The Hearron Family Ministries

Ministry Newsletter Fourth Quarter 2011

2012-01-18T13:03:00.000+08:00

Click here to download and print a PDF copy of this newsletter.

A Sincere Thank You!

During these days of economicturmoil around the globe, our family would like to thank each of you who havesacrificially given financially to our church planting ministry in 2011. Your additional giving for special ministryprojects and for Christmas was an added show of your kindness and tender carefor this missionary family. Equally asimportant are the prayers that you have made on our behalf asking for the HolySpirit’s power on, and protection for, our family as we serve here in Siberia,Russia. Many things have happened thatcould have turned out much worse had there been no intercessory prayer on ourbehalf.

Village Church Building Project

I know that it must appear to youthat this project has dragged on. Well,it has—but not for the lack of desire and willingness to see it finished, butfor financial constraints. However, thispast fall we were able to find areas in which we could economize and were ableto buy some much needed building supplies. We still have much to do; but we are closer to the end than before.

My two daughters, Elizabeth 8 andAbigail 6, are quite the craftsmen and have been a great help to me. Even at times, Bonnie has lent a helping handtaking time away from the babies. Thefirst floor room (260 sq/ft) is just about ready. We still need to trim out the window, doorand wall corners and seams. Before wecan began using this room I MUST laylinoleum on the floor and in the corridor. Linoleum will cost about $600.00. If you could help with this expense I would be grateful and your giftcould be mailed to our Mission Board (see address below).

Update On Our Krasnoyarsk Church

This last quarter our church sawseveral in the flock yield their lives to carnal living. As a result our attendance has been reducedto just a few attending services. I amsad to report that the couple who would drive with us from the village tochurch are no longer doing so. Andreinever made a decision to repent and trust Christ and is trying to fill theemptiness in his life with the worldly vices. These two are unwilling to take the biblical steps necessary to correctwhat is wrong. Pray we may still have aninfluence for good with them.

I guess the most tragic loss for our churchand personally for Bonnie and me is the news concerning one of our youngladies. Bonnie and I led her to Christmany years ago and she had been faithful to church ever since. However, by accident I learned of her leadinga double life since last spring. Bonnieand I confronted her about her sin and she explained how she realizes herchoices made were not consistent with a proper Biblical testimony. However, she was unrepentant which led to herbeing disciplined out of the church.

I am so grateful for BrotherKosty who works as a representative for a Swiss pharmaceutical company. Unfortunately, he misses half of the servicesbecause of out of town business trips. However, when he is in town he is always faithful to church and manytimes is able to convince his unsaved son, Igor (left), to come with him. I would like to ask that you pray especiallyhard for Igor to be saved along with his mother. I know Brother Kosty would be grateful.

Bonnie’s Corner

Although I love living in ourRussian village, at times I do feel isolated and long for fellowship in theEnglish language. My husband iswonderful, but there are those time that I need to just get away and have somefellowship with other Christian ladies. We are privileged to have in Krasnoyarsk several good missionaryfamilies with ministries either in the city or in a village not far away.

This past Thanksgiving and thenagain just before Christmas all of these families were able to get together forsome long overdue fellowship. It wassure nice to hide away with the other ladies and just chat.

Kid’s Corner

How are you? My name isElizabeth. I am 8 years old. In July I will be 9 years old. We have three dogs. The first is Max, the second is Storm, andthe third is Jake. I am going to thevillage school. I am in the secondgrade. My teacher’s name is NadezdaAlexandrovna. I have three friends. They are Yana , Lena, and Ksusha.

I like playing out in the snowand sledding. My sisters and I try tomake little snowmen. I love getting lettersfrom people in America. When Dad is intown he goes to the post office and checks for boxes or letters. When he comes home I always ask him if thereis a letter for me. I love to help Momin the house: clean, dust, and wash floors.

Bible Study in Village of Shela

2012-01-16T19:32:00.000+08:00

Evelyn Grace's 5th Birthday Party at "Planeta"

2011-12-30T19:52:00.000+08:00

We had a great time with the family at "Planeta"(our Russian version of a mall) where we invited the Dean family, also missionaries to Russia, to celebrate Evelyn's 5th birthday party. We had Pizza and KFC Hot Wings. Sure was good.

A Day in Krasnoyarsk Slideshow

2011-12-30T19:46:00.000+08:00

Kacha River at Sunset

2011-12-16T17:07:00.000+08:00

Today woke up to -28C (-18.4F). Bonnie walked the girls to school. In the afternoon went for a drive through the village and took some nice photos. Thought you would like to see some of them. Click for more photos

The Peach

2011-12-13T12:45:00.000+08:00

I'm Evelyn, and will be 5 years old on December 30. My nickname is "The Peach". I like to play outside and go sledding. Someday I want to have a real horse to play with. I like to play with the dogs outside. Sometimes Jake breaks his chain. I have a doll named Susan. I also love bananas and apples.

Reuben Turns One

2011-11-30T13:48:00.001+08:00

Well our little man has finally turned ONE. We want to thank those of you who have sent birthday cards and/or e-card greetings. Also, your prayers for our family are definitely felt and needed. Thank you for your faithfulness to remember our family to the Lord. Please continue to pray for our church planting ministry here in Siberia, Russia. Also, pray for Russia and that the door of opportunities we currently enjoy do not close.

Happy Thanksgiving Holiday

2011-11-24T20:07:00.001+08:00

Our family wishes each of you a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. We
enjoyed it with fellow missionaries here in Krasnoyarsk. It was a
great time. Thank you for your prayers for our family and ministry
here in Siberia, Russia. May our Lord bless you abundantly for your
faithfulness to him and for being part in seeing the Gospel
message proclaimed around world.

Hallelujah Chorus -Quinhagak, Alaska

2011-11-17T10:05:00.000+08:00

Heath update

2011-10-29T12:30:00.001+08:00

I want to thank all of you that have prayed for our family during this recent bout with the flu. Your emails of encouragement have done just that and more. Most of the kids are on the way to recovery. High temps hung for about 5 days but now seem to have past. Just the snogs and coughs holding on.

Woke up today and everything was covered with snow. Temps just under freezing at the moment. This has been a super warm fall. We are just waiting for the temps to drop. Actually, that would not be so bad. Of late, it has been real wet and muddy. A good freeze will keep things much cleaner.

2011-10-24T19:30:00.000+08:00

My father, Retired Colonel USAF Clifford D. Hearron, sent me the link to this short video clip. I hope it stirs you as it did him and me. May we appreciate those that serve in our place with a higher level of dignity and respect.

A short documentary film about the extraordinary sacrificeand inspiring resilience of brave American men and women in uniform who haveserved in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11, been wounded, and are role models ofthe human capacity to overcome adversity. http://nspyr.com/

Pray for healing

2011-10-23T22:30:00.001+08:00

Please pray for our family at this time. All five kids sick with fevers and or severe coughs. Mom also under the weather. Dads got a cough too. Three dogs seem to be healthy. Lucky them.

Russian government tries to prohibit free religious activity

2011-10-20T10:56:00.001+08:00

BECAUSE SEVERAL OF OUR BLOG SUBSCRIBERS HAVE MENTIONED THAT THIS PREVIOUS POSTING WAS NOT READABLE IN THEIR EMAIL INBOX, I AM RE-POSTING IT AS FOLLOWS:

I would ask that you pray that the following proposed changesto the law governing freedom of religion in Russia does not pass. Our church planting ministry operates underthe laws defining a "Religious Group". If the changes are put into law"Religious Groups" are removed from the law and our church plantingactivities and worship would be illegal. Please pass on and pray.

RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE HAS PRODUCED DRAFT LAWSUBSTANTIALLY RESTRICTING RIGHTS OF UNREGISTERED RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS

Portal-credo.ru, 7 October 2011

Soon in Russia only officially registered religiousassociations will be able to teach religious doctrines to their adherents. Andonly a religious organization that is a member of a centralized religiousassociation will be able to publish books and teach children in Sunday schools.As "Gazeta.ru" reports, such amendments to the law on freedom ofconscience of 1997 have been proposed by the Ministry of Justice of RF and havebeen found to be discriminatory by Russian rights advocates and competentinternational organizations (several provisions of this law have beeneliminated by the Constitutional Court of the Russian federation).

The text of the draft law was published by the Ministry ofJustice on 6 October. It specifically contains a prohibition of religiousassociations that have not been registered with a territorial office of theMinistry of Justice (in existing law they are called "religiousgroups") for engagement in religious activity and conduct of services.

According to the amendments, citizens who have decided toform a religious group will have to inform the Ministry of Justice in writingeven if they do not intend in the future (after 15 years as existing lawprovides) to register and to acquire the status of legal entity (juridicalperson). The only religious group that will be able to be registered is onewith no fewer than ten persons and that has submitted a charter and passed astate religious studies expert analysis. At the same time the state retains theright to refuse registration of such an association on the basis of a wholeseries of instances—in particular, if its "goals and activity"violate the constitution and Russian legislation generally, and "if theorganization is not recognized as religious in accordance with establishedprocedure."

The draft law eliminates the fifteen-year period that isrequired for registration of newly created religious organizations that are notmembers of centralized religious organizations.

Existing law divides religious associations intoorganizations and groups. Religious groups may operate without registration andthey have the right to worship in private apartments and teach religion totheir members. The document proposed by the Ministry of Justice effectivelyeliminates the very concept of a religious group operating without governmentalregistration.

As the expert from the Institute of Human Rights, LevLevinson, explained in a conversation with "Gazeta.ru," newly createdreligious structures will be required to be registered as local organizations,if they are not a part of centralized organizations like, for example, parishesof RPTsMP. "At the same time, for aperiod of ten years they will not have the right to create educationalinstitutions and Sunday schools, or to invite foreign citizens for professionalpurposes, or to open foreign representations, or to conduct religiousceremonies in hospitals, prisons, and boarding schools, or to publish anddistribute religious literature or create news media," the rights advocateexplained. All these things will be ableto be done only by those religious organizations that are members of acentralized structure. In Levinson's opinion, this will make any alternativereligious movement impossible: "Itturns out that religious and spiritual development will be banned."

Levinson thinks that the draft law effectively protectslarge church structures from schisms and it is they who will primarily bepleased with the law. "I would notrule out that this draft law was made with the participation or with lobbyingof religious confessions who are trying thereby to resolve their own internalproblems or conflicts," an "Agora" analyst, Ramil Akhmettaliev,concurs with Levinson. "So far as I understand it, this is also pleasingto the state. This makes it convenient for it to communicate with religiouspersons. Through the center. This is the vertical of power, transferred toreligious organizations."

In Akhmettaliev's opinion, the draft law proposes torestrict the right of freedom of religious confession. In addition, thanks toit centralized religious organizations, such as for example RPTsMP, will beable to establish control over regional religious organizations.

"This will create barriers for the existence of localorganizations that do not agree with the policies of the large centralizedassociations. This applies to all confessions. Such a trend was evident longago. This position of the Ministry of Justice has already been existing inpractice. We have received complaints from local organizations who wanted to exitfrom large organizations and have tried to register, and everything came downto the fact that either you remain under the roof of the centralizedorganization or we will refuse you," the rights advocate explained. (tr.by PDS, posted 7 October 2011)

"CONSCIENCE IS FREED FROM ASSOCIATIONS. MINISTRY OFJUSTICE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO LAW TOUGHENING REQUIREMENTS ON RELIGIOUSORGANIZATIONS"

by Andrei Melnikov

Nezavisimaia gazeta, 7 October 2011

The Russian Ministry of Justice published a draft ofamendments to the federal law "On freedom of conscience and religiousassociations." The draft is available for study on the Web site of theministry. Until 10 October citizens will be able to discuss the document.Experts have noted a trend toward greater regulation of religious associationsand restriction of free confession of faith.

An analysis of the proposed amendments reveals severalsubstantive innovations. The concept of a religious group has been eliminated,that is, an association of people on the basis of a single religiousconfession; groups have not been required to have governmental registration.Thus the principle of the functioning of religious associations will changefrom an informational basis to one of strict authorization. At the same time, thelist of reasons for which an organization can be denied registration has beenexpanded. According to existing law, groups of three to ten persons mayassemble for confession, preaching, and worship without applying forregistration but merely informing a state office of their existence.

The requirements for centralization of associations havebeen further intensified. Local religious organizations that have notestablished the fact of their membership in centralized organizations arerestricted in their rights, including the right of creating educationalinstitutions. In addition, the requirement of a state religious studies expertanalysis has been instituted. Finally, the role of registration agencies hasbeen strengthened. Apparently it isbeing proposed that decisions with regard to the activity of one or anotherassociation will be made not on the basis of governmental action but asadministrative actions of the Ministry of Justice, which makes the decisionregarding registration, and of the taxation service, which maintains theregister of legal entities. However there are no precise formulations in thedocument and one can only guess what the authors of the amendments have in mindon this particular point.

Mikhail Odintsov, the head of the Department for Protectionof Freedom of Conscience of the apparatus of the Plenipotentiary for HumanRights of RF, identified in the proposals of the Ministry of Justice severalchanges that refine the wording. Although regarding the rest the expert hadseveral comments. In his opinion, the law should reflect current practice oflegal relations, but these additions eliminate from the legal field religiousgroups, which today constitute 20 to 30% of religious associations. Odintsovrecalled that even soviet legislation contained the provision for religiousgroups, although it required their compulsory registration. In addition, theexpert noted, the standard for conducting a state religious studies expertanalysis is not prescribed sufficiently clearly. "Who will conduct theexpert analysis? How? Within what period of time?"—such questions remainedwith the expert after he studied the document. "The word 'association'should be removed from the title of this law and be replaced by the word'organization,' Odintsov added.

"The essence of the draft law is to create newimpediments for the activity of associations of 'nontraditional'religions," thinks State Councilor First Class Andrei Sebentsov."Elimination of religious groups from the law effectively creates a situationof a ban on religious activity without registration, and the remainingproposals violate so much the spirit of decisions of the European Court forHuman Rights that it is simply amazing how much we (in the person of theMinistry of Justice) are managing to create precedents for worsening theproblems in the guise of solving them," the expert concluded.

It is interesting that almost immediately after thepublication of the draft law there appeared the news that the EcclesiasticalBoard of Muslims of the European Part of Russia (Moscow muftiat) filed suit inthe Abitration Court of the capital for finding the registration of theEcclesiastical Board of Muslims of Moscow and the Central Region of Russia(Moscow muftiate) to be illegal. In the opinion of the former board, theborrowing of a part of the title is a violation of the law and is not in accordwith the requirements of the law on the procedure for registration ofcentralized religious organizations.

(tr. by PDS, posted 7 October 2011)

Russian original posted on site of Interfax-Religiia, 7October 2011

Need more Blog Followers and Prayer Warriors

2011-10-19T17:03:00.001+08:00

Is there someone you could recommend our blog to? We would love to increase circulation of our updates from the mission field. Please forward our blog to your friends and family and ask them to fill in the subscription form and then respond to the confirmation email they will receive. It is that simple.

Maybe your church supports our church planting ministry. Please pass on to your Pastor and congregations how they too can sign up to receive our E-News updates via our Blog. The more people following and praying for our ministry the better.

Thanks for your help.

Greetings and an Update from Siberia

2011-10-19T16:50:00.000+08:00

Just wanted to thank each of you that are parying that the proposed changes to the Russian law overseeing religious freedom will not pass. So far I have no other information to pass on to you. Keep praying.

Evelyn, our 4 year old, came down sick with a very high temperature. After about two days it finally broke and we were thankful to the Lord. It is so difficult see your children sick and not able to do anything about it except give medicine and pray. Evelyn, Abigail and I still have a bad cough. If you could remember us in your prayers we would be thankful.

Several have asked about our support level. Well, this is a topic that I do not like to dwell on long. We have always trusted the Lord to provide for our family and church planting ministry and continue to do so. However, the truth is that we badly need additional support. We were hoping to come home this coming Spring and Summer 2012 but have put that plan off for another year. Just to many obstacles to include the immigration status of our two youngest children.

We have applied for their Russian temporary residency but have still a few more months to wait an answer. Also, I have submitted the paper work to renew our Permanent residency permits for the rest of the family. I must also wait several months for their official answer. The immigration inspector told me that everything looks in order. But who knows? Please be in prayer about this. So, if you know of any churches that would like to support our ministry or if your church already supports our ministry and might be able to increase our support, then please contact me. We would be grateful for any help.

