Tell Me Why?

Light of Hope Shelter, Severodvinsk Branch

This past year Olga and I and all of us at ICM (Russia) have been praying and thinking about how we can help Heart to Heart Church plant the Light of Hope Shelter in Severodvinsk, Russia. The Lord called Olga and I and the team to expand the Kingdom of God elsewhere in the world! There is so much that could be done here in Russia, and of course almost everything we would like to do here requires that we could clearly communicate God’s vision to our ICM (Russia) friends and partners. Our desires are to build up the Church with the teaching of the Word, to teach Inductive Bible Study seminars, and to help orphans and less fortunate kids!



Before Olga and I left for America to hold church services and raise support we met with ICM (Russia) partners in Severodvinsk and discussed the steps involved with starting the Light of Hope Shelter there. I was blessed to see Pastor Victor, Konstantine and Andrey catch the vision and take the steps necessary to register the ministry with the local government. I cannot describe the blessing I receive in sharing the Word and the vision the Lord entrusted to Olga and I with missionaries and pastors.

Konstantine, the director of the shelter, Andrey, Zhanna and Lucy are now building relationships with the kids and helping in whatever way they can. The Lord laid it on my and Olga’s hearts to help this new ministry with a nice portable laptop and a printer. We would like to someday be able to help even more financially, but right now we are helping the guys to set up an office.

Konstantine and Andrey have already started gathering kids to do Bible studies and sports. They are still praying seeking the face of the Lord on how and what way exactly they will teach the Word because the kids are still kind of tough and not ready to open up. Konstantine, Andrey and all of us at ICM (Russia) are praying and asking for the leading of the Lord. We have decided that we will not be in a hurry, spending this time in prayer and the Word to build ourselves in faith, learn how to work with the youth, and wait for the Lord to show what He has in store for Severodvinsk. As Olga and I were reading a praise report the guys sent us a couple of days ago, and looking through the pictures we realized how richly God had blessed the ministry team with opportunities to reach the unprivileged youth with the Gospel in Severodvinsk, Russia.

Youth Bible Study At The Shelter

While Olga and I are in America, Andrey and ICM Team started a new Bible study for teenagers that come to the Light of Hope Shelter. It is my great joy to share with you all about what God is doing in the ministry!

Three weeks ago Andrey and Olga as an overseer gathered the kids in the shelter for a Bible study and Nate participates in the project when he has time. ICM team is doing a great job with these kids! We have decided to take them through the book of Mark, but since three weeks ago was the week of Easter, Andrey did a lesson from Luke 24 about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The guys started with a fun game were the kids in two teams had a cake and had to eat their cake fast than the other team without the use of their hands. This was a lot of fun! Then Andrey broke the scripture into several small sections and assigned each section to one of the kids to read then to retell the verses in their own words. Then after going through the verse the kid's task was to do a collage that explained their different verses so that they could tell the story from beginning to end. Hey, we are extremely impressed with what the guys are doing with the kids! Our children don’t even realize as they are having a good time that they are learning the IBS method and growing in the word. I know that this Bible study is going to really affect the lives of these kids and that some will be won to the Lord. Among all the other things we do at the center, none of them really mean much if we do not teach the gospel and the Word. If we just feed these kids a warm meal, play games with them, and love them, they will not leave this place changed, and in the end they will be in the same place they were before. I believe that we need to use all good material things we do to allow these kids to trust and open up to us so that we can help them spiritually, in the end that is all that matters.

During this confusing time as teenagers it is crucial that we build relationships and use the Word to affect their hearts. Last week for one reason or another only three girls showed up. So they made a salad, everyone ate and went through the scriptures as Andrey said “like adults”. Nate said that he was impressed as he saw the way Andrey tactfully lead the kids through the Word and as he saw the girls receive, understand, and even expound on the Word themselves, he was really encouraged to learn from Andrey how to do that. Nate will continue to help Andrey in any way he can, and one day hope to take a more active role.

Last week Andrey took the kids to his mother’s apartment to help her clean up and did the Bible study there. Andrey’s mom has multiple scleroses and is no longer able to walk. This is really good for the kids to learn how to serve and help others, to learn how good it feels to help someone else, and for Andrey to share his life with these kids. Please keep these teenagers and this Bible study in prayer, that they would be saved in Jesus and that Andrey would continue to have the wisdom on how to lead the group. Also please keep Andrey and his mom in prayer, as her condition continues to get worse she will need more help, praise the Lord she is a believer, but this will become harder and harder on Andrey and his sister. I thank those of you who support ICM (Russia) and Light of Hope Shelter financially and in prayer. Your support is doing the work of the Lord here in Russia.

Praise Report from Russia!!!

Last year I helped start a mission group study that met every Wednesday. When I left for America I left the group in the care of the leader Dima Batin. In February Nate returned to Russia after spending a few months in the States. I was glad to hear that he has been able to step in and help with the group for a little bit till Olga and I get back to Russia, even help with leading them through the word. I was also glad to hear that they followed our example and have been going through the Bible inductively. Nate was able to teach, with Sveta translating for him, from 1 Peter 4, about how we are the living stones used to build the temple of the Lord.

I was also glad to hear the Nate was able to cover for Anber on two occasions. Abner is really busy these days between his family, work, starting a church, and leading a home-group Bible study. He was not able to do one of the home-groups and had to do an outreach during one of the Light of Hope Church services. Nate was more than happy and able to cover for Anber on both of these occasions.

Please keep in prayer what the Lord has in store for us in ICM Russia and the Light of Hope Church we are starting. Walking through the streets of Cherepovets it is easy get overwhelmed when you see all that could be done and the help that is needed. There is so much to do Russia it has to be from the Lord, in the Lord’s leading, in His timing, and in only His power! Please keep us all ministering in Russia in your prayer as the Lord lays it on your heart. Please pray that we would be changed by the teaching of the Word, so that we would be set on fire to change the world around us.

I Believe We Can Soar in the Spirit

Welcoming American Missionaries to the Light of Hope Center

Last week the Light of Hope center was blessed to have a mission group from America come visit. The group consisted of five women, three of which were high schoolers, and two men. They are part of a ministry that has been heavily supporting the Light of Hope Center, as well as many orphanages and centers similar to ours in the Vologda Region.

They spent the week going from one center to another and one orphanage to another, playing games, doing crafts, sharing testimonies and sharing the love of Christ. The time they spent at our center was a blessed time of fellowship and joy in the Lord. The kids really warmed up to the team and got excited to be involved in the different games and activities. It can be hard to get these kids to open their hearts, which is why I think it is good for missionaries to come, to love them and reach into their hearts with the love of Jesus. We can use all the help we can get to reach these kids.

I would like to thank the team from Philadelphia for coming to share the gospel with our kids. It was a great encouragement to the ICM team and to the kids. I know that encounters with people like this will affect the kids for the rest of their lives. I would encourage those who read about and support ICM Russia to please keep these kids in prayer, and the team. Pray that we would have the wisdom and power to continue sharing Jesus with these kids. Also pray for missionaries as they go to different countries, sharing their lives, finances, and love with those that need Jesus.

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Time of Adoration