Andreyeva Alexandra
One day at the railway station a young boy, aged 22-25, came up to me and asked me if I was not in a hurry and if I would like to drink beer with him. I refused and when the boy asked the reasons I explained that I was a believer. The boy told me that he was a musician, he traveled a lot and now he played in a bar. He said, that he was very confused in his life and very often he wanted to drink to forget everything. It was very difficult to speak with him. Using the four spiritual laws I tried to explain that God loved him and that God took him as he was. God is merciful. I invited him to come to the church. I told that in the church he would find all the answers. But he did not want to go to the church. He wanted to come to my place to continue the talk, but I had to say "No", because it was at midnight. He did not want to understand the reason of my refusal, accused me of being selfish and we departed. I gave him a booklet. I thought of the boy on my way home: perhaps he was the person wishing to hear about God, but I failed.
Lukina Diana
Last week children had their autumn holidays. I decided to invite two girls from our church to Minsk. Dasha is six years. Her father is an alcoholic, her mother is my sister in Christ. Sveta is seventeen. She began to attend the church from the age of eight, but last year she ceased to visit the church. She began to drink, spent time in a bad company. I prayed for her constantly. I could not speak to her in my native town, because she was usually surrounded by her bad friends and so in Minsk we were able to speak openly. I explained her the consequences of her misbehavior. I asked her to give up her way of life. For the first time in this year she visited the church in Minsk with me and had fellowship with Christians.
Once in the evening she asked me if God would listen to her prayer. I assured her if she was sincere He would hear and answer her prayer. So we kneeled and prayed together. It was a great joy to me. I ask you to pray for Sveta, because she is in the spiritual struggle.
Adam Tatyana
In summer I worked in the orphanage in the town of Borissov. Last week I decided to see the children again. The children were very glad to see me and at once began to tell me their news. One boy told me that he twice tried to escape from the orphanage. He even decided to commit suicide when he learnt they would not send him home. His mother is an alcoholic, two brothers returned from prison. Nobody works. In the evening I invited him for a walk. I asked him:
- Zhenya, do you remember the pilgrim and his way to the heavenly town? His life was not easy either. How many times did he escape death? Do you pray in the evenings?
- Very seldom.
- Do you remember that God loves you?
- Yes.
- Do you doubt it?
- No.
- Then why did you want to die?
- I was unhappy. It is nice, Tanya, that you came and reminded me that God loves me. I shall never forget it.
It was a long evening. Zhenya continued to tell me about his life in the orphanage and his plans for future.
Adam Tanya and Osipenko Alexey.
One day in Svisloch we met a very upset woman. It seemed to her that there was no bigger problem than hers. I asked her a question:
- Do you have children or do you live alone?
- I have a little nephew who is invalid. He has rheumatic arthritis. His knee joint is injured and he might quit walking. I don't know what to do and who can help me.
Alexey joined to our conversation.
- I understand your feelings and we will try help you. Our brother Vadim will take you to the hospital. Please don't cry, we will not leave you and God will not leave you. Do you believe that God will not leave you?
- Yes.
- Do you not doubt in it? Have you heard of four spiritual laws?
- No.
- They say that God loves us, but because of sin we have problems, illnesses and disappointments in our life. Yet there is one solution. Do you want to know about it?
- Yes.
- You need to believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Do you believe that Jesus loves you?
- Yes.
- Do you believe that He can help you?
- Yes.
- Do you want to accept Him in your heart now?
- Yes.
- You can pray with me now. I will say the prayer and you can repeat it after me.
The woman prayed with the prayer of repentance. She cried and kept asking God for forgiveness.
After she had prayed she said:
- I have never been so happy. Thank you.
Simak Natasha
On the way home we met two girls and decided to tell them about Jesus. We gave them "Four spiritual laws" and told them about God's love to them. We asked if anybody told them that God loves them. Their answer was negative. Then we told them about sin and its consequences. We asked the girls if they considered themselves sinners. Their answer was positive. We continued to tell them about sin and hell and that God doesn't want them and other people to go to hell. We told about laws and the punishment for their breaking and compared this to the spiritual laws. Afterwards we began to speak about the most important thing - how to be reconciled with God. We told about Christ who suffered for our sins and saved us. Unfortunately they did not repent that day but we believe that God will touch their hearts.
Bessarabova Irina
On Friday we showed a Christian film. Before we had an opportunity to speak to two girls Carolina and Catharine. We studied "Four spiritual laws" with Caroline. When we came to two circles she told that she would choose the right circle - the life ruled by God. Afterwards we spoke about prayer. She understood that prayer is a conversation with God. Caroline shared that she prays before going to bed. When we read the prayer in the book she said it expressed her feelings but she was too shy to pray with me. She promised to pray at home. Caroline seemed to be a serious girl, she thinks of the sense of her life and does not ignore spiritual truths. I praise the Lord that He makes it possible to speak to such people like Caroline.