Pray for our Krasnoyarsk city church family. Satan has been making his rounds and we have a few issues that have developed. Please pray that people will make Biblical decisions and not ones that our influenced by their heart or feelings.

I want to share a blessing with you. For over three years I have been waiting to get a garage door installed on our garage. Praise the Lord we have one now and it works wonderfully. I should be able to save lots in gas money that I have in the past years used to start my car throughout the day to keep the engine from freezing up and not starting in the heart of winter when temps are -30F or lower for weeks at a time. I hope that the savings in gas will pay for a good portion of the cost of the door.

Before

After

Unregistered Baptists object to proposed law changes

2011-10-13T18:37:00.001+08:00

BAPTISTS (INITSIATIVNIKI) APPEAL TO RUSSIAN PRESIDENT REQUESTING REJECTION OF DRAFT LAW OF MINISTRY OF JUSTICE RESTRICTING FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCEPortal-credo.ru, 10 October 2011Moscow Evangelical Christians-Baptists (Initsiativniki) expressed in a letter to the president of the Russian federation their concern over the contents of a draft of amendments to the federal law "On freedom of conscience and religious association," which was prepared by the Russian Ministry of Justice, a Portal-credo.ru correspondent reports.In particular, the draft law eliminates the concept of a religious group, which in existing law is defined as "a voluntary association of citizens formed for the purpose of joint confession and dissemination of faith, which conducts activity without state registration and the acquiring of the legal status of juridical person. . . . Religious groups have the right to conduct worship services and other religious rites and ceremonies and also to conduct teaching of religion and the religious education of their adherents" (federal law of 26 September 1997, "On freedom of conscience and religious associations," art. 7, points 1,3)."Thus, according to the draft law, jointly to confess and disseminate faith and 'to conduct worship services and other religious rites and ceremonies and also to conduct teaching of religion and the religious education of their adherents,' that is, to enjoy the right to freedom of conscience and religious confession will be a right possessed only by those citizens who are members of registered religious associations. All other citizens will be deprived of this right," the letter says.In the believers' opinion, "this violates the constitution of RF which declares: 'everyone is guaranteed freedom of conscience, freedom of religious confession, including the right to confess individually or jointly with others any religion or not to confess any, freely to choose, have, and disseminate religious and other convictions and to act in accordance with them" (Constitution of RF, art. 28). That is, the constitution of RF guarantees the right to freedom of conscience to every citizen independently of his membership in a registered religious association."The authors of the letter also declare that "such registration contradicts the biblical principle: 'render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.' Christians as citizens of the state acknowledge the state's authority and observe the state's laws, but in questions of faith, conscience, morality, and service to God we may be guided only by God's commandments. Therefore for Christians who wish to obey the commandments of Jesus Christ in everything, such registration is unacceptable."The believers express the fear that in the event of the adoption of the proposed amendments, the authorities will illegally require citizens who wish to exercise their constitutional right to freedom of conscience to join a registered religious association, and the unregistered EKhB churches will be placed outside the law. Thus the adoption of the amendments proposed in this draft law will lead to the denial to citizens of RF one of the basic human rights, the right to freedom of conscience and religious confession and, as a result, to repressions and persecutions with respect to peaceful believing citizens and to a worsening of conditions in society and the creation of a totalitarian regime in the state.The letter also says that "in proposing the amendments imposing on the church control on the part of the state and preventing the free confession of faith, the composers of the draft law in effect are trying to deprive Jesus Christ of the right to be head of the church (Bible, Epistle to the Ephesians 1:22) and to transfer this right to the state. The adoption of such laws is a sin against God and a violation of the order established by him. The Lord Jesus Christ gave his life in order to give those who believe in him forgiveness of sins and eternal life; the church must obey him and fulfill his commandments, and nobody has been given the right to encroach upon his place and authority in the church."The letter ends with a request to turn down the discriminatory amendments proposed in the draft law and to take measures for preserving the constitutional right to freedom of conscience and religious confession. (tr. by PDS, posted 11 October 2011)Russia Religion News Current News Items

Rights advocates criticize proposed restriction on religious activity

2011-10-13T18:36:00.000+08:00

ALL RELIGIOUS GROUPS MAY BE LIQUIDATED IN RUSSIAAppeal of the Guild of Experts on Religion and Law to clergy and believers regarding amendments to federal law "On freedom of conscience and religious associations"Brothers and Sisters,On 5 October 2011 there was posted on the web site of the Ministry of Justice of RF a draft of a federal law of the Russian federation "On introducing changed in the federal law 'On freedom of conscience and religions associations.'" This is the first serious attempt by agencies of justice to change radically the currently existing law on freedom of conscience of 1997. Previously the Ministry of Justice has proposed a draft of a separate law on regulating evangelistic activity, but it was renounced by all religious associations. However in essence a tightening of regulations on evangelistic activity within the framework of yet another law may be the next step after revolutionary changes in the law on freedom of conscience.The draft of the amendments of the Ministry of Justice of RF in the law on freedom of conscience makes the following corrections in the life of religious associations and believers:1. Comprehensive religious activity will be impossible within the framework of a religious group; the very concept of a religious group is being eliminated from the law.Everyone will be required to be registered, and any other forms of religious activity—meetings of a religious group in a home without registration, and especially evangelistic activity or teaching religion to believers—will be considered illegal. The natural possible consequences of the amendments to the law are fines for the activity of a religious association without registration and, as a result, liability to criminal responsibility.2. At the time of registration, all associations will pass through a filter of a religious studies expert analysis (the Council for Conducting State Religious Studies Expert Analysis in the Ministry of Justice is headed by the "sect-fighter" Alexander Dvorkin).The law on freedom of conscience will contain a separate chapter devoted to state religious studies expert analysis, raising its status and authority. Decisions of the experts will be the basis for refusing registration.3. Believers and congregations and their literature will be examined for extremism with doubled energy.The amendments emphasize the importance of applying the law "On combating extremist activity" to religious associations. On the basis of this law, as is now especially noted, "a religious organization may be liquidated and the activity of the religious organization may be curtailed and prohibited."4. A discriminatory ten-year period will be introduced for organizations that cannot establish their membership in a centralized religious organization.Such organizations do not have the right to create their own educational institutions, or the right to invite foreign preachers, or the right to form a centralized organization, or the right to teach religion to their children in general education schools extracurricularly, or the right to evangelize in prisons and social institutions, etc.The Guild of Experts on Religion and Law is concerned at the appearance of such amendments and it appeals to all believers and leaders of religious associations to stand up in defense of freedom of conscience in Russia.We will collect all letters, suggestions, and appeals of citizens and churches and publish them on our "Religiia I pravo" portal (address: info@religionip.ru). The president of Russia, the prime minister, the Ministry of Justice, the central news media, and society as a whole must hear the voice of believers.Prosecution of any religious activity without registration and the expansion of possibilities for arbitrariness through expert analysis and examination for extremism places Russia among those states that violate religious liberty and their own constitution and sets itself in opposition to international norms and standards in the area of freedom of religion and convictions. Roman Lunkin, president of Guild of Experts on Religion and LawInna Zagrevina, chairman of Board of Directors of Guild of Experts on Religion and Law(tr. by PDS, posted 11 October 2011)Russian original posted on "Portal-credo.ru" site, 10 October 2011

"180" The Movie

2011-10-11T18:46:00.000+08:00

Russian government tries to prohibit free religious activity

2011-10-10T09:50:00.000+08:00

Would ask that you pray that the following proposed changesto the law governing freedom of religion in Russia does not pass. Our church planting ministry operates underthe laws defining a "Religious Group". If the changes are put into law"Religious Groups" are removed from the law and our church plantingactivities and worship would be illegal. Please pass on and pray.

RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE HAS PRODUCED DRAFT LAWSUBSTANTIALLY RESTRICTING RIGHTS OF UNREGISTERED RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS

Portal-credo.ru,7 October 2011

Soon in Russia only officially registered religious associations will be ableto teach religious doctrines to their adherents. And only a religiousorganization that is a member of a centralized religious association will beable to publish books and teach children in Sunday schools. As"Gazeta.ru" reports, such amendments to the law on freedom ofconscience of 1997 have been proposed by the Ministry of Justice of RF and havebeen found to be discriminatory by Russian rights advocates and competentinternational organizations (several provisions of this law have beeneliminated by the Constitutional Court of the Russian federation).

The text of the draft law was published by the Ministry of Justice on 6October. It specifically contains a prohibition of religious associations thathave not been registered with a territorial office of the Ministry of Justice(in existing law they are called "religious groups") for engagementin religious activity and conduct of services.

According to the amendments, citizens who have decided to form a religiousgroup will have to inform the Ministry of Justice in writing even if they donot intend in the future (after 15 years as existing law provides) to registerand to acquire the status of legal entity (juridical person). The onlyreligious group that will be able to be registered is one with no fewer thanten persons and that has submitted a charter and passed a state religiousstudies expert analysis. At the same time the state retains the right to refuseregistration of such an association on the basis of a whole series ofinstances—in particular, if its "goals and activity" violate theconstitution and Russian legislation generally, and "if the organizationis not recognized as religious in accordance with established procedure."

The draft law eliminates the fifteen-year period that is required forregistration of newly created religious organizations that are not members ofcentralized religious organizations.

Existing law divides religious associations into organizations and groups.Religious groups may operate without registration and they have the right toworship in private apartments and teach religion to their members. The documentproposed by the Ministry of Justice effectively eliminates the very concept ofa religious group operating without governmental registration.

As the expert from the Institute of Human Rights, Lev Levinson, explained in aconversation with "Gazeta.ru," newly created religious structureswill be required to be registered as local organizations, if they are not apart of centralized organizations like, for example, parishes of RPTsMP. "At the same time, for a period of ten years they will not have the rightto create educational institutions and Sunday schools, or to invite foreigncitizens for professional purposes, or to open foreign representations, or toconduct religious ceremonies in hospitals, prisons, and boarding schools, or topublish and distribute religious literature or create news media," therights advocate explained. All these things will be able to be done onlyby those religious organizations that are members of a centralized structure.In Levinson's opinion, this will make any alternative religious movementimpossible: "It turns out that religious and spiritual developmentwill be banned."

Levinson thinks that the draft law effectively protects large church structuresfrom schisms and it is they who will primarily be pleased with the law. "I would not rule out that this draft law was made with the participationor with lobbying of religious confessions who are trying thereby to resolvetheir own internal problems or conflicts," an "Agora" analyst,Ramil Akhmettaliev, concurs with Levinson. "So far as I understand it,this is also pleasing to the state. This makes it convenient for it tocommunicate with religious persons. Through the center. This is the vertical ofpower, transferred to religious organizations."

In Akhmettaliev's opinion, the draft law proposes to restrict the right offreedom of religious confession. In addition, thanks to it centralizedreligious organizations, such as for example RPTsMP, will be able to establishcontrol over regional religious organizations.

"This will create barriers for the existence of local organizations thatdo not agree with the policies of the large centralized associations. Thisapplies to all confessions. Such a trend was evident long ago. This position ofthe Ministry of Justice has already been existing in practice. We have receivedcomplaints from local organizations who wanted to exit from large organizationsand have tried to register, and everything came down to the fact that eitheryou remain under the roof of the centralized organization or we will refuseyou," the rights advocate explained. (tr. by PDS, posted 7 October 2011)

"CONSCIENCE IS FREED FROM ASSOCIATIONS. MINISTRY OF JUSTICE PROPOSEDAMENDMENTS TO LAW TOUGHENING REQUIREMENTS ON RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS"
by Andrei Melnikov
Nezavisimaia gazeta, 7 October 2011

The Russian Ministry of Justice published a draft of amendments to the federallaw "On freedom of conscience and religious associations." The draftis available for study on the Web site of the ministry. Until 10 Octobercitizens will be able to discuss the document. Experts have noted a trendtoward greater regulation of religious associations and restriction of freeconfession of faith.

An analysis of the proposed amendments reveals several substantive innovations.The concept of a religious group has been eliminated, that is, an associationof people on the basis of a single religious confession; groups have not beenrequired to have governmental registration. Thus the principle of thefunctioning of religious associations will change from an informational basisto one of strict authorization. At the same time, the list of reasons for whichan organization can be denied registration has been expanded. According toexisting law, groups of three to ten persons may assemble for confession,preaching, and worship without applying for registration but merely informing astate office of their existence.

The requirements for centralization of associations have been furtherintensified. Local religious organizations that have not established the factof their membership in centralized organizations are restricted in theirrights, including the right of creating educational institutions. In addition,the requirement of a state religious studies expert analysis has beeninstituted. Finally, the role of registration agencies has beenstrengthened. Apparently it is being proposed that decisions with regardto the activity of one or another association will be made not on the basis ofgovernmental action but as administrative actions of the Ministry of Justice,which makes the decision regarding registration, and of the taxation service,which maintains the register of legal entities. However there are no preciseformulations in the document and one can only guess what the authors of theamendments have in mind on this particular point.

Mikhail Odintsov, the head of the Department for Protection of Freedom ofConscience of the apparatus of the Plenipotentiary for Human Rights of RF,identified in the proposals of the Ministry of Justice several changes thatrefine the wording. Although regarding the rest the expert had severalcomments. In his opinion, the law should reflect current practice of legalrelations, but these additions eliminate from the legal field religious groups,which today constitute 20 to 30% of religious associations. Odintsov recalledthat even soviet legislation contained the provision for religious groups,although it required their compulsory registration. In addition, the expertnoted, the standard for conducting a state religious studies expert analysis isnot prescribed sufficiently clearly. "Who will conduct the expertanalysis? How? Within what period of time?"—such questions remained withthe expert after he studied the document. "The word 'association' shouldbe removed from the title of this law and be replaced by the word'organization,' Odintsov added.

"The essence of the draft law is to create new impediments for theactivity of associations of 'nontraditional' religions," thinks StateCouncilor First Class Andrei Sebentsov. "Elimination of religious groupsfrom the law effectively creates a situation of a ban on religious activitywithout registration, and the remaining proposals violate so much the spirit ofdecisions of the European Court for Human Rights that it is simply amazing howmuch we (in the person of the Ministry of Justice) are managing to createprecedents for worsening the problems in the guise of solving them," theexpert concluded.

It is interesting that almost immediately after the publication of the draftlaw there appeared the news that the Ecclesiastical Board of Muslims of theEuropean Part of Russia (Moscow muftiat) filed suit in the Abitration Court ofthe capital for finding the registration of the Ecclesiastical Board of Muslimsof Moscow and the Central Region of Russia (Moscow muftiate) to be illegal. Inthe opinion of the former board, the borrowing of a part of the title is aviolation of the law and is not in accord with the requirements of the law onthe procedure for registration of centralized religious organizations. (tr. byPDS, posted 7 October 2011)

Russian original posted on site of Interfax-Religiia,7 October 2011

Ministry Newsletter Third Quarter 2011

2011-10-04T17:28:00.005+08:00

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Your Faithfulness is Appreciated!

In these days of financial stress and ruin for many, our family is reminded daily of the faithfulness of you, our supporters. Your relentless prayer and financial support for our church planting ministry in Siberia is not taken lightly. We have heard the many stories of missionaries that have been forced to leave the field due to a sharp fall in support. Although we have lost only a handful of supporting churches, we have so far been able to stay on the field. Please do not stop praying for us!

Village Church Building Project

Only financial constraints have hindered further progress on our future village church meeting place. I have, however, made some progress. With the help of my two oldest daughters and Bonnie, my wife, I have been able to insulate and install the furring strips to which I will nail tongue and groove wood siding. Quality craftsmen in the village are almost non existent. As a result, I have had to redo much of the work done by previous workers. So, slowly but surely I’m making progress. The cost for the wood tongue and groove is $2500.00. I have decided to use this type of wall material because of the large fluctuations in temperatures this facility will experience due to my plan to heat it in the winter time just before services. If you would like to help with this expense I would be grateful.

Update On Our Krasnoyarsk Church

In our last newsletter I told you of Irena’s profession of faith. She has been a blessing to our family. Our children have taken a particular liking to her. For most of the spring and into the beginning of the summer, Irena’s common law husband, Andrei, was faithful to attend services. He has heard the Gospel but has yet to repent and believe on Christ. Please pray that I might have further opportunity to witness to him. Also, pray for husband and wife, Lyba and Nikolai. Lyba is Irena’s mother. She battles alcoholism, however, she has attended church a handful of times. On one visit to their home I met Nikolai, her husband. Pray that I might have further opportunity to witness to him.

