Beslan Update:
The following email update was sent on May 10, 2005. Interested in reading more information about what God is doing in Beslan? Learn More
Dear Partners in the Gospel,
Greetings in the name of our wonderful risen Savior, Lord, and King, Jesus Christ!
Since Pastor Sergei's recent visit to SGA, I have been staying in close touch with the Totievs to keep you current concerning their health conditions. Thank you for praying for Bella, who is now two months pregnant, and for their son, Azamat. Yesterday Bella reported that she feels better and is grateful for all the prayers. Her pregnancy is proceeding smoothly. However, a few days ago she had an ultrasound examination and the doctors said that the dangerous clot in her left calf had not yet dissolved completely.
Concerning their son, Azamat, Bella said that the eye socket infection which he had is almost gone. The local doctors are satisfied with the treatment but say that the prosthetic eye has to be changed every year due to the fact that Azamat is still growing. Sergey and Azamat are planning to go to Moscow on May 11, 2005. There the Moscow Eye Clinic staff will run a series of tests and advise specifically concerning Azamat's future treatment needs.
I am also writing to express deep appreciation again for all your prayers and support of our Christian brothers and sisters in Beslan who lost sixteen of their precious children and a beloved Sunday School teacher and mother in the horrific terrorist attack on Beslan School No. 1 on September 1-3, 2004. And I want to thank you for praying for all who were injured but survived, and for the crucial Beslan Baptist Church ministries to the entire grief-stricken Beslan Community. Over these past months your sacrificial support has made much outreach ministry possible in Beslan and in the surrounding affected region.
Visitation of Victim Families
Church members have been visiting more than 270 families who lost
children in the great tragedy. They encourage them, take them
gifts, share the Gospel, pray for them, and give them New
Testaments and other suitable Christian literature.
Dinner for Mothers Who Lost Children
Recently the church rented a banquet hall and held a special
dinner for the mothers whose children had perished. Following a
delicious meal the program consisted of special music, Christian
poetry and a message from God's Word to assure the grieving
mothers that their children are safe in the arms of God in
heaven. The mothers who attended received appropriate Christian
literature, and all expressed interest in attending a similar
meeting in the future.
Christmas Outreaches
The Immanuel's Child Christmas outreaches brought great joy to
the children of Beslan and the nearby communities. Altogether,
2,261 children and 853 adults attended the evangelistic Christmas
outreach events. The youth groups assisted in the presentation
of Christmas plays and puppet shows, and the children were
thrilled to receive their Immanuel's child gifts and stars of
Bethlehem ornaments signed by caring Christians in America. The
Beslan Church, alone, reports that as a result of the Immanuel's
Child Outreach 35 new adults and eight new children have been
coming to church.
Evangelistic Winter Youth Camp
During the first week of January, 2005 an evangelistic winter
youth camp was held for un-churched Beslan high school seniors at
the rented Kislovodsk "Piket" Camp facility. Beslan youth
pastor, German Dzheriev, reported:
"67 young people listened to clear Bible stories and truths about Christ and saw the real actions of God in the lives of people. Many of them did not know the purpose of Jesus' coming to earth nor why He was crucified. They had more and more questions each day about God and the Bible.
As a result of attending the camp, most of them have changed their opinions about believers, and Baptists in particular. They saw and realized that these people are not sectarians or fanatics, but wise, interesting and creative people, who love to live a joyful life as the Scriptures teach. At the conclusion the young people expressed sorrow that their time at the camp was so short!
Though none of them openly confessed Jesus as their Savior, many of them learned to think deeply about life and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Those who had never thought about life after death - began to ask - what would happen to them? We met new people at the camp and became friends with them. I can say with confidence that with the help of such camps we can make much progress in reaching normally difficult to reach young people in Beslan. Our youth ministry is growing and the camp program is playing a vital part.
By this I would like to express deep appreciation to all who supported us with prayers and funds in the implementation of the winter camp - 2005 in Kislovodsk town. May the Lord bless you!"
Your brother in Christ,
German Dzheriev
(As a result of the Beslan Winter Youth Camp at Piket in Kislovodsk, 10 new youth have been attending church services and the youth meetings.)
