True Freedom Found In Christ!

With fall here and winter quickly approaching, our Bible School/ School of Ministry is underway. We will be continuing to feature a different student each month in our “Student Spotlight.” Evangelism has shifted from street concerts to personal witnessing in student dorms and other locations. Our women’s rehab center has recently been dedicated and officially opened.

Student Spotlight: Gleb

Gleb is currently in his second year at our School of Ministry and is 27 years old. He ministers and travels with the evangelism and worship bands as a soundman. During our street concerts, Gleb shares his testimony, talks with drug addicts about how Jesus changed his life, and how He can do the same for them. Here is his story:

I was born in Monchegorsk in the Murmasnk region of Northern Russia, located above the Arctic Circle. I never knew my father, as he left before I was born. My mother was the only person that cared for me and raised me.

When I was five years old, I went to the local stadium to enroll to play field hockey, but I liked the idea of playing soccer much better. Although I was two years too young to play on the soccer team, my desire was so strong that the coach decided to accept me. Very quickly soccer became an important and central part of my life. Don’t give up and win at all costs became the principle of my life. Our team was very strong and became like a family and we won many local championships. In 1998, we won the Russian national championship for junior teams and traveled to play in tournaments across Europe. My life became competitions, training, and everything revolved around soccer.

I liked this very much and soon was forgetting about school. I was away all the time traveling with my team and training in sports camps. This caused me to miss many classes, but the teachers passed me knowing that I was a good athlete.

My life started to change as new interests came into my life. I started spending time with girls, going to clubs, and drinking beer. One of my friends was constantly telling me about his older brother. We thought he was cool; hanging out at different clubs, and enjoying the street and nightlife. He would also occasionally use heroin. Once I met him on the street and he asked me to chip in some money for some heroin. He was with a group and I was so happy to be accepted by them so I gladly gave them some money. They also let me have some of the heroin that they bought.

The first time that I used heroin, I really didn’t feel anything. My new friends told me just to forget about it. Yet, the dissatisfaction with life and the desire to understand what they found in heroin stayed with me. This led me to buy some heroin on my own and try it with some other friends. This was the beginning of the end. In reality, if you try heroin once, you become addicted. Like most drug addicts, I didn’t think that I was addicted. I thought I was fine and could stop any time.

I was still a good athlete, but after six months I started to see the truth. Heroin was taking a toll on my body and was consuming me and taking control of my life. One of the new priorities was finding the money I needed for heroin.

My mother realized something was wrong when I started asking for money on a regular basis. After a short period of time, I confessed everything to her. She tried to help me get out of my addiction, but none of her attempts worked.

I started using heroin because many of my friends encouraged me and told me how cool it was. My life did not become more cool and interesting because of heroin. Just the opposite happened. My life became filled with criminal activities, and with lying and stealing. My life turned into a living hell and I was the one that realized it better than anyone else. I was now constantly around dirty people, in dirty apartments, and in trouble with the police. I lived in constant fear of withdrawals, with endless efforts of trying to stop by going to hospitals and meeting with doctors and psychologists. Horror and hopelessness had filled my life. I couldn’t see light at the end of the tunnel. On one hand, I did not want to live like this, but on the other I was afraid to die if I stopped.

One day I was lying in bed in what was now our almost empty apartment because I had stolen and sold everything that belonged to my mother. I was looking at the ceiling and I could not even get up. When my mother came home from work, she had a flyer and started telling me about a rehabilitation center from StreetCry. She kept telling me that only God could help me.

Finally I agreed to go to the center. I really didn’t have any faith that it could change me, but there was a small spark of hope saying, “What if?” When I arrived at the center, I met several young people my age and was very surprised. Their eyes shined with light. They smiled. There was life in them. Hearing their life stories, I knew that they used to be drug addicts as I was.

The people in the center kept telling me about Jesus; about having a personal relationship with Him and how only Jesus could save me. My first evening in the rehab center, I spoke to Jesus and asked Him to change my life. I did not feel anything special or supernatural at that moment. I simply went to sleep.

When I woke up in the morning, I realized something unusual had happened to me. The pains of withdrawals, the brokenness, and the desire to die had all disappeared. They were all gone! I also realized that I had slept through the night, which is very unusual for addicts in my condition.

Instead of all the horrors of the past, I was filled with the peace I was looking for all along. For the first time in a long time, clarity came to my mind. Although I did not understand what was going to happen next, I understood that my past was gone. I knew that my life with drugs was over!

Gleb has become a faithful member of our staff. He is fighting with hepatitis, and is unable to afford the $2000 a month costs of the medicine. Please join us in prayer for Gleb’s complete healing.

News

Outreach in Chechulino

Just over 100 miles south of St. Petersburg, lies Chechulino, typical of many small villages in Russia. Hopelessness, poverty, drugs and alcohol are all epidemic. For three days, our team spent time with youth from a nearby church evangelizing in the village. For several young people in the village it was the first time that they had ever heard the Gospel. After sharing about rehab, one person we spoke with has already gone to get help. Several children also repented and gave their lives to the Lord. One girl ran home to find her friend, brought her to hear the Gospel, and repented that day.


Drug Rehab Center Opens

After many months of prayer and seeking the Lord, we recently dedicated our new women’s rehab center. The team is led by two delivered heroin addicts and graduates of our School of Ministry. Using the Word of God, the power of prayer, and the Lord’s ability to deliver, the team is waiting to see the transformation in the girls that the Lord will bring. The center not only sees people delivered from heroin, but also sees lives transformed into the reality of the new creation that can only come in the saving knowledge of Christ. The rehab program is one year, where the girls will experience the love of God while studying His Word. They also learn new work habits and skills that will lead to a successful Christian life after their rehab is finished. Please continue to keep Sergei, Christina, and the team in your prayers as they minister and see girls on the verge of death come back to life.


