Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We wanted to update you in with what God has been doing at the church here in Tambov, Russia this summer. First of all, we had another baptism in June at a local reservoir. There were only 4 people this time, but they were as thrilled as any newly baptized people usually are. We will likely soon have another larger baptism here, as you will see as you read on.

Also in June, our two new staff members arrived from Moscow. They are the newlyweds: Andrei and Rita Antonov, who came to live with us only a week after their wedding. Their servant attitude was immediately apparent as they helped in any way they could around the house while we looked for an apartment for them. They led a street evangelism group on Saturdays and it turned out Andrei even had a driver's license and could drive Ray's van with all the street outreach equipment while Ray could stay home on Saturday and write his sermon for Sunday!

Andrei had some experience doing the sound for the church worship and it was wonderful to have someone constantly regulating the microphones and guitars instead of hearing after the worship that one of the singers could not be heard at all. Rita can play the drum and now the worship has the added effect of a drum on the fast songs or to build up the excitement of the chorus on a song.

Probably the best thing about Andrei and Rita is that they find niches and fill them without us having to say anything and when we do ask them to do something, they simply nod their head and do it immediately, taking care of any problems they may encounter themselves.

They immediately made friends with the church members and especially paid attention to any newcomers. Rita showed any interested girls how to play the drum and began discipling a girl who had just become a Christian. During the English class, she sat on the grass with some girls that just came to "hang out" and just talked to them and got to know them. Andrei talked among a circle of young men about God and helped with any equipment. It's wonderful to have people so self-motivated and eager to help in the way we need it.

Andrei and Rita were indispensable in helping to make arrangements for the two American groups that planned to come here this summer. They booked a concert hall and spoke with officials and had forms filled out. At the time, Ray and I were in Latvia for two weeks getting our Russian visas renewed.

As I said, we had two American groups visit us this summer. One was a group from Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa that was only here for just two days, but did a really neat men's and women's seminar for our church complete with sandwiches and gifts. Our people thoroughly enjoyed it and many new girls came to the church as a result.

The next group was a large one from Calvary Chapels of Ramona and Palm Springs, CA. This was their second visit to Tambov. They brought with them their own Christian rock band and a Russian Christian band from Moscow joined them to do five straight nights of concerts. The days were filled with street evangelism and the nights were filled with concerts. Pastor Rob Hubbard from CC Ramona and CCCPM director George Bryson took turns preaching short messages between songs. There were also skits with Christian messages during the concerts. By the last concert, there were many friendships built between the Americans, Russian Christians, and the steady attendees of the concerts whom we got to know, some from all different backgrounds but very much in need of Christ's salvation. We were delighted to see many of these new people visit our church and learn more about Jesus! What a thrill!

August 6, 2002.....Christian rock group 'Citylight' from Calvary Chapel Ramona, CA

August 6, 2002.....members of Calvary Chapel Palm Springs performing evangelistic drama

Some members our church had adopted "American mothers" in the group whom they spent all their time with and whom they had bonded with the year before. They had written letters to them all during the year until their reunion again this summer.

There were tears when the group finally left on the train with the Russians waving good bye to their beloved American brothers and sisters in Christ until the train passed out of sight.

Now we begin the happy work of teaching the new people from the concerts about Christ. Our church members are very happy to welcome them. They are a very evangelistic group.

During the first year and a half of our church, we have seen at least 4 people learn to play the guitar from scratch and now two of them can even prepare and lead worship, two can lead home Bible studies, and two have already gone to Bible College. A third one is going in September, Alexei, who is a born leader and can lead home Bible studies, lead worship, and direct dramas. Alexei burns with enthusiasm and love for his Christian brothers and for those who don't know Christ. We hate to lose him, but he really wants to go to the college to study the Bible full time.

Vova and Ella will be in their second year at college. After they graduate, they will perhaps go on to help a church just as Andrei and Rita now help us. Vova would like to be a missionary. Sasha, Vova's brother, is making such fast progress on the guitar he only started playing recently that he will probably soon be in the worship group him to take the place of the ones we lost to the Bible College.

It is hard to believe that our church is bearing so much fruit. I can only say that it is God's plan that the church of Tambov would be a very fruitful church. I don't know how God considers Ray and I to be worthy to be involved in this. It just shows how God can use the utterly simple things of this world. He could use you too!

Speaking of fruit, I, Rebecca am pregnant again. As you remember, I had a miscarriage last January after being pregnant for a month and a half. Now I am pregnant again for about a month and a half. I am so happy and am praying that this baby will come to full maturity and be meant for earth and not just for Heaven. Please pray for the little life that is growing inside of me.

With Andrei and Rita, we can expand our ministry to include Bible studies exclusively for women and exclusively for men taught by Andrei and Rita themselves so that our young people might learn the Christian way of dressing and acting toward each other. We can now have a prayer night dedicated just for worshiping and thanking God and we can again organize a "Christian café" ministry after we raise up some more musicians.

Andrei and Rita are a big asset. With the added expenses of our growing family and the need to plan to fly to the United States to give birth to a new baby next April, we are seeking to raise an additional $175. support per month to defer Andrei and Rita's cost of living here. If you or your church would like to sponsor this dynamic couple, it would be a real blessing to us from God. They are worth every cent.

Well, pray for the new believers and inquiring people that have started coming to our church. At this critical moment, Satan would love to snatch them away from the love of God and keep them as his own. But we want these people to be part of God's family and to be our own brothers and sisters in Christ and to know the salvation and love of Christ. Please pray for them. Pray for us that we will be good examples for the new Christians and that we would please God every day by our work and attitude.

August 7, 2002 at the train station.....the Currans: Ray, Rebecca, Elizabeth, little Ray, and Dara

God bless you all! Thanks so much for your prayers and support.

With love,
Rebecca Curran
8/19/02

Russian home address:
392000, Russia
Tambov
Proletarskaya St.,189
apt. 29
Ray Curran

phone/fax: 0117-0752-71-90-83

e-mail: rcurran@mail.ru or rcurran@pub.tmb.ru