Bracelets in the Ukraine

So let me share another little story. This relates to the GOSPEL bracelets we use as a ministry tool when sharing the Christian Gospel with the kids in Russia.

A bracelet consists of 5 colours: YELLOW (Heaven), BLACK (sin), RED (Jesus' blood), WHITE (purity/forgiveness) and GREEN (Christian growth in the Holy Spirit). Each bracelet comes with a little card explaining this Gospel message in finer detail, along with Scripture verses.

With that information in mind, here's the story:

Near the end of our time in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, I had finished giving a sermon to the young church there. We were standing around in a big circle singing hymns and chanting ancient psalms in Russian when Captain Sergey Katchinov asked if anybody would like to share. There were a few young folk sharing from the bottom of their joyful hearts and finally there was silence. Fumbling in my pocket, I felt a spare Gospel bracelet. I pulled it out and asked if I could share the story. I showed them how we had shared the Gospel in a simple, “colourful” way with the children in Russia.

Then I told them I had about 70 of these bracelets left, along with information cards, and if they would like them to use in the ministry they are doing in the orphan homes, I’d be glad to give them.

Natasha, one of the young ladies we had spent the week visiting the orphan homes with, was moved almost to tears, and said she also needed to share from her heart. Then she began to relay how that very morning, she and her friends gathered in prayer, and prayed specifically for a simple way to reach the orphans with the gospel. They had made many visits to the orphan homes, but, many being new Christians themselves, were not sure how they could effectively share such an important message.

So the Gospel bracelets have now made their impact in both Russia and the Ukraine. Please pray for the ministry these young Christians are pioneering in the city of Dnepropetrovsk.

One year on...

Well will you look at that? I'm at the same point in my life as I was a year ago (almost).

Again, I'm getting ready for my next visit to Russia - this one will be my 4th! I'm becoming an old pro at this.

Already I have a great bunch of people on my team, we're going to have a blast!

So anyway, tonight I was writing up another of the many stories that came from my last trip. I'll be putting them into a newsletter for my supporters and would-be supporters to read and be encouraged by.

I thought I'd like to share just one of those stories, as it gives me goose bumps as I type it out and relive it! Enjoy.


Customs on the train
The train from Rostov-on-Don, Russia to Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine was an overnight journey. We bundled ourselves into the train at dusk, waving goodbye to our new friends in Rostov, and to Natasha’s mother and sister. She was coming with us on her own adventure - this being her first time out of Russia!
We crammed our bulky luggage into the small compartment with two sets of bunks, and flopped down to chat as our train rolled on.
Before long, we were all dozing. At around midnight the train stopped and border security entered the train and were soon knocking on our compartment door. Everybody woke up and dug out their passports and documents.
Yes, we had our passports. Yes, we had our visas. Then the guard checking our documents asked for a copy of our “invitation letter”. This is a special supporting document issued when obtaining our visas. Unfortunately it was one thing I had forgotten to bring! We were very, very nervous as a group of three guards gathered at our door looking at our documents, discussing what to do with us.
Wendy and I both began silently praying about the situation as Natasha answered their random questions. Suddenly one of the guards asked Natasha if we were Christians. She answered truthfully. Then he asked “baptist?” - which is used as a generic, and often derogatory term for non-Orthodox Christians. Natasha answered “no, protestant” - which itself is still probably a dangerous title in an Orthodox country. Finally, he asked if we’d come to evangelise (we were travelling on a “tourist” visa, and special visas are required for any kind of religious visit). Again she answered truthfully, and we were now in God’s hands!
The air was thick with tension as he looked at us for what seemed an age, then he ordered the guard holding the passports to “stamp it”.
The guard warned us that next time we should apply for the correct visa. He wished us goodnight and they all moved on.
Thank God!

God’s got it all planned out!

Well if I had reason to doubt God’s in this Russia thing, then all doubt is blown away now!

What am I talking about? Let me explain!

Some time ago, a Russian Salvation Army captain, Sergey Kachanov, added me to his friend’s list on vkontakte.com. He sent a brief message, welcoming me to the Salvation Army group on that site, and hoped that if I knew enough Russian I could join in on conversations.

I took some time to look at his profile and check out all the pictures in his albums. I really liked seeing him, along with a lot of youth, involved in outreach at hospitals, orphanages etc.

It was great to see the work the Salvation Army is doing over there – such practical work that seems is hard to come by here in Australia. (Q: Have we lost our focus?) I did want to know more about Sergey and his Corps, but I forgot about it for a while.

In the meantime I tried organising other missions trips through OM (a missions organisation), but those weren’t going to happen in time. I’d also contacted the Rostov-on-Don Corps, but nothing had come of it. I was keeping my eyes peeled, desperately hoping for something extra to do while we were on that side of the globe.

