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North
Eastern Europe Update: You Think Winter in Ohio Is Tough, Read On!
By
Jon
| For
almost five years, the Xenos mission team in North Eastern
Europe
has provided humanitarian aid and relief work to several orphanages
and Eastern
Europen
pensioners. Team members also joined a ministry-in-progress
that teaches Christian ethics toEastern
Europen
school teachers. As a result of this work, more than 100 Eastern
Europen
Christians now attend weekly Bible studies. The team hopes to
continue discipling and equipping Eastern
Europen
believers, so they can lead their own church-planting movement. |
Winter
has set in and our temperatures will range from -30 F, down to -40 and
all the way up to 32 F! And the sun, if it decides to show itself, rises
to only about 10 degrees above the horizon. On December 1, the sun rose
at 9:35 a.m. and set at 3:29 p.m. The long dark days tend to make everyone
a little more tired than usual.
The
humorous contrast is that when it is sunny during the winter, it is almost
always the coldest since the sky is clear and all the heat radiates outward
towards space. We have often joked that the North Star looks so much bigger
here, because we are so much closer to it.
Sometimes
when we go shopping at the outdoor markets in winter, our hands feel frozen
as we count out our money. Yet, our endurance is meager compared to the
women who are out all day selling goods in the coldest of weather. They
have no choice—they need to do it in order to survive.
In
contrast to the bleakness, the benefits of the winter here make up for
the cold and darkness. The snow can brighten and whiten the surroundings
at the same time, providing ideal conditions for cross-country skiing
or sledding.
People
also enjoy ice skating on the outdoor areas that are iced and cleaned
for that purpose. In addition, as the lakes freeze, many people head out
to do ice fishing as both a means of food and relaxation.
Spiritual
work keeps the team busy all winter
The winter is one of our busiest seasons with regard to Bible studies
and training.
We
tend to be heavily involved in different groups from October through April
or until “dacha” season starts. Dachas are the country retreats that many
families head to for vacations, and to work their gardens for the food
that helps them withstand the winter.
We
are helping a young community become spiritually established and self-sufficient.
Although
it is still in the early stages of growth, in the last several months,
we have seen God working in the hearts of some of the men and women. They
are more excited to share God’s love with people who do not know about
Jesus Christ.
In
addition, people’s spiritual gifts are more evident as they step out in
faith and begin to love and serve others.
Please
pray that God will motivate workers and leaders to serve the community
and take responsibility for its growth. We teach several discipleship/
advanced training groups, and hope these people will become disciples
of Christ and then teach others.
Team
seeks registration for future work
Of late, we have been trying to help establish a Eastern
Europen
umbrella organization that will allow us to continue to work here
under a more open framework. New laws and restrictions in
Eastern Europe
continue to increase pressure on non-registered religious groups
and any foreigners who are doing religious activity.
It
is our understanding and hope that by establishing this organization,
we will provide coverage for the developing community and us. It may be
as early as January 1 that our community gathering is no longer allowed
to meet in the school where we get together.
This
pressure is coming as a result of the increased presence of many
cults and sects in Eastern
Europe,
the growth and the presence of non-denominational Protestant movements,
and increased opposition by the Orthodox Church.
At
this time, it is essentially illegal for non-registered religious groups
to hold Bible studies in public buildings, distribute literature, or practice
certain religious ceremonies like baptism.
The
law, however, is written so that it is very difficult to register. In
essence, you have to have existed for over 15 years, and to have your
roots in the pre-perestroika era in order to qualify for registration.
It
isn’t exactly clear how a new group that wants to get registered would
be given the time to be established without external pressures.
Fortunately
for us, there exists the chance to be registered under a previously existing
organization that provides us with a certified, legal status of a religious
organization.
We
are praying that the registration process moves forward unhindered, and
that we will have this organization in place as soon as possible.
To
learn more about this team or how you can support them, e-mail
Melissa McQuate.
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