Evagelistic Outreach in Klimovskoe

In the last week of June several people from ICM(Russia), the Light of Hope Church and I were invited to take part in an evangelical event in a small city not far from Cherepovets called Klimovskoe. It was a good time. There is a small church there and that was the base of operations. On Friday Andrey Sorokin and Nicolay and Sveta Kuzechev lead worship, then there was a testimony, followed by a message from Pastor Vasily from a nearby city called Sheksna. It was quite powerful. Few things stir up the Spirit more than a good gospel message told with conviction and passion. Several people gave their lives to Jesus, including a few teenagers, and several rededicated their lives. It is always good to see the hands go up at the altar call. There was also fun program the kids. They played games and shared the love of Christ. These kids do not have very much in life, so this was a huge event for them. The next day I was able to do the message. And to God’s glory, several people received Christ into their hearts.

God is doing great things in the Vologda region, and we are privileged to be a part of it. Please join us in our ministry through prayer. We cannot do anything without the Lord going before us, and your prayers are heard. It is a wonderful miracle how, as the body of Christ, we are able to work together even though we may be separated by oceans, country boarders, cultures, and languages. Our task, our battle, is a spiritual one and the Spirit has no boundaries. The connection we all have as Christ’s church is stronger than any boundary the world or Satan may try to put between us. We can all take part in each other's lives and ministries though prayer, and in the end the Lord will bless openly what was done in secret. Thank you for your prayers and love.

This was a previous drug addict that got saved and clean at the Rehab center in Belezersk, a city about 2 hours from Cherepovets. We work closely with the church that runs it.







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Ministry in Anisomovo

A few years back ICM (Russia) was blessed with some sizable land in Olga's home town of Anisomovo. It has been a desire of ours for a long while now to plant a church there and open a training center for pastors and missionaries, as well as possibly an elderly home. We were blessed with enough land that Igor felt led to give half the property to Andrey Sorokin so that he could build a house there and start working with kids and teenagers. He also has an idea of possibly starting a camp for youth retreats. We are still not sure who will be the pastor of the church, or exactly how we will be able to do the training center.

Last month God opened the door for Andrey and Sveta to make the first steps towards that goal. An apartment in Anisomovo opened up right next to where we want build the church. So Andrey and Sveta heard the calling of the Lord, sold their apartment in Cherepovets and bought the apartment in Anisomovo. The apartment in Cherepovets sold for considerably more money than the cost of the apartment in Anisomovo, so Andrey was also blessed to be able to buy a mini-bus so he can start a shuttling business between Cherepovets and other cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. It is fun to watch him follow the Lord and witness the hand of God helping every step of the way.
The Sorokin family. From left to right Sveta, Syoma, Ulyana, Andrey, and Andrey's mother.
A few weeks back the ICM team gathered together in Anisomovo for a time of fellowship and blessing the Sorokin family in their new adventure. We had a great time swimming, talking, eating and hanging out with friends. We do not get together as a team like this very often and it was quite a treat to all be in one place. I look forward to the next time we are able to gather as a team like this again.
Now it is time to get to work. There are already a few believers in the village, mainly Olga’s family, and we are hoping to start doing home-group Bible studies sometime soon. We are planning on doing evangelism there soon, possibly in September. Andrey says that he has been able to befriend some people already and has been able to get to know many of the kids in Anisomovo. He thinks that the people will be pretty open. I just pray that the Lord would already be working on their hearts to receive the gospel, and not only the material aid we plan to bring. Please join us in praying for the work in Anisomovo. There is a lot to do, and only the Lord is able to it,

“‘Not by might nor by power, but My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

• Pray that the people would respond the gospel and be saved.
• That Andrey would have the wisdom and discernment to know what the Lord is telling him as he gets more involved with ministering there.
• For the time being Andrey is driving 200 km from Anisomovo to Cherepovets and back every week to lead worship. Please pray that he would continue to have the strength to do this and that the Lord would raise someone up to take his place.
• Also Andrey's mom is suffering from multiple sclerosis and Andrey has moved her to Anisomovo to take care of her. Please keep her in prayer, that her last years before she goes to heaven would be painless and peaceful. Keep Andrey in prayer as he is going to have to deal with her getting worse, pray that he would have the strength needed to deal with this.
• That we would have over all wisdom and discernment on how to do the whole project in Anisomovo: the church, youth, possible youth camp, training center, and elderly home.

Breakfast at Olga's grandmother's old house.

Visiting Sveta at work.

