SLAVIC GOSPEL ASSOCIATION

Feb 2010 Innercircle Perspective

February 1st, 2010

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;   who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.   Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved (Philippians 3:17-4:1).

As we launch into the new year, it is good to catch our breath and assess our perspectives.   Daily we are bombarded by the values and philosophies of the world through mass media, our educational environments, employment environments and political structures.    More often than we realize, we are being unwittingly influenced like the cold-blooded frog in the warming water in the biology lab experiment.   

We can forget that our citizenship on this earth is secondary, and it is fleeting.   Our real citizenship is in heaven, where we shall abide in eternal joy with praise and glory to Christ.   During a time when economic issues have been impacting our lives, and the direction of our nation is troubling,   we can become absorbed by talk radio and TV news and analysis programs.   It seems the responsible thing to do, but we can easily become entangled in earthly concerns, when we need to be serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.    

A trip to Beslan, Russia, serves dramatically to clear the fog and sharpen one’s focus.   You may recall the horrific evil that transpired on September 1st, 2004, when Public School No. 1 was attacked by Muslim terrorists. Some 1,200 children, teenagers, teachers, school staff, administrators, parents and grandparents were captured at the opening ceremony for the new school year.   After three days of thirst and torture, 334 hostages were killed, including 186 children.   Hundreds more were wounded or reported missing.   

Two pastors and their wives lost six children between them, and another son was shot in the back and lost an eye.   Altogether the Beslan Baptist Church lost a Sunday school teacher and 15 children.   While in deep mourning for their own lost, the pastors and their wives led the church family in many outreaches to the desperately grieving community.   Since then their regular witness has expanded to all 11 public schools, and their goal is to become an Antioch church to reach all of North Ossetia for Christ.  

Now, five years later, the Sunday worship was glorious – especially the singing, the special recitations of many children, and the extended prayer time.   That evening the fellowship with 20 faithful men went on for five hours, with singing, sharing and a wonderful meal prepared by the ladies.   Families that were devastated are still grieving, but they have found the Lord’s grace sufficient to sustain them. Serving Christ and reaching out to the lost is their passion.   They pay no heed to economic and political developments. Even tragedy-related health issues do not deter them.   They just keep standing firm and pressing on, following the example of the Apostle Paul.   

As for me, each time we drove past the ruins of the school building I found myself looking away.   Imagine having each day to pass by the bombed-out school building where your precious children were tortured and killed, and the cemetery where they are buried. Knowing they are with the Lord is a great comfort, but the heart-felt grief is never truly gone.

Just to spend time with these precious Christians and experience their faith and love is a deeply humbling experience.   Their hearts remain filled with gratitude to all the SGA partners who helped them in their time of great need.   Please keep the two Totiev families and the entire Beslan Baptist Church in your prayers.   Pray that the Lord will fill their hearts with peace and joy that overcomes their sorrow.   And pray for the Montana Antioch Coalition that is equipping their church to train and send church planters throughout North Ossetia.