Our missionaries

This week is a missionary week. They have come home for some well earned vacation plus partaking in the Europe Conference. It is always a great joy to meet with them, since we share the same vision and passion.

I remember well our years as missionaries in Russia and Kazakhstan. Since we some of the years lived in Siberia, it was very far even to the closest missionaries, three time zones away.
Of course the times we met were then very precious. The friendships that were made during those year, remain today many years later.

I feel the same way about our missionaries today.  They have decided to live for a higher cause, move to faraway lands and foreign cultures, settle there and go through an adaption process in order to connect with the people they came to serve. Since I have gone through this myself and know what it takes, I hold our international workers in the highest respect.

This week we spent time together, share our experiences, challenges and joys. This is actually one of the highlights of the years, to hear about the great things that are happening on the different missions fields and how local workers are raised up to work alongside our missionaries.

During the summer conference we will have a special missions meeting, where missionaries will be able to share them same fantastic stories, we will hear this week.

Welcome! You will enjoy it!

Братья по оружию

«У вас будет всего два, возможно три, очень близких друга за всю жизнь, остальные - знакомые»- сказал мудрый Лестер Самралл в возрасте более 70 лет.

Мудрость Соломона говорит о том же! " Кто хочет иметь много друзей, тот и сам должен быть дружелюбным и бывает друг, более привязанный, нежели брат ".

Некоторые из наших друзей не такие, как все, они - особенные. Они всегда рядом! Всю жизнь!

Настоящий друг является другом, потому что он / она является другом, а не потому, что так сложились обстоятельства. Как, например, об этом сказано в Притчах: «Богатство приносит много  друзей, а бедный оставляется и другом своим».

«Многие ищут благосклонного лица правителя, и всякий - друг человеку, делающему подарки».


Блудному сыну тяжело далась эта истина. Люди, которых он считал друзьями, оставались рядом до тех пор, пока у него были деньги,  потом оставили.  Дружки – они часто ведут себя как золотоискатели. Друзья - иначе.

Чтобы сформировалась настоящая дружба, требуется время.  Друзья «на скорую руку», редко остаются в нашей жизни надолго.

Друзья познаются в беде, тогда, когда они нужны больше всего. В хорошие времена именно такая дружба доставляет много радости.  Узы, закаленные в общих жизненных сражениях, сильны и сладки.

Такие друзья дороже золота. Такая дружба устояла, быв испытана временем, проблемами, разногласиями и, возможно, конфликтами.

" Братья по оружию " - американский телевизионный сериал о событиях  Великой Отечественной войны и о 101-й воздушно-десантной дивизии США. Большая группа сильных, волевых личностей, поначалу не очень хорошо ладивших между собой, стали единым целым, благодаря тяжелым испытаниям войны. Они прикрывали спины друг друга. От этого зависела их жизнь. В окопах рождалась дружба, которая продолжалась на протяжении более полувека. Они стали Братьями по оружию.

Когда Иисус  ушел к Отцу, ученики остались вместе. Их удерживало не только общее видение, но и глубокая дружба, которая сформировалась в общении вокруг Иисуса и в совместных усилиях построить Царство Божье на земле.

Кто такой друг? Это тот, к кому вы можете прийти тогда, когда вам  абсолютно ничего предложить взамен. Тогда, когда вам, возможно, нужна помощь или кто-то кому можно доверять полностью. «Друг любит во всякое время и  как брат явится во время несчастья».

Россияне знают: «Не имей сто рублей,  а имей сто друзей».  Это разумная тактика выживания в суровых условиях. Иметь много друзей, конечно, весьма целесообразно, однако дело не только в этом, все гораздо глубже.

Аристотель сказал: «Никто не согласился бы жить без друзей,  даже если бы он имел все остальные блага». Жизнь без дружбы, без кого-то, с кем можно было бы разделить и хорошие и плохие времена, кажется бесконечно пустой.

Если и есть то, чем я дорожил бы, так это дружба, это верные друзья. Они не вяжут мне руки, когда кто-то вонзает мне нож в спину. Они защищают, они честны со мной и поддерживают меня. И я поступаю так же.

Я был благословлен друзьями, как в Швеции, так и в других странах и культурах. За многие годы наша дружба стала только крепче. Я очень дорожу этими людьми и благодарен Богу, что имею честь служить Ему вместе с ними. Мы вместе прошли через многое. Мы - Братья по оружию!

Дружба – одна из самых больших драгоценностей  в нашей жизни. Давайте беречь ее как зеницу ока! Давайте останемся Братьями по оружию!

A Band of Brothers

During your lifetime you will have two, maybe three, very close friends, the rest will be acquaintances, said 70 years plus and wise Lester Sumrall.
Wise Salomo seems to agree! "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

Some friends stick out. Or maybe better put, they stick around! For life!

A true friend, is a friend, because he/she is a friend. Not because of opportune circumstance as in this proverbial example - Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 

The prodigal son painfully learnt this lesson. People who he thought were friends stuck around as long as the money lasted, then they moved on. Buddies might be gold diggers. Friends are different.