School of Ministry Starts

October 1st marked the beginning of the new school year. We have 18 students this year. Eight of our students are delivered former drug addicts and four students are living and ministering in rehab centers. Please join us in prayer for a fruitful year as the Word of God continues to transform each of the students.

Prayer Points for October:

• For a fruitful and life changing year at Bible School/School of Ministry
• For all physical and spiritual needs to be met and for growth in the staff and students
• Grace and favor for the ministry here in St. Petersburg
• Spiritual breakthrough in St. Petersburg and Russia
• Grace and anointing for the team at the women's rehab center
• Open doors for the Gospel to go out to youth in St. Petersburg and across Russia
• Anointing for the recording and work on our CD projects
• Wisdom and understanding for the leadership team
• Physical and spiritual protection for the entire ministry
• Righteousness, peace, and joy for everyone in the ministry
• Wisdom, compassion, boldness and power for evangelism ministry
• Abundant supply of finances and fruitfulness in the advancement of the Kingdom of God
• For women to come to Christ and maturity through the rehab center

Summer Evangelism Continues

The Lord has continued to open doors to minister here in St. Petersburg and other cities over the past month. Whether at evangelism concerts or just on the street, hungry people are crossing our path to hear the good news of God's Kingdom. We thank you for your prayers as we continue to see fruit in lives changed by the power of God.

Evangelism News

One of the concerts with the biggest impact was at the metro station Lomonosov. Over the years we have seen literally hundreds of drug addicts at the different concerts throughout the city, but here many of our hearts were broken as there were so many really young children that were on drugs and sniffing glue. In a place where sin and hopelessness abounds, the Lord poured out His love and mercy at this concert and several repented and gave their lives to the Lord. One of these was a man who came to the concert with his family. When he was 18, he had accepted Jesus, but because of the fear of man, he walked away from God. After 15 years of drugs, and spending time in prison, he realized what a mistake he had made. He repented and dedicated his life to the Lord.

Near the metro station Bolshevikov, the Lord drew several people to the concert. Two drug addicts, who had recently left a rehab center in Moscow, were witnessed to and paid close attention when a born again former drug addict was giving his testimony. Another young man decided to walk home after work instead of taking the bus. He stopped and listened to the music and we talked, and shared scriptures with him for over 30 minutes before he repented.

Outreach in Finland

Finland neighbors Russia on the northwest border. It is a beautiful, orderly nation, one of the most expensive in the world and always ranks among the highest nations in suicides. Earlier this summer, John and Sara were in Finland and came across a rock festival in a park in Helsinki. While witnessing to sub-culture youth, their hearts were broken even more for the youth of Finland. They met a group of Christians who were also witnessing and we were invited to bring a team to witness at a larger rock festival later in the summer where over 20,000 youth from across Finland and many other nations would come.

Our team of ten joined a group of around 100 Finns to witness to the youth at the festival. The group we joined has been throughout Finland witnessing summer.

On the road leading to the festival was an area that was set up where the team could preach and witness . Although many youth had a negative reaction when they walked by and saw a cross, once we got a chance to talk to them, we were able to share our hearts and some were very open. One young musician, who stopped by later in the day and jammed with us, woke up hearing us preach about the love of God and we were able to minister to him. Another girl heard the Gospel preached and was deeply touched. She was sitting all alone with head down and in obvious depression. One of the team members came up and sat beside her silently. In a few moments the girl asked him, "How can I give my life to Jesus?" She had previously attempted suicide by slashing her wrists and had been in a psychiatric hospital. She gave her life to Jesus that day on the street.

A young man shared with us how lonely he was. We sat, talked, and read the Bible with him. When asking him if he wanted to give his life to the Lord, he kept saying, "One day, one day." We left after praying with him, knowing the Lord had touched his heart.

A young man we met didn't want to talk about Jesus. When asked why, he said he didn't believe that Jesus was the Son of God, but was simply a good man. This opened the door and we were able to minister to him for more than an hour; read scriptures and prayed with him.


Outreach in Ostrov and Pskov

A team traveled to Ostrov, a town of 30,000 people 180 miles south of St. Petersburg. We had an evangelism concert attended over 150 youth. Although we had problems with the electricity, our drummer kept playing through as the singers kept singing until the power came back on. Three people repented after the concert. One young man listened as we shared the Gospel for over 20 minutes. He repented, came to church the following day where there was a acurate word of knowledge about the Lord wanting to heal his stomach.

The next day, the team ministered at the church that had invited us; leading worship, preaching, sharing prophetic words and praying for many people. After the service the pastor shared how the prophetic words hit the bull's-eye and had encouraged the congregation who had received the words.

Later that night, the team traveled to a nearby city, Pskov for an evangelism concert. Many sub-culture youth came dressed in black and all the latest gothic get up. One girl was glued to her seat and you could tell that she was deeply touched by God during the concert. Although she didn't repent at the concert, we were able to pray for her that the Lord would continue the work He had started in her life.


Updates:

Following up from the trip our students took to Novokuybyshesk (see last month’s newsletter, August 2007), over 21 people have called our hotline for drug addicts and several have gone to rehab centers. We thank the Lord for these and ask for your continued prayers for those that have entered rehab and for continued fruit from this and the many other outreaches the ministry has been involved in this summer.

