We are in the process of studying personal evangelism. The course will last another six weeks. From 11 to 15 people are participating. We do practical homework and take tests.

 

In early March, we started small groups again. It was not easy! I divided the attendees of our Wednesday meeting into three groups. I think that the situation was that people did not want be separated from the people they knew. The meeting on Wednesday is very popular, too many people had started to come :-) we didn't have enough tables or chairs. I have wanted to divide the group for a long time, but people resisted. And now it's time. Praise God! It's difficult for them and they all want to continue with the old way, but God gives strength to carry on ... So, now we have three groups. My group meets at church. My father in law, Paul, leads a group at his home. Anya and Vera lead a group that meets at the home of Natalie's sister. I have long explained that small groups are necessary for church growth, evangelism and fellowship ... Some openly said that this was just my whim and proclaimed that I did not even expect non-believers to attend. "You will see - no unbelievers will come ..." It was a protest! But God is real. He put all the doubters in their place, and closed their mouths.

By the second small group meeting, unbelievers came to each group! Praise God! There was wonderful fellowship. A young girl has come to Anna's group three consecutive times and asked a lot of questions. This week she prayed and asked God that he would reveal himself to her ... She accepted him ... Paul's neighbors have been coming to his group. They are also very open and are coming closer to a relationship with God ... In my group that meets at the church, due to the fact that there are fewer people, there is more time to pay attention to the people who are in drug rehabilitation. They have become more friendly and open. One said he wanted to accept Christ!!! Praise God!

In each of the three groups God gave a special blessing ... After that, people stopped grumbling :-) and began to pray for the groups!

Every Sunday, I talk about how things are going in the groups and the whole church is praying for them.

Ministry among the Romani.

The focus of the Romani ministry is Sunday School. God has really blessed the work with children. More and more children want to attend. I am already seriously concerned with the following question: presently there are more than 20 children and adults coming to Sunday School. This already presents a serious problem ... I decided to try to meet with the children in their neighborhood. I talked to a Romani family and the most recent two times we met at their house. The result was total chaos! Adults were walking through the house and disturbing our lesson, people were smoking, it was too hot, the air was full of tobacco smoke, one boy became ill, another had money taken out of his pocket and an argument erupted. The second time we met in the house of another family and the result was the same. We can not take charge in their homes, as you will understand ... We take them to the church from now on. We talk with many adults, both in their family settings and at Sunday school as a whole our relationships with them are good, and in fact very good. On Wednesday, a Romani woman called our church her own, literally: "our church". I'm glad we have been able to build such good, friendly relationships with them. They are open to God and to us .. I hope and dream that God will bless us with a church building for them, so that we can hold services closer to them. I think we would make that a different church. I am working with a young Romani man, his name is Ian. We meet at his house and my house, and at the church. We read the Bible together and pray. I hope that he will serve in the church in the future ...

Praise God, He is full of mercy, hallelujah!! :-)

So that's how we are doing! :-)

Victor Saltykov