Vera, and her two daughters have started attending church again. Our family has known Vera for most of our time in Siberia. She has several issues that hinder her Christian growth; but, we hope that in her coming her two young daughters would one day come to Christ. Pray for this family. Vera’s children were fathered by an Uzbekistani named Barboohan. He works remodeling jobs in Krasnoyarsk. On two occasions I have had opportunity to witness to him. He has asked for an Uzbek Bible. If someone could find this Bible and send it to me I will give it to him.

This summer we had a Baptismal service in the river that flows through our village. The water is always ice cold and as is typical on the day we were to baptize, the weather turned rainy and cold. In spite of the this we had three that followed the Lord in believer’s baptism: Kosty, Irena and Julia. Afterwards, we drove to our home and had a wonderful barbecue. It was a great time of fellowship for all who attended.

Bonnie’s Corner

Garden time in Russia is a family affair. The girls and I planted potatoes, carrots, beets, corn, beans, peas, squash and, of course, the leafy garden greenery delights. What grew was a different story. The girls were excited to see what corn would grow like. So was I. In the end the largest ear was only about four inches long. My husband joked that someone glued little corn niblets from the salad bar on the stalks of corn.

I didn’t think our carrots would have a chance due to the almost daily Hearron girl raids on the garden. They just loved hopping the fence and pulling up several carrots to eat. We have banned the phrase, “What’s up doc?”. I think they have watched too many Bugs Bunny cartoons.

Kid’s Corner

How are you. I am Abigail. I am six years old. I go to the village day care where I am learning Russian language. Karina is my friend. She is six years old too. I help my daddy build the village church house. It is very hard but I like helping very much.

We have three dogs. One is Storm . One is Max and one is Jake. When I pet Jake he jumps on me and sometimes scratches me. My job is to feed them and to get them on and off the chain. They are good dogs.

Reuben is my little brother. He is so fun. Sometimes he yanks on all of our hair. He is fun and getting big. Sometimes Mommy asks me to watch him when she goes outside. I try to be a good big sister.

I like to get letters in the post office. If you can write.

Hurray!!

2011-08-30T15:40:00.001+08:00

After almost four years in the village, I think that we have found a way to have a reliable high speed internet connection. The cell phone company that I use just recently put a cell tower in our village and made available 3G access to the internet. I bought a special USB modem and so far works as good as the DSL internet I used to have in the city in our apartment. I hope this service will allow me to stay in better touch with you our supporters and readers as I am now able to do more blog entries and etc.

Baptismal Service July 2011

2011-07-10T15:36:00.001+08:00

We had a great baptismal service on July 10, 2011 in the Kacha River that flows through our village where we live. Three people received baptism. Afterwards we returned to our home and had a barbecue and great time of fellowship.

Ministry Newsletter First Quarter 2011

2011-06-30T16:10:00.000+08:00

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Blessings and Answers to Our Prayers

We are so grateful to each of you that have been faithful to pray for our church planting ministry here in Siberia, Russia. I would like to inform you that we did not have to go to Moscow to the US Consulate to apply for our new son, Reuben’s, Consular Report of Birth and Passport. In fact, the Moscow US Consulate came to us. Yes, not long after sending out our last newsletter I received an email from the Citizen Affairs office of the US Consulate informing of their planned trip to a neighboring city located 800 miles west of Krasnoyarsk.

Knowing this, I decided to send an email to a contact of mine in this department and see if they would be willing to visit Krasnoyarsk as well. Well, to my surprise they were willing. After a few more emails and a call or two, I was able to help them arrange their visit to our city. In mid March we met with the consular officials in the restaurant of their hotel, in which they were staying, and filled out all of the paper work for our new son and for newer passports for our four daughters. For all of this I paid $625 plus the $100 for the express postage from Moscow to our home for mailing of the Report of Birth and new Passports. What a blessing. Bonnie and I were dreading the expense to go in person to Moscow. Praise to he Lord; we have a great God!

Now, I have an additional request I need you to pray about. We need to submit the necessary Russian immigration documentation for our two youngest children. Under current Russian immigration law, they are not allowed to receive automatic Permanent Residency as my other three daughters did. At that time the rules were different and they were simply added to Bonnie and mine’s Permanent Residency. Now, all new born children must apply for and reside in Russia under a temporary residency status for at least a year before they can then apply for their own Permanent Residency. The current state of immigration rules is really a mess, as many in the immigration office will tell you. But rules are rules. However, our God is great and He can move the waters.

Please pray with us on this issue. Our ability to exit Russia for our long needed furlough next April/May 2012 hinges on our getting this immigration matter in order. If not, our children could not leave Russia and certainly we will not go without them.

Special Ministry Request

In our last letter, I shared with you an idea I had about an older retired couple surrendering to help in our church planting ministry here in the heart of Siberia. To date, I received only one general inquiry. The concept I wrote about is very workable should the Lord call a couple to this ministry. Please continue to pray that if this be the Lord’s will that He will provide a husband and wife team to help us in the work here in our field of service.

Should you wish to know more about this opportunity please feel free to contact me via email at the following address: dhearron@thehearronfamily.com.

Update On Our Krasnoyarsk Church

In January the Lord answered prayer by providing a lady to help Bonnie with some of the domestic cleaning duties in our home. Irena was eager to help Bonnie and quickly developed a bond with our children. I invited Irena to attend services with us at our city church. She agreed and began attending. I was quick to lean that, although Irena had been reading her Bible regularly during the last 5-7 years and trying to live a virtuous life, she had never been born again. This question in her life came to a head after her second visit to our church when on the way home she asked me what I meant while preaching that day on repentance.

One day at the end of her work , she came to me expressing an inner discomfort and wondered if we were dissatisfied with her quality of cleaning, to which I said, "of course not, we could not be more pleased". However, as we talked further I could discern, and later she conferred, that she was troubled inside her spirit. We talked for over two hours at the kitchen table, reading several passages regarding salvation and the need to be "born again". In my summary to her, I suggested that her problem most likely was conviction by the Holy Spirit regarding her lack of a new birth in Christ, irrespective of the fact that she had been trying the best she could to maintain an outward Christian like testimony. She admitted that this was in fact the truth.

It was such a blessing to pray with her and hear her repent, and by faith, confess Christ as the Lord and acknowledge her belief in His resurrection from the dead. Afterward, she remarked that although she had attended other religious services, to include the JW's, I was the first person able to teach God's word to her in such a clear and understandable way. Of course, you and I know that I was just the messenger. The Holy Spirit was doing the calling and illuminating.

Bonnie’s Corner

People ask, “what do you do in Siberia when the temperatures are sub zero”. Well, ask the Three Amigos. Isn’t it great to have a kid’s imagination. Something as simple as dad’s work sawhorses can turn into the real thing. However, this kind requires no heated barn in –40F.

Both Duane and I are grateful to be able to live in the village where our children have access to a large yard for running and playing, something we did not have in the big city.

A great court ruling...read at link below

2011-06-30T09:40:00.001+08:00

http://themoscownews.com/society/20110629/188796907.html

Another Moment Around the Table: A Thirty-Second Drama

2011-05-16T18:51:00.000+08:00

Cast:
Bonnie (Mom)
Elizabeth (7yrs)
Abigail (6yrs)
Evelyn (4yrs)
Helen (2yrs)

Setting:
Mom and the girls are sitting around the dining room table having supper. Dad (fortunately) is tucked away in his office doing paperwork. Reuben, the only other smart male in the family at five months old, is tucked away in his crib.

Abigail: Mom, how do babies come out?

Bonnie: (shocked and embarrassed trying not to show it) Ask your father.

Abigail: Mom, she doesn't want to answer. She's embarrassed.

Elizabeth: No, she's not embarrassed. Dad, just knows everything. (pause) They get them out with a knife. (swipes hand in the air as if cutting with a knife)

Abigail: (looking aghast and horrified) Nooooooo!

Unregistered Baptists persecuted in Belarus

2011-05-06T16:07:00.002+08:00

Unregistered Baptists (Initsiativniki) persecuted in Belarus

BAPTIST PASTOR FINED FOR LEADING SERVICE
International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, 23 April 2011

Dear Brothers and Sisters, on 13 February 2011 police officers of the city of Gomel, republic of Belarus, broke up a Sunday divine worship service of a church of the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians –Baptists (MSTsEKhB). They confiscated compact disks, audio cassettes, and Christian literature and also drew up a protocol respecting the minister of the church, Nikolai Ivanovich Varushin.

On 5 April 2011 a court of the Zheleznodorozhnyi region of Gomel reviewed the case regarding administrative violation of part 2, article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Violation of Law of the republic of Belarus (violation of the procedure of organizing and conducting mass events or demonstrations). On the basis of the protocol, in which it was said that N.I. Varushin "organized and conducted an illegal prayer service without have obtained appropriate permission for this," the court issued a decision to subject him to a fine of 1,050,000 Belorussian rubles (USD345). In addition, the court ordered to confiscate all the literature, compact disks, and audio cassettes that were seized.

On 18 April 2011 the prosecutor of the Zheleznodorozhnyi region of Gomel, D.A. Mikushev, issued to N.I. Varushin an official warning in which it was said:

"In the course of a prosecutorial investigation on information from the KGB directorate for Gomel province it was established that in the city of Gomel at the address building 14 9th Inogorodnaiai Street the religious society of the International Council of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists conducted illegal activity, and you were one of the leaders and an active participant in this. In particular, in order to spread the ideas of the organization, you organized a worship service with the participation of a great number of people, including children, and you conducted a meeting with citizens, and printed and video productions were distributed. At the same time, said organization had not gone through the established procedure of state registration. . . .

"According to point 3 of the decree of the president of the republic of Belorus (RB) of 26 January 1999, 'On several measures for regulating the activity of political parties, professional unions, and other public associations,' activity of associations that are not registered or have not been reregistered is prohibited on the territory of RB.

"In accordance with article 193-1 of the RB Criminal Code, organizing activity or participating in the activity of a political party, other public association, religious organization or foundation . . . that has not undergone by established procedure state registration is punishable by a fine or detention for a period of up to six months or imprisonment for a period up to two years.

"On the basis of the above information . . . I officially warn you of the impermissibility of violation of the law and of activity in the name of a public association or religious organization that has not undergone state registration in the established procedure, and in the event of further violation of the legislation you may be brought to criminal account in accordance with article 193-1 CC RB."

This warning contradicts the constitution, the basic law of the republic of Belarus: "Every person has the right to determine independently his relationship to religion and individually or jointly with others confess any religion. . . to express and disseminate convictions connected with the relationship to religion, and to participate in the practice of religious worship, rituals, and rites that do not violate the law" (art. 31) and "Every person is guaranteed freedom of opinions and convictions and their free expression" (art. 33).

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares: "Every person has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. . ." (art. 18) and "Every person has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. . ." (art. 20).

The RB law "On freedom of conscience and religious organizations" of 31 October 2002 says: "If an international agreement concluded by the republic of Belarus establishes any other rules than those which are contained in the present law, the rules of the international agreement are applicable" (art. 40).

Brother Nikolai Ivanovich filed an appeal in the Gomel provincial court; the court session has been scheduled for 29 April 2011.

Dear friends, we will pray and petition that the decision of the Zheleznodorozhnyi regional court regarding N.I. Varushin will be rescinded, all items that were seized will be returned, and we will not be prevented from conducting peaceful Christian worship services. (tr. by PDS, posted 4 May 2011)

How Can You Not Love Him!

2011-02-16T10:31:00.000+07:00

Reuben, aka Little Chief, is growing so fast. He is 2.5 months. Can not wait until he can hold a snow shovel. Do toddlers shovel snow?

A Siberian Greeting

2011-02-16T10:22:00.000+07:00

It has been some time since I have written an update on the work going on here in Krasnoyarsk and our village Memory of 13 Fighters.

We are all doing well. Temperatures have been milder. By that I mean they are no longer -30F or lower. In fact, we have had some mild weather is seems with temps about 15F. I am sure that many of you can relate to this after the cold weather that many of you in America have experienced of late.

The work in our city church is going well. Irena and her husband continue to come. Also, the last two Sundays, Irina's mother from a neighboring village has taken the bus into the city and come to church. This is a real victory for Irena and specific answer to her prayers. Pray for Andre and Luba to be saved.

Bonnie and the girls and our Little Chief are doing well. Praise the Lord that winter flu and sickness that has plagued many in the city and village has shied away for our family. Little Reuben is growing like a weed. He is such a wonderful little guy. The best thing of all is that he looks like me. Hey, no groans from the audience! Well, it is about time after four girls looking all like their mother. The odds should shift more in my direction.

Well, we appreciate each of you that pray for our family. We truly are living in the last days. The current events from around the world could grip us in dispare if it were not for the true and certain knowledge that there is prepared for those that know Jesus Christ as their Savior a home in Heaven. There we will find eternal peace and comfort.

Be strong and stay in the fight.

Great News!

2011-01-22T13:34:00.003+07:00

Not long ago, the Lord answered prayer by providing a lady to help Bonnie with some of the domestic cleaning duties in our home. Irena has been a great blessing this past month and a half. Bonnie has been able to devote more time to the children with their schooling in English.

As you know, Elizabeth (7) our older daughter, attends the village school and is in first grade. She is reading very well in Russian and receiving good marks in all of her course work. Her teacher says that she communicates well with her peers. At home she gets English instruction from her mom. What an opportunity for our children to receive a dual language education.

Well, to get back to our good news. Irena our housekeeper has been going with us to our city church for the last three weeks. Although she had been reading her Bible regularly during the last 5-7 years and trying to live a virtuous life, she had never been born again. This question in her life came to a head after her second visit to our church when on the way home she asked me what I meant while preaching that day on repentance.

Three days later, on Wednesday, at the end of her work, she came to me expressing an inner discomfort and wondered if we were dissatisfied with her quality of cleaning, to which I said, "of course not, we could not be more pleased". However, as we talked further I could discern, and later she conferred, that she was troubled inside her spirit.

We talked for over two hours at the kitchen table, reading several passages regarding salvation and the need to be "born again". In my summary to her, I suggested that her problem most likely was conviction by the Holy Spirit regarding her lack of a new birth in Christ, irrespective of the fact that she had been trying the best she could to maintain an outward Christian like testimony. She admitted that this was in fact the truth.

Last week Irena was blessed to have her unsaved husband attend church with her. Please pray for his salvation. This past week she told Bonnie and me that her sister and grown daughter also wish to visit our church. I would ask that you remember this family in your prayers. Wouldn't it be great to see them join Irena in her faith in Christ the Lord!

Finding people willing to listen to a Gospel presentation is difficult enough here in Russia. But all the more difficult, it is in seeing one willing to obey the Spirit's calling to repentance and faith in Christ. Although we regularly preach and share the Gospel, it has been just over a year since seeing a sinner make a profession of faith in Christ.

Our family, along with the angels in heaven, is rejoicing. Thank you for your part to give and pray that we might persevere as we continue our labor here in our harvest field. Don't forget you have reason to rejoice too!

Ministry Newsletter Fourth Quarter 2010

2011-01-14T23:13:00.006+07:00

Click here to download Printable PDF of this Newsletter

Praise for the Lord's Provision

In our last newsletter I shared with you our need to furlough in order to report back to our churches, and most importantly, raise additional support. I was moved greatly by the email responses that I have since received from a few of whom I am confident follow and pray for our ministry on a regular, if not daily basis. In the last three months we have received special monetary gifts that have helped ease the financial burden we bear. One gift in particular was almost the exact amount needed to cover some much needed dental work that I had to have done in November. By these specific examples of God's provision through his obedient children, we are encouraged and strengthened.

However, I would still ask that you continue to pray. We would like to be able to furlough in 2012. We have one Russian Christian couple with whom we have a good friendship that may be willing to watch our village home in our absence. Also, in this next year I need to begin the process for our two youngest children's residency status.

The application of Russian immigration law is always in a state of flux and ever changing. Since the time our third daughter was added to our Russian Permanent Residency permit, requirements have changed much. By that, I mean each new foreign child born in Russia to parents who hold Permanent Residency permits, their parents must apply on their children's behalf, first, for Temporary Residency, and then after a year make application for Permanent Residency. It is a headache for sure!

