An Appeal for the family of Pastor Artur Suleimanov ...

Zina and Artur Suleimanov were pastors of Hosanna Church in Dagestan's capital city, Makhachkala

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Since the day those words were spoken by Jesus, many have followed that
commission given to us all ... and many have given their lives in the pursuit of that task. And, for every believer who has literally gone into the world of non-believers as well as seekers, many thousands have provided prayer and support for them.
Our brother in Christ, Pastor Artur Suleimanov, has Thursday, July 15, 2010 given the ultimate sacrifice in his attempt to reach the lost. Having been martyred in Dagestan in the North Caucasus region of southern Russia, he leaves behind, along with a successful ministry, a wife and children.

Christ will make sure that the work started by Pastor Artur will continue by raising up
another to fill his shoes. And, He will also take care of the surviving family, (wife and five children) by giving us ... those who stay behind to pray and support ... a chance to help that family with our love, prayers and financial support.

Out of your love for Christ and the Suleimanov family, will you please contribute
financially to that effort?

European Christian Missions is collecting the funds that will be delivered, in total,
directly to the family of Pastor Artur. You may send your contribution to:
European Christian Missions, P.O. Box 1006, Point Roberts, WA 98281.

Canadian friends may send their contributions to:
European Christian Missions, 5097-47A Ave., Delta, B.C. V4K4G5, Canada
Make your checks out to ECM and note: “For Suleimanov Family Support“

In His service,

Paul Weresch

Pastor and Friend Martyred ...

The North Caucasus region of Dagestan which borders Azerbaijan and Georgia has been a troubled area for some time. It is also the home of the largest Protestant church in an area that is only 2% Christian. The church, shepherded by Pastor Arthur Suleimanov, has been extremely successful in their work with drug addicts, prisons and other social ills of that region.

On Thursday, July 15, Pastor Suleimanov became one of the Pastors martyred in their work for Christ. I received this letter from Paul and Betty Weresch ...

Dear Friends,
Please pray for the Family and Churches led by Pastor Arthur Suleimanov. Pastor Arthur, as we called him, has been murdered in front of his Home this morning.

Betty and I are deeply moved by this tragedy. I spent some time with Arthur during my visit in Sochi last spring. We were praising God for the great work he and his congregation were doing in the North Caucasus region of Dagestan.

Arthur was one of the pastors that was successfully reaching the people of this region with the Gospel of Christ. It is always a great loss when we see a great witness like that of Pastor Arthur silenced, however we are comforted with the words out of the letter to the Hebrew Christians (Heb. 11:4) "…he (Abel) being dead yet speaketh..."

Pastor Arthur has gone to be with the Lord and he is rejoicing in his presence, now it is we who need to pick up the challenge and redouble our efforts to proclaim the Gospel of Grace and peace to our World, a word that is filled with hatred bigotry and strife.

We will continue to prayerfully support the churches in the North Caucasus, please pray for us as we minister to the Church leadership of this troubled part of the world.
Betty and Paul

As officials attempt to identify the murderer, we must remember the words of Jesus who prophesied to the Church in Matthew 24:9: "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake."

We are not to be loved and accepted by the world, if we are then we are not loving God in the correct manner. Jesus said " Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets." (Luke 6:26).

As we mourn the passing of another of Christ’s soldiers, let us also be encouraged by the fact that Christ is with us … providing the strength to carry on … delivering the Good News to a broken world.

Larry Abele – Editorial Team