Checking out the Sorokin's new pad.

Checking out their new bathroom.

Hanging out with Olga's youngest nephew.

Shashleek!! :)




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Light of Hope Church Update

It has been way too long since I have done a blog about our Light of Hope Church we started last year. It will be a year in November since we had our first service. Before that we had been meeting in home groups and at the Light of Hope Children’s Center. The vision at ICM is to teach pastors, teachers, church workers, and anyone willing to learn, how to study the Bible Inductively (book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse). Here in Russia that is the main part of our mission, but the Lord has also laid it on our hearts to work with kids, parents, and orphans. Over a year ago the Lord laid it on Abner’s and the team’s hearts to start a church that will combine these visions. We are the only church I know of in Cherepovets, a city of about 300,000 people and with around 10 churches that teaches the complete, whole, balanced, and unbiased Word of God. Not to say other churches don’t teach the Word, but you cannot really cover every aspect of the Word, balanced and in context without teaching it book by book, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse. Many principles get placed on the back burner and others become the only main courses people are fed.

Abner is now leading us through the book of Mark and I believe people are starting to catch on to the idea. At first people seemed not to understand the simple system of studying through the Bible, feeling it was not deep enough and monotonous. However, now people are starting to understand the story as a whole and see the pieces fit together. It is a huge blessing to see the Word working in the hearts and lives of believers, and in mine. A couple Sundays ago a woman came forward and prayed the sinner’s prayer. Pray that she will grow in the strength and power of the Spirit, as her new seed begins to grow. Now is the time where rocks will be revealed, weeds will appear out of nowhere, and birds are trying to snatch the seed. Also please pray that others would be called into the kingdom and that workers would be brought up.

We are still a young church, and still have some growing to do. But I know that the Lord is doing great things. I know that the only thing that will really change people’s lives is the Holy Spirit working through God's Word. That is what we in our church are committed to. However being a small church we are having a hard time finding people to help with things like the sound system, showing the words for worship, and children’s ministry. But I know that as the Word starts to light fires and fan the flames in the hearts of people that people will begin to get involved

It is important for the Lord to lead people into ministry. It is also important that we encourage people to get involved and have a ministry they can get plugged into, lucky for us there will never be a shortage of ministry. Therefore please join us in praying for the Lord to raise up people to minister in our church and that we would have wisdom to know how to manage everything. Jesus said, , “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” There is so much to be done, there is so much fruit, so many people to minister to, but there is always a shortage of people to harvest. But if we pray, the Lord will provide. In Matthew, it is interesting that right after saying that Jesus sent out the twelve. We need to pray and go out and start the ministry, because if you remember, next time Jesus sent out seventy-two. That is what we are doing: praying, trusting, and ministering. Please join us in this wonderful privilege.

Artem (on the right) has decided to help with the sound. He is still learning, but he has proven to be a big help. Please keep him in prayer, that he would continue to be encouraged to minister and grow in the spirit.

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Cherkessk Ministry Photos

Tumen IBS, Siberia Photos

Praise Report from Russia!!!

Dear ICM of Russia Family,

Mega huge blessings to you all! It is so much fun to see God move!!! He uses so many different people in so many different ways! And for that we praise him!!! I think of our ministry team in Russia, Alex and Luba, Abner and Irene, Andrey and Svetlana, Victor and Luba, Victor and Alena, Nate, Svetta, etc, etc.

Alex went to Siberia to equip people of God on how to study the Bible inductively and teach through the Bible in the congregation of the believers. Do you realize how many Christian people do not know how they can feed themselves on the Word of God?! So what does God do? He brings help! Because you pray and support the ministry we were able to buy a plane ticket for Alex to be able to travel over there to equip believers in Tumen, Siberia with the life-changing IBS course. Alex spent so many days on the train going back to Cherepovets praying that the participants would apply what they had learned at the seminar. Alex worked with them in careful reading and observing the facts in the scriptures, then he explained them how to interpret things they read in the Bible and apply the truth in their practical life. The participants were able to finish 4 assignments in writing where they were applying all they learned during the seminar. We all prayed for Alex and Luba and we know that you pray for us constantly. And for that, we thank you!

Abner and Irene are leading the church here in Cherepovets teaching through the book of Mark! People who come and fellowship at Light of Hope Church are blessed by the teaching of the Word! Olga and I were tremendously blessed by what we see in Abner's life and how God moves in the congregation here in Cherepovets. Good news is that Irene is pregnant! Please pray for her! She can use your prayers!