Add to this the two initial steps of getting a US Consular Report of Birth and US Passport for the child, which requires that both parents travel to Moscow to the US Embassy/Consulate with the children and apply for these two documents. This trip to Moscow from Siberia will require no less than $2000 in airfare for four travelers, one night's lodging, and document costs.

Special Ministry Request

For many years, we have prayed for a family to join us as co-laborers in the ministry. Some have inquired, but still no help. This past year I have given serious thought to this matter and the Lord has impressed on me a concept, although unique, but maybe workable. What would prevent an older couple from doing what most feel is for younger families.

An older couple possesses spiritual maturity. Having entered retirement they would not have to raise much support. They have no young or school age children to drag around the world. In other words, an older retired couple of like mind and faith could easily, with a few changes, come to Russia and co-labor with our family in the Ministry. And based on the current visa law, this couple could come for three month intervals on a Russian Religious Workers Visa separated by three months residing in America. In other words, three months in Russia, three months out of Russia as required by law. And they would be accomplishing a work that would reap eternal rewards.

We have comfortable housing available for such a couple. Minimal support to supplement their retirement income could easily be raised. Although there would be a language barrier to begin with as with any new missionary, their ability, however, to be teachers of English language would be a means of building relationships with bilingual Russians while at the same time they themselves study Russian. And they would be able to work along side of our family in our ministry. In fact, two older couples could alternate their three month stays providing at least one couple's help year round. If you have any questions or interest please feel free you and your pastor to contact me via email: dhearron@thehearronfamily.com

Update On Our Krasnoyarsk Church

We have suffered some disappointments with our church in Krasnoyarsk. I have asked in the past for prayer for one young teen girl who made a profession of faith a year and a half ago. Well, she has told me that she has no further desire to come to church. It seems like the cares of this world have encompassed her. This last summer her parents sent her to an island city in the Mediterranean for a two month long summer English school. Since her return she attended church only three times. Bonnie and I are both heart broken that she has turned from her faithful walk with Christ. Would you pray especially for her that she will return to correct fellowship with Christ and His church and that all external obstacles hindering her would be removed?

Although we are faithful to witness and invite people to church, this last quarter in December we had only four visitors. What was a blessing though was that these are people that we have been trying to reach for many years. They first came to our services several years ago when we held them on the other side of our city . They have heard the Gospel several times. Please pray that they will, in this new year, come more faithfully and be saved.

Bonnie's Corner

Reuben James Hearron
Born November 26, 2010

"It's a Boy" is the meaning of the name Reuben we have given to our fifth child who just happens to be our FIRST SON! Reuben James Hearron was born on the afternoon of November 26, 2010 here in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. In fact, all of our children have been born here.

Duane and I praise the Lord that his birth went without any difficulty. God is so good! Save for a short stay in the hospital this past summer, this pregnancy presented no kidney problems or sciatic nerve pain which I experienced while carrying my last four daughters. Thank you for your prayers. They truly helped!

Sincerely,

The Hearron Family

Church Planting Missionaries in Russia

Abortion in Russia

2011-01-14T11:02:00.002+07:00

Quote from the Moscow News article, "Young mums up in arms" by Svetlana Kononova:

"Russia still has one of the highest abortion rates in the world. In 2009 alone, 1.16 million abortions were carried out – that's 66.7 abortions for every 100 births."

Southwest Airlines pilot holds plane for murder victim’s family

2011-01-13T17:40:00.000+07:00

Great article about a great company.

Southwest Airlines pilot holds plane for murder victim’s family

Getting Snow? A diary of one person's love of snow...

2011-01-10T14:59:00.002+07:00

The following was sent to me from a missionary friend in Africa. When Bonnie and I read it we were in tears. Something about it hits home with us. Hope you enjoy.

Getting Snow?

A diary of one person's love of snow...

December 8: 6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the season: we took out cocktails and sat for hours by the window, watching the huge soft flakes drift down. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print: so romantic, we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!

December 9: Woke to a blanket of crystal white snow covering the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the 1st time in years & felt like a boy again. Did the both driveway and sidewalks. Later, the snowplow came along & I got to shovel again. What a perfect life.

December 12: Sun melted all the lovely snow but good neighbour said we'd have a white Christmas. Then commented that by the end on Winter, I'd never want to see snow again.

December 14: Snow, Lovely snow! 8" last night and cold, too. Wind took my breath away but warmed up shoveling. This is the life! Later the snowplow came back, again, but I'm getting in better shape. Just wish I didn't huff & puff so much.

December 15: 20 inches forecast. Sold the van and bought a 4x4; snow tires for the wife's car & 2 extra. Shoveled, then stocked the freezer. Wife wants a wood stove in case power goes off. I think that's silly - we aren't in Alaska...

December 16: Ice storm this morning. Landed on my butt trying to salt the driveway. Hurt real bad. Wife laughed for an hour. (I think that was very cruel.)

December 17: Too cold and icy to go anywhere. Power was off for 5 hours. Piled on blankets to stay warm with nothing to do but stare at the wife & try not to upset her. Can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room. (Won't admit that I should have bought wood stove: hate it when she's right.)

December 20: Power's back on and had another 14" of the stuff. Shoveled all day. Snowplow came by twice. Kids too busy playing hockey to help. Hardware store sold out. Next shipment of snow blowers due in March. Neighbor says I have to shovel or city will have it done and bill me. (Think he's lying...)

December 22: White Christmas!!! 13" more of the white stuff & its so cold, it won't melt 'til August. Tried to shovel - just too tired. Tried to get help from neighbor who has snow plow on his truck but he said he was too busy. (Sure he's lying.)

December 23: Only 2" of snow today and had warmed up to 0. Wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house. What is she nuts!!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? Says she did. (Think she's lying.)

December 24: 6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. I'm gonna get that snow plow driver. (I know he waits around the corner to see if I'm finished, then roars by at a 100, sending snow flying all over.) Wife wanted me to sing carols with her & open our presents, but I was busy watching for the darn snow plow.

December 25: Merry Christmas. Another 20" of the slop. Snowed in again & the idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. I hate snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation. I wanted to hit him over the head with my shovel. Wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's an idiot and if I have to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" one more time, I'll throw her in the snowbank.

December 26: Still snowed in.

December 27: Temperature dropped another 30 degrees and the pipes froze.

December 28: Warmed up to -25. Still snowed in and the wife is making me crazy!!!!!!

December 29: Another 10" & neighbor says I have to shovel the roof before it caves in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

December 30: Roof caved in. Another 9" in forecast.

December 31: Set fire to what's left of the house: no more shoveling.

January 8: I feel sooooo good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

Little Chief

2010-12-31T11:04:00.000+07:00

This is the little chief, Reuben James Hearron. He is getting big.

Happy Birthday Evelyn Grace Hearron

2010-12-30T22:47:00.003+07:00

We celebrated our third daughter, Evelyn's, birthday today. She is now 4 years old. She is so excited that she is now bigger. She had pizza and choclate cake with ice cream. Wow, they grow up fast.

Season Greetings

2010-12-25T16:28:00.001+07:00

Our family would like to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We thank each of you who have sent season gretting cards. We are blessed to have such good friends as each of you have been to our family and minsitry. Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for our safety and for our dear Russian people.

Cold!!!!!!!!!

2010-12-22T12:25:00.002+07:00

Praise the Lord for insulation! Today we woke up to -50F. However, it has been -35F or lower for almost a week. Not much happens in the village at these temps. The school has been closed all week. The kids do not have to walk to school when the temp is -22F or lower. I am sure all of the kids are glad. There are no buses in our village to bring kids to school. Most of the kids walk 1-2 miles to school.

I got the snow blower back from the repair shop yesterday. Will need to get caught up on snow clearing when it gets a little warmer. One good thing with these cold temps is that it does not snow.

If forgot to give a update on the Sunday service. Bro. Kosty preached on prayer. It was a great message focusing on the deeper meaning of prayer. Our young teen still has not returned. Continue to pray she will return to the fold.

Update

2010-12-19T10:45:00.004+07:00

Well, we have had some very cold weather lately. Was in the -40F to -50F for nearly a week. The house was warm relative to outside temps and we are using far less coal and electricity to heat our home since adding the insulation in the attic this summer. Fortunately, the last 4 days have seen temps around 0F. That is like a heat wave for us. Very comfortable temps and easy to keep the house warm. On a day like that I use only about 3 buckets of coal and a few hours of electricity during the night to keep the water in the system warm. This keeps the house warm at about 70F - 73F. Can't beat those temps.

Had to take the snow blower to the repair shop. Had a stuck valve/piston head from some bad gas that I used. Yes, it was my fault. Could kick myself for doing something as stupid and that. However, the repair shop said that It should not be too much trouble to get it going again. However, the snow is building up fast at the house.

Bonnie has a lady that helps here with cleaning at home. She comes three days a week. It was sure a blessing to find her through some friends of ours in the village. She says that she is a believer. I have given her some evangelistic material to read. She has a friend that lives not from from our house who had with, Irena, our housekeeper, in the past attended a church in a neighboring town about 5km from our village. This church is no longer in operation. I am hoping these ladies would attend our Bible study we are going to begin soon in the village.

Bonnie and Baby Reuben are doing great. The little guy is growing like a weed. Christmas is soon upon us and the kids are excited. We have put up already the tree and they love to sit and watch the lights.

We do appreciate you prayers for us. Please do not stop. Be especially in prayer for our traveling along the highway from our home in the village and the city. It is 30 miles of the most dangerous road I have ever seen. Just this last week three people were killed on it. There are weekly accidents along this stretch of road. Often with fatalities. I have been in some near miss situations but know it was God's had that saved me from impact.

Also, pray for the ministry. We have experienced some disappointments with new converts. We take three steps forward to then go two back. It does wear on Bonnie and me. It is so hard in itself to get people to visit the church or even take time to listen to a Gospel witness. But to have them come and make a profession of faith and then eventually stop coming is even more so trying. But, I have to remember that the Lord will build His church. I just have to be faithful to share His message.

Update on Bonnie and Reuben James

2010-12-02T18:37:00.002+07:00

Just wanted to let you know that Bonnie and little Reuben James are doing well. I would ask that you pray for Bonnie. There is one question with her recovery that hopefully will clear up in a few more days. If not then we will have to visit the doctor. Reuben is feeding well and sleeping a good part of the night. I am finding it difficult how to talk to the little guy. After having four daughters, all of my little girl cutesy phrases just don't seem appropriate for a little boy. Any suggestions?

Mother Kept In “Glass Cage” For Almost An Hour By TSA For Resisting Over Breast Milk

2010-12-01T21:25:00.000+07:00

When is America going to wake up and say NO MORE! Tyranny run wild! Click and read the following.

Mother Kept In “Glass Cage” For Almost An Hour By TSA For Resisting Over Breast Milk

FMA: Future Mothers of America

2010-11-28T21:53:00.004+07:00

My girls are hilarious. They have been inspired by their mother. They came prancing into the living room today after church like this. I had to take a photo.

SHARIA IN AMERICA

2010-11-27T12:14:00.000+07:00

SHARIA IN AMERICA (Friday Church News Notes, November 26, 2010, www.wayoflife.orgfbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “Sharia-Compliant in America,” Human Events, Nov. 15, 2010: “Lost in the ‘shellacking’ that Democrats took on Election Day was news of a first-of-its-kind state constitutional amendment passed in Oklahoma. Voters there passed an amendment that prohibits courts from considering international or Islamic law when deciding cases. At first glance, the part of the amendment that prohibits Islamic law might seem unnecessary. There was no great movement among Oklahoma’s 30,000 Muslims to institute Sharia law. But there have been cases in America in which Islamic law has been considered. ... The Oklahoma constitutional amendment, passed with 70 percent of the vote, was preemptive in nature. Preemptive of what? Perhaps that’s a question the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) could answer. Its Oklahoma affiliate filed a lawsuit, and U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles LaGrange issued a temporary restraining order to block the new amendment. The order will remain in effect until a Nov. 22 hearing on a requested preliminary injunction. ... Sharia means much more than the right to wear a headscarf. Most constitutions of the 57 members of the Organization of Islamic Conference Member States cite Sharia as a source of legislation. Not coincidentally, those countries’ governments are disproportionately represented among the world’s worst violators of human rights and religious freedoms. ... So-called moderate Muslims insist that Sharia means different things in different places. There’s truth to that. In Afghanistan, Sharia means stoning alleged adulterers. In Sudan, Sharia prescribes amputations for petty crimes. In Nigeria, Sharia means that blasphemers are burned alive in a ring of gasoline-soaked tires.”

Reprinted from the: Fundamental Baptist Information Service, November 26, 2010 FRIDAY CHURCH NEWS NOTES, Volume 11, Issue 48

Reuben, "It's a BOY"

2010-11-26T21:47:00.003+07:00

Want to thank each of you for your prayers for my wife and new son, Reuben James Hearron. He was born today, Friday, around 15:45 in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. He was 22.5 inches and 8.5 pounds. Temp outside was 0F. He has a good constitution. Bonnie is doing great and resting in the hospital until Monday afternoon.

Update on Bonnie, getting closer to B-Day!

2010-11-23T19:22:00.002+07:00

Well, tomorrow, Wednesday our time, at 9AM I am to have Bonnie at the birthing hospital. The head female physician is to give Bonnie an exam and will make a determination to either place here in the hospital or perform a procedure that will encourage labor in the next few days or possible induce labor tomorrow. In any event, Bonnie needs your prayers.

The girls and I are doing fine. We were at our home in the village today checking on things. Had to turn up the electric heat as temps have been falling and are to stay around 0F or lower for about two weeks. Dogs are still keeping people at bay and that is good.

Again, please pray for Bonnie and the doctors to have wisdom. This will be Bonnie's fifth delivery in Russian hospitals. They are good doctors; and we are thankful for the Lord leading us to them and for their kind care of Bonnie and our new little ones. We are excited for the birth of our first son; so are his sisters.

Jindal: Time to Stop Apologizing for America - FoxNews.com

2010-11-22T16:18:00.000+07:00

Good article. Jindal seems more competent to be president than the present goon in office. What he says is so simple, but obviously too hard to grasp by the current circus of monkeys in charge of our country. Read article below.

Jindal: Time to Stop Apologizing for America - FoxNews.com

Sunday Service

2010-11-21T21:37:00.004+07:00

Had a great service today. Many that have been absent in the past attended today. I was especially glad to see Vlada. Bro. Kosty preached a great sermon on "What is Man". It was a sermon solidly grounded in the Word. I followed up with a sermon with supporting scripture from the first chapter of Romans.

With the many people present today our musical worship part of our service was very lovely sounding. Sister Nadia gave testimony of how the Lord answered prayer in the sale of her apartment room and successful purchase of a larger room just across from the old one. That experience was definitely a trial of her faith. However, she was able to see first hand the Lord deal with this battle.

I was additional blessed to hear our two oldest daughters 7 and 5 recite scripture in Russian. Bonnie works really hard to help them understand what the scriptures mean and to help them learn to recite them in Russian. It is a testimony to our people that if little girls can do it then they can too.

Dima's brother, Misha, and Misha's son attended together today. Misha even asked for prayer. He battles a serious addiction and needs your prayers desperately. Pray that I might have an influence in his life. It was not long ago that he told Dima that he would never attend our services; and now he has been twice. God is good!

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans had mental illness in 2009 - CNBC

2010-11-20T20:33:00.002+07:00

"Nearly 1 in 5 Americans had mental illness in 2009" is a recent article by CNBC (see link below)

Is it no wonder that our country is going down the tubes. With all of the double standards and contradictions in people's lives, I'm suprised that an article of this nature has not already been published.

What America needs is Christ, an awakening to the rock solid foundation of truth that is only found in God's Holy word the Bible. The majority of America has never acquainted herself with true Christianity. I mean the true Jesus Christ of the Bible.

Yeah, they know and follow all to well the circus of idolatrous religion with its slap happy "preachers" and robe wearing incense swinging pedophiles. Satan has fed them flashy, follow the dot, and clap your hands, sing and sway with me ministries that seek to wash out that lone voice in the wilderness calling people to repentance. I'm speaking of that voice of independent church bodies that dot our great land not ashamed nor afraid to stand in a day of darkness, like Noah did for over 100 years, proclaiming repentance.

