Every year my wife and daughter invite me to watch the mini-series Pride and Prejudice. In the first episode Mr. Darcy gives the impression of being a proud man and it takes 5 more episodes for Elizabeth Bennett’s prejudice against him to be uprooted by contradictory evidence.
This is an appropriate template for how many evangelicals view Orthodox believers in Russia. The Orthodox here, often, give the first impression of being proud, and our prejudice makes it very hard to see them as otherwise.
From Provoked to Peaceful
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. Ezra 7:10
Ezra 7:9-10 is the theme verse of HopeRussia Seminary because we want men to develop Christ-like character in addition to knowledge. Sunday we got to see the fruit of our labors, by God's grace.
War Games, Sanctions, Arrests...Intensive?
Bringing My Father's Remains Home From Beijing
14 Days Left To Empower Gospel In Russia
Goodbye America, Hello Sanctions!
An Unexpected Death, a Poignant Reminder
A couple of days ago we heard the sad news from one of our most faithful pastor/seminary students, Sergei Sukharev, that his father had passed away suddenly and tragically at only 60 years of age.
Sergei is unique in many ways, he is the pastor of a downtown Presbyterian church, just a few blocks from the Czar's Winter Palace. But more than that, Sergei is literally the only student in our seminary who was raised by a believing father. His father, Ivan, was an evangelical pastor during Soviet times, loving Christ and outspoken about his faith .
Delight to Your Soul
There are almost 900 people in all churches where our students and pastors minister, and 50% of the members are children. Hence the importance of teaching how to achieve peace and see fruits when raising children in the Lord. That's what Rev. Blake Purcell did the first week of our Intensive Course.
"Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul". (Proverbs 29:17)
Women of Faith in Russia
Whenever Blake and Cathy come to Saint Petersburg it is always a chance for us to see Cathy and hear from her about her relationship with God. We all know that she raised 6 children all of whom have done well in life and are being a good influence in the world.
On Saturday, March 10, women from three Evangelical churches and one Russian Orthodox church came to the Purcells' to encourage one another and hear Cathy teach. It's always a treat to hear such an experienced woman talk about how to be a virtuous wife.
The Cost of Church Planting in Russia
What's the first thing you think about when you receive a letter asking to support our seminary training in Russia? May be, "Oh, this seminary costs too much!" But do you know how much this training costs RUSSIAN PASTORS?
Here is a great example of the new harvest field God is opening for us in the Russian speaking world.
Together We Do Great Things in Russia
Dear Friends of SRS!
We have only one month before the spring intensive course of St. Petersburg seminary. It will be really intense and the largest in our history: 16 students, 6 pastors and 2 visiting professors from America. We hope it will bless both Russian ministers and American teachers. Alone we can't reach our goal. But together we can. Please help Russian pastors get a good education and the Church of Christ grow in Eurasia!
The Ice Is Broken in Latvia
Eight Latvian men attended the conference “What Is a Real Man: God's Perspective” held by SRS in Jurmala, Latvia in March 2017. The goal of the conference was not to gain new members for the local Reformed church where Pastor Timur Anichkin ministers but to enter into a person-to-person relationship with men of the city to study the Word of God.
Was it worthwhile? Read Timur's report.
Christmas Miracle in Romanovka
Dear friends! Believe it or not but...
WE WORSHIP THE LORD IN OUR OWN BUILDING!
In the photo you can see what it looks like today. Smoke from the stovepipe shows that it's already warm inside!
I'm sure, it's God's miracle, His gift from heaven. We have been dreaming about it for a long time. The Lord has heard our prayers and answered! He has provided helpers in Russia and sponsors in the United States who have made our dream come true.
Russia, Your Highest Missions Priority in 2018
You may already know Russia for its ballet, great nesting dolls, and museums.
And you may personally know Rev. Blake Purcell who labored almost thirty years as a Christian missionary among Russian-speaking people of the former Soviet Union, and whose work God has blessed with 5 church plants, a seminary and a ministry residence that welcomes Christians and seekers.
But you may not know the TOP THREE REASONS for making RUSSIA your MISSIONS PRIORITY in 2018
Impressions of a Theological Fall in St. Petersburg
You are Invited to Experience Moscow and St. Petersburg in March, 2018
Thanks from a land far, far away
God's Way in Russia Past Finding Out
My name is Evgeni Kruzhkov. I’m a rector of the Biblical Theological Seminary of St. Petersburg. At our regualar intensive course last month we hosted 17 Russian ministers who came to study in our seminary. Ten of them were new. There is a good tradition in our seminary to share testimonies. Every story is amazing and unique.
To Know God and Make Him Known
Planting Churches in the Wilderness
In the past week I have shared with you the hard news that one of our SRS empowered churches was raided by 40 armed federal agents in Russia. I also passed on to you the wonderful news that the $60,000.00 given by our American donors has already paid for the building of a church facility in the Far East, which in turn has helped significantly grow the men's morning bible study in that church, despite the recent spread of TB among its members.
Today I want to refer to the raid on Pastor Nik's church, and the sad reality of Pastor Ruslan's whole family coming down with tuberculosis to illustrate how vulnerable the Evangelical Church in Russia really is.