Special Edition Russian Language Books for Beslan Both "The Freedom and Power of Forgiveness" and "Safe in the Arms of God" have been printed two months ago but have been held up at the printing company in Minsk, Belarus in a customs dispute. Thankfully they were released in time for distribution to more than 300 youth at a conference held on April 15-17. Pastor Sergei Totiev has indicated that church members will first go door to door distributing "Safe in the Arms of God" to all the families who have lost children. When a month has passed they plan, in like manner, to distribute "The Freedom and Power of Forgiveness". The Russian version of "Faith to Grow On," the excellent children's theology book is scheduled for printing in June.
Youth Conference
As reported by Pastor Victor Levashov regional pastor for the
Northern Caucasus Region: "I decided to write to you immediately
to thank you for the support with the Youth Conference in the
North Caucasus, held on April 15-17. It was a wonderful
Conference. Over 300 young people from North Osetia and
neighboring regions took part in it, coming from 24 churches.
Several people came forward and repented. The speaker then
emphasized the importance of outreach, about God's privilege
given to us to reach this world with His Gospel, and called for a
personal prayer of commitment. Several people came forward and
prayed.
The bulk of the speaking time was given to Russian UECB national youth director, Eugene Bakhmutsky. He is a man fully devoted to the youth ministry. He said that the basis for the success is not in the searching of methods, but in a personal spiritual life, based up on the Holy Scriptures. Young people were very much satisfied. And all of them send you their appreciation for the Conference and for the books by Dr. John MacArthur "Safe in God's hands" and "The Freedom and Power of Forgiveness".
Sunday School Building
The Beslan Baptist Church has been holding Sunday School classes
on Saturdays in their worship sanctuary because they have no
classrooms for the children, nor a room suitable for a youth
meeting. With the growing children's and youth ministries the
need for a Sunday School building is great. The church leaders
engaged an architect and now have a construction project ready
for commencement. The building would be a two-story structure
with a total of 4,000 square feet.
It will include 4 classrooms, a youth meeting hall, a computer classroom, a room for mothers with babies, a kitchen, and restrooms. Church members will serve as volunteer workers to minimize the construction cost which is estimated to be $157,462 or $39 per square foot. Thanks to your help, we were able to transfer $43,000 for the first phase. Please join us in prayer for the remainder of the construction need plus the additional funds that will be needed for furniture and equipment.
Evangelistic Summer Camps
Since last fall the church has been planning an extensive
schedule of evangelistic summer camps for the children and youth
of Beslan. In the meantime, however, government and social
agencies, and charitable organizations have been sponsoring
vacation trips for the children of Beslan to various warm
weather, high quality resorts in other countries.
Against the backdrop of such experiences, church leaders are concerned about the quality of summer camp that they could provide. They are concerned that camp sessions held at the contrasting limited camp facilities in the region would not be well received by the children and have a lasting negative affect. Because of this they have placed their camp plans on hold as they evaluate other possibilities for reaching out to the children of Beslan this summer.
Conclusion
As you can readily see, the Lord is at work through the members
of Beslan Baptist Church. Your prayers are being answered and
your support, enabling these many ministries to the grieving
community, is being greatly blessed.
In the days ahead, please pray for
- The two Totiev families, who together lost six children, for Azamat and for Bella.
- The Beslan church members as they go door to door presenting "Safe in the Arms of God" and then again in a month, when they go door to door again presenting "The Freedom and Power of Forgiveness."
- The Beslan church leaders as they prayerfully consider how best to reach out to the children of the grieving community over the summer months.
- Funds to enable the completion of the Beslan Sunday School Construction.($114,462)
- Funds needed to print a large quantity of the excellent fully illustrated children's theology, "Faith to Grow On". (Approximately $5 each)
- That from the ashes of Beslan School No. 1 the Lord will fulfill the vision of church members and raise up a great Antioch church capable of training their own and sending them out as missionaries to plant daughter churches all over North Osetia.
Thank you, again, for all your faithful prayers, and all your sacrificial support. May the bless you and all your loved ones beyond measure as faithfully you serve Him.
In His love and service,
Bob Provost
President, Slavic Gospel Association
Feel free to pass this report on to others who may be interested. Interested in reading more information about what God is doing in Beslan? Learn More
Warning: main(/includes/sidebar.php) [function.main]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /www/sga/beslan/20050519.php on line 301
Warning: main() [function.include]: Failed opening '/includes/sidebar.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php') in /www/sga/beslan/20050519.php on line 301