September 13-17 Olga and I did our Annual ICM of Russia Leaders' Forum. It has been our 8th year that we are able to get ICM of Russia ministers from all over the former Soviet Union, pastors, associate pastors, and worship pastors who had been sharing our vision and partnering with Olga and I for years together to spend quality time in God's Word and His presence! Jesus called Olga and I to encourage, train and equip pastors, leaders, and believers for the work of service!
Nate and Sveta, Andrey and Svetlana, Avenir and Ira, Nikolay and Svetlana, Alexey came to the Forum this year to be better equipped and encouraged for the work of ministry they do in Cherepovets with us. As you may remember some years ago, Olga and I had a privilege to train Alexey Alexandroff, Avenir and Andrey how to study and teach the Bible inductively and sent them out to do Inductive Bible Study seminars different parts of Russia. They have traveled all over the place and done IBS seminars different denominations and now they give pastoral care to the people at Light of Hope Churches in Cherepovets and Anisimovo. All these guys are working hard in the Kingdom of God! For that, we praise the Lord!!!
Garrik came all the way from the Caucasus to participate in the Forum. He was 16 years old when I met him at church that invited us to come and do IBS program many years ago. We spent a couple of years to trained him to teach IBS seminars in the Caucasus. He had been traveling with us for years and about 8 years ago the Lord laid it on his heart to start The Ark Church in Cherkessk. Now him and his wife Tanya are taking care of more than 100 believers in their church. Brother Gor, Garrik's associate was not able to come this year unfortunately. He had to stay behind and work in Cherkessk.
Pastor Zhenya Zharoff from Ukraine couldn't come this year as well, but he had sent his associate who travels and does IBS seminars in Ukraine. His name is also Igor, he is a neat guy... loves the Lord from the bottom of his heart! He came to the Forum this year for the first time and just loved it!!!!
Pastor Victor Elizaroff who oversees several churches in the northern part of Russia and Light of Hope Ministries Severodvinsk brought seven ministers from his church to Moscow this year. They are Konstantine and Luda, Andrey Kachan, Lucy, and Dmitry are working with the youth, street kids and homeless people in the city of Severodvinsk. Ilya, who serves as a worship leader at Victor's church in Severodvinsk joined ICM of Russia vision a couple of years ago and came to the Forum for the first time this year.
Pastor Victor and Alena Kot from Vologda brough their associate Alexey and Svetlana this year.
Pastor Yuri and Alla Navetny from Kirillov had been coming to our Forums for a couple of years already, they just love the Word of God and the teamwork we strongly believe in.
Pastor Vitaly and Julia from Belozersk joined our vision for Russia many years ago, unfortunately they were unable to come to the Forum this year but sent two brothers Alexander and Alexander who effectively teach and lead worship in their church in Belozersk. These guys came to participate in the Forum this year for the first time and got tremendously blessed by the teaching, prayer and fellowship we had in the Holy Spirit.
Every year our dear friends and partners from Northern Ireland from Jordan Victory Church come and participate in our Forums. Pastor Lewis and Gwen Smyth came alongside Olga and I to help us advance the Kingdom in the former Soviet Union long time ago! This time they brought 7 people from JVC to help ICM of Russia teach, preach, equip, train, do body ministry and develop friendships with Russian churches. Thank you guys for being so faithful to ICM of Russia! We love you loads! For the last few years, you have been leading us through John Maxwell's Million Leaders Mandate handbooks, training us how to be and raise up better leaders in the Kingdom. Thank you, Lewis! Thank you Gwen for coming over! Jim, Adrian, Alice, you are special! JVC, you are awesome! Many years ago Lewis and I became close when we realized that the Lord had laid it on our hearts to go in Jesus name and build up people of God through equipping them for the work of the ministry and encouraging them to follow Jesus whatever cost. It is always good to get ministers together, spend time in the Word, prayer and fellowship with each other encouraging each other in the Lord, going out and ministering to the nations together! We are encouraged to continue in the ministry no matter what!!!!! Thank you again for coming and partnering with us!
Everyone enjoyed the conference! So many pastors came up to Olga and I after the Forum and thanked us for being obedient to the Lord and doing His Will in our life! I am so excited to let you know everyone just loved the power of the Word and enjoyed the fellowship with friends in the presence of the Lord! Everyone left the Forum 2011 encouraged and ready to show people love in our ministries!!!
We won't be able to see each other for another year or so, therefore all of us pastors can't wait to see what God is going to bless us with in 2012. The Lord spoke to me that He is going to come even stronger on us next year and bless ICM of Russia even more so!!!!! Olga and I expect God to move in a way we never saw Him moving in our midst before. Many pastors testified that they were tremendously blessed by being able to develop strong friendships and participate in each others lives and ministries in the future. For that, Olga and I give thanks to God!!!! He is mighty to save! He is mighty to change us into His image! He is mighty to equip His people and send them out to do His will!
Everyone enjoyed the conference! So many pastors came up to Olga and I after the Forum and thanked us for being obedient to the Lord and doing His Will in our life! I am so excited to let you know everyone just loved the power of the Word and enjoyed the fellowship with friends in the presence of the Lord! Everyone left the Forum 2011 encouraged and ready to show people love in our ministries!!!
We won't be able to see each other for another year or so, therefore all of us pastors can't wait to see what God is going to bless us with in 2012. The Lord spoke to me that He is going to come even stronger on us next year and bless ICM of Russia even more so!!!!! Olga and I expect God to move in a way we never saw Him moving in our midst before. Many pastors testified that they were tremendously blessed by being able to develop strong friendships and participate in each others lives and ministries in the future. For that, Olga and I give thanks to God!!!! He is mighty to save! He is mighty to change us into His image! He is mighty to equip His people and send them out to do His will!
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