Thank you for all of you who have prayed for us to find a building for our women's rehab center. We have found a building about an hour and a half from St. Petersburg and recently signed a lease. We plan on moving in and dedicating the facilities during the first part of September.


Prayer Points for September:

• Continued fruit in the lives of those ministered to by our teams during the outreaches this summer
• Grace and favor for our ministry here in St. Petersburg
• Anointing for the recording and work on our next CD’s
• Financial supply and increased fruitfulness for the ministry
• Wisdom and understanding for the leadership team
• Physical and spiritual protection for the entire ministry
• For the students and staff for the upcoming year at the School of Ministry
• Grace and anointing for the team opening a women's rehab center this month
• Spiritual breakthrough in St. Petersburg and Russia

Students Take Gospel to Other Cities

During July two teams from our school of ministry left the comforts of St. Petersburg for ministry trips. On these trips, the students put into practice what they had learned and they allowed the Lord to challenge them in ways that cannot be taught in a classroom. One team traveled to Novokuybyshesk in southern Russia , while the other team was in the city of Uralsk, in the Muslim nation of Kazakhstan.

Novokuybyshesk

A team of five took a 48-hour train ride to get there. The city is full of heroin addicts, as it is on the smuggling route from Afghanistan where the raw heroin is produced.

Working with a small local church, that included several former drug addicts, the team shared their personal experiences and testimonies of street evangelism. Along with adding music and evangelism concerts, the local believers caught a fresh zeal and desire to be on the streets witnessing and evangelizing, sharing how much more effective they now were in their efforts.

A young man named Sasha was sitting on a bench in a park waiting for a friend. One of our team members started talking to him and learned that he was the third person in two days to talk to him about Jesus. Sasha's friend joined them, and the two of them sat through a light rain, listening as the team shared their testimonies. His heart was touched and he repented with a team member and gave his life to the Lord.

One of the things the Lord told the team before they left St Petersburg , was that they would meet and minister to backsliders. Ilya was with two of his friends and came up to the team after one of the concerts and shared how he had been with the Lord two years ago, but left and was living in sin. The Lord had touched his heart during the concert and Ilya repented afterwards. He sent a text message later saying how he has overcome his fears and now has a desire to go to our Bible school. Praise God for His huge love and mercy.

The team was also able to minister at a drug rehab center and at a local hospital where they treat drug addicts for their addictions. At the hospital the chief doctor, who does not believe in God, confessed that the medical procedures they practice are only temporal, but he has seen real freedom in some people who believe in God and got their freedom from Him! Our hotline for drug addicts has already received several phone calls from people from Novokuybyshesk, and one girl has already come here to go through rehab.

Together with three local churches, we were able to have a night of worship and intercession. The presence of God filled the hall and many people started to weep tears of joy and cleansing. After worship and a time of intercession, the team shared several prophetic words with people, as well as words of knowledge and words about healing.

One lady started to weep as the team shared with her that she has the heart of a pastor and the Lord wants her to step out in that gift. The pastor of the church later shared that he had been trying to share the same thing, but she never reacted.

Uralsk

For the third summer, a team traveled to Uralsk in the Muslim country of Kazakhstan . Although this was the third time, the team knew that the Lord had something different for them this year, and things that had worked in the past would not necessarily work this time. Flexibility and listening to what the Lord is doing today, were important lessons that the team learned throughout their trip.

The team returned to a government run medical center for drug addicts. They once again saw the hunger in the hearts of those that worked in the center trying to help the addicts get free from their addiction. In this center over half of the addicts were Muslim and started to speak out when the team started to give their testimonies of how Jesus Christ had set them free from drugs. One team member challenged the crowd by quoting the verse in the Koran where it says that those who know Jesus are saints, "so please sit and listen to what I have to say." After sharing his testimony, all of the Muslim heroin addicts allowed the team to pray for them.

Later the director came to the team and asked them how long had they been in the city. After the team told them they had been there a week, he asked why it had taken them a week to come the center and asked if there was anything he could do to help the team. The director set up a time where the team was able to show a video of one of our evangelism concerts we had done earlier this year with another band from a local rehab center. Two testimonies of former heroin addicts from our school of ministry especially touched hearts. All the addicts came up and received prayer after the video was finished.

While witnessing in a square in the center of the city, a place that had been very fruitful in the past, the team met a man who turned out to be the chairman of the government agency that oversees religious activities. He had one of our tracts on his desk and mentioned that according to the law, what the team was doing in the city was technically illegal. He went on to state that if the team was foreigners, they would be kicked out of the country, but since they were all citizens, he would just give them a warning. The team mentioned that although they agreed with the law, would it be fine if they talked with people and just gave the tracts to those that are interested. He agreed that this was a different story and was going to contact the team's leader and get on his case. When the team asked how he was going to get on God's case, he laughed and said he meant the pastor of the local church. Although the team was able to witness to him and share their testimonies, they realized that the Lord wanted them to use a different strategy and that they needed to pay more specific attention to individuals.

The team went out to the small village of Potstepnyi and really did not know why the Lord had sent them there. After a small meeting and showing the video of the evangelism concert to a group of mostly grandmothers, the team when out on the streets of the village to witness. They met a girl name Olga who was an orphan. Olga had grown up in a orphanage and her brothers and sisters had been separated and all lived in different orphanages. As the team witness to them, a supernatural love came upon several of the team members and this allowed them to minister the Lord's love to Olga. After experiencing true love for the first time in her life, Olga wept, repented and gave her life to the Lord.

