My friend and our provost at ETSM in Moscow gives the following report from his blog about the new family and marital ministry program at ETSM.

Greetings from Moscow, Russia! Last 4 days including Saturday I taught Theology of Mariage and Theology of Family Ministry in a Local Church. The class is #1 class of 12 classes program on Marriage and Family Ministry Extension Program ETSM has opened this January-February 2009.

In my class we have had very good discussions on theology of marrige, theology on divorce, theology on re-mariage, theology of life (pregnancy, birth, church's responsibility), theology of sexuality and in all - the practical application of those in a context of a local church.

I had 12 students in the class. They were leaders of counseling ministry or those who have taken the are of family ministry in their churches. 1 pastor from Moscow (exacutive from a Baptist magazine) came also. Other people came from Belorussia, Ukraine, Russia, including Moscow. When we took the pictures some one would not like to be in it or leave earlier for work (see both pictures on the left side).

Sister Svetlana from Rostov-on-Don, Russia leads Family Ministry. At the end of the last class (after hearing the final test result ;-) she says that this class has helped her to be assured the things she feels and teaches back in her church are the right things! She has been established in the truth firmly and eger to be back and keep teaching and counseling church members for what we've discussed.

Brother Yuri from a Belorussian city has received material he was looking for and the Lord has given him so much of clear teachings on Marriage, Family, divorce, remarrige etc.

Natalia from a Ukrainian city has now found the confirmation of the things she also been for all the time, but not sure. After the class she has a clear theological and so that they would go on in teaching and preaching. Some were saying they wish their pastor would allow them to establish family ministry (which is premarital counseling, family counseling, retreat, etc.)

Sister Olga from one of towns in Russia got it all organized in her mind and on paper, written in order and has a systimic approach to Marriage and Family Ministry from the biblical perspective.

I am encouraged very much! Thank you for your prayers!

On the one of the days of the class - Friday - I got a food poison problem. In 2 hours after lunch I felt growing discomfort and in 2 more hours after finishing the day my body let the poison food out - and I felt right away much better, but for the rest of the day I did not eat. Yet on th enext day I was in class all right in the morning.

While I taught from 8 a.m. till 6 p.m. in between I still had to take care of all the administrative issues of the Seminary, solve conflicts, answer authorities etc. Day-to-day operation had to be supported. And the Lord has given us His favor and His blessing!