Dear Friends ...

Praise the Lord, Olga arrived well and Joyful.

It was a great privilege for Betty and I to welcome Olga at the Vancouver International airport. It was a privilege to take some time last night and share our appreciation for goodness of God.

Before we "tucked" her into bed, we took some time to pray again for Russia, for President Dmitri Medwedjew, Prime-minister Vladimir Putin. Now we ask you continue to pray with us for this great Country and its diverse and needy People.

Humanly speaking there is no quick solution to the many problems Russia is facing. The unrest will continue; the many ..."Stans" in the Russian Federation; Kazakstans, Kyrgizstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Chechnya will not rest until they have separated and brought in the Sharia Law. Part of the reason for the great strides the extremist are making in the advancement of terrorism are unemployment and poverty.

Please pray for this region, for a unstable Russian Federation is a problem for the entire world.

And let us not forget to pray for North America and Central Europe, where shareholder profit and greed have become the driving force, where the needs of people are disregarded and Life itself has become a commodity.

Please pray for the Christian Church that it may rise to the occasion and proclaim the "good news" to the poor while standing up for Justice and living lifestyles that will reflect the love, grace, and holiness of God.

Please pray.....
Paul

letstalkpw@gmail.com

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

A Letter From The Weresch's ...

Paul and Betty Weresch have been ministering in Europe since September 23rd. They have visited churches in Norway, then on to Russia and now are in Poland. Let me share their recent letter with you.

Greetings from two European travelers …

We had a very interesting time in Sochi and Adler Russia. The services were great. There was a very good spirit in all the services.

A highlight one evening was an 84 year old war veteran who received Christ as his Saviour We just wish you could have been with us to experience the wonderful time of worship and the way the people responded to the messages. The people were very excited to have us come to minister to them.

One Saturday (our free day) the pastor and his wife took us for a tour into the mountains. First we visited a tea plantation. It is the first one in Russia. We were shown around and then had tea and light lunch at the tea house. From there a 4 wheel vehicle picked us up and took us to a rehab center which is also a summer camp for children. The camp is being built in very rugged terrain but has good potential, however right now it is still very primitive. There is no running water or utilities of any kind.

While there we had a meeting with the rehab people. Their testimonies were most interesting. The leader of the group is a former drug addict that has been free for 5 years. He has taken Bible school by correspondence. What beautiful young lives that now have been free and redeemed by Jesus.

On Sunday we had a wonderful service in Sochi. They church was packed. Then we were taken out to a Georgian restaurant. It was a beautiful place. We dined in the loft of the building. The food was served with flair. Wish you could have been with us for it was very interesting.

After a very long traveling day on Monday we arrived in Poland at 4:00 AM Tuesday. We had flown to Berlin and there were picked up by the pastor's son at 11:30 P.M. Then we had a 4 hour drive to Dzierzoniow, Poland. After a few hours of sleep we are fine.

The weather here is the opposite from Sochi. It is cold, windy and
raining. Some parts of Poland had an early snow. On this trip we have learned to just take it as it comes. In November we will be returning to Canada.

God bless you
Betty and Paul Weresch

Continue to pray for Paul and Betty as they continue their mnistry in Poland.

Larry Abele - Editorial Team

Ten Years and Counting ...

This blog, “Let’s Talk …” isn’t the only communication medium the Weresch’s use to further the spread of the Good News. Recently a website “Paul Weresch Online” has been launched. Also, a newsletter has been going to a mailing list that includes supporters in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Ten years ago this month, after returning from a four day visit with the Weresch’s in Germany, I designed and published the first newsletter showcasing how God has used them through the last several decades. They took me on a whirlwind visit through the territory they had ministered in during the cold war … delivering Bibles, money and medicine behind the Iron Curtain to believers in Eastern Europe ... laboring obediently with a price on their heads. At that time, the mentoring that had begun six years before in Tacoma, Washington came to full bloom and I was sold out to this couple, who through every obstacle had been obedient to the Lord.

Between the periods … Spring 1999 and Spring 2009, Paul’s supporters have received 21 issues of “Der Bote” which loosely translated means “The Messenger” in German.

The Spring 1999 issue was the first time the Weresch’s had more than a single typewritten page for their newsletter, so they provided material for one page … the front … and kindly let me ramble on for three more about our travels during my visit along with a few of the hundreds of pictures taken.

It has been a delight to put together these missals for ten years … a labor of love … love for our Lord and love for Paul and Betty Weresch. After much prodding, we have found a way to link them to this blog and they are available by touching any of the dates in the column to the upper right. You will have access to the very first issue as well as the last three. Possibly, if they are enjoyed by you, the frequent reader, we will prepare and upload all 21.

I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed creating them.

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

Alleluia - Alleluia - He Is Risen!

What a wonderful thing happened that day when our Jesus was resurrected! It is the defining event of our faith … the power over death. A new beginning … how fitting that we should celebrate His resurrection in spring … a time of new life!

I will remember Easter forever, because it was on that day, 16 years ago that I became a new man … was given a new heart and a share of that great event … resurrection. That was the day I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart.

Two things have happened this week that has had me musing about that glorious event. Although my mother had gone to heaven a decade before, my father – a wonderful Christian man – enjoyed the last eight years of his life with me, his born-again son. I could see the joy shining from his heart as we would talk about the Lord we shared. I will see them both again in heaven because that is what resurrection is all about.

The first thing that happened this week was the posting by my friend Alexander (Sasha) Shein of the video right under this posting. You should stop reading for a moment, go down a few inches and take a couple minutes to see this young boy talk about his father.

