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Vladivostok, Russia
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BIBLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN RUSSIA
NEED A NEW DORMITORY
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Vladivostok, Russia
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| And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell." 2 Kings 6:1,2 |
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The present building was built in 1945, and is in poor condition to house the 20 students and staff. Another coat of paint will not improve it enough, so the time has come to build a new dormitory on an adjacent site. This new building will allow us to take twice as many students, and will also be used for temporary classrooms while the old building gets a thorough restoration in the future.
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THE OPPORTUNITY
Volunteers wanted. Donate your time and skill to the Lord's work.
THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
Construction will begin after the snow has melted in April or
May, with the goal of having the dormitory finished for students
to use from September.
THE BUDGET
US$50,000 = NZ$120,000 = 6,600,000 Japanese Yen
THE HURDLES
Russian bureaucracy, the weather, availability of materials, &
spiritual opposition.
THE NEED
The most pressing need at the Bible School now is the condition
of the building we are using. The available space sets limits
on how many students we can accept. It is impractical to house
couples with children. Hygiene and health are at risk because
of the spartan conditions. Although it receives many coats of
paint, there is a great need for major repairs. Each winter the
heating system needs overhauling before it can be used. Toilet
facilities fail regularly. The need for a new building has become
acute.
It is time to RISE UP AND BUILD
| And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So they said, "Let us rise up and build." Then they set their hands to this good work. Neh 2:18 |
THE OPPORTUNITY
Volunteers are wanted to donate time and skill to the Lord's work.
Do you have building skills that you would volunteer for the Lord:
block-laying, carpentry, roofing, plumbing, electrical, plastering,
painting? Would you like to be part of a team of International
volunteers working with local Russian believers?
Accommodation and basic meals will be provided, but you will need
to trust the Lord to provide your travel and personal needs.
There will also be many opportunities for your Christian witness
at churches, Children's camps and in the neighborhood.
Construction will begin after the snow has melted in April or
May, with the goal of having the dormitory finished for students
to use from September.
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THE BUDGET
US$50,000 = NZ$120,000 = 6,600,000
Japanese Yen
This should cover plans, permits and legal fees, construction
materials and equipment, connection of utilities, and some local
labour costs. At this stage actual costs are unknown, so this
is an early estimate.
Perhaps you don't have the skills or the free time to go and help,
but your gift of money is just as important a part of the project.
Please pray and ask God how much you can contribute.
Perhaps your church has a Missions fund that is available? Being
part of a Missions building project can be a great encouragement
to your church too.
RUSSIA REPORT from Noel
Morris
On my way to Russia in late October I spent nearly 2 weeks in
Japan, visiting old friends and encouraging many who have continued
to support the work in Russia. I am grateful for all the hospitality
I was shown by friends in the many places I stayed.
In Russia I was again challenged as I taught the present students.
They seemed a very mature group, and 4 of them will have graduated
by the time you read this. I taught on Healing, on Missions, and
on a variety of "fill-in subjects" that had been missed
out during the term. That is my usual role - pinch hitter - filling
in the gaps.
In the week-end I visited Joy McRae who works with street kids
and a men's rehabilitation centre in Khabarovsk. I took some more
video of her work to update a presentation we made earlier in
the year.
Dima, the Principal of the
Bible School, has been under a lot of stress and his work was
beginning to suffer. So we have given him some time out, and arranged
for two other men to take responsibility for the school in the
meantime. Sergei Yelefunken, who has been teaching in the school
for many years is now in charge. He is being advised by Valodia
Arbusov, a Russian who emigrated to the States but came back to
serve the church for a year with his family.
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My next visit to Vladivostok will possibly be in March or April to teach in "Faith in Action" and to help coordinate the preparations for construction. Classes will begin for 2002 in late February
A BRIEF HISTORY
"Faith in Action" Bible School is in Vladivostok in
the Russian Far East. It was started in 1994 by Noel Morris, then
a World Outreach missionary in Japan, in conjunction with Faith
Bible College in New Zealand and local Russian pastors.
In October 1999 we were successful in buying the remains of a
Russian Army Camp as a home for the school and the local church.
We own some 17 buildings (or the building sites which can be rebuilt)
and 7 Hectares of land on a long-term lease. Pastor Alexei's "Church
of the Living God" are presently renovating one of the larger
buildings for the church auditorium.
"Faith in Action" is still one of the few residential
Bible Schools in the Far East of Russia, and to date over 100
Graduates have been sent out into all kinds of ministry, for example:
pastoring, planting pioneer village churches, evangelistic teams,
apologetics, rehabilitation, prison ministry, and children's ministry.
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PRAY FOR:
1. volunteers to build the new dormitory building, that people
with the right skills will be available at the right time.
2. all the finances needed for the new dormitory. Budget US$50,000
= NZ$120,000 = 6,600,000 Japanese Yen
3. finances needed to run the school. Approximately US$2,000 per
month (NZ$5,000, 250,000 Japanese yen.)
4. all the architectural approvals and permits to be granted,
and the necessary materials to be available.
| In NZ: C/o P.O. Box 12357 Hamilton |
| In Japan: Postal Furikae óXï÷êUë÷ 01150-8-74597 êMã¬É~ÉjÉXÉgÉäÅ[ÉY |
| In USA: C/o Christian Fellowship, 2199 N. Water
Street, Decatur, Illinois 62526 (Make checks out to Christian Fellowship, but memo for Faith Ministries) |
| From other countries: Bank: A/c name: Faith Ministries, A/c No. 060603 0000421 00 National Bank of NZ, Chartwell Branch, Routing No. NBNZ22 |