Dear Friends!
We are SO GREATFUL to all of you who made donations towards our Christmas Feed-in, making this event possible! In the midst of crisis, Jesus is glorified and His people are edified and strengthened! May God reward your faithfulness and sacrifices and bless you a hundredfold!
Christmas Feed-In
The Christmas Feed-in for the rehab centers truly was the main highlight of our holiday season! It was held on January 5 (Russian Christmas is celebrated on January 7). There were 12 centers represented, including one from Byelorussia. More than 350 people came. The leaders of the rehabcenters came 
forward and led the time of prayer. The worship which was done by two different worship teams took us to heaven! Prophetic words of encouragement and direction for the coming year of 2009 came as edification. Several people from different rehab centers shared powerful testimonies! We all enjoyed
wonderful food and fellowship - it was a tremendous blessing for the people who work so much and hardly ever have a chance to relax, get together, sit and talk to each other! We made new contacts, strengthened already existing relationships, truly enjoyed Jesus and each other, sharing hearts, exchanging testimonies and plans for the future! One of our students – Zhenya (note his personal testimony in the Student Spotlight below) shared this: “About a month ago I was in a hospital visiting a drug addict acquaintance of mine receiving treatment for HIV. I poured out my heart to him sharing the Gospel. He was not very eager to hear but his roommate listened and asked for information about rehabilitation. I am so happy to meet this roommate at the Feast and find out that he enrolled in one of the local rehab centers and is following Jesus now!”
Evangelism
Thank you for your prayer support of our evangelism efforts. God IS ANSWERING THESE PRAYERS IN MOST AMAZING WAYS!
Remember the story of our School of Ministry students evangelizing in dorms from the December 2008 Newsletter? Well, the other day Gosha was walking to our church service when he received a phone call. It happened to be the second Katya! She called from her hometown, where she was visiting her parents for Christmas break at University. She called to tell Gosha that on New Year's eve, as all her relatives and friends were getting drunk, she felt very lonely: “nobody cares, nobody understands…” Then she remembered all the things she heard about Jesus, went to her room, closed the door, got on her knees and began pouring out her heart to the Lord asking Him to forgive her sins and change her life! God answered her - she immediately felt like a great stone (of depression) fell off her shoulders! On the phone, she sounded very much alive and excited over the newly found personal relationship with Jesus! Now she is back in St. Petersburg and the two Katyas come to our church and weekly host a home group in their dorm room. Photo above on the left: Katya and Katya are fellowshipping with one of our evangelists, Arkady after the church service.
Do you remember the prisoner Roma from the November 2008 Newsletter who repented at Gosha’s witness? Gosha stays in touch with him to encourage him daily. But God Himself encourages Roma even more! As Roma began to share the Gospel with those around him willing to listen, there are now 3 Christians altogether. They asked the prison authorities for permission to gather on Sundays for prayer and received permission and a room for it! So now they have real church! In this room Roma also made a library out of the materials Gosha sent him – Bibles, Christian books, tracts, evangelism magazines, worship CDs etc… This library is becoming very popular among the prisoners. In one of the recent phone conversations Roma shared with Gosha how he spent Christmas night: all the prisoners were celebrating – alcohol, drugs, playing cards, watching pornography, etc… - all right there in the prison! Roma felt horrible in the midst of that and cried out to God… Suddenly a prisoner from another barrack came in and approached Roma with questions about his faith in Jesus. Roma said: “Let’s go out…” So they went and walked until morning outside in the snow as Roma witnessed to him. Even though he did not repent there and then, Roma was very encouraged that Jesus was glorified and he escaped temptations… Their next goals are to have permission for prayer meetings on Wednesdays plus to have a TV set and DVD player for the church room and obtain from us DVDs of classes and sermons. They are also praying for a guitar. Roma used to play in a punk group before, but now he wants to learn worship songs and lead worship… Please continue to hold this newly founded small prison church in your prayers!
Student Spotlight: Zhenya Tihomirov
Zhenya is 24. He is in the first year of our School of Ministry. After Jesus set him free from several years of drug addiction, Zhenya helps to lead one of the local drug rehab centers, organized by a graduate of our School of Ministry. God gave him a strong evangelistic gift supported by the gift of prophecy. Here is his story:
“I grew up in what they call a dysfunctional family. Dad was an alcoholic. Mom hated his drinking, they constantly quarreled and I did not want to come home from school to watch those fights… Soon I felt more at home in the streets. There I tried to find my identity in different adventurous things teenagers get involved in and prove to my friends and myself that I was cool!
When I went to the 6th grade in school, our Dad left us. Mom had to support herself, me and my brother alone. But by this time I pretty much led an independent life filled with friends, parties, street gangs, etc… So I did not care… I lost interest in studies - practically just visited school from time to time and barely made it to the end of secondary school. Then Mom talked me into going to a trade school to at least be trained in some kind of a simple profession. But my academic score went even lower. Instead, I became fond of marijuana that I did not just smoke but also sold thereby making my living. This habit resulted in me being kicked out of trade school so I did not learn a profession, but rather lost three years of my life.
