 Noble Park, VIC 3174 Tel/Fax: sgaaust@outlook.com Web: International Offices: Australia: Harry Chudasko - Chairman Canada: Bill Ball - Executive Director New Zealand: Richard Hemmingsen - Director United Kingdom: Derek Maxwell - General Director USA: Michael Johnson - President Australian Board: Harry Chudasko - Chairman Bruce Ronalds - Vice Chairman Peter Dubyna - Secretary Ralph Hewes - Treasurer Nickolai Porublev - Director for Research in Apologetics Larissa Porublev - Public Officer Alexander Shevchuk Douglas Brown Most children wanted games and gadgets One boy wanted Christian books more than anything else The Word of God is such a vital part of Christian living and essential for conversion and spiritual growth. You can contribute to the provision of printed materials for distribution by pastors, missionaries, teachers and leaders. To provide for such a purpose, we have a designated fund for Bibles and Christian Literature. Office Staff: Larissa Porublev - Office Manager Katherine Harding - Media & Communications S.G.A. is a member of the Evangelical Alliance (Vic) Inc. Missions Interlink Auditors for S.G.A. RDL Accountants, Blackburn Victoria SGA is Privacy Compliant. 8 Slavic Gospel News October/November 2017