I boarded the Tehran to London flight in Yerevan. I am usually one of the first to board but was delayed writing some last minute messages. As I boarded, the plane was already quite full. It was difficult to tell which country the passengers were from except for those with burka type head scarfs.
As we proceded to reach cruising altitude I made my way to the back to use the facilities only to run into a woman who was asking for extra blankets to put on the floor to pray. As I saw her bowing several times, the thought occurred to me, if only Christians would be as dedicated and fearless in praying in public this world would be a different place. I tried to dismiss any concerns about the obvious presence of Iranians and made my way back to my seat. I prayed and closed my eyes to rest for the long journey home.
We had just completed another wonderful school in Armenia. More students graduated from this BIble School than any before. They were ready to get involved in ministry and outreach. The graduates from previous schools had started 25 new churches and several were working in the neighboring nation of Georgia. I was rejoicing over the graduates’ wonderful outreach to people of a neighboring nation that has been much in the news. They were able to evangelize 10,000 of them.
We just provided help to print literature buy New Testaments and make 5,000 DVD’s of the Jesus Film in their language. As I write to you, preparations are culminating for the same outreach again. Please pray that they will reach even more people this year.
I am in Crimea, Ukraine, where there are now some 400,000 to 500,000 Muslim Tatars. We just completed another Bible Training Missionary School. What joy it was to teach these eager students and to encourage the local pastors as they reach out to this largely unreached region.
Soon I will head to Siberia as well as Moscow and St. Petersburg. This Sunday is very crucial – presidential elections are being held in the Russian Federation. Please pray for God’s will to be done and for religious freedom.
Your prayers and financial support make it possible for us to carry out this work.