Last Sunday our church had the great honor to welcome guests from Russia, from the city of L'gov in the Kursk region. The myth of nationalistic hostility between the two slavic peoples was completely refuted by the feelings of unity and joyful community in Jesus Christ.

 

Brother Viktor and three sisters in the faith, Anya, Vera and Anya, "dived" into the middle of active service in Salvation Church. They had the opportunity to take part in the regional conference of children's ministry workers, visited a small group in Klimovka, deepened their knowledge of hermeneutics in an adult Sunday School lesson, lent a helping hand in children's Bible lessons and, finally directly participated in our church service. During the service they related interesting stories of how God is working in Russia and delivered an inspiring sermon that touched the hearts of many Poltavans. We hope that in the future our work together will be more tightly integrated and on a larger scale.

Here is some background:

Our opportunity to work together came as the result of the missionary work of Frank Tuck and Andrey Khudyakov in Russia. An elder in the Kursk region suggested this type of cooperative effort.

Three or four years ago this small church in L'gov, where Viktor Saltykov serves as pastor, began to experience a revival and felt the real work of God in their life.

Back to the present:

In spite of the similarity in size between the Kursk and Poltava regions, they have significantly fewer churches (20) than we do (74). But there is a is a definite uniqueness about the Kursk region - there is a large population of Romani people there.

That is exactly the group of people to whom the Lord directed the L'gov church to go (it is worth noting that, as Viktor said, that is a group of people that they didn't want to go to, but God said go, so what else could they do?)

Thus they began this difficult but blessed outreach to the Romani people (in fact, our local missionary, together with Brother Frank, was able to join in the fulfillment of God's commission in this region).

In addition to the Gospel, they teach the Romani children to read. And as the teachers testify, it's not easy.

Romani adults get together for Bible teaching in private homes. There, in spite of the small rooms filled with people and cigarette smoke, they spend a profitable time together.

Local men listen with interest to stories about Jesus.

The Romani leader, a horse and Pastor Viktor.

In addition to the ministry to the Romani people, the church in L'gov is active in the community, which significantly boosts the standing of the Christians in the city. They conducted a successful cleanup of their local park: Lenin Park. As pastor Viktor Saltykov expressed it: "The Baptists cleaned the leader of peoples up!" The civic leaders were so impressed by the community spirit of the believers that they welcomed leaders of the church into the city council with open arms.

L'gov Christians organized a camp and an amusement tent for local children.

As always, God is true to His Word and unites the redeemed with the church.

In this short presentation you have seen the great blessings that cost the Christians from Russia much effort, hard work, faith, prayer, tears, oppression by the authorities, individual financial investment and all the rest that didn't fit "in the picture".

Ukraine has more freedom in religious matters, than do the citizens of our neighbor, Russia. Please support the Christians of L'gov in your daily prayers. Here are the needs they expressed:

- For a team of leaders and pastors

- For a Christian street concert in the central part of the city (with a 10kw sound system).

- For the weekly evangelism activities in L'gov (children's camp and meetings for adults).

- That they might have a church building for the Romani church

"Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering..." Hebrews 13:3

Tanya Varyanitsa