Currently, the population of Turkey is over 75 million and they all need salvation. In 2020 many ministers were deported, and young churches were left without mentors. Services in Antalya were held under God’s protection, people filled the halls and listened to the Gospel. Recent observations show that especially young people are interested in Christianity and want to acquire the New Testament.
Before the events started, the specially trained dogs went around to check for explosives in all the buildings where services should have been held. Observing these procedures subconscious, we still understand that our hope is only in the Lord because there is always the chance that someone can enter the hall with a martyr belt.
In December 2020 we continued to evangelize the population in Turkey by taking part in Christmas programs. We ask you to join this difficult work and become part of this ministry of evangelism and churches in Asia. Please pray for us every day to be protected by God from all evil, because we do not know the intentions of the enemy.
The struggle for survival is ubiquitous in Africa. Depending on the regions, people differ greatly: they can be friendly and good-natured, but in some places, they are very fierce and aggressive, and it is not safe to walk without guards. A significant part of the tribe’s worship pagan gods and follow traditional African religions.
The Lord continues to open doors for us when preaching the Good News in Tanzania and Congo. Evangelistic services were held in stadiums where tens of thousands of people gathered to listen to the Gospel. When the name of Jesus Christ was proclaimed, some adults, as well as teenagers, fell to the ground cramping: it was obvious that dark spirits were controlling them. Observing these phenomena, we understand how God needs dedicated men, who in the name of the Lord would forbid and drive out the enemy forces was heard; and thousands of people responded to the invitation to be reconciled with God.
When I was flying over Africa, I teared up and had to repent. “Lord, forgive me that I do not notice Your blessings, which You have given me, and that I thank you so little.” I realized then, “the more you thank the Lord, the more you realize God’s blessing.” I had to exclaim in the midst of the sleeping passengers: “Lord, what a rich and happy man I am!”
Friends, thank you for your participation in preaching the Gospel to the ends of the earth!
What can we do? There is a riot in Lebanon, and all services
are already planned. Local people are used to the unrest in the streets and are
calm about it. But we were worried, afraid to put our lives in danger, but it
was unacceptable for us to refuse to serve; the Lebanese would not understand
us. For them, the most important thing is to trust in God. Those who have
accepted the Lord understand that every believer is worthy of Christ if he is
ready to give his life for Him.
Relying on God and His mercy, we decided to go to Lebanon. At the airport, no one met us, and only by morning, it became clear that the greeters were blocked by the protesters. On the way to the place of worship, we had to bypass some streets because of the protesters. The services were held among Syrian and Iraqi refugees. More than 500,000 children live in Lebanon who are deprived of adequate nutrition and do not have access to education. Once, having gathered for prayer, I noticed that all the brothers had recently come to the Lord and that each was from a Middle Eastern country – Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan. And they all were united in their understanding of the Gospel, confessing Jesus despite the persecution and oppression from their fellow tribesmen.
After completing one of the services, Syrian women came up to us saying: “We are very glad that you have come to us.” The Lord has his own plans for these nations. We appeal to brothers and sisters with a request to pray for the awakening of the peoples of the East and also ask you to support our evangelistic projects and pray for our music group so that the Lord will continue to give boldness to carry out the ministry of preaching the Gospel.
The temperature ranged from 46 to 50 Fahrenheit, constant rains and moisture piercing to the bones leading to exhaustion. The biggest problem for us was where to stay warm. We are used to living in a different climate! Our music missionary group met local Arabs who were very friendly. Services were held day and night – many people listened to musical performances and sermons about Jesus Christ and His salvation.
In Jordan, there are many refugees from neighboring countries – Syrians and Iraqis. And many of them are very interested in listening to the word of God. One day, late in the evening, when we were already preparing for bed, an Arab family came to us. I thought that they came to ask for financial assistance, but it turned out that the purpose of the visit was different. A father with his wife and the eldest daughter, who was barely 15 years old, came with their younger brothers to pray together. The family lived in a suburb of Amman.
The girl had a dream where she was told to find a church of Christians. At first, she ignored this dream, but it repeated. Only when she dreamed about it for the third time, the girl asked her father to go where the Christians are.
These first steps to Christ became the beginning of their future wanderings. After conversations and stories about the Lord, the first girl came to Christ, then the father repented, and the mother accepted the Lord as well. When the relatives of the father found out about this, they burned down their house, and then there were attempts on their lives. For more than two years, they have been wandering around Jordan, hiding from their relatives.
They can’t live in one place for more than 6 months, constantly moving and for this reason children cannot attend school. This became the price of following Christ. After praying with them and sharing our humble reserves, we blessed them, so that the Lord would continue to lead them in the name of His glory.
