SLAVIC GOSPEL ASSOCIATION

Losing a Family and Finding an Eternal One

July 26th, 2010

Vladimir Tashtiev
SGA-Sponsored Church Planter
Nizhnevartovsk, Russia

Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the Gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age … (Mark 10:29-30).

For Vladimir Tashtiev, writing ministry reports is difficult. He loves to share about his ministry verbally and in person, but that isn’t always possible from far away Siberia, where he ministers in a village near the city of Tyumen. Recently, Vladimir wrote to tell us the moving story of a special baptism service — a service made all the more special because of the heavy cost to one of the young men being baptized. As Vladimir relates, even bitter cold couldn’t dampen the joy of those who have newly found Christ …

“We have a couple in our church named Sergei and Svetlana. They’re from the Khanti nation, one of the indigenous groups that populate Siberia. Today, the Khanti are largely Orthodox, yet maintain some traditional beliefs such as reincarnation and shamanism. Sergei and Svetlana attended classes in preparation for their baptism. After they completed it, they insisted on being baptized immediately. I told them to wait until summer, which in some parts of Siberia can still be quite cold. Then, I would be happy to baptize them. But they wanted to be baptized right away, in the lake! Our church was very happy with their deCISion as well, so we began to look for a swimming pool to do it. However, the people who run the swimming pool refused to allow us to use it for a baptism. We had no other choice but to head to the lake.”

The Story of Fanis: Even a Beating Couldn’t Stop Him

Through his baptism, Fanis boldly confessed Christ to the world.

“In addition to Sergei and Svetlana, there was a young man named Fanis from Bashkortostan who also wanted to be baptized right away. Fanis had already paid a heavy price for his new faith. His relatives have persecuted him harshly. They demanded that he reject Jesus Christ. After he believed in the Lord, Fanis’ own brothers came to him and insisted again that he renounce his faith. They even beat him severely. But Fanis prayed and asked the Lord to forgive them, because they did not know what they were doing. Fanis loves the Lord, who spoke those same words from the cross (Luke 23:34). So I baptized Fanis along with Sergei and Tatyana. The Lord adds new saved people to His church, and nothing can stop Him!”

Today, there are 61 members in Vladimir Tashtiev’s congregation in the village of Nizhnevartovsk. The congregation has a vibrant youth group, which actively and regularly invites unsaved kids to a rented gymnasium for sports and activities. Youth leaders Ruslan and Ivan are a good team in combining the spiritual with sports. Another brother, Oleg, visits a local prison once a week. There is already a small group of believing inmates meeting to worship.

The enemy has done his best to try and hinder Vladimir’s ministry. Last October, his country house was burned to the ground. A month later, he was in a auto accident and his car sustained serious damage. At first, Vladimir was upset, but then realized that these trials could help him better understand the problems and pain of others. “The Lord gave me the opportunity to meet and talk to the fire brigade and the local militia (police), and I told them all about the Lord Jesus Christ! I would never have met these people otherwise, so praise

God. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!”