Other News:

We continue to have concerts on the streets each week in St Petersburg and have had the opportunity to see many people repent and give their lives to the Lord. We have also received many phone calls form drug addicts asking for help, many of whom are now in a rehab center. Our children have also been actively participating in evangelism and are at almost every concert, passing out tracts and witnessing to other kids and young people. They have led several people to the Lord, including a ten year old girl at a recent concert. Please continue to pray for the new believers as they forsake their old lives and are being discipled in the things of God.

Prayer Points for August:

• Continued fruit in the lives of those ministered to by our teams in Uralsk and Novokuybyshesk

• For an effective ministry in upcoming outreaches in Finland and the Pskov region of Russia

• Power and anointing for street evangelism concerts taking place in St. Petersburg

• Financial supply and increased fruitfulness for the ministry
  

• Wisdom and understanding for the leadership team

• Physical and spiritual protection for the entire ministry
  

• Spiritual breakthrough in St. Petersburg and Russia

• Housing for the new drug rehab center

John Paul Jackson's Interview with John and Sara on AWE WebTV

During John and Sara's recent visit to the US they were invited to appear on John Paul Jackson's webTV show 'AWE' for an interview about StreetCry Ministries. Below we've posted the video of that interview:



To find out more about John Paul Jackson and Streams Ministries we encourage you to check out his website at www.streamsministries.com.

Summer Evangelism Kicks-Off

Every year in the month of June StreetCry undergoes a shift with the heralding of the summer evangelism season. The primary focus of ministry becomes the twice weekly evangelism concerts held at various locations around the city. This is a time of year eagerly anticipated by everyone at the ministry for the unique opportunity to present the gospel to larger amounts of people at one time.

During these months, the newsletter will take on a slightly different format and focus primarily on news regarding evangelism. We will also now be posting photos from each outreach online for all to see. The address for viewing the web album is picasaweb.google.com/streetcryinfo.

The Anatomy of an Evangelism Concert

The following is a brief walk-through of what goes on behind the scenes in the planning and execution of a typical concert outreach. Our hope is that through reading this article you catch the vision for a method of evangelism we’ve found to be effective here in Russia.

Each concert requires the coordinated efforts of about 15 - 20 people from the ministry. Besides the work the band does in preparation, gifted volunteers and staff work together to do the job of setting up and tearing down the sound equipment, security, prayer, administration, personal witnessing, designing and making tracts, audio and video recording, and more.

The preferred strategic location for concerts is metro stops and parks where higher volumes of foot traffic tend to occur. When a location is decided on, signed permission is required from the city administration for setting up the sound equipment. This is essential as police officers are often on site checking that the appropriate paperwork is in order.

Leading up to and during each outreach prayer plays a critical role in what happens. In addition to the regular prayer meetings occurring throughout the week at the ministry, there is an army of prayer warriors committed to supporting StreetCry around the globe. We have found that the effectiveness of each outreach is largely dependent on the prayer invested.

On the day of the concert the band meets for a couple of hours in the morning to play through the chosen songs. After practice the band and many of the volunteers and staff meet for a time of focused prayer. Once prayer concludes priority becomes transporting all of the gear and sound equipment to the site for setup.

The time it takes to load the van, transport to the site, unload and set up can take a crew up to three hours and must be executed on time to make use of the limited time frame given to hold the concert. As the stage area and sound equipment take shape curious spectators tend to gather in anticipation of a free concert. Crowds ranging from 50 - 200 people can turn out for a concert largely depending on weather and location.

Each concert lasts two hours and includes high energy music, a drama, testimonies and at times prophetic and healing ministry. Also while the concert is going on volunteers are stationed throughout area passing out gospel tracts to passersby. Each element harmonizes to clearly communicate the gospel message and confront people with the hope that there is more to life than what the world is offering.

At the end of the presentation band members walk out to join the others in personally witnessing to people in the crowd. Leaders from various drug rehab centers partnered with StreetCry are also available to provide information for addicts to receive rehabilitation.

Hopefully through reading this article you have gained some insight into part of what is happening during the summer months at StreetCry. Thanks to all of you who regularly support the ministry through prayer and donations.

Evangelism News

Highlights from July

At the beginning of the month we held an evangelism concert at metro Kupchino, a place notorious for drug activity. During the concert a strong salvation message was given with several former heroin addicts sharing their testimonies. We were informed later that EIGHTEEN addicts who attended the concert came for rehabilitation the following week at a local Christian rehab we work with.

Later in the month during the outreach at Muzhestva Square a young teenage boy was touched by the love of God and then decided to attend Church at StreetCry the following day. During the service he received an accurate prophetic word including specific details about his life which convicted him of the reality of God. After the service he came forward for prayer and confessed that as the result of a difficult upbringing he had made numerous failed attempts at suicide. He then repented and accepted Jesus as his savior.

At this concert and others throughout the month many others have made decisions to follow Jesus. As we follow up with these people and begin the discipleship process please remember us and them in your prayers.

Karelia Ministry Trip

This past month the evangelism band and a few others from StreetCry made a 600km trek north from St. Petersburg to the Republic of Karelia (an autonomous region of Russia bordering Finland). While there they put on an evangelism concert and were also invited to host an evening of intercession and impartation at a local church. The trip was a great opportunity to share the gospel with people in a region plagued with alcoholism and drugs and also encourage believers to be courageous being the light.

Evangelism Photo Albums for July:

(Click on each location to view a photo album from that concert)

The Republic of Karelia, Victory Park, Muzhestva Square, Kupchino Metro Station, Black River Park

Other News

Intercession Conference

StreetCry recently had the blessing of hosting Colleen Sherman of Streams Ministries for three days of practical teaching on intercession. Colleen pointed out that the call to intercession is not just for a select few, but is for all believers. Many have noticed a difference in their personal prayer lives and we are seeing a great impact in the effectiveness of our prayer in the ministry. One of our team members mentioned that while some just simply teach information, Colleen imparted what she knows and lives.

