January-February

I was invited by pastor Benjiamin Gorelov who was part of our trainings for the last three years and who is now actively involved in Disciple Making Movement in Southern California.

Benjiamin took seriously Jesus command (Math 28:19) on making disciples from all the nations and went to do that outside of the four walls of the church.

It was a pleasure to attend three of his groups initiated by the leaders of his church.

I had the privilege to attend the first meeting of a new initiated group in San Diego. It was so exciting to see unbelievers studying and seeking God in the Scripture.

I have seen also the need of that part of the country with the highest density of immigrants. Starting discipleship making movements among Immigrants is our ministry focus and we see the need to support such leaders as Benjiamin as our primary calling.

For one week, I had a series of meetings with diverse leaders interested in Kingdom growth in Southern California like Karl and You-Jin, Ben, Victor, Ross, Anatolii, Alex, Bogdan, Ray, Dmitry and Katea and I was enriched by their passion and insight on discipleship multiplication. That moved my heart towards thinking that Southern California is the area where God is sending our family to work.

On Sunday, January 25 I was invited to preach in Benjiamin Gorelov church joining their preaching series on Prayer. I enjoyed when Tanea and several others came to express their gratitude saying that they received answers to long seeking questions. For a teacher that is always encouraging to see how the Spirit works.

Here is a joke for you: A sister came to the preacher saying “Brother your message touched me so deep, it was so good!”. The preacher with a solid voice answered “Well sister, God spoke through me” On what that sister exclaimed “ Oh, No, not that good”.

After California I went to Seattle, WA. I was well received by one of my closest friend Jim Canfield. Jim let me be part of his group and also arranged to meet his friends in the area. Then I had a meeting with our leaders who have been part of ILT trainings. It was interesting to see that some of them reached the second generation while others still struggle with the first generation of disciples.

We discussed about success but also  about the obstacles of dependency we leaders create making teacher’s centered communities instead of Bible centered communities.

Then I had several trainings with the Ukranian churches where I was invited by one of their leaders by the name Vitalii.

We had three meetings: a Family Enrichment seminar, a youth seminar on “How to find your life purpose” and one on Inductive Bible Study Method.

On Sunday, February 8th I was invited to preach at Ukraine church in Everett, WA.

Since some of their members attended the previous seminars I continued to teach on “Life Purpose”.

I was pleased and encouraged by their receptive hearts. We planed our next training in that area for July 2015.

Now I am home for 6 days and then I am leaving with my friend from Oxford for Middle East. We have a lot of unknown elements in our next trip, but we are trusting that God  through your prayers will grant us people of peace in our trips and that the planed Leadership trainings in three of those countries will be successful.

Please continue to support us in your prayers so God will give us wisdom and boldness to preach the Gospel in spite of hostile circumstances.

Pray also for the Inductive Bible Study presentation that is going to take place in the Romanian Church in Union, MO on February15th.