Then came the time to go to the army (In Russia it is compulsory for young men). Discipline there sobered me up and for 2 years I stopped taking drugs. Instead we drank, but it was a minor matter in comparison to what was going on before the army. Back home from the army at first I wanted to start a new life. I even found a job. But very soon I was overcome with disillusionment. I was disappointed in everything – in myself, in people, in the circumstances around me. My old lifestyle of drugs and former friends met me again with open arms. I knew where I was going. I saw what the drugs do to people. I hated myself! I wanted to change my life but I did not know how and I did not have anybody who could help. Just in a couple of months, I was addicted to heroin. I could not live a day without a dose.
At first I did drugs and was able to keep a job but after six month my salary stopped covering my expenses and I began to extort money from my Mom and steal money from my brother. For the first two years, I tried to hide my addiction from my family. I constantly lied and cheated and covered up by all means. I successfully kept them under the impression that I am just using alcohol, which was not even a surprise for them considering that my Dad was an alcoholic. They sort of thought that I just took after my Dad… Then I lost my job and became a full-time thief. In the third year my relatives found out! They kicked me out of the house and changed the lock so that I could not come back in. I lived in the street and slept in my friend’s car. After some time of roaming around, I realized that I needed to do something radical lest I die. At that time, I spoke with a friend whom I had not seen for a while. Talking to him, I found out that he went through a program of rehabilitation from drug addiction in some Christian center. He told me that if I want I could also be accepted.
I met with the minister of this center and he told me about Jesus, His love and power to heal and deliver. He was willing to take me in immediately after we talked! As I was traveling with him to the center in the car, I realized that God is the only One who could really help me. It was on my first day in the center that upon hearing the Gospel I repented from my sins and asked Jesus to save me and change my life! Since then I am following the Lord and every day am getting closer to Jesus. He is wonderful! Getting to know Him is life, real life, filled with meaning every day. I cannot help but share the Good News of His salvation with all my friends and many others”
Prayer points for January
Thank you again so very much for your prayers and continued support of our work! If you are not doing so already we would like to ask you to prayerfully consider helping us on a regular basis in the year 2009. Your help is very needed and highly appreciated!
God bless and keep you all,
Your StreetCry family
We are SO GREATFUL to all of you who made donations towards our Christmas Feed-in, making this event possible! In the midst of crisis, Jesus is glorified and His people are edified and strengthened! May God reward your faithfulness and sacrifices and bless you a hundredfold!
Christmas Feed-In
The Christmas Feed-in for the rehab centers truly was the main highlight of our holiday season! It was held on January 5 (Russian Christmas is celebrated on January 7). There were 12 centers represented, including one from Byelorussia. More than 350 people came. The leaders of the rehabcenters came 
forward and led the time of prayer. The worship which was done by two different worship teams took us to heaven! Prophetic words of encouragement and direction for the coming year of 2009 came as edification. Several people from different rehab centers shared powerful testimonies! We all enjoyed
wonderful food and fellowship - it was a tremendous blessing for the people who work so much and hardly ever have a chance to relax, get together, sit and talk to each other! We made new contacts, strengthened already existing relationships, truly enjoyed Jesus and each other, sharing hearts, exchanging testimonies and plans for the future! One of our students – Zhenya (note his personal testimony in the Student Spotlight below) shared this: “About a month ago I was in a hospital visiting a drug addict acquaintance of mine receiving treatment for HIV. I poured out my heart to him sharing the Gospel. He was not very eager to hear but his roommate listened and asked for information about rehabilitation. I am so happy to meet this roommate at the Feast and find out that he enrolled in one of the local rehab centers and is following Jesus now!”Evangelism
Thank you for your prayer support of our evangelism efforts. God IS ANSWERING THESE PRAYERS IN MOST AMAZING WAYS!
Remember the story of our School of Ministry students evangelizing in dorms from the December 2008 Newsletter? Well, the other day Gosha was walking to our church service when he received a phone call. It happened to be the second Katya! She called from her hometown, where she was visiting her parents for Christmas break at University. She called to tell Gosha that on New Year's eve, as all her relatives and friends were getting drunk, she felt very lonely: “nobody cares, nobody understands…” Then she remembered all the things she heard about Jesus, went to her room, closed the door, got on her knees and began pouring out her heart to the Lord asking Him to forgive her sins and change her life! God answered her - she immediately felt like a great stone (of depression) fell off her shoulders! On the phone, she sounded very much alive and excited over the newly found personal relationship with Jesus! Now she is back in St. Petersburg and the two Katyas come to our church and weekly host a home group in their dorm room. Photo above on the left: Katya and Katya are fellowshipping with one of our evangelists, Arkady after the church service.Do you remember the prisoner Roma from the November 2008 Newsletter who repented at Gosha’s witness? Gosha stays in touch with him to encourage him daily. But God Himself encourages Roma even more! As Roma began to share the Gospel with those around him willing to listen, there are now 3 Christians altogether. They asked the prison authorities for permission to gather on Sundays for prayer and received permission and a room for it! So now they have real church! In this room Roma also made a library out of the materials Gosha sent him – Bibles, Christian books, tracts, evangelism magazines, worship CDs etc… This library is becoming very popular among the prisoners. In one of the recent phone conversations Roma shared with Gosha how he spent Christmas night: all the prisoners were celebrating – alcohol, drugs, playing cards, watching pornography, etc… - all right there in the prison! Roma felt horrible in the midst of that and cried out to God… Suddenly a prisoner from another barrack came in and approached Roma with questions about his faith in Jesus. Roma said: “Let’s go out…” So they went and walked until morning outside in the snow as Roma witnessed to him. Even though he did not repent there and then, Roma was very encouraged that Jesus was glorified and he escaped temptations… Their next goals are to have permission for prayer meetings on Wednesdays plus to have a TV set and DVD player for the church room and obtain from us DVDs of classes and sermons. They are also praying for a guitar. Roma used to play in a punk group before, but now he wants to learn worship songs and lead worship… Please continue to hold this newly founded small prison church in your prayers!
