CHRISTMAS 2005
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Luke 2:14
These were the words the angels proclaimed in the skies of Bethlehem the night that Christ was born. God's favor rests upon men, for he has graciously sent his Son into the world to save us from sin.
And Rebecca and I have said it many times before and we'll say it again. We are always aware of and humbled by God's great favor that seems to have always been upon us and upon this church-planting ministry for all these years we've been in Russia. Time and time again, we've seen the miracles of his activity in our own lives and the lives of Russians.
Not that everything is easy here. Russia remains one of the most non-Christian and non-religious nations on earth. Even after 11 years here, the spiritual blindness and apathy still amazes me. I see more and more what I believe is one of the greatest effects of Communism. It's materialism. For Communism was basically a religion of materialism. The material world is all that exists and thus most view success or a good life by how much money and material possessions they have.
Another unique phenomenon of Russia is people living only for the present. Because of a seemingly hopelessly corrupt political, social, and legal structure here, it is extremely difficult for people to have confidence in the future. Most people here live only for the moment.
These two phenomena are hard soil for the Gospel, which is basically a message of spiritual wealth and of hope in the future. But we continue to reach out in love with it, and one by one, people do respond. We are grateful to God for the privilege he has given us to serve his people here. We are grateful to you for your love, prayers, and financial support.
Below are some special events we have had here in the second part of this year, as well as some of our usual events, plus a couple of testimonies, and future plans and hopes. I highlighted some areas in which we covet your prayers. If it is possible for you to cut and paste these prayer requests to a place where you can be regularly reminded of them and lift them up to our Lord, we would be most grateful and encouraged.
SUMMER CHRISTIAN CAMP
As we do each year, our church participates in a series of Christian camps with one or two other Calvary Chapels in Russia. What was particularly noteworthy this year was the fact that three young women from our church were involved in serving in the camps as leaders, teachers, and workers. And the camp director told me how well they served.
July 2005....Some of those who participated in a Calvary Chapel family camp near Moscow
This is so encouraging to me, as one of the things we try to always do here is to find ways for the mostly college-age members of our church to serve the Lord. This greatly helps to keep to their mind off of themselves and their own problems and to focus it rather upon Christ and others.
However, there is a new challenge facing many of them at this time. Many have taken on regular secular jobs this year for the first time in their lives in order to earn money. In addition to the temptations of extra money in their hands, they often don't have as much time anymore for church and the Lord's service.
PLEASE PRAY for the Christian young people in our church here who are now often busy in secular jobs...that they would not lose their faith. We have seen this unfortunate phenomenon occur all too often here as a young person enters into the adult activities of life, he sometimes leaves the Christ of his youth behind.
MONDAY NIGHT ENGLISH CLASS
We conduct weekly free English classes in which we teach a Bible story in simple English. This is almost like a second church here in a sense, as a mostly entirely different group of people than our church attend these classes in order to learn English. Well they do learn English, and they get the Gospel as well.
November 2005....Rebecca teaching Monday night English class at church
PLEASE PRAY for these mostly unchurched people. It is probably the only Word of God they ever hear, albeit in English.
OUR CHRISTIAN ROCK BAND
We've been developing a Christian rock band to use to minister to believers and evangelize young people. We've had several concerts this year, and they've done well. But we've discovered this is not an easy thing to do at all. There have been personnel changes and it requires a lot of time and effort to practice, something we don't always have.
November 25, 2005....Our band performing at church during our Thanksgiving celebration
PLEASE PRAY for our band, that God would bless their efforts and use them for his glory.
TESTIMONIES
"I had been wondering about the reason for life. I started to fear death. Once my friend invited me to a concert at the church. I listened to the songs and felt joy and peace. I used to pray a little in the past but knew very little about God. I came to the church and people witnessed to me there. I started to really believe in God. Once I went back into the world for about two weeks, but then came back to Christ forever. I now sing in the worship and in the band and I like it a lot."
Masha Ivasutik
"A friend invited me to this church and I liked it a lot and began to believe. But after a short time, I had great difficulty getting along with other believers in the church. It was very hard, but God began to teach me patience. As time went by, I began to get along well with people and was even able to help them. Last year, I met a young man at the church who is now my husband. We also now have a newborn son. God has greatly blessed my life."
Olicia Uskova
FUTURE PLANS AND HOPES
We've been seeking and praying for a long time to start another church in a nearby large city. But as of yet, several factors have delayed this plan. We will wait for the Lord's timing and enabling. Hopefully soon.
We are also praying that an American group can visit Tambov in 2006, like has happened in the past. It would be very beneficial to us.
November 2005....Curran family: Ray, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Dara, little Ray, baby Robert
Again, thank you so much for your interest and support of this ministry. May you rejoice in and enjoy the favor and peace that Christ brings into our lives this Christmas season and always.
Merry Christmas from the Currans in Tambov, Russia!
Ray Curran
12/06/05
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Russian home address:
392000, Russia
Tambov
Proletarskaya St., 189
apt. 29
Raymond Curran
e-mail: rcurran@pub.tmb.ru or rcurran@mail.ru
phone/fax: 0117-0752-71-90-83