A Note from John:

For the past 9 months we have had the privilege of having Chris and Crystal Loewen from Canada working with us. Chris has streamlined our newsletter making it more readable and creative. Crystal has helped get our correspondence with intercessors and donors back on track. They have also been instrumental in teaching and activating our students in the prophetic and healing, and have gone on a number of evangelism and teaching outreaches in St Petersburg and other cities. They will be returning to Canada near the end of July, as they prepare for the birth of their first child and continue to seek the Lord for the next step of their journey with Jesus. They have accomplished much in the short time they have been here, more than I can say here and probably more in nine months than anyone who has previously worked with us. They will be truly missed.

John Russell
Director StreetCry Ministries

Prayer Points for July:

• For an effective School of Ministry Outreach while students are away in Southern Russia
  

• Power and anointing for street evangelism concerts taking place in St. Petersburg
  

• Financial supply and increased fruitfulness for the ministry
  

• Spiritual growth of school of ministry students and staff
  

• Wisdom and understanding for the leadership team
  

• Physical and spiritual protection for the entire ministry
  

• Spiritual breakthrough in St. Petersburg and Russia
  

• Righteousness, peace, and joy for everyone in the ministry
  

• Abundant supply of finances for the advancement of the Kingdom of God

2006 / 2007 Ministry School Graduation

If you have been reading our newsletters this past year you have gotten to know some of our students through the monthly ‘Student Spotlight’ feature. This past month these and other students finished their ministry school courses. June’s newsletter features one final student spotlight from this past year’s class and also news from the graduation ceremony.

Student Spotlight: Irina Smirnova

Irena is a 1st year student in the school of ministry and works as a journalist for a Christian television network in Russia. She has a passion for evangelism and shares the gospel with people wherever she goes. Here is her story:

As a child, before I had heard the good news about Jesus, I had a sense there was a deeper meaning to life than I understood. While most children were concerned with playing my thoughts were often consumed with spiritual matters and finding the true meaning of life.

My first experience with Jesus occurred when I was 10 years old. During perestroika (a time of social, economic, and political reform in Russia) the ‘Jesus’ film was broadcast on national television in Russia for the first time. As I sat alone in my living room watching that night I was captivated by the sacrificial love of this man named Jesus. I became aware that He was the one I had been searching for.

At the conclusion of the movie there was an invitation to pray the ‘sinner’s prayer’ and begin a relationship with Jesus. In tears I repeated the prayer and asked God to take away all of my sin and also the sin of my family.

The following year a group of Pentecostal missionaries moved to our city and planted a church. One day while my mother was at work, a woman from this church gave her an invitation to attend a Sunday service. She agreed to attend and brought my father and I with her. In a short amount of time my parents accepted Jesus into their hearts and became actively involved in the church.

Following my parents example, I took an active role in the church youth group and helped with leading worship. I carried a burden for the unreached in our community and inviting everyone I knew to church to hear the gospel.

After a couple of years my spiritual life began to wane and influences from the world began to work their way into my life. I continued my heavy involvement at church but began smoking, drinking and even experimenting with drugs. At times I would show up to worship services high and fall unconscious while worshipping. People would ask my parents if there was something wrong with me and they would explain that I was just having some kind of experience with God.

This double minded lifestyle continued throughout my high school years. When I turned 17 and graduated from high school I was recruited to attend a university in St. Petersburg. I made the decision to accept the invitation and leave behind everything familiar to move to the ‘big city’.

In St. Petersburg the new group of friends I joined was made up of non-Christian creative people studying theater, art and music. One day a group of us interested in music decided to form a punk band and began playing concerts in clubs around the city. We pursued the dream of becoming ‘rock stars’ and would drink excessively while experimenting with different psychedelic drugs. Because of the drugs I began losing my sense of reality and developed many different irrational fears about death and the world coming to an end.

One night after a concert, one of our band members was instantly killed in a car accident. The suddenness of his death came with great impact and caused me to begin rethinking the state of my spiritual life. While attending my friend’s funeral I began silently crying out to God asking Him if I could return to Him. However, the weight of shame and self-condemnation I carried prevented me from receiving any forgiveness from Him. Because I did not understand God’s heart towards me I returned to my lifestyle of touring with the band.

Soon after the funeral I accidentally ingested some poison and my body went into toxic shock. The friends who were with me quickly called an ambulance and began saying their goodbyes to me thinking they were going to lose another friend. Fortunately I recovered but was left with extensive damage to my digestive system.

This damage left me unable to digest food or liquids normally and caused my body to begin breaking down. While lying in bed one day my eyes were drawn to a Bible I kept on a bookshelf that had the words ‘God is love’ written in bold letters across the cover. I began to reflect on the meaning of these words as I lay there and began to wonder if God’s love was big enough to forgive me for my years of backsliding. I remembered a church I had heard about in the area and decided to attend the next Sunday service.

When Sunday morning came I was almost physically unable to get out of bed. Eventually I worked up the strength to get out the door and headed towards church. When I left my apartment I had one request to God in my heart - I wanted my life to be restored.

That morning, during the worship time, a supernatural peace surrounded me that I had not felt in years. For a few minutes I was able to forget all of the problems surrounding my life and focus on Jesus. The warmth of His love surrounded me and I felt Him drawing me towards Himself. The eyes of my heart began to open and I recognized in that moment that His love towards me was more than enough to cover all of my sin towards Him. Unable to resist this force, I turned my heart towards Him and repented for resisting Him all these years.