Student Spotlight: Zhenya Tihomirov
Zhenya is 24. He is in the first year of our School of Ministry. After Jesus set him free from several years of drug addiction, Zhenya helps to lead one of the local drug rehab centers, organized by a graduate of our School of Ministry. God gave him a strong evangelistic gift supported by the gift of prophecy. Here is his story:“I grew up in what they call a dysfunctional family. Dad was an alcoholic. Mom hated his drinking, they constantly quarreled and I did not want to come home from school to watch those fights… Soon I felt more at home in the streets. There I tried to find my identity in different adventurous things teenagers get involved in and prove to my friends and myself that I was cool!
When I went to the 6th grade in school, our Dad left us. Mom had to support herself, me and my brother alone. But by this time I pretty much led an independent life filled with friends, parties, street gangs, etc… So I did not care… I lost interest in studies - practically just visited school from time to time and barely made it to the end of secondary school. Then Mom talked me into going to a trade school to at least be trained in some kind of a simple profession. But my academic score went even lower. Instead, I became fond of marijuana that I did not just smoke but also sold thereby making my living. This habit resulted in me being kicked out of trade school so I did not learn a profession, but rather lost three years of my life.
Then came the time to go to the army (In Russia it is compulsory for young men). Discipline there sobered me up and for 2 years I stopped taking drugs. Instead we drank, but it was a minor matter in comparison to what was going on before the army. Back home from the army at first I wanted to start a new life. I even found a job. But very soon I was overcome with disillusionment. I was disappointed in everything – in myself, in people, in the circumstances around me. My old lifestyle of drugs and former friends met me again with open arms. I knew where I was going. I saw what the drugs do to people. I hated myself! I wanted to change my life but I did not know how and I did not have anybody who could help. Just in a couple of months, I was addicted to heroin. I could not live a day without a dose.
At first I did drugs and was able to keep a job but after six month my salary stopped covering my expenses and I began to extort money from my Mom and steal money from my brother. For the first two years, I tried to hide my addiction from my family. I constantly lied and cheated and covered up by all means. I successfully kept them under the impression that I am just using alcohol, which was not even a surprise for them considering that my Dad was an alcoholic. They sort of thought that I just took after my Dad… Then I lost my job and became a full-time thief. In the third year my relatives found out! They kicked me out of the house and changed the lock so that I could not come back in. I lived in the street and slept in my friend’s car. After some time of roaming around, I realized that I needed to do something radical lest I die. At that time, I spoke with a friend whom I had not seen for a while. Talking to him, I found out that he went through a program of rehabilitation from drug addiction in some Christian center. He told me that if I want I could also be accepted.
I met with the minister of this center and he told me about Jesus, His love and power to heal and deliver. He was willing to take me in immediately after we talked! As I was traveling with him to the center in the car, I realized that God is the only One who could really help me. It was on my first day in the center that upon hearing the Gospel I repented from my sins and asked Jesus to save me and change my life! Since then I am following the Lord and every day am getting closer to Jesus. He is wonderful! Getting to know Him is life, real life, filled with meaning every day. I cannot help but share the Good News of His salvation with all my friends and many others”
Prayer points for January
- Please pray for our School of ministry as we resumed studies after the Christmas break
- For fruitful evangelism during the winter season - we want to make the most of all the opportunities God gives us to touch as many lives as possible with the Gospel
- For the new home group to develop in the student dorm
- For the church to grow in prison
- For spiritual growth of the girls currently in rehab and the Lord’s grace and anointing for the staff to effectively minister to them and to further develop our rehabilitation program
- For physical and spiritual protection for the entire church and ministry
- Unity, love and wisdom for the leadership team
- For direction, anointing and grace in the pioneering work in the neighboring nation of Estonia – we were invited to conduct seminars on evangelism in one of the Estonian churches at the end of January, pray for the fruitfulness of this event
- For the breakthrough with an abundant supply of finances for the advancement of the Kingdom of God here
Thank you again so very much for your prayers and continued support of our work! If you are not doing so already we would like to ask you to prayerfully consider helping us on a regular basis in the year 2009. Your help is very needed and highly appreciated!
God bless and keep you all,
Your StreetCry family
