Metropolitan Missionaries

Our annual Planning Conferences with the Russian Baptist Union continue to play an important role in the national strategy “Advancing the Gospel in Russia”. This week we plan to have the 9^th Conference in Saransk! This event helps to get organized for the upcoming short term mission trips in the summer.
You may remember, though, that we were supposed to hold the Conference on the first week of March. What happened then was that the Saransk Administration asked the hosting church to postpone the Conference. The reason for the request was the information that the pro-governmental youth movement called NASHI was going to piquet the Conference, block the entrance of the church and hinder the delegates entering the church. The local brothers made a wise decision to postpone the Conference, even though it meant that all 75+ participants had to return the tickets, change plans and stay home in March.
Please, join us in prayer this week for the Conference. Pray the Lord to keep us focused on His tasks as well as for safety for all participants – in travel and in the stay.
Meanwhile, I had a fruitful trip to Balashov, Saratov region. The partner church helped Balashov church to buy a building that they will use for a new congregation and for training center. We discussed a possibility for BTCP curriculum to be a base course for all students in thenew training center. Lord willing, there will be about 30 students in the first group, and classes will be held in modules for 4 years.
Thanks to your prayers and support, I was able to register for three Doctorate classes at DTS this summer. We will be coming to Dallas in May to work on these classes, as well as at e3 Partners.
Thank you for  standing firmly with us as we train a new generation to “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3)! In 2008 we continue to work with the Russian Baptist on the Empower 2008 Project, reaching thousands more people in Russia for Christ.

We are so grateful to you for your prayers, support and care.
We pray that God would continue to bless you abundantly as you serve Him in the partnerships with us in Russia.

Please, pray for

-          English Club in Penza - new people come each week;

-          Following the strategic plan for the Empower 2008;

-          Good progress in the D.Min program in 2008;

-          IX Winter Planning Conference this week.