Again and again and again ...

This morning I received an urgent email from Paul …

Pray for Russia and for Olga’s safety.
Olga has served us as a fantastic Interpreter for more than 12 years, she is to arrive in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Jan 24 for a two month stay to polish up her English.

A deadly blast at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport has disturbed us and we ask you to pray for Russia. At least 35 people have been killed and nearly 200 wounded in an explosion at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport according to the Russian Health Ministry. An Investigative Committee believes it to be a terror attack.

I just talked to Sasha our faithful coworker in Moscow, and he too asks you to pray for their country. Pray for the Caucasus … the region that we have been working in for the past 12 years. Caucasus is the region the security forces suspect the Suicide Bomber to from.

Pray for the Churches and their leadership in this vast region that includes Sochi, Vladikavkaz and Chechnya.

Paul Weresch

How ironic that the Pastor of our church preached a sermon just yesterday concerning the story of Noah and God’s destruction of his creation.

Sin had reached a point where the Creator could not tolerate the actions of His creation. He provided the provision of an ark to save any who would repent. When it floated away, it contained one family.

Twice again, the Bible reports the power of God’s wrath falling on a sinning people. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed with, again, very few taking advantage of the provision provided. Ninevah also fell under the wrath of God. However, the story was vastly different because the entire city took advantage of the provision provided and repented of their sin.

It’s been said that "He who forgets history is condemned to repeat it." Have we forgotten … or do we completely ignore God’s history of hating sin as read in the Bible?

Are we doomed to repeat it? The answer is a resounding, YES! However, as before, God has provided a provision for all who will accept it. Our Jonah … our ark … the provision provided for us … is Jesus Christ.

Will you be like the people of Noah’s day? Will you be one of those lost in Sodom? Or will you repent like the people of Ninevah?

Everyday the news contains proof that the human race has become the people of Romans 1:25 .... exchanging the truth of God for a lie, and worshiping and serving created things rather than the Creator.

My friends … it is time! It is time to repent, believe and accept Jesus Christ, who has been given to you as the ARK … the provision for your salvation.

I beg you … get on board!

Larry Abele, editorial team

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

Greetings from Sochi, Russia

Paul and Betty Weresch have just returned to their home from Europe. I had a wonderful time translating and assisting in their ministry. It was a privilege to be his translator and a blessing to participate in the Bible seminars conducted for the churches of Sochi, Russia.

God has been speaking much to me and my friends. We have learned so much these days. As you probably know the Winter Olympic Games in 2014 will be held in Sochi and together with Paul we are dreaming about having all of Sochi evangelized during the games. Now is a good time to start sharing the vision with believers in the city.

Please pray for Churches of Sochi to catch the vision and to partner together in this great venture!

Alexander Shein, Editorial Team