The Vision...

The History

 

The School...

The Study Course

Students

Teachers

Facilities

 

The Fruit...

Village Churches

Graduates

Changing Russia

 

To Contribute

 

 

Noel Morris

 

 

"Faith in Action" is supported by Faith Ministries & Faith Bible

College in New Zealand,

Faith Ministries Japan,

and World Outreach.

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FIFTEEN YEARS OF GROWTH
God is still working mightily in Russia, and especially in the Far East region where "Faith In Action" is situated. When there is no news there is a tendency to think that nothing is happening, but like in nature, growth is happening all the time. Today I want to report on growth that is directly related to your prayer and sacrificial giving.

Pastor Alexei and his wife Sveta have been involved with "Faith In Action" since its inception, and in 1997 his church took the major responsibility for the training centre. Two major milestones were when we purchased the ex-army buildings that now comprise the church and "Faith In Action", and when FIA was taken to court for "teaching religion without a licence". This resulted in us changing the classification from "Bible School" to "Training Centre" affiliated with Alexei's church, and to a decisive ownership of the vision for "Faith In Action" by Alexei and the Russian Christians.

The "Church of the Living God" was a small village pentecostal "House of Prayer" with few believers when I first met Alexei in 1993. He was young, and had become pastor when the old pastor died. Alexei only had vision for that one small church.

In 1993 John, an American missionary who was serving in Japan at the time, obeyed the Lord to take his wife and 4 children to Russia for a year "to help with the harvest". John began evangelising villages, forming small house churches, and when there were 5 or 6 in an area, he handed them over to a Russian Pastor to care for. Alexei received responsibility for some of these village groups, and his vision was immediately multiplied. No longer just one church, but a group of churches linked together.

When "Faith In Action" began, students were sent out in the summer to evangelise in more villages. Churches were established, and of course many of these are now pastored by graduates from "Faith In Action". Now they reach villages, towns and cities all over the Primorski Region, and beyond.

Last September the "Church of the Living God" celebrated 15 years of serving God. The group now has over 60 churches. Some of these are still small, but some have more than 200 believers. What started with a small house church now comprises several thousand Russians who have found Jesus and worship Him.

We congratulate Pastor Alexei and his church on their faithful achievement and pray for their future growth.

A NEW VISION FOR CHILDREN
Pastor Alexei and his church team now have a vision to help 1000 children in Primorskii region to find families and want to start a rehabilitation centre for children in Vladivostok. Their vision includes children in the orphanages and the neglected children whose parents are alcoholics, drug addicts etc. They already have a big ministry among the people who are most neglected by the society in Russia as they organized 6 rehabilitation centers for adults. Two families in their church have now taken over 10 children each from the orphanages to live in their families. FIA students have been helping build a house where one of those families can care for their children.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS ERODE
After perestroika in the early 1990's, there was freedom to preach the Gospel unhindered in Russia, but gradually, and mostly from pressure from the Russian Orthodox Church, those freedoms have dwindled away. I have heard that soon it will be illegal to preach and witness on the streets, and that evangelism will be "confined" to within the walls of a church. Pray for Christians in Russia that they will find innovative ways to bring the salvation of Jesus to the ordinary people in Russia.

DIMA
Many have asked about Dima and his plan to study in NZ. Dima had a series of problems with his visa application because of a medical pre-condition. He is still planning to reapply to come later this year. Thank you for those who sent finance for his air ticket and expenses so far.

