From Altai with love
From Altai with love We serve a great God! We know you know it already but seeing His work you become more amazed. Let us tell you what God’s been doing in Altai over the summer!
1. Building project in a village - We thank Victor Janzen from BC who sacrificed his time and money to come all the way to a town of 5000 people in the middle of nowhere. He taught local Christians in Ongudai how to build a log house church without any good equipment. We carried all the logs with hands! This building is half way done by now and soon will be the meeting place for a small group of believers.
2. Children’s camp -This year we had about twenty-five children aged 9-14 at camp, some believers and others not yet. There was strong opposition and God’s presence at the same time. Somebody wrote a false accusing letter against our church, so throughout the week our camp was interrupted by police and authorities. But of course they couldn’t find proof of the accusations. On the other hand, it was so beautiful to see children accepting Jesus as their Savior and being baptized in Holy Spirit. Thanks to our God!
3. Orphanage camp - Every week Alexey was asked to come to the local government orphanage camp near the city to work with boys age 7-11. There were about up to 15 kids each time playing games, doing crafts and looking at examples of godly men using Bible stories. It is heartbreaking to see those boys being without parents and needing love. We tried to give them maximum we could to show God’s love and care. We hope to continue outreach in local orphanage. We believe one day these boys will be serving the Lord.
4. English camp - Tonia was asked to teach at the university’s English camp in the middle of July near beautiful Teletskoe lake. It was cold at night and warm during the day, plus a time of getting acquainted
with Siberian mosquitoes! It was a great time of developing new relationships with students and teachers. They just loved Tonia and were so sad when we needed to leave a day earlier. Although it’s not a Christian camp, we, especially Tonia, had an opportunity to share her personal faith in private talks with students. Pray for those students and us to develop friendships that will last.
5. Moscow Mission and Evangelism Conference - What a great time! It was a joined Russian and Ukrainian Assemblies of God conference focused on reaching nations for Christ. There were over 1000 delegates from different regions. The conference started with a parade of nations. It was very renewing and encouraging. There is still so much work to do. Who will go?
Changes in ministry . . . and what to pray for: 1. For the past three years we’ve helped Emmanuel church here in Gorno-Altaisk, doing Bible school, working with children and youth etc. By God’s grace church has grown to over 100 people and has become more self-sufficient. In our hearts we feel God wants us to move forward and start a church plant reaching the lost. It was approved by our leadership. Pray for wisdom, favor in the community, open doors and new connections. 2. The leadership of Russian Assemblies of God has asked us to be involved in missions development and promotion, encouraging our churches to send. It will involve some travelling to churches within Russia and Ukraine. Pray that God would raise up more global workers right in this part of the world. 3. We will continue our involvement in the local community through English courses, ministering at the orphanage and schools. Pray for open doors, new connections and most important people being saved, and us to have a lion’s braveness , “be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves”. (Mt.10:16) Thank you for your continued friendship, prayers and support! Alexey & Tonia Summer 2011
1. Building project in a village - We thank Victor Janzen from BC who sacrificed his time and money to come all the way to a town of 5000 people in the middle of nowhere. He taught local Christians in Ongudai how to build a log house church without any good equipment. We carried all the logs with hands! This building is half way done by now and soon will be the meeting place for a small group of believers.
2. Children’s camp -This year we had about twenty-five children aged 9-14 at camp, some believers and others not yet. There was strong opposition and God’s presence at the same time. Somebody wrote a false accusing letter against our church, so throughout the week our camp was interrupted by police and authorities. But of course they couldn’t find proof of the accusations. On the other hand, it was so beautiful to see children accepting Jesus as their Savior and being baptized in Holy Spirit. Thanks to our God!
3. Orphanage camp - Every week Alexey was asked to come to the local government orphanage camp near the city to work with boys age 7-11. There were about up to 15 kids each time playing games, doing crafts and looking at examples of godly men using Bible stories. It is heartbreaking to see those boys being without parents and needing love. We tried to give them maximum we could to show God’s love and care. We hope to continue outreach in local orphanage. We believe one day these boys will be serving the Lord.
4. English camp - Tonia was asked to teach at the university’s English camp in the middle of July near beautiful Teletskoe lake. It was cold at night and warm during the day, plus a time of getting acquainted
with Siberian mosquitoes! It was a great time of developing new relationships with students and teachers. They just loved Tonia and were so sad when we needed to leave a day earlier. Although it’s not a Christian camp, we, especially Tonia, had an opportunity to share her personal faith in private talks with students. Pray for those students and us to develop friendships that will last.
5. Moscow Mission and Evangelism Conference - What a great time! It was a joined Russian and Ukrainian Assemblies of God conference focused on reaching nations for Christ. There were over 1000 delegates from different regions. The conference started with a parade of nations. It was very renewing and encouraging. There is still so much work to do. Who will go?
Changes in ministry . . . and what to pray for: 1. For the past three years we’ve helped Emmanuel church here in Gorno-Altaisk, doing Bible school, working with children and youth etc. By God’s grace church has grown to over 100 people and has become more self-sufficient. In our hearts we feel God wants us to move forward and start a church plant reaching the lost. It was approved by our leadership. Pray for wisdom, favor in the community, open doors and new connections. 2. The leadership of Russian Assemblies of God has asked us to be involved in missions development and promotion, encouraging our churches to send. It will involve some travelling to churches within Russia and Ukraine. Pray that God would raise up more global workers right in this part of the world. 3. We will continue our involvement in the local community through English courses, ministering at the orphanage and schools. Pray for open doors, new connections and most important people being saved, and us to have a lion’s braveness , “be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves”. (Mt.10:16) Thank you for your continued friendship, prayers and support! Alexey & Tonia Summer 2011
