Prayer Update

Further info on the situation at the Baptist headquarters in R.

There are about 100 workers there. 80 of them of been laid off—totally. The other 20 have been asked to continue on without pay for 3 months. Some of these 20 are working to keep things going; others are trying to do something to ‘survive’ for that time.

Undoubtedly there was unsound financial principles that brought this crisis, however the leaders are doing all in their power to restructure on a better basis, but it takes time. So please pray for these dear brothers, that God would give supernatural wisdom, and that He would meet their every need, including the material needs for their families.

We live always with the assurance as believers that God can take the worst and make it into the ‘best’. Praise Him for that hope that always encourages us.

Finished!!!

Happy Birthday to me! I finished writing the New Testament Survey, part 2 Course Guide today!!!
That means all my writing for New Testament Survey is done! After 4 1/2 years. :D It still has to be edited, translated, edited in Russian, formatted and then sent for printing, but all of that should be finished within two months! It's possible that by the end of the summer I'll hold the books in my hands. :)
Mostly it will just feel good to be finished with it. But for now I am reveling in the feeling of getting this far.

Faith in Action...

Here is a prayer request my mum sent me. As you will read these people are going to have to live by faith over the next few months. Pray for them!

There seem to be some major problems at the Russian Evangelicals/Baptist Union headquarters. All of that has been supported by Russian nationals but specifically one wealthy man. We don’t know the whole story, but he developed some different ideas that they could not agree with, so that support has abruptly stopped. And that means that basically all plans have to be put on hold. The majority of leaders have been “laid off” for 2 or 3 months without pay. All of the departments are being run by just a couple people interim which means there basically is no missions department—which could severely affect the church planting efforts. All and all it is a serious situation.

How to pray?

Ø That the God of all resources would open the windows of heaven and pour out His abundance.

Ø That many people’s hearts would be moved to meet this crisis. God has His people everywhere.

Ø That the leaders would not give in to discouragement and that God’s Kingdom would go on and even become stronger in the face of difficulty.

Ø That Satan would be defeated and God glorified.

Ø Just pray as the Holy Spirit leads you. He knows much better than we all the issues involved.