The trip to Russia is over. I am grateful for the many ways that God used this trip to change me, the team, and the lives of the Russian students we interacted with. I have never been on a trip like this before.
I wrote at the half point of our trip about seeing our team leader suffer a heart attack and nearly die. We were all in the room while it happened. I helped to call the person who drove him to the hospital.
God is sovereign over all things. It was not surprising to him that Mike would have a heart attack at that moment, or that leadership of the whole trip would be suddenly thrust upon me. Consequently, in the difficult days and weeks that followed, he was faithful to give me and the team the emotional strength and physical support we needed to continue onward. I am so grateful for your prayers! I know that God responded to them to give me the encouragement and strength I needed.
Mike is currently in recovery in Berlin. He is doing well, although it will likely be a while before he is strong enough to be back on campus.
Here are things to praise God for:
1. His mercy towards Mike in sparing his life.
2. His mercy towards our team in bringing us through the trip.
3. The opportunity to share the gospel with about 15 Russian students, many who heard it for the first time.
4. The open hearts we encountered. I am confident that the missionaries we worked with will reap the fruit of our four weeks in Russia.
Prayer request:
1. My funding! I have one month to raise over 30% of my budget.
2. For good processing of the lessons I learned during the trip.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Urgent Prayer!!!
This morning our team leader Mike had a heart attack. Please be praying!
Mike is in a stable condition. The doctors aren't excited about where he is at, but Sheri says that when she visited him he was smiling and in good spirits. He is being flown out to Germany sometime in the next 24 hours. He is in need of some very specialized equipment to get him there.
Our team just went through a challenging and difficult day. Mike's problems began in the morning just as we were about to start the last day of our English program here in Pushkin. We had a large graduation ceremony in the evening that involved a lot of planning, as well as the emotional process of saying goodbye to our Russian friends (we travel to St. Petersburg tomorrow for the second half of our trip).
We have felt the Spirit of God strengthening us and encouraging us throughout this day...it is a miracle we made it through as some of us were sufferring from sickness today as well. As the emotions start to come out over the next few days, we anticipate some difficulties. We will start a new program on Monday.
Prayer requests:
1. For the process of moving Mike to Germany, for recovery for him, for Sheri and the Bedient family.
2. For our team, for our encouragement and strengthening, for our emotional and spiritual well-being.
3. That God would use this for the advancement of his purposes in all our lives, especially the many Russians who have heard and are deeply affected.
With love,
Steven and the Russia team
Mike is in a stable condition. The doctors aren't excited about where he is at, but Sheri says that when she visited him he was smiling and in good spirits. He is being flown out to Germany sometime in the next 24 hours. He is in need of some very specialized equipment to get him there.
Our team just went through a challenging and difficult day. Mike's problems began in the morning just as we were about to start the last day of our English program here in Pushkin. We had a large graduation ceremony in the evening that involved a lot of planning, as well as the emotional process of saying goodbye to our Russian friends (we travel to St. Petersburg tomorrow for the second half of our trip).
We have felt the Spirit of God strengthening us and encouraging us throughout this day...it is a miracle we made it through as some of us were sufferring from sickness today as well. As the emotions start to come out over the next few days, we anticipate some difficulties. We will start a new program on Monday.
Prayer requests:
1. For the process of moving Mike to Germany, for recovery for him, for Sheri and the Bedient family.
2. For our team, for our encouragement and strengthening, for our emotional and spiritual well-being.
3. That God would use this for the advancement of his purposes in all our lives, especially the many Russians who have heard and are deeply affected.
With love,
Steven and the Russia team
Sunday, June 21, 2009
From Russia!!
I will give a full update when I get back about everything that has happened but would you pray for the following things?
1. Continued growth on our team. Lift them up that they may be strengthened by the power of the Spirit during this crucial week1
2. For open hearts and the power for of the Spirit in our speaking of the Word. Pray especially for these people:
Stepa (Stiopa)
Igor
Ivan
Little Ivan
Nick
Sasha
3. Pray that we would be bold!
1. Continued growth on our team. Lift them up that they may be strengthened by the power of the Spirit during this crucial week1
2. For open hearts and the power for of the Spirit in our speaking of the Word. Pray especially for these people:
Stepa (Stiopa)
Igor
Ivan
Little Ivan
Nick
Sasha
3. Pray that we would be bold!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
June 3rd, 2009
In one week, I will be leaving for Russia. I will be giving periodic updates from Russia here on this blog, including prayer requests.
I am really excited for the chance to go back to Russia this summer, follow-up with some of the students I worked with last year, and also help to co-lead the trip.
St. Petersburg is an amazing place, the Russians are a warm people, and the gospel is desperately needed there!
Would you be praying the following for our trip?
1. That God would protect us from opposition, lost luggage, spiritual warfare, etc. We will need lots of prayer for protection on this trip!