After worship, communion was served. As we ate the bread and drank the grape juice I began to feel the supernatural power of God surge through every cell of my body. I responded very emotionally to what was happening and began crying uncontrollably. This lasted for about 30 minutes and created quite a disturbance in the meeting. After the feeling had subsided I realized that God had completely healed my body!

As I left church that morning I realized God had answered the desire of my heart and completely restored me both spiritually and physically. My perspective on life changed completely and I now saw the world in full color. My life is a true testimony of the overwhelming love of God and His heart to restore anybody who is willing to receive Him. It is now my passion to share this love with the world and declare His greatness everywhere I go.

News

School of Ministry Graduation

The school of ministry graduation ceremony was held on May 19th and this year 14 first year students and 10 second year students received diplomas. The ceremony was a joyful time of celebration and reflection on the great work God had done in each student’s life.

In the past, some graduates have gone on to pursue full-time ministry. Natasha, an alumnus of the school of ministry, was in attendance at the ceremony to share on her experience in ministering at a drug rehab since graduating. She delivered a challenging message on some of the difficult realities of pursuing God and being used in ministry. It was a timely and sobering message especially for the graduating students.

Everyone at the ministry is extremely proud of this years graduating class and hopes to see each student continue in a lasting, fruitful walk with God. We thank God for every life that has been changed though attending the school and eagerly anticipate staring again in autumn as we begin to process incoming applications.

School of Ministry Testimonials

The following are brief testimonials from graduating students describing their experiences at the school of ministry:

My training at the school of ministry has given me freedom from the fear of what man thinks about me and greater fear of what God thinks about me. I have also gained a greater understanding of prophetic ministry and how to use prophecy to minister to and encourage others. Additionally, I now understand that godly character and walking in the fruit of the Spirit is more important than spiritual gifting and that using your gift can have destructive consequences if it is used without having the fruit of the Spirit in your life. Also, I have learned to set priorities in my life and that my first priority is my personal relationship with God.
- Christina Kapralova – 2nd Year Graduate

As a result of attending the ministry school I have learned to pay closer attention to the voice of God. Now that I am hearing Him speak to me I am able to make better decisions in what I should do with my life. I have fallen more in love with God and continue to draw closer to Him as I learn His language. This past year God has also taught me how to overcome offenses I struggled with towards others.
- Irina Smirnova - 1st Year Graduate

While at the ministry school I developed habits that have helped me in my relationship with the Lord. I have learned to delight myself in the Lord and trust Him in every situation. God has taught me how to be a friend and love people. I have gained a sincere compassion for the lost and been compelled to regularly pray and reach out to them. I have also been activated in using my spiritual gifts such as: prophecy, evangelism, prayer and worship. I now know that I personally have a ministry and calling.
- Victoria Dulas – 2nd Year Graduate

During my daughter’s 2 years of studies at the school of ministry, God has been healing and restoring her heart in dramatic ways. Each day I would wait for her to come home and share with me what she had learned. Often at night we would sit together until the morning hours as Tanya would expound on truths from the Word of God. For me it was living water and as if I had gone through the ministry school together with her!
- Galina (Mother of 2nd year graduate)

Student Ministry Trip

Following their graduation, the students participate in a ministry trip to outlying areas of Russia or bordering nations. These trips present unique opportunities for the students to apply their ministry training in cities and towns where there is much need and spiritual hunger.

This year they will be traveling to the city of Novokirbirchesk in Southern Russia near Kazakhstan. While there, the students will focus on doing street evangelism and teaching believers in a local church on prophetic ministry, evangelism, and worship. The church they have been invited to speak in has been meeting for only 2 months and is made up mostly of rehabilitants from a Christian rehab center in the region. The students will be leaving St. Petersburg on June the 23rd and returning on July 6th. Please pray for their safety and God’s blessing on the trip.

Prayer Points for June:

• Direction for gradating students as they seek God for the next season of their lives
  

• For an effective School of Ministry Outreach in Southern Russia
  

• Power and anointing for street evangelism concerts taking place in St. Petersburg
  

• Righteousness, peace, and joy for everyone in the ministry
  

• Spiritual breakthrough in St. Petersburg and Russia
  

• Physical and spiritual protection for the entire ministry
  

• Wisdom and understanding for the leadership team
  

• Abundant supply of finances for the advancement of the Kingdom of God
  

• Wisdom, compassion, boldness and power for evangelism ministry
  

• Spiritual growth of school of ministry students and staff
  

• Financial supply and increased fruitfulness for the ministry

Open Doors

God has been opening doors for new ministry opportunities this past month. We are praying that doors continue to open as the ministry school students prepare for graduation and decide what’s next. Featured in this month’s newsletter is a new student spotlight and news regarding an upcoming event with Streams Ministries and an outreach in a public high school in Kolpino.

Student Spotlight: Zhenya Sushkova

Zhenya is currently studying in her first year at the StreetCry School of Ministry and is 27 years old. In addition to spending her time as a student, she ministers at a Christian female rehab center in St. Petersburg. Zhenya is engaged to be married in June, following her graduation from the School of Ministry. Here is her story:

My life as a child was typical of most other young Russian girls. I had the typical dreams many girls share of one day falling in love with a ‘prince charming’ and then having a fairytale wedding and living happily ever after. Unfortunately, very few girls growing up where I did ever saw these types of dreams come true.

