A few days ago, three of our young men were baptized as a confirmation of their renewed lives through the risen Christ. Each of their journeys to this event is unique, long, challenging, and not easy. Yuri, 42 years old, has been with us in the shelter for 1.6 years. He was baptized and is praying to enroll in a missionary faculty. He came to us from a garbage dump, where he lived for 2 years, gradually dying from alcoholism. Vladimir, 45 years old, has been with us for a year; he was homeless, suffering from drug addiction and incurable diseases, living on the streets. Sergey, 63 years old, has been with us for 1.2 years; his relatives kicked him out onto the street after the death of his aunt, whom he cared for for 5 years. He wanted to end his life.
But this is how they lived until they met Jesus, after which they want to live differently and be useful. Today, they are different people—radiant with joy and happiness. Joy accompanies us throughout our time running the shelter, which has been in operation for 8 years this year. On this occasion, we held a festive service attended by many guests and friends. Over the years, the shelter has become a home for many young people battered by fate. Guests are amazed by the changes that occur in people who have been deprived of shelter, health, and hope for a better life. But everything changes thanks to the Lord and the help of those who care about the suffering of others.
I met two girls through social media, and we often got together. I tried to be a friend to them while praying and asking the Holy Spirit to guide our interactions so I could witness to them. Every time I attempted to share my faith, they listened but showed no interest, and the conversation would shift in another direction. I handed the situation over to God and continued to pray for them, trusting that the Lord would open their hearts at the right moment.
One day, we met again, and one of the girls mentioned that she wanted to have faith in God but found it difficult and had many questions. A few days later, I suggested we meet personally to discuss faith openly. I shared that Jesus loves her and answered her questions. At the end of our conversation, I gave her a Bible, which she accepted with great joy. Her journey of faith is just beginning, but I believe that Jesus will touch her heart, and she will reconcile with Him. Please pray for this girl named Kenji.
The Raglai tribe (forest people), the Chunga family, and especially the sisters are thriving in their knowledge of the Word of God. They complete their homework, learn to witness, and some are doing excellently. We continue to pray fervently that through this family, a revival will begin among this ethnic minority group. There are about 100,000 of them in the world.
We are slowly starting to reach out to their neighbors, and some are coming to the classes on their own. Not everyone can read and write, so we try to simplify and adapt everything to convey the truth to their hearts. We also hold children’s activities there.
In the city, we conduct Bible study lessons at the cemetery. The children eagerly learn verses, thank God. Often there is no electricity, so we use our phones to provide light for the lessons and to read the Bible. “You are the light of the world,” the Lord reminds us.
Despite persecution, on August 19th, the team will travel to Laos to help build a prayer house. We ask you, beloved ones, to support us in prayer that God will grant us wisdom in this divine work. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your labor of love in the ministry of evangelism in Southeast Asia.
At the beginning of this month, we were able to hold a baptism at our church, Promise Land! Many of you have read our book, “Dreams Come True If You Believe”, and now another dream of mine has come true. Our adopted son, Salli, his biological brother Batakomb, and another one of our adopted sons, Adza (many of you are familiar with these names), entered into a covenant with the Lord through water baptism!
We have been sharing the Gospel with them since they were just a little older than Miroslava, and now they have families, wives, and children who also serve the Lord. Don’t give up! Sometimes you see the fruit immediately, and sometimes you have to wait. But take these words as a sign—keep praying and witnessing, even when it seems hopeless. The Lord is doing His work in people’s hearts.
Right after the baptism, we went to the base of *Youth with a Mission* in Lae, where I had the privilege of teaching at the Discipleship Training School (DTS) on the topic “The Holy Spirit and His Role in the Great Commission.” It was an unforgettable time when we were able to learn together at His feet!
Right now, these 13 students have gone on the practical part of the course in the Enga province, which was recently affected by a natural disaster. They are bringing the light of the Gospel and the love of Christ to the people there.
Also, this month, we were able to visit the local hospital and prison several times. It is a privilege not only to share the Gospel but also to bless the prisoners and the sick with food, soap, and Bibles.
The evangelization of non believers on the Khan side of the Yamal Peninsula has been ongoing for decades. As soon as the Iron Curtain of atheism fell, compassionate followers of Christ began to actively participate in missionary work.
One day, preachers on the shore of the Ob Bay encountered an unusual tourist who was traveling along his route on a dog sled. As the travelers drew closer, the brothers began to testify to the lone traveler about Christ. He listened attentively to the evangelists, and then, breaking the silence, said, “You found me even at the ends of the earth! My mother is a believer, and she tells me about God every day. I thought I wouldn’t hear about this in the Arctic latitudes, so I embarked on this long journey with my dogs… But you found me even here!”
The owner of the dog sled turned out to be a Finn. He had been inspired by a long-held dream since his youth: to independently traverse the northern coast all the way to Chukotka. No one knows if he ever fulfilled his dream, but the Lord certainly reached him, even at the edge of the earth!
Misha, Nastya, and Petya lived together in a large family and loved each other very much. Unfortunately, their parents suffered from alcohol addiction and were unable to give the children the attention and care they needed. The large family of six lived in a small room, which eventually led these three wonderful children to come to us at the “Children’s Ark.” This place played an important role in their lives because it is a place that helps children and families in difficult situations. Here, remarkable people work tirelessly to relieve the pain and sadness from children’s hearts and help them reintegrate into family life.
Despite all the care and effort, the children still dreamed of returning to their parents. We realized that to help the children, we needed to help their parents as well. So, we began working with the parents to help them change their lives. Before the children could return home, it was crucial to engage the parents in the process. In the case of these children, the parents needed to overcome their alcohol addiction, find employment, and take steps to improve their living conditions. They went through rehabilitation, received a new apartment, and importantly, found jobs. Finally, the day came when the children could return home. Their faces were so full of joy! We hope that we were able to instill in the hearts of the children and their parents a faith in the living God and give them hope!
