From Russia With Love

I'm waiting for my flight home -- sitting in the Domodedovo Airport in Moscow. I've been here for four days of intensive meetings with educators and church leaders from Russia and Ukraine.

Sometimes I am confronted with a few misconceptions of ministry and working "in missions" by some well meaning folk back in the USA. As a result, it is hard for them to get excited about a "missionary" who spends a lot of time in meetings, but not "ministry."

I guess for these folks, "ministry" is restricted to preaching and teaching from God's word. And no doubt, these are important aspects of the church's ministry. But any missionary who's got his heart set for the Kingdom of God knows that there aren't of "missionaries" to do all the "ministry." I am human and am restricted by the laws of space and time. The most effecient model of ministry is to replicate/multiply the number of people who can do "ministry."

That's what the meetings in Moscow have been all about. In the countries of Russia and Moscow, we have about 200 churches spread out over 4 time zones. We see much potential for growth, but realize that we cannot do all the work ourselves. We can only send so many people to a Bible school. We can only send so many "missionaries" to the regions.

So we have to set strategies. How can we train the most people who will, in turn, eventually become preachers, teachers, and leaders in other areas of our region.

Granted, it is sometimes hard to get excited about meetings with committees and boards, but it is in these meetings that a "missionary" can dialogue with leaders and educators, devise a common strategy that everyone will support, and build relationship and rapport with those who will eventually carry out the ministry. Thinking about the long--term goal is what keep us all motivated to "sit through" a meeting.

Thankfully, we have a great group of pastors and educators who are committed to reaching their world for Christ. That is such an encouragement.

Now the meetings are over....and we look forward to the future.

But now it's time to get back home. Family is just as important of a ministry -- they build me up. And sometimes it's even mutual.. :-)

PTL! Brianna is doing better!

Yesterday my wife made a big trip with our five-year old daughter to the big city of Stuttgart. For the past 18 months, Brianna has been plagued with a urinary track infection caused by a VUR, a reflux caused by the improper shape of the bladder and urinary track. In severe cases, it may lead to kidney infections and disease. Many children have an improperly shaped urinary track and as the body grows, the physical anomaly takes care of itself.

So, yesterday was the big check up at the nearby children's hospital. They filled up her bladder with some stuff that can be seen by the x-ray machine. Needless to say, it was an unpleasant experience. But the premilinary report indicates that Brianna no longer has the reflux. If this is the case, she may not need surgery to correct the problem and we can look at taking her off antibiotics next month.

To celebrate the news, Claudia and Brianna did want most women want to do.... Go shopping. So the two of them raided Stuttgart's large pedestrian zone and shopped for shoes. At five years of age, Brianna has already a clear sense of fashion, having found a "must buy" pair of stylish boots.... Now my wallet needs to go someplace for healing.

Trip To Romania

I just returned from Romania where I taught an “Introduction to Leadership” course. Imagine packing a two (semester) credit hour course into one week. It proved to be an intensive week for students and teacher alike. But we had a great group of students.

I arrived in Bucharest on Friday, Septmeber 31, in order to participate in the graduation exercises of our Bible school. The school has a long and rich history. During the days of communism, the school was allowed only five students a year (a total enrollment, not per class). Now, the Institute of Pentecostal Theology Bucharest is a four-year, bachelor’s degree granting institution. This year IPTB graduated 39 students and has an incoming class of 50 new students. That’s a big praise report!

On the Sunday evening after the graduation service, I was given the opportunity to preach in the Philadelphia Church in Bucharest. 23 years ago as a member of the Lee Singers, we visited this church and held an impromptu worship service. Everyone present felt the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit – even our communist tour guides! In 1983, most people never dreamed of the freedoms that would come to Romania. And I certainly never thought that I would have the opportunity to preach in this very church. It was humbling, yet at the same time pretty cool!

One of the interesting things about the Romanian culture, they have two full sermons per service. Plus plenty of music before, between and after the sermons. Dr. Lynn Stone (from Cleveland) and I kept things short, only preaching 35 minutes each.

Later this month, I’ll be in Moscow. During the first week of November, Claudia and I will be at the German National Assembly where I am one of the morning speakers. More details on this later.