Friendship takes time to build. Friends made fast seldom remain fast.

Friendship is proven in difficulties. And it is then it is needed. And such friendship is the one you really enjoy in good times. Bonds forged in shared battles of life are strong and sweet.
Those friends are more worth than gold. Those friendships have been tried by time, challenges, disagreements and possibly conflicts, and they still last.

"Band of Brothers", a TV-series about the US 101st Airborne regiment in WWII illustrated this. A large group of strong willed individuals, not getting along very well, were forged together by the extraordinary challenges of war. They covered the backs of one another. Their lives depended on it. In the trenches of war, lifelong friendships were born that would last for half a century and more. They became a Band of Brothers.

When Jesus went to the Father, the disciples still stayed together. It was not only a shared vision that held them together. It was deep friendship that had been born in the fellowship around Jesus and in the joint struggle to build the kingdom of God.

Who is a friend? It is the one you can go to at times when you have absolutely nothing to offer. Maybe you need help or someone who you can trust completely. A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

The Russians learnt - Ne imey sto rubley, imey sto drusej - Don't have hundred roubles, have hundred friends. That might be a smart survival tactic in an harsh environment. A network of friends might be practical to have, but it goes deeper than that.

Aristotle put it this way -  “Without friends, no one would want to live, even if he had all other goods.” Life without friendship, someone to share good times and bad times with, is awfully empty.

If it is something I treasure, it is the friendship of faithful friends. They don't hold my hands if someone stabs me in the back. They defend me, are honest with me and supportive. And that goes both ways.

I have been blessed with friends in both in Sweden and in a number of countries and cultures. These friendships have grown over the years. I appreciate them very much and am privileged to serve the Lord together with them. We have gone through good times, but also tough times together. We belong to a Band of Brothers!

Friendship might be our biggest asset. Let us treasure it! Let us remain a Band of Brothers!

Вера и решимость

Сегодня у нас произошло замечательное событие! Около 120 студентов из 24 стран закончили нашу Библейскую школу.   Все они - выпускники первого курса и  приехали  из разных народов и культур,  куда снова возвращаются или сразу, или по окончании второго года обучения осенью.  У каждого из этих людей свое прошлое, своя история, свое свидетельство о том, как они попали в Библейскую школу, свои мечты о будущем.

Наши выпускники пришли в Библейскую школу, чтобы получить оснащение, пройти подготовку и вернуться с видением о строительстве церкви и благословении своего народа!  Какой потенциал заключен в этих людях! На протяжении многих лет мы были свидетелями того,  как в разных странах, благодаря служению наших студентов,  были начаты и росли многие новые церкви и объединения.

Всего несколько недель назад мы услышали свидетельство о брате из Конго, который закончил Библейскую школу «Слово жизни» в Москве. После возвращения в Африку, он начал новые церкви и теперь ведет 20 христианских общин. Он также  открыл реабилитационный центр, построил дома для вдов геноцида в Руанде и многое другое. Библейская школа стала поворотным моментом в его жизни.  Здесь он был снаряжен Словом веры и осмелился мечтать о великом.

Во время выпускной церемонии добрые студенты подарили каждому учителю личную футболку. Мою можно видеть на этом фото.  На ней написано «Решимость».  Я буду носить эту футболку часто, напоминая себе о том, чтобы не останавливаться и продолжать идти вперед.

Вера и решимость помогут вам достичь многого. Эти качества привели Авраама в Землю Обетованную. Они влекли Павла в дальние страны, где еще не было проповедано Евангелие.  Они могут и  нас привести к тому, к чему Бог нас призвал.

Вера есть убеждение в Божьей воле и Его способностях.  Она полна ожидания. Она преодолевает  границы.

Решимость - это целеустремленная вера, которая пребывает в сердце, посвященном тому видению, которое дал Бог.

У нас великое видение. Я верю в это! Более 30 лет мы были свидетелями тому, как оно работает, и сегодня оно живо, как никогда.  Давайте останемся верными своему видению и тем задачам, которые поставил нам Бог:  оснастить Божий народ  Его словом веры и выслать их в победоносную битву для Господа!

Кристиан

Faith and determination

Today we did something wonderful! We graduated  about 120 students from 24 countries in our Bible school. These were the first year students. Quite a few of these were internationals. They come from different countries and cultures to which they are heading back now or after the second year this autumn. Each one of them has a unique background, a special story about how they got here and dreams for their future.

Swedish, Russian and Ukrainian flags side by side next to Word of Life banner.

They came here to be equipped and trained and they will return with a vision to build the church and to be a blessing to their people. What a potential there is in these graduates! Through the years we have seen so many new churches and networks be born in different places as students return home.

Just a few weeks ago we heard about a brother from Kongo who completed Word of Life Bible school in Moscow. After his return to Africa, he has started churches and now leads 20, he opened a rehab, has built homes for widows of the Rwandan genocide and much else. The Bible School was the turning point in his life. It was also where he was equipped with the Word of faith and dared to dream big dreams.

