The following is part of a letter from Carol, a missionary with her husband Steve.
Recently, missionary, Carol Johnson, wrote, "we hosted two leaders from The Mission Society who came for the big 15th birthday of The Friendship Corporation and the Living Vine Church. The Living Vine Church actually has become two wonderful churches. The original one that we attend, which is all in Russian, and a Kazakh fellowship which meets at a different facility and whose services are all in Kazakh. There were lots of events around that weekend including a big all day church event. The morning was a worship service with mini-sermons, lots of praise music, prayer and testimonies by people of the Living Vine Church. Then there were special gifts given from America to the church and from the churches to The Mission Society. A wonderful lunch was provided by the Kazakh church for all. The afternoon service was testimonies, prayer, mini-sermons, praise music Kazakh style and it was absolutely beautiful. Some were familiar songs but with a different musical twist. I wish you could all hear it. Once again there were testimonies and then there was a very powerful skit by the university students and special dancing by Kazakh women and one young girl did her own dance all in national costumes. It was very, very special. The entire event started at 10 am and ended at about 5:15 PM. A very full and appropriate date full of celebration."
Steve, Carol's husband is working with the mission Field Leader, Douglas, concerning management and financial issues. The two leaders from The Mission Society met with Steve several times while they were there to get reports, discuss and help come up with a game plan. Steve is devoting a lot of his time and energy to this process. The Field Leader, Douglas, has been under a lot of stress. He and his family have left for a vacation and time of renewal in the States. They will be gone until sometime in July or August. Steve will be overseeing the field while Douglas is gone and as long as he and Carol are there. Steve's administrative background before becoming a pastor is a huge help there along with his natural analytical skills. His Pastor's role must cover it all so that everything is done in a Godly way. Your prayers for the entire process will be greatly appreciated.
It is amazing how God has worked in the lives of the over twenty missionaries who have served or are serving in Kazakhstan during the last fifteen years. One of the outstanding churches began when a medical doctor from Michigan went to serve for a short period of time. When missionary, Joyce Chelius, took the doctor to visit one of the villages where immigrants from Poland had come to Kazakhstan by force from the Communist government. The doctor was immediately rushed to the home of a very old lady who was very sick. When the guest doctor examined the patient, he reported bad news to the patient's daughter. He said, "I am sorrow that I can not help your mother. She is dying." When the daughter and her family insisted that he try, the doctor said, "I can not help your mother, but I have a boss who is able to heal her if it is His will." When they inquired who his boss was, the doctor said, "My Boss is Jesus Christ, the great physician. Will you give me permission to pray with your mother?" The daughter said, "By all means." When the family members filled the house, the American doctor, in fear and trembling read the story of how Jesus healed a woman who had been very ill for a long time. He concluded the story by saying, "When this woman slipped through the crowd and reached out and touched Jesus coat, she immediately felt the healing power of God go through her body." Then the doctor said, "All who will pray with me that the healing power of Jesus will go through her body, do so as I pray." When the prayers were finished, the older woman who had been very ill, opened her eyes and asked for something to eat. The whole village began to praise God. No one was more amazed than the visiting doctor, who found that his faith in Jesus Christ was the most powerful medicine available to him, and he had become the founder of a Christian Church. Scriptural Guide: Read Matthew 9:20-22.
Call The Mission Society(1-800-478-8963)
Recently, missionary, Carol Johnson, wrote, "we hosted two leaders from The Mission Society who came for the big 15th birthday of The Friendship Corporation and the Living Vine Church. The Living Vine Church actually has become two wonderful churches. The original one that we attend, which is all in Russian, and a Kazakh fellowship which meets at a different facility and whose services are all in Kazakh. There were lots of events around that weekend including a big all day church event. The morning was a worship service with mini-sermons, lots of praise music, prayer and testimonies by people of the Living Vine Church. Then there were special gifts given from America to the church and from the churches to The Mission Society. A wonderful lunch was provided by the Kazakh church for all. The afternoon service was testimonies, prayer, mini-sermons, praise music Kazakh style and it was absolutely beautiful. Some were familiar songs but with a different musical twist. I wish you could all hear it. Once again there were testimonies and then there was a very powerful skit by the university students and special dancing by Kazakh women and one young girl did her own dance all in national costumes. It was very, very special. The entire event started at 10 am and ended at about 5:15 PM. A very full and appropriate date full of celebration."
Steve, Carol's husband is working with the mission Field Leader, Douglas, concerning management and financial issues. The two leaders from The Mission Society met with Steve several times while they were there to get reports, discuss and help come up with a game plan. Steve is devoting a lot of his time and energy to this process. The Field Leader, Douglas, has been under a lot of stress. He and his family have left for a vacation and time of renewal in the States. They will be gone until sometime in July or August. Steve will be overseeing the field while Douglas is gone and as long as he and Carol are there. Steve's administrative background before becoming a pastor is a huge help there along with his natural analytical skills. His Pastor's role must cover it all so that everything is done in a Godly way. Your prayers for the entire process will be greatly appreciated.
It is amazing how God has worked in the lives of the over twenty missionaries who have served or are serving in Kazakhstan during the last fifteen years. One of the outstanding churches began when a medical doctor from Michigan went to serve for a short period of time. When missionary, Joyce Chelius, took the doctor to visit one of the villages where immigrants from Poland had come to Kazakhstan by force from the Communist government. The doctor was immediately rushed to the home of a very old lady who was very sick. When the guest doctor examined the patient, he reported bad news to the patient's daughter. He said, "I am sorrow that I can not help your mother. She is dying." When the daughter and her family insisted that he try, the doctor said, "I can not help your mother, but I have a boss who is able to heal her if it is His will." When they inquired who his boss was, the doctor said, "My Boss is Jesus Christ, the great physician. Will you give me permission to pray with your mother?" The daughter said, "By all means." When the family members filled the house, the American doctor, in fear and trembling read the story of how Jesus healed a woman who had been very ill for a long time. He concluded the story by saying, "When this woman slipped through the crowd and reached out and touched Jesus coat, she immediately felt the healing power of God go through her body." Then the doctor said, "All who will pray with me that the healing power of Jesus will go through her body, do so as I pray." When the prayers were finished, the older woman who had been very ill, opened her eyes and asked for something to eat. The whole village began to praise God. No one was more amazed than the visiting doctor, who found that his faith in Jesus Christ was the most powerful medicine available to him, and he had become the founder of a Christian Church. Scriptural Guide: Read Matthew 9:20-22.
Call The Mission Society(1-800-478-8963)
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