Finally, I prayed that God would reveal an opportunity. Then in a moment of inspiration, I remembered Sergey and decided to myself “Yes! I’ll send him an email introducing myself and explaining my desire to serve God in Russia. Then I’ll ask him if there’s something I can do.”

Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24)

My God is a big God… and yes, He was just waiting for me to seek Him first! In His faithfulness, He answered my prayer before I’d even prayed it.

When I logged into vkontakte.com, ready to send that message to Sergey, what did I find? There was a message waiting for me FROM SERGEY!

OK, maybe a coincidence that Sergey sent me a message? But what about the content of the message? Judge for yourself:

Hi, Brett, how are you doing?
Two days ago we've had one couple majors from Moscow THQ (originally they are from Australia). They introduced us to the Australian Salvation Army sites.
On one of them I saw your desire to come to Russia with a group of those who would like to serve the Lord.
I thought it's a good idea and comes from above.
So, if you would be interested we could communicate and cooperate together in it. Here at Dnepr there are plenty opportunities to minister for example youth or children.
We are visiting the orphanages and shelters on a regular base. During summer there is a good chance to minister homeless children and youth in the shelter "ROSTOK". We've practiced that already and it brought good results.
So, please, pray about that and if God will lead you and your friends we would be happy to assist you...
Blessings upon your head and great Joy in Him!

So, here is Sergey answering God’s call to contact me. I’m glad he was faithful to God, because it really made my day, week and month!

Things have progressed well from here. Sergey is organising a letter of invitation from his DHQ so that I can obtain a visa to the Ukraine (Dniprpetrovsk is located in the Ukraine I soon discovered).

Now I’m praying for a team, and God is answering those prayers. Things are very encouraging. I’m so glad to be serving living God… a God of “coincidences” :-)

Lotsa fun with stuff

Aussie English! From the sticks :D
So one of my little projects lately (outside of all-consuming fatherhood) has been to create my first podcast called Aussie English from the sticks.

So far I've only done 3 episodes, but have had some good feedback. I thought it was pretty daggy and silly, but there's been a lot of people visiting the podcast/blog from all over planet Earth!

Check it out and let me know what you think.

Vloggin'
No, not me, but Glenn. I saw a couple of episodes of his vlog and laffed. Go Glenn! Check out Glenn's vlog.

I'm betting he gets a ton more episodes done now that he just bought himself a Macbook! The schweetness about this is that he's selling me his old Toshiba laptop for hecka-cheap! Thanks Glenn, you really, REALLY care.

Meanwhile, I'm kinda nervous. Macs are looking so good... I think they might take over the world :O They were NEVER this good back in my early pre-press design days.

New Project

Not that I get time to work on new projects, but I spent til 1am last night launching my first podcast!

The idea is to share a bit of Aussie English for whoever is hungry enough for it.

I know that when I am learning a language, I'll enjoy anything in that language, especially if it is spoken slowly enough that I can grasp some new words.

So that's the theory. I'm gonna try to make it fun AND informative. Let's hope it is a success.

Here it is: Aussie English from the sticks

What am I still doing here?

In my heart there’s such a deep calling to get to work! Serve God somewhere in the vast-expanse-of-a-country known as Russia!

My efforts to find a missionary society willing to send a whole family of 6 has not revealed the open door I’d hoped for. WHERE IS IT?

Meanwhile, it’s time to plan for my short-term commitment – the St Petersburg summer camp at Kastyor (костёр). I’m so excited about going, but praying for support from my fellow believers.

Pray with me… support me… come too!

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
Isaiah 6:8

Time Flies... and the end is nigh!

(Taken from my editorial in our church newsletter, 15 November 2009)
Yesterday my first son, Eli (I’m sure you all know him) turned 10. Yes... TEN! For me it’s astounding how fast those years have gone.
You can’t justifiably call them ten “short” years, as they’re the same length as any other ten years in history (except the ten that contained Joshua’s “long day”–You better read Joshua chapter 10).
However, for all of us, there’s a common perception of life going by so fast as we get older.
As youngsters, it takes forever for Christmas to come. As adults, today we can’t believe that Christmas is only 5 weeks and 5 days away - because we only just had Christmas!
Is it because our lives are progressively filled with more and more concerns, chores, family members (and birthdays), TV shows, commitments... I think so.
What will eventually be apparent to us all is how fast the end of our Earth years have snuck up on us. It will be then that we’ll experience the regrets of what was or wasn’t done and said.
It takes wisdom to recognise NOW what those regrets might be and work to make sure we live the life God prescribed in the Bible.
Make the neccessary changes TODAY, because Today is the beginning of the rest of your life!
For insight, start with the Bible verses listed below.

• Matt 6:30-40
• Phil 4:4-9
• James 1:22-27
• Eph 6:10-18