Rudensk, Minsk region:
Project in Rudensk.
A small town of Rudensk is situated in Minsk region, about 35 miles away from Minsk. There are 7000 people there. There are two kinder-gartens, a primary school, a club, a Pentacostal and an Orthodox churches. We did not know anything about other denominations. People even spoke about satanists.
There are 20 people at the church where we have come. Among them there are only 4 young persons. They have a small Prayer-House.
People received us gladly and with prayers.
Day 1.
The day of our arrival. We were invited by an elderly lady to live in her house. We spent blessed time talking with her.
After a talk with the local pastor we learned that we could not show the film "Jesus" as we planned before.
At night we took part in the service, we remembered Jesus suffering and prayed.
Day 2.
In the morning we headed to reach people out, to tell them about Jesus. It was not easy. Many asked to leave them alone because they were Orthodox, many did not show any interest. In no other place we saw so many drunk people, many hardly walked. Later we learned that there are alcoholics almost in all families. One goes to the prison, one returns from it. People die enjoying sins.
We could not properly talk with any person on that day. Some of them took invitations but after they saw the address of the church they gave them back.
At night we were very tired and disappointed but God blessed us. One person from the town and two brothers from Minsk came and we had a nice fellowship.
Day 3.
In the morning we went out again and invited people to our services in the church. But we failed again. After lunch with brothers from Minsk we went to the orphanage and showed the "Jesus" film there. Afterwards we had fellowship with orphans. They told us that most of them had parents but because of alcohol dependence they were taken from them. They told also that they liked believers. They asked about God and Heaven and how to get there.
Late at night we prayed a lot about people and their town.
Day 4.
It was Sunday. We had Easter service. All of us took part. Some preached, some recited poems, some sang songs. After the service we had fellowship at the table. We discussed what JesusÒ resurrection meant for all of us.
Day 5.
In the morning we were inviting people again. But people again claimed they were Orthodox and did not want to take invitations. We all came to the Orthodox church. There were only two persons there. Outside we continued telling people about Jesus. A woman asked us about the difference between Baptists and Orthodox. She complained that her neighbor was a Baptist and was pulling out weeds even on holiday. Two other people after they learned that we were Baptists crossed themselves and said: "Lord, safe and protect!" as if we were demons. But they could not explain why they did not like and why they feared us.
Day 6.
We were inviting people the whole day, but with no result. People did not want to listen anything about Baptists. They called us "nekhristi - non-Christians".
At night we had a prayer-meeting. We prayed for the town and for its revival. We asked God to destroy the satanic power and to call people to faith.
Day 7.
On that day we were helping the church-members. The brothers cut wood for widows, the sisters were cleaning the House of Prayer. Before leaving we bowed down and prayed for the town again. Lord, do so that our work is not in vain!
P.S. Everybody was working hard during the entire project, there was peace and mutual understanding. We praise our Lord for this. We believe that He begins His work there.
The youth of the church decided to keep the fast each Saturday.
Weekly ministry & Missionary projects:
