Moscow Inductive Bible Study Seminar

The sun shone bright when we arrive in Moscow to hold Inductive Bible Study seminar. A group of aging communists gathered in front of the redbrick edifice of the Lenin Museum to mark the anniversary - and to bemoan the end of the Soviet empire. A few elderly “true-believers” held red flags bearing the communist hammer and sickle, while speakers called for the return of communism. "Leninism! Stalinism! Death to capitalism!" they chanted at one point. Then they marched around the outside of Red Square, angrily complaining when the police refused to allow others to follow.

Meanwhile, Christianity is still enjoying religious freedoms in the Russian capital, where it once was persecuted and nearly crushed. A day after the communist rally, we started our life-altering Inductive Bible Study curriculum and seventy pastors, cell-group leaders, and Christian workers gathered together to worship the Lord openly and learn how to study the Bible productively. All these people gathered at the Moscow Theological Seminary to learn how to study and teach the Bible inductively: verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter, and book-by-book! The seminar went just fabulous! At the end of the seminar the Lord came down to us in a very special way as we were still singing and partaking communion.

One of the participants, a children minister, a woman in her 30s named Marina, could not hold her feelings back and came up front with a luminous smile to testify about what God had done for her at the seminar. She will never return to her old way of studying and teaching the Bible, she vowed.

Seventy pastors, cell group leaders and Christian workers in a city of more than 11 million people may seem insignificant, but Jesus Christ rejoices over them because He called them into the ministry and entrusted to these 70 His vision. The Lord wants to see His pastors feeding the flock on the Word of God so that the church might grow and multiply into many congregations in the days and years to come.

Moscow remains hard ground for the Christian Gospel. Many Russians seek material things and regard evangelicals as a cult - not unlike the rest of Europe. But they also seek hope, which only Jesus Christ can give. Russian pastors and ministers are offering that hope to seekers in Moscow.

Moscow Inductive Bible Study Seminar Photos

LEARN about ORPHAN'S B-DAY CELEBRATION

This is a very special project for us, as the primary focus from the very beginning was to come visit orphans and celebrate their birthdays because their biological moms and dads never come to them on this special day to pray and play with them, share the Father's heart, sing worship songs, etc. This is a cool outreach to the fatherless in our community that helps orphans realize they HAVE the Father who created and loved them to death! Since 1995 Olga and I and some other people from our congregation have been doing this project to provide salvation, spiritual and financial care, birthday gifts, and encouragement to orphans in Cherepovets and rural towns that have been affected by poverty. It is such an 
 amazing joy to come spend time with kids not just in their time of distress but also their joyous times and bless these little people with Gods healing LOVE! We usually spend $10 to $15 per kid to buy him/her a birthday gift. If you feel like participating in the project and in child’s life send your love gift to BCC. (see Pray and Support page)

LEARN about ORPHANAGE PLAYGROUND project

Dear friends, because you sent your massive prayerful and financial support to us, we were able to buy playground equipment for a couple of village orphanages this year. Village orphanages in Russia are very poor and cannot afford to buy good quality playground equipment for children! We buy good quality units and spend around $700 per piece of equipment! If you want us to bless more kids with playgrounds please contribute to this project sending your love gifts to BCC (see Pray and Support section on your right)

LEARN about BACK TO SCHOOL project

Another extraordinary evangelistic effort we undertake is a back-to-school project that helps Russian orphans get the eternal life in Jesus and best quality school supplies for the academic year. We do this back-to-school project every year on September 1. In Russia back-to-school celebration is real huge! Parents take their children to the school market and buy the best quality, colorful, and nice notebooks, pens, pencils, pencil boxes, crayons, pair of compasses for drawing, watercolor paints, brushes, and all the child needs for the whole academic year. Also they spend time with their kids encouraging them to study and do well at school. On September 1, everyone in the family dresses up and parents walk their children to school.