The second thing that happened was during my weekly phone conversation with Paul Weresch.

Paul and Betty have been in Germany, Poland and Russia … revisiting churches they have planted. It has been a glorious few weeks with the Lord blessing them greatly. They are so very thankful for that. However, the thing Paul wanted to talk to me about was a note from one of his sons, Jonathan. He and his wife Jen have been moved by the Lord to build some houses in El Salvador this summer with Habitat for Humanity. You could hear the joy in Paul’s voice as he spoke to me about his Godly son.

You see, all of Paul and Betty’s sons are serving the Lord. And, with all the joys and success the Lord has given the Weresch’s by His grace … the greatest is that they are witnessing God work in the lives of their children.

It is simple … Jesus Christ died for us and was resurrected … He asks us to remember that and believe … then pass it on to our children.

If the little boy in Sasha’s video clip sees a father who loves God with all his heart and shows it, he will follow in his father’s footsteps. And, the father will experience great joy, just as my father did, just as Paul and Betty did, just as you can if you pass that love on to your sons and daughters.

And, my dear friends, our great Father in heaven will also experience great joy and know … it was worth it!

Happy Easter!

Larry Abele - Editorial Team

"I Can Do All Things ..."

Paul and Betty Weresch are on a mission trip to Germany, Poland and Russia, visiting churches they have planted in the past several decades of ministering to that area. They will wind up their trip the middle of April visiting Sochi, Russia, a city that hopes to host the Olympics in 2014.

Meanwhile, back in their home town of Vancouver, BC, the preparations are reaching a feverish pitch as that city readies for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Imagine, a city filled with hundreds of teens and young adults who follow wholeheartedly their particular sporting endeavor.

Many of those young people follow the Lord wholeheartedly as well. Laura Wilkinson, two-time Olympian gold medallist in platform diving, is one of those young people who did just that. She says on her web page that her favorite saying was a Bible verse:  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13. She said she loves that verse because, “I know whatever challenge I face in life, Jesus will lead me through it.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all the Olympians felt the same way as Laura does?

Karen Reed of Vancouver, believes it would be wonderful and is doing something about it. Having served for 21 years in pastoral ministry at Broadway Church, Karen is the Chief Executive Officer of More Than Gold, an organization that is reaching out for Christ during the Olympic games in Vancouver. You can learn more or participate by clicking on the link supplied to the lower right on this page. As you will see on their web page, they asked the question, “What is to be our response as a Christian community?”

They believe transformation is possible and that networks are the best way to bring about change. More Than Gold supplies that network. They feel this could be a 'tipping point' for significant advancement of the kingdom of God.

We feel the same way. Karen and her organization is doing what Jesus asked each and every one of us to do as written in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”

It took Jesus’ followers at that time awhile to understand the good news and what all the world meant, but as the Holy Spirit opened their hearts and minds, they began to go. Was the world prepared for them and their life-changing message? The answer is a resounding yes! And … it is still yes today!

God had a specific strategy in mind for sending his message of salvation to the world. In Romans 1:16, Paul summarized it in this way: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes …”.

Are you a bit timid … do you wonder how you can make an impact … do you need that power that Jesus’ followers needed to get started? Just remember what Laura Wilkinson knows is for you to know as well …“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Larry Abele - Editorial Team

A Letter from my dear wife, Betty

Dear Friends,

May God’s blessing and guidance accompany you throughout this New Year 2009.

Just being into the third week of the year much has happened, we have seen the overwhelming crowd of people weeping and rejoicing while witnessing the inauguration of the New President of the United States.

Then in the other side of the World we saw the pictures of people in utter despair seeing their loved ones die and their home destroyed by war in Gaza. The future is unknown to all of us, will be rejoicing or shedding tears of grieve?

While we live from day to day in this New Year may our life not be like a monopoly game where we strive to be the winner and then take it all, only to realize that our life (like in the game) when over, all is put into the box. We have no more than all others.

May we realize that today Life is an opportunity given to us by God to SHARE our resources whether they are physical, mental, spiritual and monetary. Great examples in this life are Jimmy Carter and the many volunteers building the Habitat houses for the poor. Then there are also the many community and church volunteers. Let us, you and I, join these people.

“Therefore as we have opportunity, let us Do Good to All people”    Galatians 6:10.

Paul and I are looking forward to our ministry in Europe this year. In March and April we plan to be in Germany, Poland and Russia. We will be focused on teaching the Word to the pastors, leaders and congregations. We thank you for making this ministry possible through your prayers and financial support.

Here are exerts from a letter meant for all our donors who make this possible; received from Bible school students whom we are supporting:

“Dear Paul,
Thank you for your support in our studying at the Bible school. All of the sessions are a great opportunity to be grounded in the Word and prepare us for service. These studies are made much easier by the support you give us. We are so grateful to you for these blessings. Best wishes from; Lukasz, Marek, Jarek and Bartek”

God bless you

Paul and Betty Weresch

Our friend Alexander Shein, the pastor from Moscow, Russia visited us in Dzierzionow, Poland. This was Sasha's first visit to Poland and it proved to be most profitable for all of us. Pastor Shein preached to an audience gathered in tree-mast tent on the subject of the importance of making the right investments in our lives. These investments were not to be limited to finances only but include time and talents which in the final analyses means the investment of our lives; his message was well received.

In addition to his preaching, Sasha helped us greatly with our IT work and with development of this Blog. Tomorrow our friend is leaving for Moscow. We, who are remaining in Poland already, miss him, who is such a multitasking talent. Bon Voyage, mon frere!

Paul Weresch