Hello from Tambov, Russia, this time just from Ray. Presently, Rebecca and the kids are in southern California as Rebecca waits to give birth there to our 4th child, a boy, around the beginning of April. I will travel to California to be with them on March 29th. After visiting churches there and in Portland, Oregon, we all plan to return to Tambov, Russia again with the new baby on May 12th.

I know we say it every time, but it's such a joy and privilege to serve the Lord in this Russian church-planting ministry. We thank the Lord for providing all that we have ever needed in the almost 9 years altogether that we've been in Russia. We thank many of you too for your great faithfulness and generosity over the years. You have greatly encouraged and enabled us.

The ministry this past winter here has been very fruitful. Since the majority of our church is college-age young people, it's important to keep them busy together in godly activities and away from the various temptations of their age. Russia doesn't have much at all in the way of sports programs or positive extra-curricular activities for students. Most people engage their time in one form of destructive behavior or another. It's a tragedy really. The country is dying in many ways. We still see the legacy of a society that excluded God from their thinking for so long.

But we always have hope because Jesus promised to build his church until he returns. And he's built it a lot in Russia for the past 10 years. There are now many Calvary Chapels here. With the expository teaching of God's Word and contemporary worship, we have a unique place and style here that attract many that are not being reached by more traditional Russian churches.

One of the activities the church members like to do is regularly perform evangelistic skits and dramas. They are so creative and are great actors and actresses.

In this skit, we put the television set "on trial"

On Christmas night, Dec. 25th, they performed a 16 member cast, multi-act Christmas drama and pageant complete with costumes and music in the background. I myself was very impressed. They put a lot of time and effort into it and it came out very well. Many people came to the church to see the play and liked it a lot.

Scene from Christmas play of king Herod and his court

Scene from Christmas play of birth of Jesus

Just two weeks ago, we started doing our Christian "cafe" ministry again. We call it "The Safe Harbor". It's a night that members can invite friends and gather and listen to live Christian music, see skits, eat free pizza, and otherwise be introduced to Jesus Christ and our church. We say it's a "safe harbor" from the worldly activities going on that night.

People gathering on cafe night

The church members also minister regularly at an orphanage. In all these things, they not only evangelize and minister to others, but they grow closer to each other and truly form a "koinonia" community. This is very important to maintain their faith.

The church is growing well. We have the privilege of seeing people go from skepticism about Christ to great faith and love for him and knowledge of his Word. This experience is priceless!

We plan a lot of things in the Spring when we return here, including another baptism.

So as we're in the States, we ask you to please continue to pray for us and the church here.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:
* Rebecca's health and that of our new baby boy soon to be born.
* A good time of rest in the States for the Curran family. We really can use it.
* Volodya Kuznyetzov, who will pastor here in Tambov in my absence.
* NEW DEVELOPMENT! I was just informed that the building we meet in for church has been sold. We can no longer meet there for services. Fortunately, the old owner has provided for us a large room in a nearby store she owns, but it's only temporary, and it's not nearly large enough to meet our needs anyway.
The situation is, it's very difficult to find an adequate hall for church services in this city. Not only are virtually none available to
rent, but they also usually refuse to rent at all to a church.

So here's a situation that only God can solve. It's also coming just a few weeks before I leave here.

So we earnestly covet your prayers in this regard.

Thank you very much and may you enjoy the love of Jesus Christ in your life. We very much look forward to seeing you in April and early May.

Ray Curran
3/11/03

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

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

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