VISA RECEIVED ! PERRIARDS TO COME BACK SEPTEMBER THE 8 TH

Our dear brothers and sisters,

Ever since we were kicked out of Russia at the end of June, we prayed that we would be able to see again our dear Russian brothers and sisters. Yves applied for a student's visa with the hope that he would be accepted under those conditions. Finally, after much waiting and doubts, Yves received his visa to reenter Russia !

As we prepare ourselves to come back there, our hearts are filled with both deep concerns and hope. Deep concerns because the economical and political future of Russia looks very gloomy. It is a time of deep insecurity for all, rich and poor alike.

But at the same time, we are confident that God will reveal His power in ways we have never seen before. If the beginning was so glorious, what will the end be ?

WHAT WILL YVES DO IF HE CANNOT PREACH AND TEACH PUBLICLY ?

Yves will be " forced" to study Russian language and literature part time at the University of Voronezh while focusing most of his remaining time on training the leadership of the Voronezh Church. Much can and needs to be done in that area. In fact, equiping the evangelists and raising up the potential eldership is my top priority. I will take the evangelists into a intensive studying of the entire New Testament that will cover the whole year, and I will have individual and collective studies and character shaping with the potential elders. I seriously believe that within 2 years we should be able to appoint elders.

Anna, on her side, will be very busy teaching the women and taking care of our very "dynamic" two years old boy !

HOW CAN YOU HELP CONCRETELY ?

At the present stage the church meets in a rented movie theater. That place, like every other public place, belongs to the State. Since the local authorities refuse to register us as a church, which means we are not legal officially, we do not have the right to meet in a State owned building. That is according to the law. Now, in practice, the director of that theater allows us to stay there because she gets from us a monthly rent which she badly needs. In Russia money speaks always louder than the law. In other words, eyes are closed so far.

Now, if the Russian Orthodox Church starts pressuring the State about closing down their buildings to all other other religious groups, than we will have nowhere to go. As I said earlier, all the big meeting places in Russia belong to the State.

Such a possibility is not to be excluded. We know for sure that the Orthodox Church would love this, because they do not tolerate us. The State, on its side, is trying somehow to please the Orthodox Church so that it will look better in the eyes of many patriotic Russians. ( For a Russian, the only legitimate and true church for Russia is the Russian Orthodox Church. All others churches are of "foreign" origin).

What this means is that it would be smart to find a place to meet before we are on the street. For about 50 to 70 000 $ we could find or build a really decent place that could allow us to meet for worship and Bible studies. I do not think that the local authorities would or could really stop us from meeting in that place, unless some brutal and radical changes takes place. If that is the case, than we are talking about open persecution similar to Stalin time. I don't see this happening.

If you hear of any individual or church that would be interested to help financially, than please get in touch with :

Jimmie Eaton, elder of the Red Bank Church of Christ, at :

( 423 ) 875 40 64 ( Home ) or ( 423 ) 875 48 16 ( Work )

E-mail address : Rbchoch@aol.com

POOR BROTHERS AND SISTERS

With the mounting economical difficulties that Russia will face in a near future, many Russian poor will have really hard times. Up to now the government hardly had the money to pay doctors, teachers or even the army ! The hospitals are surviving with any humanitarian help that comes in, so you can imagine how much is left for the poor and the sick ! The retired people are geting a meager pension that leaves them just the bare minimum to survive.

So far, we have been able to very effectively help some of our members by buying them food and/or medecine. The reason is because we had the following policy :

1. Our help is strictly limited to our Christians. If we do make exceptions to that rule, it is never a big financial help and it is done with great caution

=> We simply do not have the luxury of waisting our money with people who want to use us.

2. The members have to make their needs known directly to the Russian leaders and not to me. I never give any help directly myself.

=> This way, we can make sure that the needs are very serious, because Russians will not easily admit their problems to another Russian, ( but they will very easily do so with foreigners, even to the point of fooling them ! )

=> This way, it creates an emotional dependency toward the local leadership, instead of toward me, a foreigner.

3. We regularly consult between us as leaders to make sure that the needs are really needed, and how we will help.

=> This way, it gives them an opportunity to grow in becoming wise leaders and working as a team.

With the above policy, we can really make sure that your money is wisely used. We will give you a detailed account every month on how the money was used specifically.

Because that money is used as a separate budget on a separate account, please make sure that your money orders or checks have the specific mention : " For the Russian POOR ".

Please, DO NOT write "russian work" so it will not be confused with the money that goes for the full time preachers and missionaries . This way we will help only with the money that is sent, not more, and not less. Thank you for sharing in this ministry of compassion !

Please send your money to :

Northland Church of Christ

4581 Cleveland Avenue

WHAT DOES RUSSIA'S FUTURE LOOK LIKE ?

It is absolutely impossible to predict anything about the near future, except that there will not be no fast relief.

But on the long term I have my opinion about 3 possible scenarios:

1. Yelsin prevents chaos by allowing capable men to slowly take control of the situation and bring more stability. The incredible patience of Russians helps turn the tide.

2. More and more regions act indepentendly from Moscow. Some are even ready for civil war. Chaos, corruption and instability increase, without remedy.

3. A kind of red and black dictatorship is installed to take total control of everything. It is a compromise between the demands of a rich minority and the aspirations of a poor majority. But strict control is imposed to all.

As surprising as it may be, all 3 scenarios are possible. It is virtually impossible to see which trend will dominate. As Russians say about about their own nation : " No one can understand Russia, one can only believe in her ! "

One thing we do know for sure is that the Lord has the very best plan for His church. In fact it is in times of transition or crisis that individuals are looking up to their Creator. Such times are not necessarly bad in themselves. Since the crashing of the economy in the last few weeks the attendence at the worship service has never been so high : Last Sunday they had almost 70 people showing up ! So the church has some glorious times coming ahead !

Let us only pray that such times will not turn to the second or third scenario. My understanding of 1 Tim. 2: 1-3 is that there is some connection between conversions and peacefull and quite lives. Take seriously to heart the priority of praying for the leaders of Russia. Your prayers can change the destiny of this nation :

We do not know what the future looks like, but we know who holds it.

THE VORONEZH CHURCH IN FIGURES :

- Grown from 5 members to over 50 in less than 2 years. Will probably have over 60- 70 bu the end of the year

- Lost only 2 members

- potential of appointing 3 elders within the next 3 years.

- 3 full time RUSSIAN trained evangelist