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Ministry in
Russia and Israel
In May Pastor Joel and three men
from CrossRoads travelled to Irkutsk, Russia and
Jerusalem, Israel. In Irkutsk Pastor Joel
taught a week of the School of Christ for about 25
people who are training for the ministry. The
Irkutsk church is under two years old, yet they are
alive with the passion and zeal to win their region
for God. They have ministered to those bound
by drugs and alcohol and God has brought deliverance
to many. The church has about 100 people, most
have been born again out of drugs and alcohol
addiction. In fact of the 100 plus people in
the church over 70 of them are men. This is
very unusual for Russia (perhaps anywhere), but it
is an indication of the power of God.
The School in Irkutsk is two
months long and when these students are finished
they will go to places where there is no
Pentecostal witness and establish new churches.
They will be assigned to teams that will work
together to establish the church and provide for its
needs.
Pastor Joel preached in the first
service of one such new church in Sola Sibersk which
is about one and one half hours drive from Irkutsk.
One May 20 over 25 people gathered for the first
official service of the church. Workers have
been in the city witnessing to those in need and
ministering to parents of drug addicts in the city.
God is moving to establish his church all across
Russia.
Pastor and the rest of team was
part of the School of Christ in Jerusalem.
Pastor B. H. Clendennen preached for three days on
the end times and it blessed and challenged those
who participated. There is a growing awareness
of the coming of the Lord in Israel. In fact
there are Jewish prophets who have stated that the
Messiah is soon to return. One rabbi, who was
108 years old, died last year. Before he died
he wrote a message to his followers giving the name
of the Messiah. He told them to wait one year
before opening the message and it was opened in
February, 2007. The name revealed is the OT
name of Jesus. This has created great
controversy in Israel, but it should set our ablaze
in anticipation of Christ's return.
Many lives were encouraged by the
School of Christ in Jerusalem. Many came
burdened by the crisis in the land. Many are
suffering intimidation and persecution from all
sides. But they left empowered by the Holy
Spirit, encouraged by His love and motivated by the
awareness that Jesus is truly Lord over all the
earth. |
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