With all its grandeur and praise of accomplishment America is sick. Sick in Sin. Isn't it time to turn to the One who can cure us from that sin. Isn't it time for Americans to tear up their membership card to "Psychos Anonymous", search out the nearest faithful to the Truth, New Testament Gospel preaching church, and drink from the well of water that will never go dry?

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans had mental illness in 2009 - CNBC

Where is my son?

2010-11-19T14:01:00.004+07:00

This is the question we have been asking now for about a week. Not having a solid fix on a due date, but having to rely solely on sonogram measurements of the baby, shows that the baby Bonnie is carrying should have arrived this past Monday. However, the little boy still is not here. Needless to say Bonnie is a little worn around the edges, as most expectant mothers are during those final days before delivery.

No one ever seems to ask how the father is doing. Well, I can hear you all asking in one unison voice; so I will tell you. I'm doing great. I keep asking Bonnie what all of the fuss is about. I mean, by now she should know how to cope with all of this. Really, hasn't she been-there-done-that now already four other times. WHACK! Ouch, that was the frying pan coming down on my head. For those ladies of you gathering your frying pans in solidarity with my wife, please, I AM JOKING! Besides TSA would not let you check them in at the airport.

Actually, I have great sympathy for my wife and appreciate all that she is enduring. We both can not wait the entrance of our first son. We are am pretty sure we will name him Reuben James Hearron. We decided this after learning that I have a great great .... grandfather on my father's side of the family who was a Reuben born in 1795 and died in 1850 in Green County, Kentucky. "James" is in remembrance of Bonnie's father and for his willingness to entrust to me such a fine beautiful lady as I have in my loving wife.

Now you men reading, don't be alarmed. Your wife can still whack you with a pan once in a while and still love you dearly. The truth being know - we need it every once in a while.

TSA encounter at SAN (San Diego International Airport)

2010-11-15T10:58:00.002+07:00

Please check out this link below and read of the account of the citizen of the United States of America. Something has got to change in America. We are allowing ourselves to be subject to tyranny.

<Insert title here>: TSA encounter at SAN: "TSA encounter at SAN
[These events took place roughly between 5:30 and 6:30 AM, November 13th in Terminal 2 of the San Diego International Airport. I'm writing this approximately 2 1/2 hours after the events transpired, and they are correct to the best of my recollection. I will admit to being particularly fuzzy on the exact order of events when dealing with the agents after getting my ticket refunded; however, all of the events described did occur.

I had my phone recording audio and video of much of these events. It can be viewed below.

Please spread this story as far and wide as possible. I will make no claims to copyright or otherwise.]".....

TO READ FURTHER AND VIEW THE VIDEOS CLICK THE LINK BELOW

http://johnnyedge.blogspot.com/2010/11/these-events-took-place-roughly-between.html

Update on Bonnie

2010-11-13T00:20:00.002+07:00

Well, our family is hold up in our apartment in the city of Krasnoyarsk. We are close to the hospital and should take about 15 minutes to get there if no traffic. Pray there well be no traffic. Tomorrow, Saturday, will be a week since we arrived. We have been to the doctor once already this week and she says that the baby is doing great and all things are ready. Ladies, you would know more about what I am talking about. We have a neighbor on call to came and watch our children. She is such a nice lady. Has said to call day or night and she will come over. She did the same things when Helen was born almost two years ago.

Our house in the village is OK. The weather was hovering around 32F until two days ago. Now it is down to -5F. Bonnie and I drove to the house two days ago and things seemed in order. Our dogs are lose roaming freely within our fence and seems to be keeping people away. I have a dog feeder with dry dog food for them. Also, a neighbor throws over the fence daily two kilo frozen bricks of chicken scrap. It is like hamburger in consistency. The dogs love it.

I did hear from a neighbor, while in the village, that someone was getting into our coal shed and stealing coal. The coal shed was built using two sides of our yard fence that come together at a corner along the road. Then I built two inner walls that close it in inside the yard. There is a gate that opens to the road for the truck to dump coal. Then an inner door that I open from the yard to shovel out coal. The inner door has been closed so the dogs can not get into the coal shed. Well, the thieves will have a surprise the next time. I have left the inner door open so the dogs can get in. Well, see what happens.

We do appreciate you prayers and know that they help sustain us during these times. Thank you. We pray the Lord to bless your faithfulness for the blessing you have bestowed on us.

Your Servants

The Hearron Family

Protestants Outnumber Orthodox in Far East of Russia

2010-11-11T10:15:00.001+07:00

(An interesting article. Of course you must read with and understanding that what is "called a Christian church" can only be truly maintained based upon their doctrine of salvation. However, what I found interesting was the contrast regarding the questions and answers by chief of staff of the president of the Russian Associated Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith, Pastor Konstantin Bendas and the representative of the Orthodox church. The Orthodox representative never once mentions the name of Christ or desire to preach Christ. For him it appears to be all about power, influence, and control)

Protestants outnumber Orthodox in Far East of Russia

FAR EAST HAS LEFT ORTHODOXY
Number of protestant congregations in region exceeds number of parishes of RPTsMP
Svobodnaia pressa, 8 November 2010

The Far East now is distinguished from central Russia not only by the passion for right-hand drive foreign autos. Religion in the region also is imported. In terms of number of "active believers," protestant movements outnumber all religions that are "traditional" for the country, including Orthodoxy and Islam.

In terms of the number of religious organizations officially registered by the Ministry of Justice, protestant denominations also outnumber other religious confessions.

The most "protestant" regions of the Far East are Primorsky and Khabarovsk territories. In Primorie there are 178 registered congregations of various denominations—Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Evangelicals, Adventists, and a dozen more. The Russian Orthodox church has 89 parishes in this region, the Old Believers have 3, and the Catholics 6. Other "traditional" religions—Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism—also are represented quite modestly, 6 mosques, 7 synagogues, and 4 Buddhist pagodas.

In Khabarovsk territory the situation looks very similar: of 163 religious organizations, 96 are protestant. And the number of non-Orthodox parishes is only increasing. And RPTs is losing ground; from time to time there is news of the closing of this or that parish. In 2005 the Khabarovsk diocese liquidated two parishes, in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and in the village of Berezovka of Khabarovsk region. "At the present time, the church does not have the money for maintaining a parish with a small number of parishioners," the diocese reported. There now remain in the region 48 organizations of the Russian Orthodox church.

In addition, as Nezavisimaia gazeta reports, protestant activity is extending into the regions of Siberia. The greatest number of organizations of this variety are in Krasnoyarsk territory (111) and Irkutsk (97) and Sverdlovsk (94) provinces. Pentecostalism is the most widespread, especially the charismatic churches in the mainstream of this religious movement.

It is interesting that a significant portion of the clergy of these confessions have non-Russian surnames. As specialists have noted, the "wave" of Protestantism was raised in the 90s by foreign preachers. The Far East turned out to be in the sphere of influence of preachers from USA and South Korea.

The chief of staff of the president of the Russian Associated Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith, Pastor Konstantin Bendas, told Svobodnaia Pressa why protestants have succeeded in the territory of the Far East.

"SP"—Why have protestants enjoyed success especially in the Far East?

--This phenomenon has a long history. Orthodoxy came to these territories rather late. Representatives of confessions that were not tolerated in the Russian empire were exiled to Siberia and the Far East. Many fled persecution—Molokans, Dukhobors, Mennonites, Shtundists, and so forth.

In the soviet period, clergy who escaped being shot were exiled to the Far East. Thus the elite of Russian protestants was concentrated there.

"SP"—So it turns out that protestant denominations are the more "traditional religion" there than RPTs?

--Yes, back in tsarist times there were more so-called schismatics and sectarians there. Many historians have written about this.

"SP"—Where did such an abundance of Koreans among the preachers come from?

--At the beginning and middle of the 1990s, because of proximity and ease of travel, more missionaries came there from Korea than from the European part of Russia. And it remains so until now; it is less expensive to fly from Seoul than from Moscow. And it is easier to go to study in seminaries in the countries of Southeast Asia.

A minister faces a choice—to go to study in Moscow, where life is several times more expensive, or to South Korea. The situation is similar with right-wheel drive cars, incidentally.

In the 90s, actually, there could be more Korean missionaries. Now it has reversed—Russian missionaries are going to the countries of Asia, to Mongolia, China, Laos, Tajikistan. There are dozens more of such people than pastors coming from Korea.

"SP"—It turns out there is a Russian expansion?

--Expansion presupposes aggression, pressure, forceful methods. We speak of evangelism as it is written in the Gospel. This is normal behavior for any Christian.

"SP"—And the language barrier does not interfere?

--On the basis of my experience in observation, I would divide missionaries into two categories. Many pastors have grown close to us Russians; they have learned the language, become citizens, married, raised children. The children have served in the army. They have assimilated. They did not bring Korean culture here, but Christ.

But some pastors, as before, look down on the "local population," and they have not learned the language. This is our "risk zone and we have a rather tough attitude toward them and we now are parting with them.

"SP"—Do you cooperate with RPTs? It turns out the "traditional religion" is in the minority there.

--The issue is that worldwide the Russian Orthodox church is a minority. Within Christianity there are 1.3 billion Catholics, 1 billion protestants, and 350 million Orthodox of all types. Where RPTs is in the minority, for example, in USA, I do not know of a single episode of exclusion, discrimination, or humiliation of this confession. And I hope there will not be any in Russia, too. In the Far East there have been no cases of exclusion of RPTs.

"SP"—And has RPTs itself tried to oust the protestants?

--We have not seen any direct actions. What happens on the sidelines I am even afraid to guess. We try to live peacefully and not preach our denomination but Christianity. As a preacher, I think that I bring Christ's word and it is not important to me what church a person goes to in the end.

*********

The Russian Orthodox church officially finds it difficult to comment on this situation. The director of the press service of the patriarch of Moscow and all-Rus, Vladimir Vigiliansky, told "SP" that he does not comment on relations with "sectarians and protestants." The rector of the Russian Orthodox Institute of St. John the Theologian, Hegumen Petr Eremeev, shared his views on the problem. Previously, Fr Petr headed the Khabarovsk Ecclesiastical Seminary; it is in Khabarovsk territory that the protestants have developed the most vigorous activity.

Fr Petr calls protestants "sectarian" organizations, and he cites a number of reasons why RPTs lost a part of the territory of the Russian federation to them.

"The position of traditional religious organizations is still weak. First, the case of the Russian Orthodox church: a small number of parishes, small number of clergy, only one ecclesiastical seminary which was opened literally a few years ago. This problem is due to the complete destruction of traces of the Orthodox church in the region during soviet times. Development of parishes lags because of the lack of interest in Orthodoxy and the absence of an adequate number of clergy. The sectarians take advantage of the spiritual vacuum. Often missionary preachers use traditional symbols of Orthodoxy in a speculative manner.

The proximity of Japan, Korea, China. Many sects (including those forbidden in these countries) migrate from these countries to Russian territory, using the Far East as a springboard for further recruiting work on Russian territory. In the absence of any measures for combating such sectarian expansion in the provinces, the situation has become unmanageable. American sects also think the Far East is a more effective and secure channel for penetration into Russia.

The absence of centers of religious studies and established educational institutions for preparing specialists in the areas of sectarian studies and religious studies. In all the Far Eastern Federal District, only in the department of theology and religious studies at Far East State University are such specialists being prepared. The academic discipline of "religious studies" is taught in only a few far eastern institutions while the majority of the teachers of these classes do not have certified religious studies training. In connection with this, graduates of higher educational institutions (future attorneys, economists, technicians, construction workers, etc.) lack religious literacy and the skills to distinguish safe religious teaching from destructive sectarianism.

The lack of specialized rehabilitation and antisectarian centers for combating destructive and totalitarian cults. While in the European part of Russia there are several dozen of them, in the Far East there is not a single one.

Support of sects on the part of converted officials and law enforcement officials. The recently exposed scandals in the Far East Federal District connected with the recruitment by sectarians of highly placed officials gives evidence of the success of the work of sectarians in this direction.

Lack of critical information about the activity of sects in the Far East Federal District. Critical materials are virtually not permitted to appear in local news media. In the absence of accurate critical information, citizens have available only such information as the sects provide about themselves." (tr. by PDS, posted 10 November 2010)

Russian original posted on Portal-credo.ru site, 8 November 2010

Do you know what it is like to.....?

2010-11-10T11:17:00.013+07:00

(Below is a partial reprint of a prayer letter I received from a friend, Andy Magnarella, who is a Bible preaching missionary to the Hopi Indian reservation. Almost all of what he says sums of what life is like here in Russia and especially in our village. Satan really has a great time providing the tools and atmosphere for people the world over to use for their own self destruction .)

"NO!!NO!!NO!!"

I wrote about this when I first arrived on the field, but here is a reminder; How many of you have ever been to a lost person's funeral? Most of them in the white man's world constrain themselves.

This past month I went to the funeral of a middle aged woman. She was drinking with a bunch of people and fell off of the Mesa's edge. For those of you that don't know, the mesa is very high, and usually there is a lot of broken glass all over the side. I had been visiting her family for years and her brother even came to church a couple of times, as well as some of her extended family.

Do you know what it's like to sit around a lost person's kitchen table and know there is nothing that you can say to help?

Do you know what it's like to sit there and hear people SCREAMING around the house, NO!NO!NO!, and the chills it send up your spine, to be in the presence of those without hope?

Do you know what it's like to be in the presence of those that fear death passing to them from the funeral that they try to make sure that you smoke yourself with cedar and wash your hair if you were at the grave?

Do you know what its like to sit and watch all this going and realize it's pointless?

Do you know what it's like to sit there and say to yourself, if they would only listen to me and let me help they would not fear death, they would be free of Alcohol and drugs and they would have a happy family?

In view of knowing all of this, why is it so hard to get Christians to go out soul winning, to pass out a tract, to invite their neighbors and family to church, to support mission, to become a missionary or a pastor, and to have an overall greater burden for souls?

I told the church the Sunday after she died that we are not a social club we are here for souls! You may not realize this place were I live is so wicked there are deaths all the time. How often do I hear about someone dying? Not just some news story or obituary section, but someone I know or are acquainted with, or was a friend of someone I am friends with?

I bet we have the greatest murder and death per capita than almost anywhere in the US. I hear about a death almost every other week, and it's someone I know, or met, or a friend of a friend. I can tell you of multiple murders and stabbings in my village in the last year, and it is only a village of 900!

Just before this lady died someone I know told me that young man they socialize with was stabbed in Hotevilla. I don't know if he died or not. That same young man (the one I know) knocked on my door a couple of months ago with a literal hole in his head (it was the goriest thing I ever saw), and it happened while he was drunk. He wanted me to take him to the hospital.

I can tell you how people almost had a machete put in their head (they dodged it just in time), by family member they had been drinking with. I can tell you of multiple alcohol deaths. There is a great need for Christ here and also where you are!

WILL YOU GO REACH ONE?!!!

UNREGISTERED BAPTISTS SENTENCED TO 5 DAYS IN PRISON

2010-11-04T22:59:00.000+07:00

UNREGISTERED BAPTISTS SENTENCED TO 5 DAYS IN PRISON
I nternational Union of Evangelical Christians Baptists Churches, 1 November 2010

On Sunday, 31 October 2010, the church in the city of Kusary, republic of Azerbaijan, decided to celebrate the festival of Harvest. To share the joy of fellowship, friends arrived from the cities of Sumgait and Baku.

Around noon, police officers drove up unexpectedly to the home of Brother Ilgar Mamedov where the worship service was being conducted. The electricity and gas were turned off. Lieutenant Mamedshakh Rashid Ogly Khasanaliev, who was directing everything, copied the family names of all present. Believers were photographed and videotaped. The brothers Rauf Gurbanov (Sumgait), Zalib Ibragimov (Baku) Ilgar Mamedov (Kusary) and Akif Babaev were arrested and taken to the police station.

Several friends immediately followed them in order to find out the subsequent fate of the arrested brothers. The others continued the service despite the presence of the police.

Around 7 in the evening, Brother Rauf was taken from the building of the police department, put into a vehicle, and driven to a court. After some time, the other 3 brothers were also secretly taken to the court in an ambulance. The trial was closed. Even their wives and close relatives were not permitted into the session. Believers maintained a watch, some at the court and some at the police station.

At 23.00 the brothers were taken from the courthouse and they were able briefly to report that they had been accused of insulting the organs of government and sentenced to 5 days each. (tr. by PDS, posted 4 November 2010)

Would ask that you Pray!

2010-10-30T11:32:00.000+08:00

Kevin and Jessica Jones are fellow Missionary laborers and our closest friends here in Siberia. Jessica's sister-in-law, Amy Caldwel Bixby, is terminal with cancer. Read the email I just receive below from Kevin's wife, Jessica. I know your prayers would be appreciated for Amy, her husband and Children and for the Jones family here in Siberia.

"My father called this morning to give us a report that we were hoping not to hear. The news is not good (humanly speaking). They have found spots on her spine, ovaries, and kidneys (if I remember correctly). It is stage 4. They say she has a 10% chance of surviving the next 5 yrs. (really, it may not even be a year). Please uphold the family in prayer. This is going to be a rough night for their family given this new report. Jon and Amy have 7 children, ages 1 to 13. They are taking it very hard. Pray for God's grace to be sufficient during this time.

As a side note for those of you who may not know who Amy is: She is my oldest brother's wife. If you would like to keep up with things she has a site that you can look at: amycaldwellbixby.blogspot.com

Jessica"

Update on Bonnie

2010-10-28T15:09:00.000+08:00

Many have emailed asking how Bonnie is doing. Well, she just had a check-up two days ago and the maternity doctor says that she is doing wonderfully. In fact, she said that according to all indicators, to include sonograms, that the baby could come any time in the next two weeks. Please pray that we will have enough time to get to he hospital which is almost thirty-five miles from our village.

The new little one is to be a boy and his sisters can not wait for his arrival. Our girls love to play Daniel Boone and Indians. Their new baby brother is already cast to play the role of a Cherokee Indian Chief for their make believe role-playing games. When I asked them why he is to be the Chief, they answered, "we need a chief to order Daniel Boone to be burned at the stake." I'm glad they are just role playing!

Sunday Service

2010-10-25T11:35:00.002+08:00

Our worship service yesterday went well. I preached from Ephesians chapter 2 on the "Value of Grace". I have been preaching a series of sermons from this Epistle. It has been a blessing to expound on the topic of Grace as it relates to our salvation.

In our religious world today, the line of separation between a Grace Salvation and a False Works Salvation is just as muddled as it was in the religious days of the Apostles. Any other message of supposed reconciliation with Jehovah God stemming from works is a false Gospel. Grace and works are opposites. One negates the other. They are incompatible and cannot coexist together with regards to the act of redeeming lost man. Either, it is all God's Riches At Christ's Expense (G.R.A.C.E.) or it is a Supposed God's Riches at Our Expense (WORKS).

One teen girl needs your special prayers. She has been battling illness for several weeks. She text messaged me yesterday before the service asking for prayer. I praise the Lord for her character to notify me of her absence. Responsible actions like that demonstration her hearts desires to assemble with the believers of our church.

Please pray especially for Brother Dima. He has a special need that regards his family. Also, Lyba, Dima's mother, has been out of town for a couple of weeks. Pray for her safe return. Since she has been gone her grandson, which she normally brought to services, has not attended. I would like to see him return as well.

As is consistent with past summers, our attendance has been down. However, several unsaved visitors have not returned this fall. I have been in contact with them but they always seem to have some excuse for not coming. I reminded our church family of the parable of the sower. I am afraid the birds of the air have devoured the seed that was sown before them. Please pray that they will return.

"HOWDY from TEXAS"

2010-10-17T21:49:00.000+08:00

This missionary gets email from time to time from those receiving our Newsletter or Email Updates. Most are an encouragement but there have been those that leave me scratching my head wondering. I have never shared an email sent to me on this blog before but was extremely blessed by one recently I wanted to share it with each of you. Many times the Apostle Paul made mention of some communique he received that lifted his spirits and I am sure helped prolong his stay in the Great Race. This is one of those types of communique. (Name references have been removed.)

"Greetings Bro. Hearron,

Grace and Peace be unto you and your dear family.

Bro. Hearron, ... I am a [church] member ... [in]TX. ... I have been reading your prayer letters and just have never taken the time to send a email to you before, I apologize. I just wanted you to know that you and your family are in our prayers. I have read, actually listened to a dear brother stand and read your latest prayer letter. I want to let you know that we are praying for you and your family, in this need of funds. I also, as you, do not wish for you to have to leave your people. I have asked a dear brother in the LORD to covenant together with me on your request for support. [He]... is [an] ... associate pastor ... in OKC. You might know him. His son in law and daughter and grand-kids are missionaries ... .

I know that our GOD is ABLE!! I do pray that in this need that GOD will again use this opportunity to show HIMSELF strong. Brother, you be strong and of a good courage, GOD DOES NOT FAIL!! HE called you there to the Siberian people and will not leave you stranded. That is HIS work, HIS people there in Krasnoyarsk and HIS WILL BE DONE! You be strong and of a good courage, "HOLD THE FORT", HELP is on the way!

Thank you and your dear family for being our ... ambassadors there in Krasnoyarsk and the surrounding area! May our Great GOD, JEHOVAH GOD, meet all your needs.

Y'all (good ole Texican talk) are in our prayers and in our thoughts.

BE STRONG AND OF A GOOD COURAGE - TRUST GOD - HIS WILL BE DONE - REST UPON THE LORD - AND AGAIN, WAIT UPON THE LORD

In HIS Love,

[church member]"

Brother Dima Preached Today

2010-10-17T21:12:00.001+08:00

Although we were down in number today, we were blessed by the sermon Brother Dima gave regarding money and its relationship to the christian. It has been a blessing to see brother Dima's faithfulness to the Lord this last year and witness how the Lord is blessing that faithfulness. Pray for his nephew who comes to church off and on. He needs the Lord as do his mother and father.

Also, many of you have prayed for sister Nadia who has been wanting to close the deal on the sale of her room so she can complete the purchase of a bigger room. Well, she testified today that she received the needed signature that was holding up this business and that all that is left is the meeting at the housing registration office to register the sale and purchase of the two apartments. She was so grateful to all of you who have prayed for her.

Would ask that you make special prayer for one of our young teens. She is having trouble with her health at this time and is also discouraged about the fact that her parents are not saved. Would you especially lift her up in prayer that God would encourage her and she would find sweet fellowship with the Spirit that resides within. Also, please pray that her parents will come to know the Lord as their savior. I have given her father, who is a pilot, a copy of the book, Done written by Carey Schmidt. Pray that he read it and that the Holy Spirit would illuminate the truth of the Gospel to him.

Prayer Answered and New Prayer Request

2010-10-03T14:48:00.001+08:00

Not long ago I asked you to pray for one of our ladies seeking a buyer for her room so that she can buy a larger room. Well, today she informed the church family that a buyer was found and that all that is needed is to get a much needed signature from one of the other two owners of rooms in the one Apartment. This lady lives in another village. Please continue to pray that they can get her notarized signature soon so this transaction can go through.

Great Sunday Service

2010-10-03T14:44:00.000+08:00

Today we had another good sunday service. Bro. Dima's wife came with him today. We have not seen her for many months. Their son Vanya also attended. Bro. Kosty who was gone most of the summer due to work and his family living in another city returned and preached a great sermon out of the book of Matthew and Luke concerning the lady with the issue of blood. During our singing time Bro. Vadim walked in. His daughter was glad to see her dad once again in church. I preached again out of the book of Ephesians. Today we emphasized the "Foresight of Grace".

Prayer Request

2010-09-21T20:54:00.002+08:00

Would like to ask that you pray with us regarding a dispute we have at this time with our neighbors. As you know from past prayer requests, most of the neighbors around us are alcoholics and are either retired or out of work. We have had two situations in the last fifteen months where their drunken binge parties required the police to be called out because of our neighbors hostile intentions towards us. They have stoned our home, beat on our fence, and thrown bottles into our yard. So far, only one occasion resulted in someone actually getting on our property last year. That guy attacked me with an ax at my front door step. Since then our fence has been improved and our two massive Caucasian Sheppard dogs (Kavkaz for short) for the most part run free on our premises within our fence boundaries.

Our current problem with our neighbors stems from the newly acquired piece of property that was formerly a village garbage dump that borders our back fence and is between us and the river. After two years of wrangling paperwork from one regional government office to the next I was able to become the legal Renter of this property that allows me to fence it in and use it as our own property for five year renewable intervals. This was in March. It was only about a month ago that I was actually able to fence in this property as required by law effectively cutting off access to those who either use this piece of property to dump their trash or as a dangerous shortcut across the creek behind our home. Now our neighbors have filed formal complaints with the local village administration siting various grievances to include that are dogs are too dangerous and scare the children when they walk by our property even though I have a two meter tall fence. Well, I could go on but has several of our good friends in the village have stated it is only out of a deep jealousy that these people are acting like they are and bringing false witness against us. This I have been told is typical of life in the Russian village.

Our testimony with the local administration and normal thinking people who know us is very good. We do in fact have some nice neighbors down the way that sympathize with us. Today I gave a copy of my rental agreement to the local administration as part of their investigation. Please pray that all will turn out OK and these problems will go away. However, the truth is until we reach these people with the Gospel of Christ there is not too much that will change. But we do ask the Lord to intervene and turn their hearts in a more positive direction regarding their feelings towards us. Pray for me that my attitude towards these people would show the Love of Christ's compassion toward them.

This reminds me of a story I heard via cassette tape in a missions class at Pensacola Christian College during my last semester of college in the fall of 1987. A veteran missionary to one of the islands north of Australia was telling how the natives destroyed his new outboard engine that he bought for the boat that was their only means of transportation to civilization. He related of how enraged he became at the backwards and heathen natives just down from his hut and refused to have anything to do with them. "How dare they destroy my motor. I am here to help them and see what they have done," he barked at his wife. Well, in time and in that meek and mild manner most wives use when their husbands fume, she said, "well, what are you hear for anyway. To reach these people in obedience to your call? Or, to have a nice motor for your boat. What do you expect the heathen to do. Love you?" Well, that was one statement I have never forgotten. The heathen are what the heathen is. They just need the Lord.

God grant me and you patience to with Love, the greatest of all gifts, reach our respective mission fields with the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for praying!

Sunday Service

2010-09-19T16:12:00.000+08:00

Had a good service today. Preached from the first chapter of Ephesians. Concentrated on the privileges we have as a result of our adoption into God's family through faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is wonderful to know that nothing ever surprises our Lord. He knows all from the very foundation of the world. What comfort we can find in this knowledge.

Vlada returned to the services after being absent as a result of her attending a summer English school on the island of Malta. Her English has improved. But I was more excited to see how happy she was to be once again amongst the church family. I hope that you will make it a matter of special prayer for her mother and father to know Christ.

Dima's mother and her grandson came for the second time. Pray for the young boy as he has a very difficult situation at home. Dima has tried for some time now to see them visit. What an encouragement it must be to him to finally see answers to his prayers.

Sister Nadia asked special prayer from the church family that she would be able to sell her room which she owns. This is only one of three that make up one apartment. The two other rooms have separate owners. All three room owners share a common toilet, bathroom and kitchen. Her room is only 12 square meters in size. She has the opportunity to upgrade and buy from the owner across the hall a room that is 18 square meters plus has a balcony. She has the money to cover the increase in price for the bigger room but needs to find a buyer for her rooom. Communal living is very common in Russia. Housing is very expensive. Please pray she can find a buyer.

Unregistered Baptists persecuted

2010-09-18T20:09:00.000+08:00

UZBEK BAPTISTS ON TRIAL FOR HOUSE CHURCH MEETING
International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, 2 September 2010

Dear brothers and sisters. Few recall that in the city of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 1966 Sister Nadezhda Petrovna Matiukhina, an invalid of Group 1 (without both legs above knees) was convicted. She spent three years in a camp in the most severe conditions simply because meetings of the unregistered church were held in her home. But despite continual interruption of worship services, fines, and threat, believers continued to gather in her home until the authorities took away this house in 1988.

Nadezhda Petrovna was forced to move to a different location, but joyously even to this day she continues to provide her home for services of the Tashkent church of the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists.

On 21 August 2010, Judge D.Kh. Ubaidullaev of the Khamzin regional court for criminal affairs reviewed an administrative protocol with respect to N.P. Matiukhina (who is now 85 years old) and I.E. Voloshin. The court ruled: "On 4 August 2010, at approximately 8 p.m., I.E. Voloshin, who was in N.P. Matiukhina's home, gathered approximately 50 persons and taught the religious doctrine of Christians-Baptists, without having a specialized religious education, and thereby violated the procedure for the teaching of religious doctrines.

"The law violator I.E. Voloshin, who did not acknowledge his guilt in court, proved that on 4 August 2010 he actually was in the house . . . belonging to N.P. Matiukhina, and he participated in a meeting devoted to the salvation of souls. He was told that officers of law enforcement agencies had arrived. He went outside and saw a precinct chief, the chairman of the Makhalinsk committee, and several other policemen. He was ordered to write an explanatory note regarding this incident, but he refused to give explanatory notes. He explained that he had not violated any law and that he himself is a member of the International Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, whose primary literature is the Bible. . . . Their union has the requirement of meeting and worshiping God all together. In the future he also intends to serve God.

"The law violator N.P. Matiukhina testified in court that on 4 August . . . she was in her own home at the address: Tashkent, Khamzinskii region, 30 Khabarovsk St., which belongs to her. Her home is God's house, which every believer may enter. She did not know that police officers came to her house, and she learned about this later. Also no one approached her and asked her to write an explanatory note, and she did not know that any papers had been drawn up. At this meeting she and other participants . . . were praying, singing songs, praising God, and reading that literature that God had sent them, namely the Bible. One Christian who loves God preached a sermon but she refused to name him. . . .

"Witness E.K. Parmonov testified to the court that he is an inspector of the Khamzinsk Department of Internal Affairs. He drew up the administrative protocol regarding N.P. Matiukhina, since the meeting was conducted in her home. However, he did not take an explanatory note from N.P. Matiukhina because he knew earlier that N.P. Matiukhina refuses to sign a protocol. . . . This was obviously the attitude of the meeting's participants.

"Having studied the material, the judge rules that in the actions of N.P. Matiukhina there are indicators of law violations provided by article 241 of the administrative code of the republic of Uzbekistan—teaching religious doctrines without specialized religious education and without the permission of a central administrative agency of a religious organization, as well as teaching religious doctrine in a private manner, but considering that she is of advanced age and she is an invalid of group 1 and a woman, the judge rules to release her from administrative responsibility and be restricted to a warning. . . ."

On the basis of the foregoing, the court ruled that Nadezhda Petrovna Matiukhina is guilty and restricted to a warning, and Igor Eduardovich Voloshin is fined a sum of 452215 soms (around US$540).

Dear friends, according to the constitution of the republic of Uzbekistan, "Freedom of conscience is guaranteed for all. Everyone has the right to confess any religion or to confess none. Compulsory imposition of religious views is impermissible" (article 31). "All state agencies, public associations, and official persons of the republic of Uzbekistan are required to guarantee for citizens the possibility of becoming acquainted with documents, decisions, and other materials affecting their rights and interests" (art. 30). "Everyone has the right to protection from infringement upon his honor and dignity . . . and to the inviolability of his residence. No one has the right to enter a residence, to conduct a search or inspection, and to violate the secrecy of correspondence and telephone conversations other than in an instance and by a procedure provided by law" (art. 27).

In the above mentioned case the authorities, in violation of the constitution, not only entered the house without permission and photographed those present, but also, having drawn up a protocol regarding administrative violation of law against the owner, did not inform her thereof. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Every person has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes the freedom to change one's religion or convictions and the freedom to confess one's religion or convictions both individually and in common with others, publicly and privately, in teaching, worship, and the performance of religious and ritual rites" (art. 18).

Believers, as citizens, have the complete right to the conduct of peaceful meetings, to say nothing of within their own private homes. The registration of a religious association per se should not be obligatory. Private persons and groups of citizens should have the right to confess their own religion without registration, if they want to.