During the graduation service the kind students gave each teacher a personal T:shirt. You can see mine here. It sais determined. I will wear mine often to remind myself to press on.

Faith and determination can take you anywhere. They took Abraham to the Promised Land. They took Paul to distant, unreached lands. They can take us to whatever God called us to.

Faith is a conviction of God's will and ability. It is expectant. It breaks limitation.
Determination is decisive faith abiding in a heart that is committed to the vision God has given.


We have a great vision. I believe in it. We have seen it at work for over 30 years, and it is as alive as ever. Let us be determined to continue fulfilling the vision and task that we have been given - to equip God's people with the word of faith and to send them out in victorious battle for the Lord.

To Russia with love!

Tomorrow I will go back to my second hometown, which is Moscow. I will minister over the weekend in the great and vibrant Word of Life Church, that is now approaching 5000 members.

Moscow was my home after 1995-1998 after four years in different places in Siberia and Kazakhstan.  We moved there to plant this church which quickly grew to 1500 members. Even before our three year birthday 70 missionaries had been sent out mainly to Caucasus region and Central Asia.

The church is a hub of a network counting over 300 churches in Russia and has a great impact across the nation.They are also a close partner in the international work of Word of Life. Except for the fields within the former Soviet Union they are active in countries like Vietnam, India and Vietnam.

It is with great joy I will spend a packed weekend there. First service is tomorrow night, three more on Sunday and then Bible school Monday morning before returning home in the afternoon.

Moscow - I will be glad to see you again!

Christian

In times of trouble – Impressions from Ukraine

Psalm 9:9-10

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

And those who know your name put their trust in you, or you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Government forces check point

I am just back home from a visit in volatile and tense eastern Ukraine. Since long a Pastors and Leadership Conference within the Word of Life network had been planned. That was well before the present tense political situation had erupted. It started on Friday 9 May, Victory Day, commemorating the victory in over the Nazis in WWII. It turned out to be a very special day. The conference was marked by strong meetings, high praise and powerful intercession. The people became strengthened and encouraged in the faith. However, it was a bit strange, that during the pauses between very blessed services to get reports of bloody fighting in neighbouring towns, as for example Mariupol where the death toll a while purported to be over twenty casualties. These figures were later moderated, somewhat.

In another neighbouring town, Konstyantynivka, an Orthodox priest was gunned down with eight shots as he tried to calm down a crowd of armed men. A pastor told me that his son's car been shot at and three of his friends injured by bullets. From Slavjansk, a brother who worked at a rehab, was taken in by the separatists as he was leaving town. He and a co traveller were bound and gagged and placed in a cellar. One was beaten during interrogation. When it turned out that they were not active in the conflict, they were released.

In Donetsk, right up to where we were, we heard of battles between separatists and the Ukrainian army where automatic weapons and grenades were used. Suddenly it comes so much closer. In the evening as we stepped out of the car, I heard something that I first thought was firecrackers. But it turned out to be gunfire five hundred meters away. The few shots turned into automatic gunfire and then loud voices. This happened in a place that we more or less just had passed two minutes earlier. Amidst all this, we ourselves were calm.

Pastors and Leadership Conference

About two hundred fifty pastors and leaders came for the conference, which must be seen as a really good attendance under these circumstances. Some pastors were not able to come, especially those from the Crimea, which is currently very difficult to get from to Ukraine. That was also true concerning other troubled parts. These areas are more or less lawless, since the police force is not able to uphold law and order. Therefore there is a need to be cautious and not so easy to travel. Several pastors’ families had been evacuated to safe areas in Ukraine or abroad. In the midst of this, we could still have a strong pastor conference.

I was thinking of how this added up. So much spiritual freedom, joy, encouragement of faith in a church service and then all this violence around us. My mind went to Psalm 27:3-5 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.  Though an army encamp  against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. I actually think this is a way you need to learn to live in order to cope with the pressures that this kind of conditions give.

Separatist road block with sand bags outside Donetsk

On following Sunday I preached three services, two in Donetsk and one in Makeevka. I preached on “The Lord's protection” from Psalm 91, which was very well received. It was also referendum day and therefore tense. While going back and forth between the services in Donetsk and Makeevka, we saw how all car showrooms were empty. The car dealers had removed their cars in order to protect them from criminal gangs that took advantage of the lawless state. Around the occupied governors office and the TV station in Donetsk, there had been erected high barricades of tires and debris. A mixture of Militia and civilians manned the roadblocks. The former were armed with automatic weapons, the latter with baseball bats and other weapons. After one of the services we were also told that the Word of Life congregation in a neighbouring town had been stormed and ransacked by heavily armed men.

In this environment, it is a strong hope to know the Lord is a refuge for his people and that his protection is real and strong. Our prayers are for peaceful resolution of this crisis and that unnecessary bloodshed will be avoided. The Church can also be a light in darkness and a strong alternative to nationalism and hatred, and instead point to reconciliation that is available in Jesus Christ. 

With Christ, to the ends of the earth!

Christian