Brian Newman served on the staff of LMCC as executive pastor from 2006 - 2009. This year he rejoined Christian Associates, the mission agency he and Susy worked with for many years in Europe. Christian Associates is a church planting and leadership development organization working in urban centers of Europe, the former Soviet Union, Latin America, and North America. Brian recently was in Ryazan, Russia to train church planters.
Dear Ministry Partners,
I returned from Russia and I want to give you an update. We spent our time in Ryzan, which is about 2 hours southeast of Moscow. Until the fall of the Soviet Union it was a "closed" city because of top secret military paces. It's a poor, industrial city of 500,000 people today.Rather than recounting the teaching we did, I want to tell you what I heard that God is doing in Russia. Christian Associates is partnering with seven churches in four different cities. Some of the churches are struggling, some growing, all are facing renewed persecution in a country increasingly hostile to the Gospel.
I was amazed at the faith and maturity of our leadership team. Sergey (see photo with orphan girl) is our country director. He has wisdom beyond his years, vision for his country that deepens my faith in Christ.
There is another thing that has stuck with me since returning. Russians are a people in great turmoil, with a society which is increasingly unstable. The former Soviet states - Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Georgia, and others - often verge on civil war. The government, which was initially open to Christianity after the Soviet Union disintegrated, has retreated and there is much more persecution of Christians.
I cannot think of a more important time than now for Christian Associates to be planting and multiplying churches in Russia. Thank you for making it possible, and please pray for Russia.Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel.
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