Dear friends, we will pray and petition that the authorities will cease persecuting Christians in Uzbekistan for their religious convictions and will review all administrative cases and decisions of courts with regard to believers and will provide the possibility for them to perform service to God without hindrance. (tr. by PDS, posted 3 September 2010)

Re-posted from web site: http:www.stetson.edu/~psteeves/relnews/

Elizabeth Begins First Grade in Village School

2010-09-14T17:53:00.001+08:00

Elizabeth sitting in her classroom

Elizabeth, our oldest daughter, began the first grade in the village school on the 1st of September. Her teacher says that she is making great strides and understanding more and more in the Russia language every day.

Third Quarter 2010 Newsletter

2010-09-14T17:30:00.000+08:00

Serious matter needing your prayers!
    The last few years have been extremely difficult for missionaries. Many the world over are either permanently leaving the field or returning home to raise additional support. Although understandable, it is still sad to see happen. Although we personally have lost only a few supporting churches in the last five years and seen a reduction of support by others, by God’s grace and your faithfulness we have managed so far to stay on the field. However, we too are being forced to face reality.
    As you know, I married later in life. I was a single missionary for several years before Bonnie, my wife, joined me in 2001. Our last furlough was in 2005. At that time we had only two daughters. Elizabeth had just turned two and Abigail was four months. Since then God has blessed our family by giving us two additional daughters and we are now expecting our fifth child, they say a boy, in November. In addition to an increase in our family size, we have endured a falling exchange rate coupled with yearly inflation of 14% to 18% annually, and exorbitant increases in our overseas Aetna insurance policy through our mission board, BIMI. These past nearly six years we have tightened the belt, economized, or done without to stretch our monthly support. We are now at a point where we are faced with returning to America to raise additional support. However, furlough for us is complicated. WHY?
    Our family enjoys the privilege of living in Russia as legal residents under a Permanent Residency Permit that is renewable every five years. We are on our second renewal. Unlike most missionaries that left Russia several years ago because they no longer were able to get a new visa when Russia changed its immigration law, our Permanent Residency has allowed us to stay. However, this privilege does come with some strings. Although we are able to come and go from Russia as we please without a visa, we must, however, be residing in Russia for no less than 181 days in any calendar year. This means that we can not take a one year furlough as other missionaries do. We are limited to only 179 days out of Russia. Of course we could come back to America ever year for 179 days but who could afford the airfare from Siberia and how would a church be planted in Russia if half of every year was spent off of the field.
    I am sure you can see the dilemma that we are in. We are presently under supported nearly 30%. There are two ways that we can overcome this hurdle. First, we can return for a furlough within the next year. Secondly, churches could increase our support without the need of furloughing. However, a comprise scenario could be that we furlough visiting new churches hoping to raise additional NEW support, while at the same time, our current supporting churches increase our level of support. Theoretically it will be nearly impossible to visit enough new churches in 179 days to make up the 30% of needed support. For this reason, we are praying that the Lord impress on the hearts of our supporters to increase our support even if just a little.

Your prayers are definitely needed as we seek God’s guidance. In order to furlough, we need to find someone to lead our small church plant, watch our home in the village, and arrange new meetings with churches in America. This may seems easy, but I tell you it is no small thing.

PRAY— is all I can say!

Update On Our Krasnoyarsk Church
    Since our last newsletter, we have seen several new visitors in our services. Two of them, a mother and daughter, remembering my phone number from four years ago, finally called and began attending faithfully. The mother, after coming two months this summer, professed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Pray for her continued growth and transformation into the image of our Savior by continued obedience to the Holy Spirit’s leading and illumination of scripture.
    One of our teen girls, on the insistence of her parents, left for a two month long summer English school on the island of Malta. She has been saved a little more than a year. As her pastor, I was concerned how a long absence from church services might negatively affect her heart for the Lord. Before she left I encouraged and warned her of some of the devil’s pitfalls that my lay ahead. Oh, how I was pleased to hear her voice upon her return and of her explaining how she missed her fellowship with the church family. Please pray that we might reach her parents with the Gospel this fall/winter.
    Julia has eluded to a personal desire to do more in the Lord’s work. Her testimony bears witness of the inner work that the Holy Spirit has accomplished. Even though her father is not faithful to church, Julia is. She is a continual witness to her older sister and mother. Based on her mother’s desire, Julia and her mom are now reading the Bible together. Pray for the salvation of her mother and sister. Also, pray for her father to return to that level of faithfulness that he once showed a few years back after his professed faith in Christ.

Bonnie’s Corner
    “Re-cycled with Love” Left over milk boxes made the perfect medium for three signs welcoming Duane’s parents for a third visit to Siberia. Brave souls they were to endure the long trip to Siberia to offer themselves a smorgasbord sacrifice to our giant winged mosquitoes. Needless to say Grandma did not venture out often.
    Our children had a wonderful time getting to know their grandparents. Watching your children grow up without having grandparents near by or even on the same continent does sadden me at times.

Greeting their Grandparents

Update on Bonnie

2010-08-29T10:31:00.000+08:00

Several have asked for an update on Bonnie. She is doing much better. She has not had any more of the episodes that she had that hospitalized her about two months ago. Last week at her doctor visit she was told that all of the test are normal and that her kidneys are working fine and no infection. Pray that this will continue.

Things have been SO busy this summer. My parents were here for the month of July then we had guests from South Dakota for two and a half weeks. Both my parents and our other guests were such a help and blessing.

Report on Sunday service

2010-05-30T14:41:00.002+08:00

Today we had a good service. We were down in attendance. Several were on vacation. Summer is upon us and the weather this week is expected to finally turn warmer.

Today one or our teen girls informed us that she will be away for most of the summer. Her father is sending her abroad to a summer English school. I would ask that you pray for her protection and for her to maintain a solid Christian testimony. Satan is relentless in his attack on believers and this would provide him a perfect opportunity to weaken this young girls testimony. Pray for her to be faithful to read God's word while she is away.

Our young lawyer was again at the services. Pray for his salvation. He asked prayer for his mother who is fighting an addiction. Would you too pray for his mother?

Well, we are getting to ready to leave the city and head back to the village. Have to get the tomato and pepper plants in the garden and then put up our portable green house over them. They will not grow to produce fruit with out it. I found two yesterday, Saturday, in Krasnoyarsk. They are easy to assemble

After Sunday Service

2010-05-16T14:16:00.001+08:00

Had a good service today. Several were late but when all had arrived we had six Russians in attendance.

Leonid returned again today. Pray for this young lawyer. His mother is dealing with an addiction problem and has him very worried. He has yet to make a confession in Christ Jesus. Today I was led to preach a salvation message. He really listened. Pray that he will soon be saved. Also, Bro. Kosty's son came with him. Kosty is a pharmaceutical representative and a good Christian. Pray that Igor his son will be saved as well as his wife.

Well, got to leave the city and travel 50 kilometers to see a house that was recently sided by a guy that I am thinking of using to side our house. Should be a pretty drive although it is a little overcast today.

We thank you for your prayers.

Victory Day in Russia

2010-05-09T12:58:00.001+08:00

Today, Sunday, May 9, was victory day here in Russia. We had only two in church beside our family. Several were out at the Dacha (summer home/hut) or at the celebrations in the center of town. I continued preaching on How to Make Godly Decisions.

Here in Russia the celebration of the defeat of Germany and the end of World War II is a big event and not forgotten. Their level of patriotism at time makes me wonder what has happened to our people in America. Of course, when you have the illegals waging the tale of the dog as we have at present in America the lines of patriotism get a little confused.

For the first time I believe in history, during a Victory Parade in Red Square, Moscow, marched regiments from the USA, England, France, and Poland as well as other CIS countries. This was really a sight to see on TV. The parade this year really had a different tone than others in the past and gave thanks to other country's armies for their participation in the liberation of Russia from the Fascists. Click the following link: Video of Victory Day Parade in Moscow 2010.

First Quarter 2010 Newsletter

2010-05-05T13:02:00.014+08:00

BURR! Can't Find My Long Johns

This winter has fallen four times more snow than normal with temperatures not seen for over thirty years. Several days we had –50F and for several weeks at a time the temperature never rose above –40F. Praise the Lord the added insulation to our home's walls and the reworking of our veranda have allowed our home to stay considerably warmer than last year. By the end of February we had burned over 23 metric tons of coal. This equates to 50,600 pounds of coal.

Several Sundays, while I braved the 30 mile drive to the city for church services, Bonnie and the children were forced to stay at home for two reasons: first, to keep the coal furnace going and secondly, because of the danger of traveling long distances during cold snaps. Our family praises the Lord for His ever present hand of protection and provision for our safety. We had no incidents of fire or water freezing at our home or mechanical breakdowns with our car.

Our two oldest girls, Elizabeth (6) and Abigail (5), have begun attending the village Dar Care/Preschool. They are picking up the Russian language very fast. In fact, the director of the village school (who also oversees the day care) was told by Elizabeth's teacher that Elizabeth should be prepared to begin first grade in September. Our plan has been to home school our girls while they also attend their elementary years at the village school. This would give them the added advantage of a dual language education.

Update On Our Krasnoyarsk Church

The Lord is blessing our city church. Our two teen girls, Julia and Vlada, are continuing to grow in the Lord. Weekly they testify of the blessing of the Lord in their lives and/or an opportunity they had to witness for their Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. We have had a few new visitors drive in with us from our village.

Brother Dima plays guitar for our congregational singing. He has been moonlighting as a taxi driver in the evenings and met a young lawyer named Leonid. This young man is Belarussian by birth but lives with his mother and brother in Krasnoyarsk and works for a law firm. He has consistently for several months attended services intently listening to my preaching. He asked not long ago for a Bible to give to his girlfriend. She was skeptical at first of him coming to our meetings thinking that our church was a cult. However, Leonid as told me that they regularly sit together and read from the Bible. Pray for his salvation and for me to have an open door to his family and girlfriend with the Gospel.

Village Church House

The cold weather has prohibited any substantial progress in our village church house/garage. Truthfully, had weather allowed, we could have done very little because we just do not have the finances to buy materials that are needed. As mentioned in past newsletters, our financial need stood at $15,000 but has now risen due to inflation and the increase in the cost of needed materials . Our need is no greater than the many other missionary needs around the world and certainly no greater than those you may be experiencing on the home front. However, your faithful prayers for the Lord's provision would be greatly appreciated. Should you find a way to contribute to this project that would be an extra special blessing.

Bonnie's Corner

"What is wrong with me?" I asked myself. Or course Duane, my husband, could give an exact and concise answer; but we ladies dare not ask a question like this of our husbands. I found myself boohooing and depressed moping around the house. This was a first for me. I had to face the fact that I had graduated into an area of motherhood that could not be avoided. Like so many moms before me, I was troubled with my children nearing the edge of the nest and going for short walks out on the branch.

Elizabeth and Abigail have begun attending our village day care/preschool. Duane and I were thrilled with opportunity for our girls to have contact with other children their own age and to be placed in an all Russian speaking environment. What I was not expecting was the void that would follow for me. My four lovely girls are my joy. Raising them to love our Lord and learn obedience to His word has been my desire since their first cry. But the quiet around our home when they were away was driving me crazy with loneliness for them.

But I am happy to say that my sacrifice has paid off. Both our girls when playing together at home or talking with mom and dad intermingle Russian and English language together.

Fourth Quarter 2009 Newsletter

2010-02-26T10:44:00.008+07:00

Hey, Who Is That Woman On The Roof?

Our hopes for a mild start to our winter were quickly dashed as we saw sub zero temperatures falling below –35F as early as the end of October. By mid November it was already hitting –40F and during one week we had over one meter of snow fall. In fact, so much snow fell that I was forced to buy a snow blower. Unfortunately there is no such thing as a cheap snow blower in Russia. Two of my 7th grade students from the village school came over after class one afternoon and helped remove about 45 inches of snow from the new roof over the veranda. Bonnie thought that looked like fun and so she too crawled out through our bedroom window and helped in pitching the snow overboard. I will have to take back all the bad things I have ever said about her. She’s a brave woman!

Our home is staying warm, considerably warmer than last year. The expense for the insulation to the outside of our house walls was well worth it. Siding the walls this next spring/summer is our number one priority. Pray for the Lord to provide the funds to accomplish this and maybe a little extra for a safer fence. Ours is in very bad shape and needs re-doing especially in light of the problems we have had with drunk neighbors and others that roam the streets at all hours of the night. It is not uncommon to find vodka and beer bottles that have been thrown over our fence. So far our two Caucasian Shepherd Dogs have kept intruders at bay. However, our fence in too short and wobbly in places and I am afraid our dogs might get out and do harm to someone.

Update On Our Krasnoyarsk Church
I found out in October that I would not be teaching English in the two city schools this school year. It had something to do with scheduling. I have missed the contact and witnessing opportunities I had with my students. However, I am glad to say that Vlada, our newest convert, is very faithful to church and Sergey comes off and on. We had a Christmas/New Year party at church. It was a blessing to see Sergey bring his parents. They seemed to have a good time and listened with interest to my Gospel message. Pray that they will visit again.

In the past I have spoken much of Ivan and Valentina, husband and wife, that guarded our home during the construction phase. Well, God gave me opportunity to witness to her in depth. She seems to understand the Gospel but has yet come to that point of confessing Christ as Lord and Savior. I would like that you earnestly pray for her and her husband to be saved. They are some of our closest friends in this village. They hold a special place in our family’s heart.

Please pray for the several people that have visited the church. Some came fairly regularly but have now stopped coming for one reason or another. Also, pray for brother Kosty. He has several times given short sermons on various topics from God’s Word. He is a very good teacher and has a sensitive heart to God’s leading. His son, Igor, was attending regularly but has stopped of late. Pray for Igor and Kosty’s wife to be saved. She is a surgeon that recently gave birth to a new baby boy.

Village Church House
This project is still on hold pending warmer weather and additional funds. Our financial need still stands at $15,000.

Bonnie’s Corner

Christmas is my favorite time of year. I am sure this is not connected in any way with my love for spending my husband’s money. Of course, on the allowance that he gives me it doesn’t take long. Tis’ the season to be jolly and get together with family and friends.

Russian people differ little in their love to get together and have a good time. However, for them, the New Year is the emphasis for their festive spirit. For this reason we have tried over the years to have a combined Christmas and New Year party. In the past, they have proven successful in seeing family and friends of our church people come and visit our church. This year was no exception.

Our church people helped with the planning and decorating which resulted in a wonderful party. We had a beautiful table of salads, barbecued pork, bread, chips, fruit, candy, cookies, and cake. Are you hungry yet? Have you ever seen a group of adults play musical chairs? We did and it was with style.
I want to say a special thanks to each of you who have showed us kindness this year with your special gifts. So many of you have been faithful to send birthday cards and small notes of encouragement. Your special Christmas gifts for our family have been greatly appreciated.

Our hearts and prayers are with each of you. Please continue to pray for us and the work here. May the Lord bless each of you for your faithfulness in providing for His servants and your unending dedication to the spread of the Gospel message here in Russia.

Pray for Bonnie

2010-02-04T17:14:00.001+07:00

Bonnie has fallen at about 4:30 this afternoon while walking to the Day Care to pick up Elizabeth. She made it to the day care and nearly collapsed due to her blood pressure falling rapidly. The temp on the street presently is -30F. She called via her cell phone and I rushed in the car to get her and Elizabeth.

It appears that she has a break just above the wrist and at the base of the right thumb due to the visible swelling an coloration. I called to the surgeon in the city that treated Elizabeth's broken arm last year in April and he is on duty at the hospital. He was glad to offer assistance and is waiting our arrival at the 20^th Hospital. He is a great doc and did a wonderful job with the pin insertion and treatment of Elizabeth.

The girls are getting things ready in bags and we will all go to the city (40 miles away). I have a person that will stay at our home tonight at keep it heated. Temps will drop to around -45F as they have this whole week.

We need your prayers. The weather causes all kinds of danger traveling on the roads. We will stay at our church apartment in the city most likely tonight. The best of news would be that she has not broken anything but just a very bad fracture. Will have to get a x-ray to know for sure.

Medvedev Steps Up Efforts to Boost Population | News | The Moscow Times

2010-01-20T12:56:00.002+07:00

Read the startling statistics about abortion in Russia in the following article.

Medvedev Steps Up Efforts to Boost Population | News | The Moscow Times

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Happy New Year

2010-01-02T20:01:00.001+07:00

Well the New Year has come. Our family welcomed the new year by watching a few of the fireworks by some of the families in our village. From our second floor rooms we have a fairly nice panoramic view. The sky was so bright from the full moon reflecting off of the white snow.

