IBS Seminars at Good News Rehab Center

I am sitting here in Cherepovets after much traveling and a visit to Good News Rehab Center where Vitaly Kot is the pastor. We had a very good time with bunch of rehab occupants and ministers who invited us to come and hold the Productive Bible Study seminars on how to study and teach the Word inductively... Olga and I did all five assignments teaching our precious brothers and sisters in the Lord on inductive Bible study concept.

Every person in the room loved the course and had a great time in the scriptures, you know Christians really do have much fun in the Son!!! I was blessed to see people opening up to the Lord in worship with much joy and excitement as they had been understanding the scriptures they had studied. Some of them came up to Olga and said that they didnt have that much joy and excitement before because they would read the Word and forget it next day. That's not cool, you know.

The opening service was two and a half hours and the second one was 4 and a half hours. We sang songs, studied the Word and discussed the assignments. It was a blessing for us to see them becoming very free in the Lord Jesus! It is so true that the Truth sets people free from any type of addiction! Hallelujah!

5 Reasons I Want to Equip the Youth... Reason #5

#5 – I Love Our Youth!

I love our youth leaders… Dima and Sasha Batin are amazing!

And, our volunteers are TROOPERS! Seeing them serve Jesus challenges and inspires me!!

One of the evenings in Kirilov, Pastor Yuri and I were standing at the back of the auditorium watching the kids worship and preach the Gospel and he said to me, “Hey man, what if you had said ‘no!’ I looked at him and asked what in the heck he was talking about. He said, “What if you would have told God ‘no’ when He asked you to start spending more time training youth to become missionaries? Forget everything else that is going on – you would have never gotten to see this.” These kids are worth every single dime and every ounce of time we can give them…and I am so glad that God has allowed me to be a part of this.

I have decided in my life that when cuts need to be made in my budget… I take away from the adults before I take away from the youth… and if I do not do a good job and they get mad – I let them LEAVE and go another church that will organize their missions trips to preach the Word and do worship where they can view the Kingdom’s largest ball of twine!!!

Friends, I can’t wait to see what happens in our ministry this next year…and next ten years… and beyond. We have some amazing youth who love Jesus and are going to accomplish far more for HIS Kingdom that we’ve ever dreamed.

5 Reasons I Want to Equip the Youth... Reason #4

#4 – It Allows Me A Chance To Develop Relations

I don’t have a ton of conversations on Sunday because I am trying my best to make sure that I have all my i’s dotted and t’s crossed. BUT…when I go ahead and spend time with the youth I am able to focus and spend time with these kids… hear their stories, their struggles, answer their questions, pray for them, encourage them… and so on. I love it! And…when I see them throughout the year there’s a bond there... that is absolutely priceless!

5 Reasons I Want to Equip the Youth - Reason #3

#3 – Youngsters Are An Incredible Predictor Of The Future!

If I think ICM-Russia or the church is going to look the exact same way it looks right now in ten years and still GROW…I am STUPID!

The question I am constantly facing is, “What’s next?” A new thing is on the way that is going to revolutionize the ministry! Something is going to happen to radically transform thousands of lives in the future. I believe youth ministry is going to unlock that “NEW THING” that will impact the next generation.

5 Reasons I Want to Equip the Youth... Reason #2

#2 – I Believe In Our Youngsters!

First of all, let me clearly explain to you why I am doing that. I love teenagers! Seriously, I love them and believe that they ARE our church and not the future of our church!

Second of all, I honestly believe that the next ICM-Russia director and senior pastor of our church could be in this room! I am not going to be the head of the ministry forever. One day I will die and pass the leadership reigns over to someone else…and it could be one of them who is here participating in the project! I believe the next Billy Graham could be here. Or the next Kathryn Kulman! I believe that one of the greatest missionaries to ever live could be here… and so I want to spend as much time with them as I can!

5 Reasons I Want to Equip the Youth... Reason #1

Over the past few months the Lord had been knocking on my heart to start training youth in our church... with my shedule it was not easy to find time for the kids, but Olga and I decided to make the time to train and equip them to become missionaries. This is going to be the third month I have done this... and I hope that I will continue to do that! And here's why...

#1 - God wants me to...

Aha, I just played the God card!!! But... it is not a canned answer... it is the truth! I really have felt the past few months that God has said: "go to the youth and deciple them" every time you are asked to come speak at youth services...

Mom's out of the hospital and on the ROAD to recovery...

Dear Friends,

Thank you for prayers and financial support. Mama got out of the hospital yesterday and is still awfully sore. The doc sent her back home to recover from 2cm esophagus ulcer. He told her to come back in a couple months for a check up. Mom still has ways to go, so thank you for your continued prayers for her! Olga and I strongly believe she is on the ROAD to recovery, thank you, Jesus!