As a student growing up I received praise from all my teachers for my academic excellence. The gifting I possessed enabled me to also excel in extra curricular activities such as music and sports. However, by the time I entered my teenage years I began to exhibit signs of rebellion. Soon I found it easier to go out and be with my friends than stay at home and practice the violin or study algebra. I was bored with life and looking for some excitement.

I found this excitement in a particular guy I fell in love with at school. He introduced me to a whole new world of excitement I was eager to explore. At this time in Russia it had become very fashionable to use heroin. Not wanting to be left behind in any trend, we began experimenting with this drug. In a short amount of time we (and many others our age) were hooked and using regularly.

By the age of 16 I had become an addict and was living with my boyfriend. Although Russian society is far from being a standard in moral conduct, one thing still considered taboo is for an unmarried couple to live together. Because of the stigma surrounding this lifestyle my parents pressured my boyfriend and I to get married.

There comes a point in the life of most heroin addicts when the growing addiction becomes too expensive and additional methods of obtaining income are explored. For some this means resorting to prostitution, but for the majority it becomes theft. My husband and I chose the latter and developed a daily routine of stealing in the mornings and then shooting up with heroin in the afternoons.

After two years of following this routine my husband was caught by the police and taken to prison. I continued stealing from expensive boutiques and outdoor markets on my own. My insatiable appetite for heroin made me fearless in doing whatever it took to get money.

In the year 2000 I celebrated my 21^st birthday. For most girls this is a time to celebrate being in the physical prime of life. My physical prime had already been wasted because of my lifestyle and I felt more like an old ‘babushka’ (Russian for grandmother) than a young woman.

Soon after my birthday my husband was released from prison. When we were reunited it felt as if we were complete strangers, however, we still shared a dependency on heroin which gave us a reason to once again depend on each other.

My life hit rock bottom when eventually I was physically unable to get out of bed in the mornings until someone had injected heroin into my body. My husband would bring my dose to me and try and find a vein big enough to receive the needle. Over time my veins became so small that the only place I could receive an injection was through my fingers and toes.

Soon after this I made an attempt to end my life. I slit both my wrists but was saved by a friend before I lost too much blood. Today, the scars left behind from this incident are a reminder to me of how close I came to death.

In 2005 I had a surprise visit from an old girlfriend from school who now lived in St. Petersburg with her husband. They had both been drug addicts but were now free as a result of joining a Christian rehab. As she was describing her experience at the rehab I felt hope begin to rise in my heart that I too could be helped. I needed to make a drastic change in my life and thought that this was my golden opportunity.

My husband’s response to the idea of joining a Christian rehab was not very positive. He had major issues with Christianity and did not feel he was ready to leave drugs behind. Still I felt this was my only chance of surviving my addiction and secretly I enrolled to join the rehab. As soon as I received my acceptance letter I packed my bags and told my husband I was leaving to get the help I needed.

Once at the rehab I was told about Jesus Christ for the first time in my life. The leaders explained to me that He was the only one who could truly break the power of addiction over my life but that first I would need to acknowledge my sin and repent. This was difficult for me to accept because I was a very proud person.

A few days later I woke up with an unfamiliar feeling in my soul. I felt restless and that something was not right inside of me. I went to my leaders and tried to describe what was happening. They recognized that I was feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit and suggested that we pray together.

As we began to pray the wall of pride around my heart fell and I began to weep uncontrollably. I felt God’s love pour over me and asked for Him to save me. After we finished praying I stood to my feet feeling that a transformation had occurred in my inner man.

Upon completing the rehabilitation I received the news that my husband had divorced me. This was difficult news for me to accept but I have since moved on and chosen to allow God to continue piecing together the broken parts of my soul.

Everyday I’m alive I stand in awe at the love of God. It is beyond my understanding how someone as Holy as He is could reach down and help a proud, filthy, drug addict. This love has renewed my youth and filled me with the vision of helping other girls who are in the same situation as I was. He has become my hope and my future.

News

Upcoming Training Course with Streams Ministries

StreetCry will be hosting a spiritual development training course at the end May with two itinerant speakers from Streams Ministries. The topics to be covered include intercession and prophetic evangelism. The speakers will spend three days doing intensive training with the school of ministry students and then one full day of meetings open to the general public. Everyone at the ministry is very excited to be hosting such a dynamic event. To learn more about Streams Ministries you can visit their website at www.streamsministies.com.

Drug Prevention Outreach in Kolpino

A group of school of ministry students recently had an opportunity to speak in a public high school in Kolpino on the subject of drug prevention. Although they were not permitted to openly share the gospel, they were able to warn the students about the serious drug problem facing Russian youth. They were also able to share their testimonies of how attending a Christian rehab center helped them to overcome their drug addictions. Many of the young people they talked to responded very positively and important relationships were formed that could open the door for future ministry opportunities.

Prayer Points for May:

• That we would have a fruitful, life changing conference, and that all necessary physical and spiritual preparations for it would be accomplished
  

• For fruitful spring and summer outreaches resulting in souls saved and Kingdom advancement
  

• For fruitful evangelism trips for the graduating students
  

• Open doors for the gospel to go out to youth in St. Petersburg
  

• Financial supply and increased fruitfulness for the ministry
  

• Spiritual growth of school of ministry students and staff
  

• Wisdom and understanding for the leadership team
  

• Physical and spiritual protection for the entire ministry
  

• Spiritual breakthrough in St. Petersburg and Russia
  

• Righteousness, peace, and joy for everyone in the ministry
  

• Wisdom, compassion, boldness and power for evangelism ministry
  

• Abundant supply of finances for the advancement of the Kingdom of God

New Life

Spring is an exciting time for the ministry as it signals transition to an active season of evangelism. We have already begun to see some firstfruit salvations and are praying for an abundant harvest of souls in the months ahead. This month’s newsletter includes a new student spotlight, reports of this year’s first evangelism concert and news of a recent salvation that occurred at the ministry.

