FROM R.K.'s corner
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A few days ago, when I read the trip report from Mark Medley, who, at my suggestion, made a four-day side-trip to the town of Asbest during a ministry trip to Russia, my eyes filled with tears and my heart overflowed with joyous thanks to God! I marvel at the extraordinary transformation which we have observed over a decade taking place in the lives of young atheists and ragtag drug-addicted Russians tucked away in the Ural mountains, near Siberia. XXXXXBy the power of God through faith in Jesus Christ, they have made amazing changes in their local community and the larger region of Sverdlovsk! In this issue, Mark is giving us and update on the growth of the Gospel in Asbest! |
XXXXXIn 1991, as soon as the Iron Curtain fell, The Bridge went into Russia with evangelistic- and ministry teams to pioneer the Gospel among the Russian people. In 1992 and 1993, we facilitated 75-80 short term mission trips with app.500 people participating each year who went into various countries of the Soviet Union. Then, we gradually realized that the greatest needs among the new believers were Bibles and Bible teaching. Due to having lived under a fully atheist system for over 70 years, there were no church leadership , nor shepherds to care for the flocks of men and women who responded to Christ in the evangelistic meetings.
XXXXXWe felt called to establish Bibleschools to provide foundational Bible knowledge and Biblical leadership training for those Russians who had the heart for pioneer evangelism and church planting. In 1994, we established the first Bridge-sponsored Bible Leadership Training School in Moscow. Two years later, we moved the school to St. Petersburg, from where we continued to train church planters and send them out into the field. We honor Piet van Walsem, Nina Smirnova, Vadim and Marianne Babashkin, Roedie and Jeanette Rap, Lena Syomka, and Lena Stogni who, through their talents, gifts and hands-on dedicated labor, pioneered and laid a good foundation in the leadership of the schools.
XXXXXThe Bridge’s involvement in leadership training in the Ural began ten years ago. In 2000, watching Western Russia being saturated by the Gospel, we felt called to pull up our tent-pegs and go Eastward, where the resources were less and the needs greater, to continue our training of pioneer church planters. Entering into a partnership with the indigenous Love of Christ Church in the town of Asbest, we relocated the Bridge-sponsored school there with a new name, Mission Training Center (MTC). The Dutch couple, Oscar and Anneke Griffion were invited to join our team. They, with three Russians, Andre, Bogdan, and Sasha initially did the administration and teaching with assistance from visiting foreign teachers. In 2004, we released MTC into the hands of the indigenous church and the local people on the ground.
XXXXXThe recent report Mark Medley brought back from Asbest was very encouraging, as we see our call as a BRIDGE fulfilled: Help pioneer the Gospel in unreached nations, then come alongside the new believers and help them grow in faith and character by resourcing, guiding and training them and help them raise up leaders. Then, after a period of time, we step back and release everything into the hand of the national leaders. When we came into Asbest, the pioneer phase was already done by the Russians themselves. There were already an already established church and rehab center, so our involvement was more in partnering with the leaders in helping them with leadership training. One sows, another plants ... but GOD GIVES THE GROWTH!
Mark Medley is Co-Pastor and Worship Leader at his local church near Knoxville, TN. We have known him and his wife, Melissa, for a number of years. He has IN PAST YEARS taught at BridgEe-sponsored schools in Russia and Kazakhstan. We trust there will be a FRUITFUL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MARK AND ANDREI AND THEIR RESPECTIVE CHURCHES IN KNOXVILLE AND ASBEST! |
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