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Greetings from Belarus! We have our registration all taken care of and we praise the Lord for the ability to minister in Belarus for another year. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. Our relationship with the Police was strengthened through this as well. I believe they see that they do not have the control over us that they thought. When they tried to get us kicked out and couldn't things changed for the better. They were down right friendly to me this last time and we ironed out all the details that cleared the way for our registration. Oh, how I hated that it had to be this way but I never forced the issue and did what I knew to be the right thing. Please pray that I can now get the problem with the building on the property taken care of with no big noise! Pray that God will work in this man's heart before I go to him again and we can settle this thing and be done with it. Last I heard he was appealing to the President and wanted another investigation. If I sent you a picture of this condemned building you would not believe it. Of course, this is not about the building but a battle over the future use of the property and Satan will not give up any strong hold without a fight. Sunday we had another banner attendance with he children. We have all things in place now for our VBS. It will be July 29th - August 2nd. Please pray for souls to be saved. May God find us on our knees and in His Word so as to use us while we are on our feet and in the world. Brother Rene' July 2, 2002 Greetings from Belarus! In an amazing turn of events the Religious bill was "officially" held up by the upper chamber of parliament due to insufficient time to familiarize themselves with the text. I use the quotations because the media has not said one word to the public about the activity of this bill. The only reason I knew was because of information gained from the Keston Institute (a watch dog agency) our board uses to help keep us informed. It looks like it is in limbo till the fall. However, anything could happen during any given day, so please continue to pray for the freedom to worship in Belarus. There is a financial crisis right now that has the inflation rate soaring and people trying to horde what ever they can, expecting a complete collapse in the fall or winter if something does not change. President Putin(Russia)and President Lukashenko(Belarus)are at odds right now and Russia is threatening to cut of gas and oil supplies. If it happened it would be the end of life here as we know it. The reaction has been a defiant stance by the Belarussian President and a strengthening of ties with Iran, Iraq, and Libya. If he pursues that avenue I have no idea what will become of this country. Belarus has never been so isolated from mother Russia and Europe in its existence and is in position to become the next Cuba. This much is certain, NOTHING is certain here right now! Oh, but I have the certainty that does not relay on circumstances! I praise the Lord for His will and His guiding hand in our matters. Please pray for our appointment on Thursday with the officials regarding our registration. God gave us the best attendance of the year in Jr. church this week as we kicked off a faithfulness contest in preparation for our VBS week at the end of the month. It was a tremendous blessing to Shelley at this time. God provided to the dollar the amount that we initially needed to keep the ministry a float and meet the unexpected humanitarian aid needs. I can honestly say we looked to Him in confidence and He even surpassed our confidence by supplying the need from a completely unknown source! It's with this confidence we move forward in the battle for the lost souls of Belarus. We thank you so much for your prayers and as you can see we serve a God who listens and cares. May God find us on our knees and in His Word so as too use us while we are on our feet and in the world. Brother Rene' June 29, 2002 Greetings from Belarus! I am asking for special and fervent prayer for our family, the future of our ministry, the church we have co-planted, and the country of Belarus as a whole. We have been going through the process of obtaining our visas and registrations for well over a month now. We were at the point two days ago of standing in front of the Chief of Police of the region and being told we are being fined and deported. This was just after being accused of numerous improvable and untruthful illegal activities by the Chief of Police of the city the day before. When I tried to explain our situation and inquire as to why I was being treated like this it just got worse. I was then accused of other things I did not do or say! It was time to let them do what they were planning to do and pray. They gave me a serious fine and called the capital and told them that I was a missionary and to not give me a visa. To the utter amazement of all who tried to get us kicked out of the country and to the GLORY OF GOD we received our visas yesterday and have reentered into talks to get registered to live at the property. They are no longer yelling at me and accusing me of all sorts of things because they believe I have powerful friends. OH!! how they do not know the half of it. The second part of the equation is the passing of the most restrictive relies law in any former soviet union country since 1939 according to the experts. It came as a shock because when it went to the parliament they voted to not pass it and discuss it again in the fall. Then without notice the next day it came to the floor and passed with lighting speed and no discussion. I find myself in the most perplexing situation of my life. The war in the Gulf was a piece of cake compared to the circumstances I find myself in at this point. Make no mistake, I understand that this is no surprise to God, I am not discouraged but truly concerned for our folks. In the coming days and weeks I will have to make some decisions that will be extremely pivotal to the future of our work. I have gone to God and have sought council from men who God has put in my life with much more wisdom and experience than me. I still do not have definitive answers as to what we will do as a church. The stakes are high and I will not make any rash or over zealous decision. Please pray with me for "the mind of Christ" and that wisdom that has been promised me in James 1:5 This much has been made perfectly clear to me by all the officials. The balance of our humanitarian aide does not out way our liability to them at this point. Many had to stand up for us during the attack from the Mayor and then the investigation from the KGB because of the accusations from the President of the local Collective Farm. Each year I have to present a plan for the humanitarian aide we will provide. It encompasses a yearly upgrade project in the hospital, we also provide free English classes three times a week, along with the distribution of clothes and food stuffs to needy families. Of course, we use all these opportunities to give out the gospel. This year they have demanded a large portion to be done soon and part of it within the next week if I expect to get registered. They are thinking we will not be around long once they start to enforce the new religious law and what to get what they can out of me before I am gone. For this we also need prayer for I have not the finances on hand after the fine they gave me to meet what they are asking for. Nor is my budget set up to accommodate starting a hospital project so soon, after all the visa year just started two days ago! I never mention financial needs for the ministry because I promised God it will be done by faith and prayer alone. I was impressed while praying that this was different and the need should be made known. In closing I would like to say that I have peace about our current situation and I believe if I properly handle the up coming days and months ahead that great victory is on the way! May God find us on our knees and in His Word so as to use us while we are on our feet and in the world. Brother Rene' June 26, 2002 Greetings from Belarus! I would ask you to pray for the visa and registration process we are currently in. It is always difficult and in light of the problems we encountered with the property recently it will take prayer to see it accomplished. Continue to pray for a resolution with the building on the property as every effort I have made has not produced a result. God greatly encouraged us when we needed it the most this week. Sunday was a tremendous service. Vladimir preached and God brought in two first time visitors, two return after a long time away from the services, and many of the regulars that are not saved. In all we had 20 in the auditorium and for the summer months that is a huge crowd. One of the first time visitors was the father-in-law of Vera. The other was the husband of a lady who has come off and on. The fact that these men were present is a miracle in and off itself. The soul-winning ministry is on fire and people are so excited to go and tell others. This week Sasha and Aksana found two people who wanted to know the truth and have asked for prayer for a man named Dema. In the hospital Vera explained she has never seen people so receptive. Lastly please pray for our up coming VBS week. It will take place July 22-27. Pray for souls to be saved. Pray that the Devil will not cause a big disturbance over it. Pray for the two young ladies coming to help from the states. Pray for the training of our people who help. May God find us on our knees and in His Word so as to use us while we are on our feet and in the world. Brother Rene' Home| Faith Statment| Salvation| Pastors Page| Missionaries Sermons| N. F. C. School| Soul Winning| Events| How to find US Gods help page| Patch Club| Childrens Church| Links |