Student Spotlight: Kirell Ponochevny

Kirell is currently a 1^st year student in the school of ministry. He has been dramatically delivered of a lifestyle of drug addiction and poverty. He now ministers to street children and drug addicts in the St. Petersburg area. Here is his story:

I grew up in a family that lived in relative poverty. My mom gave birth to my brother when she was 18 years old. I was born two years later. Our needs were not adequately met and my brother and I suffered from our parent’s irresponsibility and youthful inexperience at parenting.

Seeds of resentment grew in my heart as I listened to my school friends give detailed accounts of the possessions they had and how their parents took care of them. At age 9 I decided to take matters into my own hands and began stealing from my friends to get some extra money. At school all the children kept their jackets in the same area which made it easy to pick through the pockets to take money.

As I grew older I spent most of my time on the streets figuring out ways I could steal money from people. I made friends with other street kids and together we honed our craft of pick-pocketing and conning people for money. I felt completely justified in my thievery because of my parent’s inadequacy at providing for our family.

The gang of kids I was a part of became known in our neighborhood. The atmosphere of fear we created gave us a sense of power over the people who lived there. We made our gang headquarters in an abandoned basement where we would discuss how we would advance our growing criminal enterprise. Together we took up smoking, drinking, and drugs.

When I began using drugs I avoided the heavier types such as heroin. However, in my later years of high school I gave in to pressure and took my first dose of heroin. I really enjoyed it because it gave me a sense of courage and fearlessness when I was nervous and afraid. In a short amount of time heroin had me in its grips and I lost control of my life.

After high school I attempted to come to terms with my addiction. I tried many methods and clinics but only ever found temporary freedom. I soon realized human efforts alone were not going to break my bondage.

In a warped sort of way religion had always been an integral part of my life. Most gangs acknowledge that there is a higher power and attend Russian Orthodox services asking God to protect them and bless their criminal activities. I was accustomed to lighting the candles and saying the Orthodox prayers but still had many unanswered questions about God and the meaning of life.

A major turning point in my life came when I was sent to prison on drug related charges. It was here I began having conversations with God when I was alone in my cell at night. I would get on my knees and pour out my heart to Him asking Him to help me get out of the mess I was in.

A Christian ministry named Gideon’s Brothers reached out to me one day. They were handing out free Bibles and study guides to any inmates who were interested. I accepted their gift and began reading through the Scriptures. For the first time I began to see that there was more to God than I was experiencing.

When I was released from prison the first place I landed was an Orthodox church. I lit a candle and thanked God for protecting me in prison. Despite what I had been learning about God I returned to drugs. I could not hold a job because of my drug habit and spiraled down into a deep depression. I had no money. I did not even have a girlfriend, parents, or friends who would take care of me. Pretty soon I was living out on the streets.

One of my closest ‘druggy’ friends had begun attending a church and had joined a Christian rehab center. He invited me to attend a service explaining that it was different than other churches I had attended. I decided to go to a service one night and soon discovered that he was right! I was completely shocked by the freedom and love I saw.

I met several former addicts who had been worshiping and singing praises to God during the service. They told me about a Christian rehab center they had been through and asked if I wanted to join. Based on the freedom I saw in them I signed up that very day! All I had was the clothes on my back but I didn’t care because for the first time in many years I felt hope.

While at the rehab I had a real encounter with the Lord and experienced true salvation for the first time. It was not an intellectual agreement with something true but a heart response that led me to a complete transformation. I felt the Lord call me to leave all my old ways and follow Him. No one but Jesus could transform the thieving, conniving, drug addict that I was into what I am today. I am so thankful that He has saved me despite of me.

News

Kolpino Evangelism Concert

StreetCry recently took part in an evangelism outreach in a suburb of St. Petersburg known as Kolpino. A free indoor concert was staged at a cultural center with the Sons of Thunder Band and Bethesda each playing a set of songs geared towards youth. A large crowd of 250 – 300 young people turned out for the event.

After the concert a few people shared their testimonies and a short salvation message was given. Following the altar call two people came forward and accepted Jesus into their lives. A pastor of a church in Kolpino reported that 7 youth who were at the concert attended his church the following Sunday. Three of these came forward and accepted Christ after the service. This was our first evangelism concert of the year. We look forward to many more in the months ahead.

New Believer at StreetCry

We are thankful for every salvation that takes place at StreetCry and wanted to share about one that occurred recently. A young woman named Natasha came forward and accepted Christ at the end of a Saturday night worship service. She was first contacted by two school of ministry students while they were out witnessing. Natasha grew up in Kazakhstan and moved to St. Petersburg a number of years ago and now works as a volleyball coach. Please pray for her as she starts out on her new life as a Christian.

Prayer Points for April:

• For the new believers in Kolpino and at StreetCry
  

• Financial supply and increased fruitfulness of the new café and bookstore
  

• Spiritual growth of School of Ministry students and staff
  

• Wisdom and understanding for leadership team
  

• Physical and spiritual protection for entire ministry
  

• Spiritual breakthrough in St. Petersburg and Russia
  

• Righteousness, peace, and joy for everyone in the ministry
  

• Wisdom, compassion, boldness and power for evangelism ministry
  

• Abundant supply of finances for the advancement of the Kingdom of God