April 2007

Dear Friends of the Mission,

My 14th annual trip found all the equipment in our spiritual clinics (the churches) in place. The patients (people of Belarus) arrive with an unknown ailment. They are screened for blood pressure and temperature based on Bible standards. Blood work is done referencing the Bible often. Discovery— Infection. Prescription written—daily Bible reading, devotional, prayer. Patient to return each Sunday until life-changing meeting with the Head Doctor (Jesus). Complete surrender is advised for eternal good health. Patient is now free to live a forever-free life.

This is primarily the scenario we see with all the Russian people. This infection has been so deep-seated for so many years that it is very difficult to admit to this vast sickness.

Our six spiritual clinics are open and thriving and we give thanks to God for this great blessing. Many who were blinded by their past are now able to see clearly the message Jesus delivered in the Gospels.

Now comes the time in our growth for focusing on our priorities. This was the prayer effort before making this trip. As usual, God met us there and granted success once again.

Warmer weather will be needed to draw out the frost and paint the interior of the new Rechitsa church for the 40 to 50 people there.

The transfer of the original Krichev church ministry into God’s chosen Aldersgate UMC of Mechanicsburg, Pa. has taken place. I will remain faithful to God and to my many friends there in an advisory capacity. Their priorities lie in the expansion of the Krichev church property for a youth center, and space for the church secretary with housing for visiting missionaries. Beyond this they are praying to be able to plant two more churches in their service area within a radius of twenty miles.

The Shabany church in the Minsk suburb is also very alive and well. We were able to agree upon these priorities for there. This church is ready for more outreach and has chosen to relate more to the orphans, children and youth work. Greater emphasis on summer camping/teaching and more invitations to unchurched children and youth.

The youth have agreed to begin to associate more with youth from other churches in the region. They would like to bring in some Christian musical groups and establish more possibilities for evangelization.

The sister church at Sokol village participates very closely with Shabany in all facets of the above.

The purchase of a good used van will facilitate the success of the above. That cost will be around $8,000 for a van or $12,000 for a small bus to haul more than 20, and we pray for that need to be fulfilled by year-end.

The Sokol church will be completely finished by October for inspection and approval by the authorities.

Their alcohol rehab center has graduated 8 and 8 more are now bring reconstructed along with Bible teaching.

The priorities for the Gorsk church, 3 hours west toward Poland, will be to combine all efforts with other similar churches in a 15 to 20 mile radius. They have a real need for more tents to enlarge their camping and VBS programs. I can no longer ship tents from here as there is no guarantee that they will get there. I plan to send more dollars for tents and camping costs. We have the teaching materials but we need money for food and prizes as these camps run for a week to 10 days. That will be around $1,000 to be sent by July 1.

They also need a van or small bus for the rural area they serve. Hopefully that will come along in 2008.

These are all very realistic needs in these churches because it means outreach, evangelism and growth.

Luda and I spent two full days with the orphans and found great progress there also. The on-going improvements mean much toward a happier, healthier home for them. Valentin, the director, gives you great thanks for all the achievements there and the children also express their thanks. We had the additional joy of taking 7 of them shopping (2 were unable to go due to sickness). It warmed our hearts to see them choosing needed items like new clothes and shoes. We will continue to work with the pastors and pray that we can begin to build a bridge into the communities where they go after graduation. We are also praying about the possibility of something like a half-way house with local church people in control.

The pulse in all these locations is very strong and it does me so much good to see the fruits being produced. The investment that you help to make in all of this is paying big dividends for eternal life.

Here are some examples of how pastors and laity have helped four young women from life’s problems there.

Svetlana with three children was addicted to liquor along with her husband. They lived in an austere old dirty village. The husband left the family with nothing. No food, no money, no hope at all. One of our church people reached out to them with an invitation of LOVE. Thru the connections of church people she got a job as a cleaner in the local government office where she was able to register for further assistance. Now they have a good home in town which was not able to be sold for the asking price of $20,000 by a retired couple who moved to the city of Minsk. The local Krichev government offered them $12,000 for it and sold it to Svetlana for $6,000 payable over 40 years. Svetlana is redeemed and the children have a good home, a new father, and a two year old little sister to the new marriage. All because the church reached out and applied the Gospel that we teach.

Oxana had some great personal losses in the last two years. She lost her brother, her mother, her husband, and then this past Christmas her father died also. Now alone with a 17 year old son in college, who is on a scholarship for basketball, she needed the help and the LOVE of the church to pull thru all of this.

Olga married our pastor’s son. She had grown up in an alcoholic home without love. The pastor’s family had to completely train her like a child. Pastor Sasha related to us that even their cat hissed in her boots one morning before she left for work. Even the animals can tell about the lack of LOVE. Today Olga and Igor are happily married and serving in the church. She had to come to the understanding of God’s LOVE thru a loving Christian home. Larissa accidentally dropped her newborn son, Misha, just after he was delivered four years ago. Church friends have met these great needs in that home ever since as Misha is an invalid. Larissa was never in a church before. Now she has the LOVE and assistance of many church friends.

Church growth is often fueled by acts of kindness such as in these four cases. All four of these young women have invited their friends to see how we catch them and Jesus cleans them.

We took one day to return to the Bible Society we have known to choose more new Bibles for all six churches. We had $1,000 given for this purpose so we also chose new Bible story books and teaching supplies for children in all churches and the orphanage. Luda selected 20 beautiful picture story Bibles for the orphans who will graduate later this year. The balance was used to buy the daily devotional “Our Daily Bread” for all churches. Another great day well spent.

While there we met a couple from Wales who had just arrived with a van load of humanitarian aid. We had a very blessed time together relating to their church life and how it had paralleled mine. Now we are both serving for the Lord and plan to continue working together for the cause of Christ.

I spoke all three Sundays in the central, larger churches but only the Krichev church has a van to bus in several loads of villagers. My theme this time was “What will you do with Jesus?”

Our cell-group meetings were all about outreach and our plans for the future.

All of our churches send their very thankful greetings to their American brothers and sisters for all the support you offer to them. They are very grateful for your help and assistance.

I must also offer my THANKS once again for all your prayers and marvelous financial support.

For your prayerful consideration to assist in this mission ministry, please make checks payable to: Olivet Baptist Church, 508 S. Cambria St., Bellwood, Pa. 16617, or mail to my home address.

Your Missioner,

Perry