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Evangelism in Russia,
Evangelism is our Main Goal
by Natalya Kovalchuk
One of the core tasks for us as Christians is described in the Gospel
of Matthew 28:19-20. Among the various methods of evangelism are
private and public evangelism. Both these methods women are using in
our ministry. In the city of Volgograd at Christmas time there was the
drama "He came as a Stranger”. We prayed for its preparation and
implementation for three months. We distributed invitations to families
and friends. At the performance, ultimately, were about 300
non-believers. Now for them we have open Bible Courses.
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In December
2010, the celebration of the 130th anniversary of the Church of
Evangelical Christian-Baptists in Tsaritsyn took place. (Tsarina used
to be the name of our city, which was preceded lately by Stalingrad and
Volgograd). To the celebration we invited our friends and were glad
that many of them attended. At this celebration were stands depicting
the life of yesterday and today of the Baptist churches in our city.
There were shown listening slides about the history of the
Christian-Baptists. Finally there was a wonderful concert of Christian
songs. Our women were involved in its preparation and performance.
We
will never appreciate the love of Christ, if we do not see it on the
background of His forgiveness. "We love Him because He first loved us"
- 1 John. 4:19. Of course, our personal testimonies are as a powerful
tool in evangelism. The success of evangelism is measured by the number
of those we helped, who heard and accepted the Gospel, and who came to
God and became a member of the church. We can also add that in our
local Training Center we have students who live in the outback. They
testify to Christ by the way they live their lives, using the
„evangelism of presence' method. About myself I would like to say that
I use my computer to do outreach and carry on correspondence with
people whom I meet on the Internet. I would like to give some personal
testimonies of our sisters.
Irina Ananyeva: At my work I often have talks with the girls about God,
because many of them know that I go to church. But the spiritual
questions do not always arise. We talk about problems and our
conversation sometimes takes a religious route. My neighbours talk
about God. We invite them to concerts, to watch the film "Jesus". As
soon as I came to believe, I started to read, to study and understand
the Bible. Most of the girls' parents forbade them to talk with me, but
now they can decide with whom to communicate. Recently I met with one
of them, and she asked me: "Do you still go to church?" - "Yes" I
replied. So we began to talk about Christ again. I invit-ed her to
watch “Jesus" film and join discussions afterwards. Again I met her and
asked: "Well, how was the film and how did you like it?” Her answer was
positive. She even invited her mother. Her mother enjoyed it too;
although before, she did not want even to listen about God. That's how
it is now!
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From time to time I talk with ladies walking with the
children, next to me; I try to have a conversation about God.
Sometimes, I do not know where to start, and then it happens that I
share my own conversation in testimony. Not immediately a slap in the
face, it all depends on the circumstances. Not so often I have the
opportunity to testify. My husband bears witness in our courtyard to
many people who drink and are drug addicts; he shows Christ and invites
them to church. But sin keeps them firmly. And so far none of them have
gone to church, although many had promised to come and hear the Word of
God.
Victoria
Dovzhenko: In Volzhskiy there was a festival of Christian culture
following the film "Jesus." It was organized by the mission New Life
and the Church of Evangelical Christian-Baptists. We prepared for this
project for more than two years. There were five levels of training for
all church members who wanted to participate in the event. On October
15, 2010 we started the showing of the movie in the cinemas in our
town, and it finished with a gala concert on 13 and 14 of November.
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Our
church has donated money for this project and continues to donate to
this very day. At the entrance our women handed out questionnaires to
the people who came to the movie and got the feedback that they filled
in. According to statistics, this film was watched by about six
thousand people. Now we have formed a group that engages the brothers
and sisters from our church in various programmes. We have organized a
group of teens of 8-10 people, which visit mostly girls. In January
2011, we began to meet with them every Saturday. To our group came a
girl, who did not see the “Jesus” film, but wanted to learn about God.
We plan to develop this ministry further. We also would like to hold a
summer camp, called "Dream" for the unbelieving adolescents in the
cities of Volgograd and Volzhskiy.
We practice the personal evangelism.
At a meeting with neighbours, colleagues at work start a conversation
about God. Personally, at work I have continuously evangelised in
connection with the children's classes on spiritual and moral
education. Colleagues ask me questions as soon as it comes to God. They
know whom to call and ask. Recently, I was sent on a course on
spiritual and moral education at the preschool age. Attending these
classes was a priest; he said many things right, but with some I could
not agree. I know that the entire training process takes place under
the guidance of God. How He will continue to lead me I do not know. At
my work I will need to give an account of these courses. I have got
something that I want to say to my unbelieving colleagues. I thank God
that He uses me in this case.
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Jamila Tarovatov:
I'd participated in the project “Jesus” film and led a group of
non-believers who came after the showing. I also am trying to reach
with the Gospel my neighbours and relatives, using the Four Spiritual
Laws. In the same way Anna Bobrova preaches, but she is also actively
talking about God to her colleagues. Nastya Chernikova's door is open
to the women, who come to her home for advice and instruction.
Summarizing, we may say that our women are using every opportunity to
carry the love of Christ to all their friends and acquaintances. All
our sisters, without exception, use the opportunity of evangelism at
work, at home and to all whom they meet in different life situations.
We include this ministry in our petitions and pray about the hearts of
the people to whom we preach the Gospel. With God's help, we are able
to do something. If someone has her own special way of evangelism we'll
be glad to know about it. Each of us has a gift given by the Lord. Pray
for us, that the Gospel will become "our main business" and that we
use, for this purpose, every opportunity. May God bless all of us in
this ministry!
Greetings to all my EBWU Sisters!
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