We are now watching to see how God is going to meet some other needs in our ministry. He is already answering prayer for a new work in the village of Anisimovo where villagers do not have a church. They do not have running water, bathrooms or toilets in their houses. Andrey and Svetlana are willing to move to Anisimovo to start a new work there. Please pray for them as they go through the time of transition. Galina, Andrey's mom is handycapped, she has severe condition with her both legs. Galina is going to Anisimovo with Andrey and Svetlana to be with them. Olga and I decided to bless her with portable type toilet. She thanks Jesus for the blessing! There are a few homes that are falling apart, literally, coming apart there in Anisimovo. There are holes in the walls and the roof so it rains on them. Andrey and Svetlana are going to live in the home that has a roof problem. He asked us if there was any way to patch the holes. We are praying for the materials to patch the hole. And Andrey can do the work himself. We know God will provide for them! It will be exciting to see how God will do this.

Garik and Tatyana wrote us an email to let us know that the church is growing in numbers!Glory to God in the highest! Garik said that he will continue to teach thru the Bible to let people hear God's Word and His voice, he also mentioned that people who come to the fellowship find answers and become aware of God's will in their lives! God gets all the Glory!

Victor and Luba called us the other day to let us know that the church they recently started in Archangelsk is doing great! Church in Severodvinsk is growing spiritually, praise the Lord! Victor and Konstantine, his associate do their best in teaching the Word and training people for the work of ministry! Light of Hope Center is doing great as well! Kids come to study the Bible and play sports!

PRAYER REQUESTS. 1. People of Anisimovo, Cherepovets, Severodvinsk, Archangelsk, Cherkessk, Vologda, etc 2. Teaching Inductive bible Study Seminars all over the place 3. Teaching Bible classes and worship in Light of Hope Center 4. Nate, missionary from the States teaching the Bible studies in Russian 5. New work in Anisimovo 6. Our health 7. ICM of Russia ministers and pastors 8. Protection from thieves (Light of Hope Center) 10. Street children who come to Light of Hope 11. The new fellowship started in Cherepovets 14. A building to meet in Anisimovo 14.Teams coming from America and Ireland

Visiting With Grandmas

As you may know, to run a center for kids there are many needs that have to be provided for. There are times when that support comes for unexpected places. There are a couple elderly ladies in Cherepovets that give from their pensions, their time, and their gardens. They give warm sox and mittens they have knitted, berries and jam from their gardens, and even finances from their small pensions for food. This has been a great help to the Light of Hope Center, and it reminds me of the story about Jesus watching people giving their gifts to the Lord. There were some rich people that gave loads of money reveling in the sound of many coins falling into the box, and then a small old widow put in a coin so small the sound was not noticed. Jesus however rejoiced more in the sound of that one coin than in the many sounds of the coins from the rich, because she sacrificed her whole livelihood to the Lord as an act of worship.

As you know Andrey and the Light of Hope team have been working with the teenagers at the shelter. They wanted to teach them how to be grateful at the same time to put a face to the people that have been blessing them so abundantly, so they can say thank you. So the kids all piled into a couple cars and went Pelegeia’s apartment for tea and fellowship. At first the kids where quite shy, but it did not take long till they all took turns saying thank you and asked Pelegeia questions. She is well into her 80’s and had stories about World War II. The kids were very interested in what she had to say. After a couple hours of tea, and fellowship we prayed and gave the kind ladies back their tranquility.

It is hard to reach these kids; they have been immersed in the world since they were old enough to know what was going on around them. But I think through encounters like this the Lord can reach in and get a hold of their hearts. Please keep these nice ladies in prayer, thanking the Lord for their sacrifice and for their blessing, as well as for the teens that they would abandon the world and all that has got such a tight grip on them. These wonderful ladies have been so faithful to invest the little they have been given wisely for the kingdom. This was a great encouragement to them and a way to show them what their gifts are going to. It is important to also give these elderly ladies a sense of purpose and accomplishment, thanking them for their services helps to encourage them realize their use. Examples like this are a great encouragement to me to continue and give more of myself to serve the Lord. We have so much we can offer, whether it be financially, prayerfully, emotionally, through words of wisdom, or just a kind word. I thank you so much for all that you have already taken part in through your prayers and finances. I encourage you to continue in the fight, please keep supporting us in prayer or however you feel lead, to help us to minister to these kids, these wonderful ladies, and the needy people of Russia and the former Soviet Union.