RUSSIAN MINISTRY NEWS LETTER: May 1999
First of all I want to encourage you to spend more time in prayer for the situation in hot spots- Yugoslavia, Kosovo, raising communists and nationalists in Russia, for the wisdom for all the leaders of the world.
We feel heaviness in the spirit and we know that the devil is planning a lot of destruction. The Lord is teaching us about spiritual authority which he has delegated to us (Mt., 18:18, Mt. 28:18, Lu. 10:19, Mr. 16:17-18) and we feel it's a time to take our stand against the powers of the darkness. Would you please join us in prayer?
Our missionary Igor Ivanchenko came to Moscow and brought a report on the events that were happening in his mission to Uzbekistan for the last 6 month. He works in the underground church overseeing groups of Christians in seven towns. Any church meetings with more than 5 people are prohibited so every church is arranged into groups of five people. He has been training two associates to him and currently they a studying in a short term Bible school to Kirgizia- nearby Central Asia's state which has more religious freedom than Uzbekistan. It will be easier for him when they come back. Spiritual atmosphere is very heavy. Every leader of the church is required to spend at least one hour in prayer and another hour worshipping the Lord daily. Igor said that this gave him a great spiritual maturity and he is happy to be in the midst of God's plan for him. He has already returned back to his mission field.
To evangelize openly is strictly prohibited so the main method of bringing people to the Lord is prayer and serving the people. Economy is ruined, many people are unemployed, salaries are very low. Many families are living on equivalent of $10-15 a month. There is no water in the homes due to damaged pump system (state doesn't have money to repair them), canalization is in the open drains right on the streets causing a lot of diseases. There is a lack in food, clothing, medications, etc.
Igor has found a group of 13 homeless kids from 5 till 14 years old very poorly dressed in one of the abandoned villages. They live by begging. The oldest girl is already suffering with a syphilis and another girl with the TB. All of them prayed the Salvation prayer, but these children desperately need somebody's love and care...
Uzbekistan's mission is in great material need and they pray for the finances to purchase a car (public transportation system is bad and expensive).
Our anti-abortion ministry is going on. During last month we have visited public schools five times with our video programs and had a good response. In the beginning of May we are planing to start Christian ministry for youth.
Let me share these verses with you: "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ ... That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak" (Col. 4:2-4).
We are thankful to all of you for your support.
May the Lord bless you!
With love in Christ,
Andrew Blinkov
http://geocities.datacellar.net/Athens/Oracle/6086/main.html
P.S.
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