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Below are two updates from Chita. The first is from Wayne Wilson and the second from Andrei Protasov (Translated by Olya). Andrei is the regional pastor of the Chita Oblast and the newly installed pastor of the Antioch Baptist church of Chita.
Enjoy, John
Keeping praying!!!
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Hi John,
Well, today went pretty well. We burned through much of the syllabus today. I could only persuade 6 students to preach tomorrow. Too scared to try so soon I guess. I'm a little worried about having enough to do since the reluctance to jump in and preach is so strong. On a better note, I gave them a problem passage as an example of the kind of thing one runs into preaching expositionally. Not really a problem passage, but one difficult to preach. They came up with some good ideas. My goal was to show them it can be done...just takes some thought. It's there for a reason.
After class, one student (Eugene, the student leader) gave a personal testimony regarding how profoundly Leroy's Romans class changed his preaching. He now preaches verse by verse, and no longer fears finding a topic. The issue of confronting problem passages just makes him work harder. A very good man! Another student also testified in class how his legalistic approach to many things was erased by Leroy's class as well. "I used to be like that" he said of judging others by a list of his pet rules.
"What changed you?" I asked. "That class we had on Romans," he said!
Pray for the best use of our time, and a bit more courage!
Wayne
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Dear John,
yes, I enjoy translating for Wayne. Students like him very much. Tomorrow brothers will start preaching. Could you pleae mention me in your prayers. I do not do well translating into English. Today some students shared that the last session influenced them greatly. One student says he has started to preach expository sermons after Leroy's testiomony. Another student says study of the book of Romans changed his thinking and preaching because before it when he was preaching about faith he would also put much emphasis to works.
Andrew asked me to translate a leter to you. it was before I got your letter. So in this letter he doesn't answer your questions. I will translate your letter to him tomorrow. here is his letter.
Greetings to you, dear brother John.
I want to thank you and all the members of the Antioch Initiative for your prayers and your help.
I know we are not able to say you thank you for everything you are doing for us because we do not know everything. But God does. He sees every hidden good work and will reward you for your love and your hearts opened for us.
Recently there were several joyful events in my life. I have finished the Moscow Bible Seminary and got a diploma. And one more thing - my wife gave a birth to our son, Mark. Thank you for your care about my family.
Today we have started a new session of the Bible school. Brother Wayne has come. We are praying that this class to be fruitful. We are also praying that God sent new missionaries for ministry. I think that Bible training is able to equip those who have a heart for preaching gospel. We have two sessions left but I think it would be good to continue the work of education. We could also participate in teaching because now we have four brothers in Zabaikalie who have theological education. We thank you for the literature you sent. We got the books "Back to the expository preaching".
Last week I met Robert Provost in Moscow. We had a short but a very good meeting.
I think it will be good if a future teacher would come not only for the session but also could spend some additional time after teaching to travel and visit the churches and to meet believers and ministers. It would be helpful for our partnership.
May God bless you and keep you from evil.
Brother Andre Protasov.
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