Kids that we support do not have their fathers and mothers available for them, therefore, the Lord laid it on our hearts to come visit orphans and share the Father’s heart with them, encouraging them to invite Jesus, the only begotten Son into their hearts to obtain God’s wisdom and Christ’s mind that help them do well at school. We also raise funds and buy the best quality school supplies for each and every orphan so that kids who have their moms and dads could not laugh at our kids saying: Look at your ugly pen? Ha-ha-ha! Which dump did you go to get it? Our little orphans feel shame of being different from their more fortunate classmates who have their moms and dads available for them. The truth is our kids get the best school supplies we can find in the city! We usually spend $30 per child to buy everything he or she needs during the school year. We enjoy being there for kids on September 1 and walking them to school. You should see their happy faces when you take them by their little hands and walk them to school!

By working together with our supporters and government agencies we are able to support 100 children both spiritually and financially. Orphanage and shelter directors Elena, Tatyana, Valentina, and Olga always thank me for helping support this back-to-school project and I am proud to share their thanks with our supporters, people who once believed in Igor and Olga and continue to bless us until this very day. You, people, are giving children thousands of miles away something greater than school supplies; you are giving them hope for a brighter day…and hope for a better life. Friends, thank you for contributing to a project! You are part of an ongoing effort that deserves our support!

LEARN about ORPHANAGE CHRISTMAS project

Olga and I appreiate your prayerful and financial support for this powerful evangelistic effort! Since Christmas is huge in Russia, we take the initiative and come to orphanages we support to celebrate Jesus' Birthday with the children there! Usually we bring church kids with us and they perform a Christmas play, I, then share the Christmas message and give kids a chance to give their hearts to Jesus on His Birthday! I know that the Lord rejoices every time He sees kids coming to Him and giving their lives to Him! We truly believe that the gift of the Etenal Life is the best Christmas gift you can think of! In order to do this project and do it well, we raise and use funds to buy Christmas gifts for each 'n' every child and orphanage worker so that no worker would steal from kids - a total of 80 people! We try to spend no more than $20 per person. Christmas is always a blessing for everyone of us and, of course, our kids! If you would like to help a child, you can do so by sending $20 to BCC. (see info under Pray and Support) Even though you never sent support to us before, you may send a special love-gift for this project. We are sure God will thank you for that, BIG TIME!

LEARN about PBS project

The Productive Bible Study four-day seminar gives pastors, cell group leaders, missionaries and Christian workers a fresh and clear understanding of powerful Bible truths. We travel throughout Russia, the fromer Soviet Union, Israel and India and America, bringing the Productive Bible Study seminars to spiritually hungry people. We equip pastors and church leadership with inductive Bible study tools that help church leaders study the Word of God verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter, book-by-book and teach through the Bible in their congregations that enables people of God know and do the perfect Will of God. PBS seminars are designed to teach participants how to impact the world by applying the Word in their practical lives. Since 1993, PBS seminars have been a breath of hope and encouragement for thousands of believers in various parts of the world! Our vision is to (1) equip pastors, cell group leaders, missionaries and Christian workers for service, (2) revolutionize their study of God's Word through the inductive Bible study method (we train and equip 1200 ministers each year), (3) motivate them teach through the Bible. It costs us around $1000 a month to do the PBS seminar. It includes traveling to the seminar site (by bus, train, plane, car), printing PBS materials (we give materials away to participants as a gift), office supplies, meals, conference hall rent, accommodations, means of communication (internet, cell, regular phone and fax services), financial blessings to PBS teachers, etc.

LEARN about our VALUES

• Values are like glue. They hold our ministry together.
• Values are like a ruler. They set the standard for a team's performance.
• Values are like compass. They give direction and guidance.
• Values are like magnet. They attract like-minded people.
• Values provide identity. They define and identify the team.

It always helpful when I reinforce values to explain who we are and what we believe in as a ministry. Therefore I decided to articulate the following values:

1. Personal growth. It is the responsibility of each individual to grow personally, but it is the leader's responsibility to help facilitate that process. I understand that I can grow the ministry only as much as I grow my people.

2. Making a significant contribution. I believe every person ought to do something that he or she truly believes in making the difference.

3. Living and working with passion. I do not know about you, but I want everyone around me to love what they do as much as I do! I have no desire to motivate people I work with and to get them passionate about life. I would rather beg them to find another job or ministry.

4. Commitment to excellence. I believe each of us should set the bar higher for ourselves than anybody else will.

5. Team leadership. The only way to build a successful ministry is to develop a great team around us.

6. Living a life of integrity. Without this, everything else is meaningless.

LEARN how you support us through GIVING

Giving out of love is a core principle of Christian faith! Igor and Olga Prokopyev and their missions’ team have relied on generosity of their friends and partners who believe in them since they had been called into the full-time ministry in 1993. In truth, all who participate in Igor and Olga’s life and their evangelistic projects in Russia, support them through prayer and sincere effort to provide financially for missionaries, orphans, and Russian Jews in the former Soviet Union. Lives have been changed, empowered and replenished through this ministry through the years! "There is no better way for you and your church to invest in eternal things than giving to missions that all peoples may know Him." - Jerry Rankin. Here are several ways one can provide support:

Contribute to a project

Give one-time and regular financial support

Donate to support a missionary

Volunteer your time in a project

Will you be involved knowing that 100% of your gift will minister to people in need?! See details under Pray and Support section on your right!

LEARN how you support us through PRAYER

Some have asked “how” we should pray for you and your missions’ team. God has graciously given us guidance in His Word. We pray for the lost. Jesus came to, “seek and to save what was lost”. Luke 19:10 NIV. This is the reason missionaries have been sent. You partner with them in this mission as you pray! May God richly bless you as you stand in the gap for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Russia!
Pray that we are strengthened and protected from the evil one.
3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. II Thess. 3: 3 but deliver us from the evil one. Matt. 6: 13
That we are delivered from deadly perils.
10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. II Cor. 1: 10, 11 NIV
Pray that we are delivered from wicked and evil men.
2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. II Thess. 3: 2 NIV
That God would open a door for us to present the gospel.
3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Col. 4: 3 NIV
Pray that we are active in sharing our faith.
6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Phm. 1: 6 NIV
Let us proclaim the message that brings life clearly and fearlessly.
4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Col. 4: 4 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Eph. 6: 19, 20 NIV Pray that the Lord would cause the good news to spread rapidly and be honored.
1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. II Thess. 3: 1 NIV
That God will bring a great harvest where we are serving.
6 Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Ps. 85: 6 NIV, 6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. Ps. 126: 6 NIV
Pray that we have a clear conscience and that our desire is to live honorably in every way.
18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. Heb. 13: 18 NIV
Grant us and our family good health so we may continue our work. Let our souls prosper!
2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. III Jn. 1: 2 NIV
Pray that God gives us wisdom in every circumstance.
I Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. I Pet. 3: 15 (b) NIV, 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matt. 10: 6 NIV, 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Col. 4: 5, 6 NIV
Let God’s plans be ours.
11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer. 29: 11 NIV, 3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Prov. 16: 3 NIV
Pray for local governing authorities. Let the missionaries find favor in their eyes because of their godly and holy lives.
1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. I Tim. 2: 1, 2 NIV
Pray that God will provide for our daily needs.
11 Give us today our daily bread. Matt. 6: 11 NIV
Encourage and strengthen them, Jesus!
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. II Thess. 2: 16, 17
Give them humble and contrite spirits. Let them be obedient to the Word.
“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word.” Isa. 66: 2 (b)

i believe i can fly, i believe i can touch the sky...

"Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?" (Matt. 6:26)

time to mourn and time to dance...

There is a time to mourn and a time to dance.
I declare this to be a day of dancing and rejoicing!
I will talk to the Lord!
I will renew the passion!
I will fly and not walk!
I will laugh and not mock!
I will buy ice-cream!
I will listen to jazz all day!
I will dream of popcicles and bongo drums!
I will seek friendship in the joyous ones!
I will search for the happy people on each floor of this place and ask them what brought them joy!
I will give holy hugs and kisses to pretty people!
I will remember the good times!
I will tell a good Jewish joke to someone!
I will dream of life and dance in the Son!