Students October 2007

The students at "Faith In Action" At any one time there are about 20 students at FIA. Classes start in February and September, so there are two overlapping classes that study for a year with 2 semesters and a practical outreach between them. Students come from many different family and background situations. There are many tragic stories and details we can not go into in these brief testimonies, but each one of them is a trophy to the redeeming grace of God. To see them shining for Jesus in the darkness of Russian society is well worth the investment that we can make in prayer and financial contribution.
	Vyacheslav U Many people only start to reflect on God when they lose everything, have no home, and are at the bottom of the social ladder. That's what happened to me. I lost my job, my home, my family, and I became a "nobody". But God arranged for people who told me about Jesus. I went to the rehab centre in Lesozavodsk. After I completed that, it was suggested that I study at FIA. Thank you Lord!
	Roman S I'm 26 years old, and I lived the ways of the world, abused and uncaring. My mom prayed for me for a very long time, and the Lord answered her prayers. He released me from sin and bad habits, and led me to Himself. He has given me a new life so I can live to please and glorify God. Now He has presented me with the opportunity to be trained at FIA, which is wonderful.
	Maria Z The problems in my life were so great that I didn't know what to do. I tried in my own strength but it was in vain. I lost my job, my relationship with my daughter was destroyed, and then I began to understand that only God could help me. I saw an advertisement for a Christmas service, so with my neighbour we went to church on the Sunday. We accepted the Lord into our hearts, and knew that we were forgiven. The Lord became my shelter and my strength. My neighbour and I began to experience miracles in our lives. I was completely healed, and after prayer I got a well-paid job. My attitudes and relationships were repaired, and I became concerned about other people. That is why I came to Bible School, to learn the Divine Word so I can share it with those who do not know the Saviour.
	Vitaly V My mum is a christian and when I was a child she always drove me to Sunday services. When we moved house, it wasn't possible to go to church. As I grew, I learned the ways of the world, and its charm overtook me. The seed which had been planted in my heart at childhood, finally died. For a time my life was empty. I was spiritually dead without God. Gradually I began to cry out to Him, and He heard me and restored me. Now I give glory to Him because He is my only hope.
	Maria T Two years ago my girlfriend invited me to a youth meeting at church. At that time I had family problems, but when God came into my life, He healed my emotional wounds and gave me power to overcome my difficulties. I thank Jesus for His sacrifice for me. None of my earthly friends could have done that. He has shown me the plan for my life and restored relationships with my family and parents. Each day He teaches me to forgive and love those I don't even know. I love my Lord and want to do His will in my life.
	Vladimir A I'm 30 years old, and 13 years ago one of the world's greatest problems rushed into my life: drugs. For 5 years I was drug dependent. My life turned to hell, and I went to prison for many years. There a New Testament came into my hands, and as I read it I started to understand the meaning of life and happiness. When I was released, I accepted the Lord into my heart, have been water baptised, and have given my life completely into His hands.
	Alexander K It was at the time I realised how fragile my life was, and I could see no possibility for rescue that I reached out and accepted Jesus. It is difficult to remember all the details, but this one thing I know; the Lord called me to Himself, forgave me, saved me and loves me. Then He healed me completely from tuberculosis. Now that I have given Him complete charge of my life, He showed me that my purpose in life is to take His Word to my world and share it with love and kindness.
	Alexander M I'm 28 years old, and I grew up without parents. Life didn't go as I wanted, and many times I tried to start over again, but I always came back to the same conclusion. I thought, incorrectly, that life is a game in which I can never win. I lost all meaning for my life and started to think about suicide. But at this stage God saved me. I came across a Christian who told me that God knows each of us and doesn't want us to perish. I went to the rehab centre at the church in Lesozavodsk, and there I received the Lord into my heart. He set me free and gave me a new life. Now I am the worship leader in that church. Nobody could help in my time of need, but God did. Glory to Jesus!
	Sergey K I'm now a second-term student, and for my practical outreach I went to help in a Christian Camp and a church in the Amur region for 2 months. I also learned about dying to self every day as I struggled with my own sinful nature. The Lord showed me many new things as I daily served both children and adults with the Father's loving heart. In the camp there were some non-Christian kids. The Lord worked through me, and I was able to tell them about Jesus. Two of them repented and confessed, accepting the Lord, and are now in the church. I thank God that I had such a great opportunity to serve Him.
	Vladimir A I'm a second term student too, and I spent my practical time in Baranovo-Orenburgscoe where I worked in the rehab centre. I spent a lot of time in prayer and in the meetings, but I also helped with the construction of a church building in Pogranichnyi. I thank my Heavenly Father for these many wonderful experiences.
	Anastasiya D I'm also a second term student, and I went to Boykoe village for my practical time, helping in the church. We spent much of the morning time in prayer, and I was able to help in the children's meetings. Glory to my Saviour!
	Elena T I experienced a great loss in my life. Several years ago my brother whom I loved very much, died. He had played a huge part in my life, and every evening after his death I cried constantly. I started to lose the sense of meaning in my life. All the time Jesus was quietly knocking. I met Pastor Olga from the church in Baranovo-Orenburgscoe and she became my instructor. I accepted Jesus in my heart, and He gave me a new life and healed my broken heart.
	Ruslan L I'm a second term student, and when I had practical outreach I went to Yuzno Morskoy near Nahodka. With my Pastor Valeroj we went into prison colonies and preached the Word of God to the prisoners. On Sundays we worshipped in the churches, and one time I had a special chance to go back to the village where I used to live and testify to many former friends, boys whom I had grown up with.

NEW-LOOK WEB SITE

Please check out the links at the left and see Faith in Action's radically updated web pages. You can read about the history of FIA and learn about the people involved. You can also make an on-line donation in many different currencies: US$, AU$, CAN$, UK£, JPYen & Euro.

 

Please give generously and regularly to support your brothers and sisters in Christ at FIA

PRAY FOR: Alexei, Sveta and family, the staff and the students at Faith in Action. finances needed to run the school. Approximately US$2,000 per month (NZ$3,000, 250,000 Japanese yen.) Gifts for this ministry to Russia can be sent: Online:   click here In NZ: C/o P.O. Box 12357 Hamilton In Japan: Postal Furikae 01150-8-74597 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