Konovalchik Alexey
One night I was in my room alone. Somebody knocked at the door. A man entered. He looked resolute. I hesitated what to do - to call for help or to flee. But he said: "May I?" I answered: "Yes you may." But I did not know what he meant. He asked me if I was a real Christian or just pretended. I said that I am a true Christian. He told that a year ago he spoke to some Christians and they promised to phone but did not keep the promise. He told about his life, his relationship with his wife, many professional problems and so on. The troubles fall upon him as if from a torn sack. He asked who was punishing him, God or satan. I said that satan does not punish he kills. When God punishes He has a purpose - to correct a person and to make him turn to Him. He asked many questions but because of many hurts he did not want to listen to my answers. He asked me how I became a Christian. I told him my story. I think he understood that there was a solution in his situation. We agreed to meet next week.
Adam Tatyana
On Tuesday in a clinic I met two boys. Here is a talk with one of them.
-Where do you study?
-At the Bible college.
-Do you want to be a librarian? (The Russian words the Bible and library sound similar)
-No I study the Bible.
-Is there such a college?
-Yes. Have you ever heard anything about Christ?
-Yes, He died for the sins of people but was raised to life.
-But do you know that He died not only for the sins of all people but for yours too?
-Why for mine? But maybe for mine too.
-Do you consider yourself a sinner?
-Yes.
-Are you satisfied with the situation?
-Not very much.
-Do you want me to tell how to get rid of sins?
-Yes.
-You must ask God for forgiveness and to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is your Savior and the Lord.
-I am not a big sinner to ask God for forgiveness. But I believe in Him. Sometimes I listen to Christian radio programs, my mother puts a candle in the church for me. This is enough, I think.
-Where will you go after your death?
-To paradise.
-Are you sure?
-Yes.
-When Jesus asks you why He must let you into the paradise, what would you answer?
-I did not kill anybody.
-Do you know what is the biggest sin?
-Murder and theft.
-The biggest sin is that you do not believe in Jesus Christ.
-I did not know this.
-Now you know. Will you think?
-Yes, I will.
I hope that this talk makes the young man think.
Divakov Sergey
This week I have spoken with my old friends. They had known me before and it was important for me to witness them of the wonderful deeds of God in my life.
Their reaction was very typical - they listened to me, shrugged their shoulders and left my testimony without comments. I am praying for them and believe that God will touch their hearts.
And now I would like to tell you about my conversation with another friend of mine.
His name is Vladimir. He used to tell me that he wanted to have Bible and I decided to invite him, give him Bible and talk.
We met, talked a little about our past and then I offered him to watch a movie about creation. Vladimir agreed. After the movie our conversation became even more open and meaningful. Volodya told me that he had been thinking about life after death. He had read a book people who had experienced clinical death. Those stories astound him. He was seeking answers for his questions. I said to him that Bible had more full and trustworthy information about life after death. Vladimir expressed great interest and our conversation lasted long.
At parting I said to him to call me if he had questions about the Bible. I've been praying for Vladimir. I believe that our conversation and my prayer will change his life.
Andrey Chernyavsky
Returning home after classes I saw a man sitting on the stairs in our dormitory. His appearance, outfit and smell left no doubt that he was an outcast, a man without work and home. First I passed him by. We usually try to avoid this kind of people as much as possible. Then I thought that when Jesus Christ was on earth he didn't avoid beggars, sick and rejected. I came back and invited that man to my room.
I put him at the table. We ate a little, then started talking. A man told me about himself. His name was Sergey. He used to a normal man. He had a family - wife and children, he had a job. He didn't mention why he had left his wife and moved to the dormitory in which I was living. Soon he had lost his job had to leave the dormitory. He had become a man without home, job and family. He slept anywhere he could, ate whatever he found, drank every day didn't expect anything from tomorrow.
I began telling Sergey about Christ but to my surprise he had already known about Him. His grandfather had been a priest. I got encouraged and said that only Christ could give meaning and goal in life. He could give hope and assurance in life not only on the earth but also in heaven.
Sergey listened to me and then said that it was difficult for him to believe in God. He used to think that God was just tale.
We parted. My new acquaintance went nowhere. I thought how many people on this earth had difficult, meaningless life and didn't want to change anything in their existence. Nobody can be forced to be happy.
Weekly ministry & Missionary projects:
