The News from Here – November 2005
Greetings, once again, from Ivanovo, Russia. I pray this holiday season is a time of renewal, revival and revelation into the many blessings He has given us and of the ultimate blessing of His coming.
Here, in Ivanovo, we have gotten past the rainy, muddy season, somewhat, and are “enjoying” the bitter cold, ice and snow of winter.
THE YOUTH
The youth are continuing to take a more active leadership role in the church. This is being noticed, not only by me, but by the general church members. Our youth praise and worship team make up 11 of the 15 members of the praise and worship team and 2 of the four main worship leaders are from our youth.
Also, we are leading the nights of prayer each month and all but one member of the usher group are from the youth.
I am so proud to see them stepping forward, not just in these areas, but in areas of counseling, evangelism and servanthood in all aspects of our church life.
Our Sunday night prayer meetings have grown to 31 and we are beginning to see young adults coming to them as a way of growing in their relationship with the Lord.
Our Friday night meetings are times, now, when our youth are praying for one another and ministering to one another and the lost. The praise and worship are more anointed and the team is flowing as one.
I could go on and on about how great this group of youth is. But, you might say I am a little prejudiced.
We have bought the tile for the new youth room and have begun laying it. The work should be finished by December 20th and we hope to be in the room by New Year’s.
THE WEDDING PLANS
We have decided on a date for the wedding. We will be getting married on March 4, 2006. This will allow time, afterwards, for the processing of the necessary documentation for us to come to the States in late May for my youngest daughter’s graduation.
Things are moving along with the plans. She is shopping for her dress and I am tackling the other things from finding the necessary transportation to getting all the necessary “workers” for the ceremony and reception.
We are enjoying this time and covet your prayers for us.
MORE CHURCH DEVELOPMENTS
We will be having another “Encounter with God” retreat the 8th to the 10th of December for our men and young men, and again on the 15th to the 17th for the women and young girls of our church. I have 3 young men I am discipling going to this encounter and, in all, we have 12 young men and women who will be attending these retreats.
These retreats are an intense time of prayer and teaching and always result in much freedom in the lives of those who attend.
NEW WORK
Sergei and I have gotten new “jobs”. Sergei is still working as a lawyer during the week. But, on Saturdays and Sundays for two hours, a local men’s clothing store has hired us to be “living mannequins” in their store window. We began on November the 11th.
This day was meant to be an experiment to see exactly what we did and if it would be effective. We had tried to describe to the store owners, but they didn’t’ understand. They hired us, however as a one time deal.
After 30 minutes in the window, and seeing the large crowds it drew, they came to our “agent” ( a man who is a member of our church and entered this project along with us) and told him they wanted to hire us exclusively for their store through the 18th of December.
It’s a chance for us to make some extra money and, now, has resulted in more jobs for us. Other stores have approached our agent and want us after this job.
Also, I was hired to do mime at a local fashion show here in Ivanovo. After doing this show, I was approached about doing promotions in other places and this has resulted in us traveling to Vladimir for that.
So, with two agents, we are finding our weekends being filled with chances to earn some much needed extra money and it affords us a chance to share our faith and reach out to people who we might otherwise never meet.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please continue to pray for the financial situation of this ministry.
Continue to pray for our youth as they grow and take on more responsibility and service to the local body.
Pray for Luda and myself as we prepare to enter this new life together.
Pleas be in prayer for me as, there are now many changes coming in my life from losing Sergei as a full time interpreter to preparing for marriage.
IN CLOSING
Thank you, as always, for your continued support and for remembering me in your prayers. I realize this will be the last newsletter for this year and until after the holidays.
My prayer is that you and your families will be blessed exceedingly not just at this time of year, but every day for the many ways you have blessed my life and the sacrifices you have made for us, you and I, to reach this city and this area of the world for Jesus.
Merry Christmas and have a gloriously blessed New Year.
Keep the Faith,
Randy