2. That we would be careful to refresh ourselves daily in the Word and prayer. This was something that suffered last time, to the detriment of the trip.
3. For open hearts for the gospel. God alone can give eyes to see the glory of God in the face of Christ. Would your pray from Ephesians 1...
I pray also that the eyes of your hearts may be opened in order that you may see the hope to which he has called you...
I am really excited for the chance to go back to Russia this summer, follow-up with some of the students I worked with last year, and also help to co-lead the trip.
St. Petersburg is an amazing place, the Russians are a warm people, and the gospel is desperately needed there!
Would you be praying the following for our trip?
1. That God would protect us from opposition, lost luggage, spiritual warfare, etc. We will need lots of prayer for protection on this trip!
2. That we would be careful to refresh ourselves daily in the Word and prayer. This was something that suffered last time, to the detriment of the trip.
3. For open hearts for the gospel. God alone can give eyes to see the glory of God in the face of Christ. Would your pray from Ephesians 1...
I pray also that the eyes of your hearts may be opened in order that you may see the hope to which he has called you...
Thursday, May 7, 2009
May 6th, 2009
I have some exciting news. The student that I wrote about a few weeks ago who was being aggressively pursued by the cult recently sat down with the leader of the group and told him that he didn't want to meet with their people or attend their church. Praise God!
As these students prepare for their summers, would you pray the following things for them?
1. Pray that they would be prepared for the attacks the enemy has for them this summer.
2. That God would work in them this summer through his Holy Spirit. I want this to be a summer of growth for the guys I work with!
3. That God would bring them back to campus in the fall excited to grow and reach out to other students on campus!
As these students prepare for their summers, would you pray the following things for them?
1. Pray that they would be prepared for the attacks the enemy has for them this summer.
2. That God would work in them this summer through his Holy Spirit. I want this to be a summer of growth for the guys I work with!
3. That God would bring them back to campus in the fall excited to grow and reach out to other students on campus!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
April 29th, 2009
I am on campus for only 10 more days! This school year has really whizzed by. The guys I am meeting with have been a joy, and I am excited to see where God takes them over the course of the next two years.
I will be staying in Long Beach with the Navigators for at least two more years. Over these two years, the guys I am working with--Cavin, Andrew, Jordan, Ben, Rudy, Chris, Jaime, Austin, and many others--will go through the pivotal years of their lives. I am praying that these years will be ones in which God lays the foundation for the rest of their lives!
Would pray that my last ten days with these guys would be productive?
1. Pray that I would help them prepare for their summers.
2. Pray that God would bring to mind any last words of exhortation and encouragement for each one.
3. Pray that the Spirit would move through my words as I communicate the Word to them.
I will be staying in Long Beach with the Navigators for at least two more years. Over these two years, the guys I am working with--Cavin, Andrew, Jordan, Ben, Rudy, Chris, Jaime, Austin, and many others--will go through the pivotal years of their lives. I am praying that these years will be ones in which God lays the foundation for the rest of their lives!
Would pray that my last ten days with these guys would be productive?
1. Pray that I would help them prepare for their summers.
2. Pray that God would bring to mind any last words of exhortation and encouragement for each one.
3. Pray that the Spirit would move through my words as I communicate the Word to them.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
April 22nd, 2009
Did you know that I am engaged in warfare?
Did you know that Satan is opposed to the work that God is doing on campus? Satan is crafty, and often he uses groups that claim Christ to steal the energies of young people. A classic example of this is a cult called the ICC.
One of the guys I have been working with has a lot of contact with this group...in fact, at one point they really helped him out with his understanding of the trustworthiness of the Word. But without spending much time discussing the errors of that church, they are very deficient in their understanding of the gospel.
I am speaking truth, and they are speaking lies. My friend is in the middle. The choice is between a dead and legalistic religion, separation from the wider Body of Christ, and ultimately leading to burn-out or pride.
Pray:
1. For protection for me and those I minister to from the enemy.
2. For my friend (you can call him James), that truth will win.
3. That God will exercise his power in James's life!
Did you know that Satan is opposed to the work that God is doing on campus? Satan is crafty, and often he uses groups that claim Christ to steal the energies of young people. A classic example of this is a cult called the ICC.
One of the guys I have been working with has a lot of contact with this group...in fact, at one point they really helped him out with his understanding of the trustworthiness of the Word. But without spending much time discussing the errors of that church, they are very deficient in their understanding of the gospel.
I am speaking truth, and they are speaking lies. My friend is in the middle. The choice is between a dead and legalistic religion, separation from the wider Body of Christ, and ultimately leading to burn-out or pride.
Pray:
1. For protection for me and those I minister to from the enemy.
2. For my friend (you can call him James), that truth will win.
3. That God will exercise his power in James's life!
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