There are many believers in remote areas of Russia who desire to know more about God and His ways. Even one visit can start a life-long relationship. This is precisely what happened in Vyatskie Polyany, a small city in central Russia east of the Volga River. After three different seminars were held there, the participants asked for more training. The first two-day conference was held at the end of February. Everyone was so excited about what they had heard that an invitation for at least one conference every two months was extended. Details were worked out so that conferences could be arranged for April 24-26 and July 3-5! The main topic focused on “The Deliverance from the Bondage of Egypt and the Bondage of Sin.” This material awakened the attendees’ spirits in such a way that they were speechless by the end of the day. It was very encouraging to find young people desiring to voluntarily spend a weekend studying the Word of God rather than basking in the warm sunny weather outside. Believers came from different churches and towns in the region around Vyatskie Polyany and there is much anticipation for another conference scheduled for the end of September.
At the end of March, the Counseling Department of a Moscow seminary requested another Introduction to Life Principles course. The first half of the course was held May 7-9, with plans to finish the second semester during October. What an opportunity to share God’s truths with those future counselors who will impact the lives of so many others.
The character materials translated into Russian about twenty years ago continue to be in great demand by many church educators. One church received assistance from IBLP staff to build their annual four-day summer Children’s Camp around the character qualities of attentiveness, obedience, truthfulness, and orderliness. The Russian staff then had the privilege of supervising the character classes each morning. The camp was held in a remote wooded area about 100 feet away from a river. It was a time of excitement and challenge with almost fifty children being able to learn God’s Character from nature through lessons, games, singing, and sharing around the campfire.
A four-day Youth Camp followed the Children’s Camp. The theme of the camp was “A Right Focus – What Would Jesus Do?” During this camp in July lessons were taught about how to stand alone, how to have a heart for God, and how to be free from sin. Many young people committed themselves to loving God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Although it was unusually cold and rainy outside the campers’ tents, the warmth of the Holy Spirit united the group in the worship of Jesus Christ through the beauty of His creation!
