Unexpected Alliances

With more than 25 years of ministry invested into Eastern Europe and Russia we have established more than a few patterns. One of those patterns is that our deepest partnerships have been with the many evangelical churches across our 11 time zones. Despite significant efforts from time to time to work with the “national churches” of our 19 countries, the result has been a mixed bag. Even when such alliances have emerged it is difficult to know what should be written about them, because quite often a priest who enters into deeper collaboration with us could have a price to pay for his actions.

In light of such concerns we will also forgo both the names of our staff involved, as well as the exact locations of the following story.
One our JESUS Film workers was deeply surprised one day when his doorbell rang and there on his doorstep stood an priest who had sought him out in order to discuss a potential working relationship.

The priest’s request was simple; he wanted assistance in putting together an evangelistic effort in the neighboring town.
After a good discussion our colleague and priest came to solid agreement. The priest would set up a “camp” in the courtyard of the church and invite several young people who had demonstrated that they had a heart for the Lord. (14 such young people attended). Our friend joined the camp as a teacher and trained those young people how to share the Gospel and relay their personal testimony.

Throughout that week of “camp at the Orthodox church” the young people learned how to share their faith using the 4 laws (Orthodox version), learned to how explain assurance of salvation, learned how to explain the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and finally they learned what it meant to work with disciples.

The camp culminated in an evangelistic outreach. The Jesus Film was shown on the church’s property, in the very courtyard where the youth had been trained. And the priest and the young people followed up those who were interested in knowing more, using an Orthodox-friendly version of the Four Spiritual Laws.

Various attempts to establish partnerships or collaboration with national churches have resulted in all sorts of experiences over the years. Often the effort invested in such collaboration has ended in disappointment. But this summer, in this “parish” and in many other places there seems to have ignited a new hope that God can open doors that seemed to have been jammed for many years.

Leaders in Ukraine, a summer investment

The Ginn's spent a couple weeks this summer in Odessa, Ukraine to work on leadership development in the Ukraine for Christ national ministry. Dave works closely with Brian Birdsall, and had a special chance to connect with Alexei Chaplits at the project.

Brian Birdsall, the Ukrainian national director writes: The Leadership Development Project exceeded all of the high expectations that my leadership and I had developed over the year. Months of preparation before the conference had raised many hopes and aspirations. The glowing reports that I had heard from other National Directors had set a very high-bar for the standard of excellence that was to be achieved. And our experience in Odessa this August surpassed my personal hopes.

I went into the Project thinking it was primarily for the benefit of our Ukrainian staff and my prayers were focused on specific individuals with specific issues that I hoped would be addressed. The Lord took those prayers and reflected them back on me. And, to my wonderful surprise, the process of mentoring I went through with a Godly older brother exposed some interesting areas of potential growth in my life that will help me in my current role and in whatever else God might have for me in the years ahead.

The impact of the Project might possibly be summarized by the old saying, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” As each leader takes the next appropriate step in his or her personal development, we will have teams that are led better, we will see leadership capacity developed across the breadth of the ministry and we will see a cadre of leadership developed that will lead the ministry into a fruitful future.

Alex Chaplits writes:
I am grateful for 2 weeks of people nurturing me and I focus on growing. I enjoyed my time with my mentor, it was the highlight of the project. We were in fact kindred spirits. We have similar passions. The experience was very positive experience which is not small feat. When I first read through my 360 review I saw only negative things that my friends and colleagues had expressed. But my mentor helped me to see these comments in an atmosphere of kindness. This enabled me to receive their input as positive, and to help me focus on specific areas for development. I am also struck by the emphasis brought by John Henderson that we need to have a pure and simple devotion to God.

As a result of the project 34 Ukrainian leaders are starting the year with a complete personal development plan, one or more mentors who will help them grow, and a fresh hope that God will make this a significant year of life transformation.

Story from Romania

The campus staff in Bucuresti who met Ionuţ were convinced that they had just given this 2nd year student the best gift in the world. They shared the Gospel with him explaining that there is hope for forgiveness and new life at the Cross. Ionuţ responded to that gift and received Christ as his savior.

Not long after Ionuţ’s miraculous transfer from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light his parents found out about his decision. They had a different assessment about the Good News Ionuţ had accepted. Ionuţ was roughed up by his own family and thrown out of the house.

With the door to his own home shut in his face Ionuţ was left to roam the streets of his home town and to contemplate what in the world he was going to do next. As he walked the streets he met a former high school friend – Andrei. Andrei could see that all was not well with Ionuţ, and a conversation started. Ionuţ told his story…about receiving Christ, growing in his faith and then abruptly being kicked out of his own home.

