In the Middle East, especially in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Turkey, people’s attitudes toward the Gospel have changed over the past decades. This became particularly noticeable after the civil wars in Syria and Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of people fled their homes, becoming refugees in other countries, without shelter or means of existence. In the civil war, many people saw the true face of radical Islam. Tired of war, terror, and death, people began to show interest in learning about Jesus Christ.
The Lord is opening doors for evangelism in these regions where the preaching of the Gospel has been closed for many centuries. In 2023, we organized children’s camps in Lebanon. Parents brought their children to daily activities and worship services. The camps were held across the country, starting from Tyre in the south and ending in Tripoli in the north. Over a thousand children heard the message of salvation. In Istanbul, on March 17, 2024, a Slavic church opened in the historic city.
Therefore, we plan to hold evangelistic services in Istanbul on May 12, 2024. We ask the “Lord of the harvest” to send laborers to the ripe fields. Tickets, accommodation, and meals will cost us $4000. We will be grateful for any assistance! Thank you!
The trip to the peninsula was planned to share the Gospel and help the elderly and disabled with their household needs (shovel snow, stock up or chop firewood, change wiring in the house or fix sockets)! We announced it in advance in social networks and people in need called us, inviting us to their home, telling us about their needs! We set off from Palana and, having traveled 200 km to Tigil, we stopped for the night.
There were several “orders” here. A man with a disability needed to shovel snow and an elderly woman needed to change several sockets. While the younger brothers carried out the necessary work, others talked to people. The next destination on our route was the village of Sedanka. The road from Tigil to Sedanka is 45 km (28miles) was along a winter road. In Sedanka, a grandmother with an invalid son needed to go for firewood, saw and chop it, and also change the wiring in the house. In one family, a woman lived with her 91-year-old mother. Very hospitable people. They talk like believers. The old woman’s mother raised them as children with stories from the Bible. We stayed overnight here and talked for a long time at the table, talking about God! The elderly woman said: “You are different, I can share my secrets with you.” She opened up and repented, asking for mercy from the Lord. Thank you dear ones for supporting the ministry in Kamchatka!
Grace to you, our dear church, greetings from Thailand!
War is a tough ordeal for people of all ages, from adults to the elderly and even the youngest children. In Myanmar, a neighboring country of Thailand, war has raged for years, displacing countless families. Over 90,000 refugees from Myanmar now seek shelter in Thailand, many confined to refugee camps or limited areas.
Among them are the children of a home we visit monthly. These children are from Myanmar. Some attempted to seek safety in Thailand but were separated from their parents, who were compelled to remain in Myanmar as soldiers. Others fled with their families and now reside along the border. Most of these children see their parents once a year during a school break; some don’t know whether it will happen again. Amidst this tumult, 48 children find refuge in the care of a dedicated couple. They crave love and attention. When we first visited, we felt God’s guidance leading us there. We learned we were the first Christians to visit them. During our visits, together with our youth, we share the gospel, play games, and make crafts, all while showing the love of Jesus. By God’s grace, more than 10 young people have decided to follow Jesus, eager to learn more about Him. We committed to monthly visits, despite the distance, and God’s providence has been evident. Initially, our budget was tight, but a timely donation from a family whose children had been collecting money for missions sustained us for three more months! Praise God! God is great, and if He calls, He provides!
Currently, we face a need for school uniforms and supplies. These items are not just practical; they symbolize hope and dignity for these children.
Our local church is experiencing the special blessing of being a part of God’s work!
Thank you for your prayers and every financial participation! Each contribution is a part of this story, a story of God’s grace and provision in the midst of hardship.
We have been able to conduct children’s ministry in Mamarei village! It’s truly joyful to see how, after about ten years, our boys are now serving other children—just as we once served them. How quickly they have grown!
Activities at our kindergarten will resume next week! We expect up to a hundred little Papuans aged 4 to 6 to come to learn to read and write, but most importantly, to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and begin their journey with Him.
Dear friends, we would like to ask for your support in providing financial assistance to our teachers on a monthly basis. Since education at our school is free, we lack the resources to pay the teachers. Although they have worked as volunteers for all three years, we understand that they need to feed their families, and schoolwork takes up all their time.
Therefore, we ask you to prayerfully consider a monthly contribution to support our teachers, who work very hard to teach the little Papuans not only the basics of grammar but, most importantly, to introduce them to Jesus.
We are aiming for a minimum of $50 per month for each teacher—we have six of them. This is the least we could do to thank and encourage them in their challenging work: among them are single mothers, families with many children, and elderly people. Thank you!
In the last week of January 2024, I was in Bolivia at a summer camp for teenagers and youth of our Mennonite community. All services were conducted in the German dialect “Plattdeutsch,” and the theme was “In the Embrace of the Father.” I managed to deliver 6 sermons and two prayers in Plattdeutsch, which was no easy task. The most challenging part is reading the Bible in this language and praying. Many young people brought their lives into order before God. Although many of them did not have a good father at home, they were able to see God as the perfect Father based on the Scriptures.
As I wrote earlier, for April 2024, we are planning a trip along the Amazon! There will be a team from Germany, but English speakers can also join! Departure from Germany is on the 2nd of April, and departure from Brazil is on the 12th of April. I will be accompanying the group. We plan to visit the Paumari Indian tribe and other small settlements along the banks of the Purus River. If you want to be part of the team, please contact me, preferably via WhatsApp. We wish you God’s blessings this year and would like to thank all the donors who make our work here possible.
Please pray for successful ministry in the villages along the banks of the Purus River!
Greetings, brothers and sisters! I want to tell you how God works among vulnerable children and how we can participate in this work. Our team visited four children’s homes and spent wonderful time with the children. We cooked food, played sports games, and had interesting discussions with them. Children in the hospice require special attention. Many of them cannot live independently, but when I come, touch them, and speak to them, they react and rejoice!
Ana is four years old, and she has leukemia. She is currently undergoing heavy hormonal therapy, and the child is deeply distressed and upset. She understands everything, and soon she will need to go to St. Petersburg for a bone marrow transplant. While working with children at risk, I have realized that there are times when they need us the most. When a child is lost, in pain, and scared, they cling to you and want to find hope. It’s a good time to tell them about hope and introduce them to Jesus in a childlike way.
Over the past month, more than six mothers approached me and expressed gratitude for the help and support they received in moments of despair.
Thank you for your participation in this ministry. There are many needs, and I can’t even pinpoint the most pressing one. Glory to God – this is our place in His vineyard.