We are grateful to God that with each new visit to this country we see more and more new people who have come to the Lord. Sometimes we spent the night in the same rooms where the services were held. Once it was so cold that our girls could not handle it and said that they could not stay here until the morning. We decided to send them to a hotel. It was late at night. and it seemed that the problem was solved, but after an hour the girls called – they locked themselves in their hotel room because some Arab men were breaking in the door to enter the room. The girls barricaded the door, called the administrator, no one responded to the calls, they were praying and waiting for our arrival.
We immediately left for the place and one of the sons guarded them until the morning.
Despite fears and worries, we are witnesses – how much the word of God changes the consciousness of people strongly and effectively, leading them to salvation. Being in the circle of Arab brothers in Amman, performing a joint service with our musical group, it was very pleasant to hear from them that over the past two years many of them came to the Lord, including a former sheik with his wife, an imam who served in one of the mosques in the city.
Leaving Jordan, where our services were associated with experiences and trials, our hearts were filled with joy and reverence. And most of all, we rejoice that together with the brothers and sisters who supported us in prayers, we are participants in the building of the church of the Lord.
And now the journey to the next country in Middle East Lebanon awaits us – where new trials and blessings are awaiting us in the ministry among the Syrians and Iraqi refugees.
We continue to need your prayers and support for the upcoming evangelism ministries in the Middle East.
In October and November 2019, the Lord allowed us to conduct evangelistic services in the cities in Southwestern Bulgaria – Sandanski, Petrich, Gotse Delchev. Here, local authorities provided us with the house of culture.
We were very impressed and encouraged by the testimony of one driver, an ethnic Turk, who brought people from Gotse Delchev to Sandanski, where the service was held. He
first attended the evangelism that we conducted in the House of Culture. He went to one of our sisters, who became a believer, and asked: “Is it possible for me to attend such a service again? I have never heard before what Christians say and preach. They bring peace, goodness, and love to this world. I am touched and shocked by what I see and hear. Next time when such events are held, contact me and I will drive you for free.”
A church from ethnic Turks was formed in this city. The surroundings of Gotse Delchev has 74 settlements where Muslim Bulgarians have lived since the time of the Ottoman Empire and here is not a single Christian church.
Dear sister brothers, we ask you to pray and support the project to build the first church in the area. Also pray for the Christmas events in Turkey, which are planned in various cities of the country! Thank you for your kindness and timely help!
The refugees from Syria, Iraq, Palestine, and Lebanon were looking forward to meeting with us. Hearing the melodious sounds of violins in an oriental flavor was a cherished dream of many kids, young people, and adults. Meetings were held in various audiences. Including schools, concert halls, garages equipped for prayer houses.
In the services, we felt and experienced the presence of the Spirit of God and saw the Lord doing his saving work in the hearts of wounded people. For the first time in many years of ministry, we saw the results of many sacrifices, labors, and prayers for Lebanon. After the call, many came out to pray. People cried and repented! Others asked for the Lord to give them the will to repent. In Tyre, we held a service in a general education institution. Teenagers and youth enthusiastically listened to our songs and testimonies. The administration invited us to visit them again, promising to gather a large audience of people.
Despite our exhaustion and physical limits, we held up to 6 services a day. The weather was cool and the overnight rooms were poorly heated. Part of our team, the violinists, became sick. Julia, due to her high fever, could not participate in some events.
During the services, people were open to accepting the word of God, asking for prayers about their needs and worries. Most of those present, at the services, are refugees from Syria and Iraq. Tired from the uncertainty of the war, people are drawn to God, opening their hearts to His love.
Speaking with a student at Beirut University, we heard a testimony of God’s mercy and love for these people: “I was a firm Islamist. I knew the Quran well. But through the supernatural intervention of God in my life, I became a Christian and accepted Jesus as my Lord. God changed my life.”
Dear brothers and sisters, continue to pray for the awakening and repentance of the peoples of the Middle East. For many centuries the light of the Gospel did not penetrate into these regions. And today we are witnesses of the grace and mercy of God to these nations. God opened the door to the Gospel for these people, and we must make every effort to use it for the glory of Christ and the salvation of these people.
Jesus said: “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, how they turned white and ripe for the harvest.” John 4:35. People are waiting for good news. Who will go? Who will preach? Who will the Lord send? How can they believe if no one tells them about Christ?
We believe that the Lord entrusted us with this ministry, and we ask us to pray for us. We will have to travel to Iraq, Turkey, and Syria – Damascus. We ask God for the courage to proclaim the Word without fear. Thank you for participating in our needs, for the funds that went towards the tickets. May the Lord richly reward you, because we are accomplishing this ministry together with you! God bless you.