The Lord chose to use that conversation on street and transform it into the most important moment of Andrei’s life. By 5 a.m. Andrei had decided that he wanted to accept Christ was well. There is a verse in the Bible that talks about how our God has the capacity to transform our mourning into dancing. The story of Ionuţ underlines that truth.

The picture that you see here is of Ionuţ and Andrei at an evangelistic project in the mountains of Romania. Both men were eager to have an opportunity to share their faith with others and to grow in their understanding of their Great Lord.

Georgia, a country blessed by Dr. Levan

Dr. Levan became a Christian in medical school while studying in Kazakhstan. Today his medical practice is in Tbilisi Georgia. His greatest passion is working with the JESUS Film training up a new generation of Christian workers.

As Dr. Levan reflects on the great things God has done he can point to the city of Sagaredjo, ½ hour northwest of Tbilisi. There in May of 2006 he and his team showed the Jesus film 12 times in 3 locations. 3,500 people attended those showings, 60% indicating a decision for Christ. A year later a church had started in that town under the leadership the students he is working with. This past May, Dr. Levan and team focused on two new cities and 5 new churches have started.

As Dr. Levan and his friends look to the 2007-2008 year they are planning on having 30 trainers take 150 students through personal ministry training. This means that by June 30, 2008 - just through the training process - 180,000 Georgians will have had 1) opportunities to hear the Gospel, 2) all who respond an opportunity for follow-up and 3) all Christians found during their outreaches will have the opportunity to be involved in the same things.

Loving it in Moldova!

A GREAT FALL in Moldova

Starting in the 2nd week of September the campus teams of Chisinau have distributed 16,000 student survival kits. How did they do it? This year the targeted freshman classes and waited for the class break when they were permitted to enter the classroom, hand out the magazine and fill out the questionnaires.

One goal for the Moldovan ministry this year was to increase the amount of good contacts generated through the distribution. Now, as October begins there are about 10,000 students to follow-up.

The campus teams have been tracking the response rate of students (those ready to complete the survey and give their contact information). This rate has ranged from 60% - 90% positive response. Now the ministry has a tremendous opportunity to connect with students living in the city and the staff have received special training for calling this group of students. Because of of the HUGE interest and limited manpower the campus teams have experimented with sending out weekly SMS messages to the many students still waiting for a personal visit. The SMS have generated curiosity and kept the contacts warmer for a longer period of time.

The reaction of the students has been very positive. Each year the magazine is better, more attractive and speaking more directly to the students’ hearts.

Happenings in Russia with students

We just LOVE what happens each fall. Print houses all over the area pump out a quarter million magazines designed especially for students. For some of those who recieve a copy, it is a life changing experience. Here are some accounts of what took place in Russia.

MOSCOW report:

It seems that fall has been mostly comprised of heavy bags and happy faces. Why? Well, we’ve embarked on a mass distribution of a student planner, which the Russia Campus Ministry has developed for our fall strategies. Our staff in Moscow have learned they can each carry about 40 planners without having to go to the chiropractor.

When the students hear that they can receive a free planner, they are elated. To receive the planner they fill out a simple questionnaire with four questions. The fourth question asks them if they’d be interested in a 10 min conversation about the Bible. Right now about 40% of students are responding positively to this question! So, doing the math: 2500 planners already distributed, means there are about 1,000 students to follow up on 13 different campuses spread across the city. Is it working? Last week at the Bio Tech U, Masha called Nastiya to follow up the survey. Because of the questionnaire it’s very easy to transition to the Gospel. By the end of the conversation Nastiya had placed her faith in Jesus. Now Masha is maintaining contact with Nastiya and pursuing follow up with her. Who else is joining us to help with distribution? Volunteers from several churches have met us and gone on campus with us (including pastors) to take part. Another student organization organized recently committed itself to help us with distributing Survival kits on two campuses where they have believers with a heart for outreach. They recently came and took 480 planners, formed a team and went after two campuses where we’ve not had any access. Praise God for partnerships!

Ekateringburg report:
Join us in thanking God for what He is doing here in Ekaterinburg. During the month of September eight young women and one young man trusted Christ through our ministry. All of these contacts came out of the Student Survival Kit Outreach. So far we have been able to share Christ with over one-hundred students. One of the most exciting things about this is that our students are taking the initiative to set up their own evangelistic appointments. More than half of those who have heard the Gospel, heard it from one of our students!