On nights like these it is really breathtaking to stand outside and watch the smoke rise into the air from the small village house chimneys. It was near -50F on New Years Eve. Tonight it will repeat the same. Our home praise the Lord is warm. The water works. The septic drains. And our car is still starting. I am so very glad. One little problem in weather like we have been having can spell disaster.

Tomorrow, Sunday, we are having a New Year/Christmas party in the afternoon after the service. We are hoping that friends and family of our people will feel more comfortable to attend a social gathering as they have thus far shied from attending a church service. Pray that many will come and return in the future.

COLD - But hey, this is Siberia!

2009-12-24T14:18:00.001+07:00

-43C (-45.4F) House is warm and car started. Praise the Lord!!
Went to school later this morning because no students showed up (when colder than -36C no school) and got my grades for this quarter entered into the grade book and turned into the administrator. Now we have a break from teaching until mid January. The students are happy. And I guess that I am too.

Our two oldest girls will start this coming Monday attending 5 days a week the Daycare that has recently opened at the school. It is kind of like a Daycare/Kindergarten. Our girls will learn Russian really fast. They can not wait. Neither can their mother. Got there physicals done on Tuesday. Should get their medical certificate from the doctor today giving her OK for their entrance into Daycare.

While I was at the village clinic I found and interesting fact. Did you know that nearly every 2 in 10 children in our village have worms. Most are from poor families where cleanliness in not as important as drinking or drugs. Also, yard dogs and cats are a big spreader of worms to people in the village.

Cold!

2009-12-22T17:58:00.001+07:00

Well, just as they forecast, we have been hit with severe cold weather. It is now going lower that -30C and is to hit around -40C. By the way -40C and -40F are the same. After this temperature the Fahrenheit temperature number drops at a faster rate than Celsius. We have a toasty 24.5C (76F) inside our home on the first floor and have used about 202 pounds of coal is eight hours. I will have to get up through the night and keep the fire going so that the temp in the house will not get too low. It is easier to maintain a comfortable temp that it is to raise the temperature.

Our two dogs are loving it. They sleep out on the snow and seem to not be fazed by the cold. They are so beautiful with ice chrystals hanging from their fur. Buddy's eyes sometimes tear and this freezes like big tear drops below both eyes.

Well, Christmas is just around the corner. The girls are really anxious to open their presents that are around the tree. We pray that you and yours are doing well and wish you the best Christmas and New Year ever.

FOXNews.com - Czech President Klaus: Global Warming Not Science, but a 'New Religion'

2009-12-19T16:51:00.001+07:00

FOXNews.com - Czech President Klaus: Global Warming Not Science, but a 'New Religion'

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Our Daughters Sledding on Mt. Hearron

2009-12-15T17:27:00.001+07:00

Mt. Hearron is the name we have given to the large, taller than I am, pile of snow in our yard. Our girls love ascending the ladder and sliding down on their plastic discs. "Thanks Aunt Valerie for the plastic discs". They were a Christmas present from her last year.

Weather has been -15F for the last several days. Praise the Lord the house is staying warm. The insulation work we did this summer has really paid off. This coming summer we will put on the siding. Does anybody have any experience in putting up siding, not afraid of heights, and want to see Siberia??? We have plenty of projects that could use helping hands this coming summer. If interested drop me an email.

Two Prayer Requests

2009-12-15T15:58:00.001+07:00

I would like to ask that you pray for two people in particular.

The first is a man that has been attending our church for over a year now. He and I have worked through some spiritual issues in his life. However, I have not see him in church for now a month as he has taken temporary work away from Krasnoyarsk. However, up until a two weeks ago we had regular phone contact even though he was out of town working. I am praying that all will be OK with this brother in Christ and he is just without means to call. Pray for his spiritual and physical protection.

Also, would like to ask that you pray for another man. He is the father of our newest convert. He is a commercial airline pilot based out of Moscow and speaks some English. I have sent him a copy of the free E-book, Done by author Cary Schmidt. Pray that this book will have a profound impact on him and that one day he will be saved.

Fast-Growing Christian Churches Crushed in China - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News - FOXNews.com

2009-12-11T12:15:00.001+07:00

I can see the same happening in Russia if the most recent proposed changes to Russia's law on freedom of religion are passed. Read the following linked article.

Fast-Growing Christian Churches Crushed in China - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News - FOXNews.com

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Serious Concern for Proposed Severe Restrictions on Evangelistic Activity in Russia

2009-12-09T14:14:00.001+07:00

Secular press takes note of proposed anti-evangelism law

RELIGIOUS MISSION UNACCOMPLISHED.
Clergy criticize intention of Ministry of Justice to restrict evangelistic activity
by Pavel Korobov
Kommersant, 2 December 2009

Kommersant has in its possession a draft of a law developed by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian federation, "On introducing amendments to the law 'On freedom of conscience and religious associations' and the Russian federation Code of administrative violations of law." The document, whose chief goal is to regulate evangelistic activity in Russia, has already evoked protest on the part of representatives of religious organizations. Clergy are concerned that adoption of the draft law will mean "a transition from freedom of conscience to repressions and persecution of believers in Russia."

Changes in legislation affecting evangelistic activity of religious organizations were prepared by the Ministry of Justice on instructions from the president of the Russian federation. "The idea of the draft law was born in 2000, after the adoption of the concept of national security of the Russian federation, in which the necessity of regulating evangelistic activity was specified," the director of the Institute of Religion and Law and senior fellow of the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Roman Lunkin, told Kommersant. "This draft was intended to serve as a prevention of the work of foreign missionaries and Islamic extremist Wahhabis." In 2006 the Ministry of Justice presented to the government a draft of a law "On evangelistic activity," which, however, was returned for improvement. By the fall of 2009 the Ministry of Justice had reworked the document and presented it as amendments to the law "On freedom of conscience and religious associations" and to the Russian Code on administrative violations of law.

The document gives, for the first time, a definition of evangelism in Russia as activity "among persons who are not members, participants, or adherents of a particular religious association, for the purpose of drawing such persons into a religious association and conducted by religious associations or by persons immediately authorized by them, in public, using means of mass communication or other legal means." At the same time, the right of proclamation is granted only to leaders of religious organizations or persons who have specific authorization from the leadership of their church. For others, proclaiming religious ideas will be forbidden, whereas at the present no permissions for this are required.

The document provides for a number of other restrictions on evangelistic activity. Thus, for example, evangelistic activity is prohibited for "persons who have been convicted of incitement of inter-ethnic and inter-religious strife or other crimes of an extremist nature." It is forbidden to evangelize in the vicinity of "objects having religious significance that belong to another religious association, without written agreement of its directing organ," as well as in buildings of government agencies, hospitals, children's homes, and orphanages without the consent of the administration. Another innovation is the prohibition on "attracting minors into the activity of a religious association against their will and without consent of their parents." Children and minors cannot be invited to attend church, be engaged in theological discussions, or be given written, audio, and video materials for their information. Sanctions for violations of the restrictive norms have been provided for the first time: fines of from 2,000 to 5,000 rubles for individuals and from 5,000 to 7,000 rubles for legal entities.

The initiatives of the Ministry of Justice have already evoked protest on the part of representatives of religious organizations. The Moscow church of Evangelical Christians-Baptists sent a letter to the president of the Russian federation in which they complained that "the law draft contains gross violations of the constitution of the Russian federation, the law 'On freedom of conscience and religious associations,' and international standards." "The proposed amendments have a deliberately restrictive character and Christians who observe all of Christ's commandments may be subjected to repression," the appeal says. "Adoption of this law will mean a transition from freedom of conscience to repressions and persecutions of believers in Russia." "We are concerned that all of this is being done in order to liquidate nontraditional religious groups in the Russian federation," Kommersant was told by the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, Vitaly Vlasenko. "We will continue to review the document."

The Baptists were supported by the cochairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia, Nafigulla Ashirov: "This draft law is a prohibition on speech. It can cause suffering to ordinary citizens who discuss religion on the train, for example." He said that such restriction did not even exist in the times of the USSR. "I would not rule out that some bureaucrats would be fully capable of using this law for destruction of religious organizations they do not like. In essence, this document substitutes bureaucrats for the state."

The Russian Orthodox church holds a more moderate attitude toward the intentions of the state to severely regulate religious activity. "Of course, this draft law needs some improvement in a portion of its provisions, but on the whole it can be supported," a legal consultant of the Moscow patriarchate, the nun Kseniia Chernega told Kommersant, specifying that RPTs has suggested relaxing the requirements regarding attracting minors into religious activity. The chairman of the Congress of Jewish Religious Organizations and Associations of Russia, Rabbi Zinovy Kogan, also called for not dramatizing the situation; "after all, there is yet to be discussion of the document."

When Kommersant asked the Ministry of Justice for comment, it was advised to submit a written inquiry with the promise that it would be answered within a week.

"All the restrictions on evangelistic activity proposed by the Ministry of Justice are a violation of the right to disseminate one's convictions, which contradicts the constitution of the Russian federation," Roman Lunkin thinks. "If the state has decided to take under its control, in this way, the activity of religious organizations, it will not succeed. They will just go underground." "The draft law has still not been submitted to the government, but one can now say that it is absolutely a nonstarter until the contradictions with the constitution are removed," thinks the secretary in charge of the governmental commission on matters of religious associations, Andrei Sebentsov. (tr. by PDS, posted 3 December 2009)

Russian original posted on Portal-credo.ru site, 2 December 2009

Snow Snow Snow and More Snow

2009-12-05T17:39:00.001+07:00

We are getting hammered with snow this winter. We have nearly doubled a normal yearly snow fall for our part of Siberia and it is only the beginning of December. I am running out of places to pile the snow. Had to buy a snow blower last Saturday to keep up with the clearing. This was a expense that I could have done without. But, I guess it will get good use this year and the many to come. I must admit that it is beautiful out and the temps have been relatively warm staying above 0F. I look like a real live snowman. Bonnie is loved buy our two Siberian Kavkas Shepherd Dogs. I guess it is because she is the one to feed them daily.

Third Quarter 2009 Newsletter

2009-12-01T13:20:00.001+07:00

What Do You Do When it Rains Nearly Everyday?

Answer: You Get wet and keep on working hoping the extension cord plug doesn't fall into a puddle.

This summer was perhaps the busiest and most stressful I have experienced in Russia. Our list of projects to accomplish before winter set in was long. Our weather this summer did not make things easier. It rained almost daily. Concrete work that should have taken one month lasted nearly three months. Our ultimate goal for completing our home was to have it sided by the end of summer. However, the more we progressed the more we found serious defects from our first builder that had to be corrected before we sided the house.

One of the most important fixes was our roof which required reroofing. These discovered defects depleted funds set aside for other projects. However, by the end of September we were able to 1. reroof our home 2. rework our veranda 3. enclose our well under the veranda floor protecting it from the cold weather and 4. move our coal furnace to an outside block room with a concrete ceiling. This last item was the most important. Three times last winter the Lord woke me up in the early morning hours to find a foggy haze of toxic coal gases that had backed flowed out of our furnace. This was due to a negative pressure having built up in the flue pipe. No longer do we have this danger.

You're probably wondering what happened with the siding. Well, the siding did not get installed; but we do have an insulation blanket with a wind barrier fabric covering installed to our external walls. Already we have seen the thermal benefits. We hope and pray it will be enough for our coming winter when temps are –30F and lower.

Update On Our Krasnoyarsk Church

Summer is a time of planting and growing and preparing for the winter. Many city dwellers go on the weekends to their garden plots where they plant potatoes and other vegetables. This along with vacations was the reason we saw a drop in our church attendance. However, we did have one family from our village drive in with us and visit our city church. They live only two houses down from ours which gives us many opportunities to continue our witness with them.

We were glad to have Sergey and his wife visit. He is the son of Ivan and Valentina, the two people that guarded our home during its major construction phase. They are Christians that attend another Baptist church in Krasnoyarsk. Having been raised in our village as a kid, he has a heart to see people saved in our village. We have discussed the possibility of him helping me begin a Bible study in the village. Pray for the Lord's direction regarding this.

We also had numerous opportunities to witness to two groups of Muslim workers from Tajikistan. They showed extreme dedication to their false god praying five times daily and throughout the night. The more I talked with them the more I was struck by the fact of their cultic like blindness to truth and sound reasoning.

Please continue to pray for our church people. Although small in number they do have a desire to see their friends and family saved. Julia has been a witness to her unsaved mother and sister, Sveta and Alla. She continues to invite them; but only Alla has come once. Alla has begun to taunt and ridicule Julia. This has only helped Julia to grow stronger in her walk with Christ. Vlada has been a constant witness to three of her friends from school. They have yet to visit. Pray that Julia and Vlada won't grow weary but continue to strive to see their friends and family one day saved.

Village Church House

Progress has come to a halt as we have progressed as far as funds would allow. At present we have a poured garage floor, roughed in floor in what will be a Sunday School/activity room , roughed in floor in the main meeting hall. We still need money for doors, windows, flight of stairs, wall paneling, insulation, and electric. Our financial need still stands at $15,000 as mentioned in our past newsletter. If your church could help we would be grateful.

Bonnie's Corner

Have you ever been the brunt of a LOUSY joke? Well, I have been; but this time is was no joke. It was instead a well coordinated attack of Siberian Village Lice. Yes, your right. That was the same reaction that I had when riding home from our city church with my 4 month old, Helen, sitting in my lap and finding my eyes following the graceful crawl of a head louse making its way through her beautiful hair.

Having worked the bus ministry while in college and catching head lice 4 different times in one semester, I knew full well of the battle that lay ahead to rid our family of these little vermin. You see—we have four daughters and three of them with long flowing hair providing just the right playground for these critters who have probably been around since the days of Adam.

Sitting next to us in the car were two sisters from the village, neighbors of ours. They had traveled with us to visit our city church. Turning my head to the right, I noticed from where our "Special Louse" had traveled. One of the sister's hair looked as if someone had sprinkled salt in it. She was so infested with nits and live lice. It was everything I could do to control my nerves and stop my hand from opening the sunroof to aide a hurried escape from our car.

Well, to make a lousy story short our family did rid itself of the little vermin. Our little girls have also learned a new activity to add to their list of make believe games. They now sit around pretending they are finding "Lice Eggs" in each others hair. I guess practice makes perfect.

Our Silly Girls

2009-08-14T12:22:00.000+08:00

Visiting With Valintina

2009-07-25T18:50:00.000+08:00

Today we had the privilege to visit grandma Valintina Habarova. She is now 82 years old and not able to leave her fourth floor apartment due to poor health. This picture has special meaning because Valintina became a Christian even before the birth of our oldest daughter, Elizabeth, who is now six years old. I can still remember when Valintina would hold Elizabeth during those early day's of our church. We have not seen this dear lady as a family for some time. I praise the Lord that nearly eight years ago I was able to win her to Christ. Pray for her health and for her witness to her family who are not saved. Her favorite hymn is "Near My God To Thee".

Church Building progess

2009-07-24T19:08:00.000+08:00

This is entrance to the first floor sunday school room

This is the foyer room with temp stair to the second floor. Entrance straight ahead opens into the garage.

Abigail and her Beetle

2009-07-24T19:04:00.001+08:00

Time out to swim in our village's river

2009-07-24T18:57:00.001+08:00

Abigail and Helen

2009-07-24T18:53:00.000+08:00

Our Family

2009-07-13T17:50:00.001+08:00

Had a great time with Uncle Scott visiting PRAY HE RETURNS WITH HIS FAMILY!!

2009-07-01T22:06:00.000+08:00

Elizabeth loves playing mom

2009-07-01T21:27:00.001+08:00

Oue girls watching the Tajik crew cook rice ploff

2009-06-25T19:11:00.000+08:00

Our village Rug Rats!

2009-06-25T15:56:00.000+08:00

Evelyn taking time out to write something down

2009-06-25T15:45:00.000+08:00

Evelyn is a little tired

2009-06-25T15:10:00.000+08:00

Elizabeth in her indian war paint

2009-06-25T15:06:00.000+08:00

Pouring floor for new heater room

2009-06-25T13:31:00.000+08:00

Stabilizing the Hammock

2009-06-25T13:29:00.000+08:00

Elizabeth joining in on the singing for Sunday church

2009-06-23T23:40:00.000+08:00