An International Mission Board strategy coordinator in the Far East and his 18 year old son had a wonderful opportunity visiting a youth/adult prison. It is located in a region about five hours from their home. 4 men came to know Christ that day! Scan the story below for details: 

     "The son has been serving as youth leader at the Baptist church in their city until he goes to college this fall.  He was asked to play bongos with the music group and to preach in both prisons where they got permission to hold evangelistic services. The city's national pastor was also allowed to preach.  At the youth prison, four of the young men repented! Praise the Lord!  After the service, both father and son had the opportunity to share with many of them one on one.  Of course, they were interested in the bongos and American life as well as spiritual things.  One of the young men will be moving to their city soon. He said he would come to the Baptist church when he moves.  The son said, ‘As I looked out into the young faces, they looked like the same faces I remember in national school or even the strangers on the streets; they all need a Savior just as much as the guys in the prison.'  He also realized that except for the grace of God it could be any of his friends from national school or even himself sitting in youth prison.  It showed him the importance of taking every opportunity to share Jesus, not just waiting for planned evangelistic events.  Since then, he has been training and taking his youth group out witnessing several times...Many seeds have been sown and watered, and some have begun to grow."

     We do give God the praise for these new believers. Often times we wait for scheduled events to share our faith. What a great example for us! We must always be prepared to give an account of our hope and our trust in the Lord. 

Through a house church, the Deaf Team in Russia ministered to a lady named Lydia. By showing a little love and concern, Frances Courson, living in Moscow, was able to talk about the Lord. Read the following "Blessings" article:

"Lydia first came to our new house church three years ago. She seemed to like coming but stopped coming a couple of years ago. During the past year, she asked if we could call her daughter in America and interpret for her [from the Russian spoken language to the Russian sign language]. She hasn't seen her daughter in about 5 years. When her other daughter calls her, she refuses to interpret or relay information for her mother. During the past several months, Lydia has come over several times in order to call her daughter and has spent time with us. We have learned that her daughter in Russia and grandson live with her and are abusive. Her grandson has told her they will be glad when she dies so they can have her apartment. There has even been a little physical abuse going on. A couple of weeks ago, Lydia text messaged Frances and wanted to know when she could come call her daughter. She also mentioned it was her birthday, so Frances invited her over for dinner. We threw her a small birthday party, called her daughter, and helped scan a document she needed to send her daughter. By the time we were done, it was already after 11:00 [PM]. Frances offered to let her stay the night, and Lydia accepted. The next morning Lydia told us this had been her most favorite, memorable birthday. She stated that she really liked Americans. We showed love and care. Frances was able to share with Lydia that it wasn't because we are Americans, but it was because Jesus lives inside us. He is the reason we love each other and care. Lydia prayed to receive Christ and wants to study the Bible with us. One interesting note from the view of a new believer: Frances told Lydia that she needed to tell someone she had decided to follow Christ- the pastor of the Deaf church, her friends, etc. Lydia replied, ‘I will tell the pastor, but all those other people (her friends) are bad people, I don't want to tell them.'"

Please pray for Lydia as she grows spiritually. Pray that she will be open to share the Gospel to all people- the good and bad. He is the reason to love!

     An International Mission Board team outside of Moscow wrote about an exciting experience:     

     "About seven months ago, I started working out with Lev, Katya's father. About this same time, our Journey-men [personnel] befriended Lev's daughter. We visited their family, shared faith, and gave Bibles. Katya then began attending our Bible Study/house church. After the New Year, we started a session on God's plan for Humanity, the Curtis Sergeant material that Mel Skinner also uses. About a month ago, Lev asked me if I would be Katya's godfather. We discussed the meaning of Baptism at the gym, and I suggested that Katya and I needed to also talk about this. That evening, during the fellowship time of our house church, Katya approached me about baptism. We talked (in Russian so that I was sure she understood the conversation) about the meaning of baptism, when a person should be baptized, and what it takes and means to be a follower of Jesus. She indicated that she was ready to make this decision to let Jesus be Lord in her life and wanted to get baptized.

     We went to the Orthodox Church and endured the long and unfamiliar words (even Katya only understood 30% by her own admission) of the priest's ceremony. We then went to an even smaller place beneath the church to an unfinished baptistery. I was concerned that it might not be a believer's baptism; but when I saw the baptistery, I thought ‘maybe they will baptize her by immersion.' The young priest then began to nervously explain that the baptistery was not finished, and they will have to simply pour water over Katya instead of by immersion (but that's okay because THEY have approved this method where immersion may not be possible). I then pressed him regarding this because their doctrines regarding baptism should be by immersion. He agreed, but tried to reassure us that this is also an approved method. Katya was doused with water, and we left for lunch.

     One of our team members was assigned the responsibility to continue her discipleship, and Lev, who could not make the baptism due to work schedules, called me to thank me for being there. I explained to him all that happened, and he asked my opinion of the validity of the baptism. I told him I did not believe it was truly a believer's baptism, according to the Bible. I reassured him that it was important that Katya made this decision of her own accord.

     Last week a very dear friend of the family and somewhat of an authority figure, Ken Thomas, called and was talking to Lev and Katya. Ken is a professor at University of TN and also served as Lev's proxy when he gave Lev's other daughter away in marriage in NC a few years ago. He said to Katya, ‘You know, I was baptized twice, once in a catholic church and then when I joined the Baptist church. They explained it to me and I understood that I needed to be baptized again.' Just a few days ago, Katya asked me if I could possibly baptize her in the river this summer."

     We praise the Lord that this missionary team has been given the opportunity to minister to this family, and we thank Him that another "blessing" seeks to follow the Lord in believer's baptism. Let's rejoice today, because we are able to witness to those seeking answers.