SPRING 2005

Hello again from the Curran family in Tambov, Russia...Ray, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Dara, little Ray, and Bobby.

If there's a word that's on my mind at this time as a pastor in Russia, it's the word: COMMITMENT. That's the theme, in a sense, of this newsletter. As you know, the majority of our church consists of college-age young people. Their energy and enthusiasm for Christ is inspiring, but they often do go through emotional and spiritual ups and downs, especially when faced with the incredible trials and temptations of life in modern-day Russia. We emphasize the point that Christianity is a commitment for life to God himself. And the trials are often necessary for the building of our faith.

This understanding of the commitment involved in true Christianity really came home to me during a recent water baptism we had. There was about 7 people who in the past half year or more became regular church attendees and expressed a genuine conversion to faith in Christ and many of them even expressed to me a desire to get baptized. However, when I finally arranged for a baptism in April, only 2 of them were willing to actually be baptized. The others expressed that they weren't yet ready, or that their parents forbid them to be baptized.

At first, I was a bit perplexed by this. If they believe as they say they do, what keeps them from being baptized? And why would parents not object so much to their kids attending our church, or expressing belief in Christ, but suddenly become very strongly opposed if they decided to get baptized? I then realized that most Russians have a far higher view of baptism than I myself was used to. While not everything they believe about baptism is necessarily correct, there is one thing I believe they properly understand: that baptism means they are now fully committed to Christ. That is, there is now no turning back to the old life. 

You see, to most Russians, people's words don't mean much. This is a land of incredible deception and two-facedness. It's people's actions that express the true faith in their heart. This is truly expressed in baptism. I think I understand more now why the Lord instituted this ordinance.


April 27, 2005....Masha and Natasha (who are both about to be baptized) along with Ray and asst. pastor Andrei

One of the young women that was baptized, Natasha Trifonova, was actually forbidden by her parents to be baptized or even attend our church. They threatened to cut off her support for college if she did. But she nevertheless insisted to me that she wanted to be baptized. She understood this commitment. Jesus was truly more important to her than anything else. And she showed it not just in words but in concrete actions. I was deeply touched by her faith. May God bless her!


Natasha Trifonova

In April, I also had the privilege of performing a wedding for the first time in Russia as a pastor. Dima and Olicia are a young couple that met each other at our church. This event was especially meaningful to me because of the situation of marriage and the family in Russia. I believe most American would be shocked at the rate of divorce, adultery, living together, wife and child abuse, abortion, and abandonment that goes on here. This country is dying in so many ways before our very eyes. So when I see the celebration of a new Christian family as I did at the wedding, I'm greatly encouraged. At the ceremony, I stressed to Dima and Olicia the importance of this being a commitment for life.


April 22, 2005....Dima and Olicia of CC Tambov getting married

The end of January, many of our men were able to go to a Calvary Chapel men's conference in Moscow. It's very good for them to meet other Russian believers from other Calvary Chapels in Russia.

January 27, 2005....some men from CC Tambov at Moscow men's conference

In February, many of our women also went to a Calvary Chapel women's conference in Moscow as well. They really liked it.


February 17, 2005....some women from CC Tambov with American Christian singer Sherry Youngword at Moscow conference

As many of you know, we faced a bit of a disruption in February when we were forced out of the building we had been renting for church. We were a little over a month without a place to meet, and it was a difficult time. But at the end of March, the Lord provided a new good place for us to meet in, and we are very grateful to him for it. 

It is during times like the one we had recently with no church building that mine and Rebecca's own commitment as missionaries to Russia is tested. We've been serving in Russia over 10 years. In that time there have been many trials, mainly the constant attempts by various forces to shut down our work and have us leave the country. But we almost never write about these things in these newsletters because the great things the Lord has done in the church here have so greatly overshadowed them. 

And that's what it's all about. The Lord is always at work in us and in others, no matter the situation. So let's all remain committed to the Lord forever, for he is faithful, and worthy, and has shown that he is committed to us.

Finally, as a husband, I want to honor my wife Rebecca for her own commitment to the Lord, to the ministry here, to her marriage, and to her family. It was Rebecca that first encouraged me to come to Russia. I would not be here and would not have been able to do so much here without her. She's a great cook and homemaker, a loving mother of four young children whom she homeschools, as well as a teacher of Bible studies and English classes in the church. 


April 22, 2005....Rebecca and Ray with baby Robert (2 years old)

And the Lord continues to bless our family as Rebecca is now expecting our 5th child, due the end of October of this year. 

Thank you all once again for all you do. Thank you for your commitment to this ministry, for your prayers, your love, and your financial support. We love you and look forward to seeing you this Fall when we finally come back to the States for a couple months to have a new baby. Please continue to pray for us.

With much love in Christ,

Ray Curran 
5/10/05

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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