Please pray that the Lord will enable us to do something significant to help meet this great need.

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2 Dear Readers, Last October 1 was privileged to travel to Russia, Belarus and Ukraine with my husband. While visiting the various churches I was aware of the plight of the great number of elderly women who attended every meeting. They often took turns standing, sometimes over an hour at a time, to hear the Word of God. When asked why there are so many elderly women, we were told "These are our widows." In a recent meeting between Dr. Gregory and Dr. Firisuk of Belarus, the good doctor wept as he told of the poverty among the widows. IFCA International has been involved over the past several years in supporting over 100 national church planting missionaries in these countries. This has given us opportunity to observe first hand what can be done when we work together. I have discussed this with Dr. Robert Provost of Slavic Gospel Association, and Nila Rae Phelps, editor of Chera Fellowship. We all agree that we need to do something to help those widows and this is a wonderful opportunity for CF to become involved. I have been asked to go to Russia and Belarus in November to share the ministry of CF and to help the churches organize a ministry to their widows. I would like to take a sizable gift to help get this ministry started. This presents an opportunity for those of you who are able, to become partners in helping these churches to provide for their widows through regular support or by a one time gift to this project. Chera Fellowship has the opportunity to be a leader in this compassionate ministry of reaching out to others whose needs you will understand. Please pray that the Lord will enable us to do something significant to help meet this great need. Thank you, dear ladies and gentlemen for being a part of our CF family. I would like to introduce you to a dear friend and fellow worker who has a great love for and influence among the believers in the lands of Russia. Dr. Robert Provost is president of Slavic Gospel Association and a member of IFCA International. Carol Gregory IFCA Women's Coordinator Where are all the Russian Men? Visitors to the churches that stayed true to Christ during horrific persecution and also the new churches planted more recently always want to know, "Where are the older men?" Mrs. Antonina Konovaichik, wife of Dr. Piotr Konovaichik, president of the Union of Evangelical Christians- Baptist of Russia tells us: "Our family were Christians and my father served as a preacher in our local UECB church. In 1937, the authorities came in the middle of the night and took him away. He never came back. We never saw him again. My mother raised her children alone. The hatred of the regime towards

3 Christians was great in general, but most severe towards the widows of those who had been taken for standing for Christ. World War II took the lives of untold millions of Russian men, Christians and unbelievers alike. Many of those widows whose faithful husbands were martyred are still alive and active in their churches today" Men today often have to work in polluted environments that destroy their health, but the highest cause of the premature deaths of men in Russia today, is alcoholism. Life expectancy of Russian males is well below 60 years. Widows, as a result of such tragedies, have great need for comfort and are attracted to the church. They are the most open to receive the Gospel. In their local evangelical church they find the support only Christ can give. They are blessed through their fellowship with Christian brothers and sisters who are quick to provide sympathy and understanding. Those with no small children joyfully accept ministry to children and especially to orphans. Today, the national Christian leaders are very burdened to develop the ministry to widows as a top priority. They receive extremely low pensions, often less than $20 per month. Their very survival often depends upon their having enough strength to raise a garden of vegetables for sustenance throughout the harsh Russian winter. Other church members are so poor themselves that they cannot provide enough help for the widows. The leadership of the UECB churches in Russia and Belarus have requested the Slavic Gospel Association and the IFCA International to help develop a program toward meeting these needs. Carol Gregory will soon go to this area to share the ministry of Chera Fellowship and to help organize a relief effort for these faithful widows. Please join us at the SGA and IFCA International in prayer for wisdom leading to the development of ways that churches and individuals in America might come alongside these precious, struggling widows. The Bible is replete with evidence of the Lord's special love and concern for all widows and orphans everywhere. We have ministries which help the churches disciple the orphans of Russia. We must also help them love and disciple the widows. James called such ministries "pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father." (James 1:27) Dr. Bob Provost President of SGA / member of IFCA International. Pick me up, Father, I'm weary, My feet are dragging and I'm lagging behind for I find I can't keep pace in life's hectic race. There's trouble brewing on the path ahead that I really dread! I don't need to pick you up, child

4 because I' ve never put you down! From womb to Heaven' s gate I, the Lord, do carry you through youth and prime to graying years till the end of time in disappointments, trials and fears through all your joys and tears... I'll never put you down! (Isaiah 46:3,4; Psalm 28:9; Hebrews 13:8) by Leona Choy Not Impossible For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:37. It has been awhile since my last article-- probably three years. Sometimes it seems that Dan has been gone a long time--and sometimes a short time. Have I survived? Yes--I have! What have I learned and done, and where am I going? I' ve learned to put God first, and not my husband. When Dan died, my main goal was to go to Heaven to be with him! Then, through my pastor and one of his messages, I realized it s really God I want to see. He will be the all consuming One when I get to Heaven. Yes, it will be nice to see Dan, but so much more wonderful to be with the Lord. My life with Dan, as great as it was, is over on this earth and I need to move on. I have learned to be faithful every day in God s Word, and to spend time with Him in prayer. Before Dan left, my life was so busy that it was easy to miss days with the Lord. Oh, I was always serving Him, being a "Martha" through and through, but to know Him in a personal way and have the abundant life He promises - no! I have begun to share my experiences with others who have lost a mate. I m endeavoring to encourage others to get into the Word and spend time in prayer. I see so many unhappy Christians, always busy doing for Him but not really knowing Him. I understand this, as I too lived this way for many years. When we really start to know Him, He brings real excitement into our lives and each day becomes an adventure with the Lord. Where am I going today? With His help, I want to walk closer to Him and be thankful for the past 3 ½ years of my life. There has been lots of pain and loneliness and sorrow, but without them I would not be where I am today. God is in control and I am rejoicing in Him--praise His Name! by Ardith Koster

5 Praise in the Midst of Trial In Sunday School we were studying Acts 16. The teacher talked about the loneliness of prison and he questioned with amazement in his voice, "How could Paul and Silas sing aloud while incarcerated?" I've always been impressed with this wonderful show of joy and act of praise in the midst of trial--and rightly so. But it s not so unbelievable to me now as when I was younger. It seems to me that there is no lonelier time than when your beloved mate of forty some years has gone to be with the Lord. Though surrounded by loving family and friends the feeling of aloneness can be palpable. Yet, in the midst of this exceedingly bleak emotional upheaval come such explosions of joy emanating from God Himself that we must sing "Glory" or our hearts will burst. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the living resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil nor fade - kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls I Peter 1:3-9. by Thelma Baddorf Chera Fellowship Magazine is Comforting I want to thank you for sending a second issue of your CF magazine. I received the first copy not long after my husband went to be with the Lord. I cried through every article. This time, although the tears came, I was able to read all the articles with real appreciation. They were comforting and helpful. I am awaiting open heart surgery for aortic valve replacement and one by-pass, after an endoscopy next Monday, so I have a long road ahead of me. I was planning to move to Ohio over the Easter vacation to live with my youngest son, but that will be on hold for several months now. He is a Christian School Administrator. by Sally Bausch