Archives for 2014

Writing in JFK airport while enjoying the view a truly magnificent A-380 taking off with a newly built World Trade Center and the amazing Manhattan skyline on the background. Two-and-a-half hours of flight is behind me and nine and a half more to to before I land in Sheremetyevo airport. I am mentally preparing myself for sleeping through the whole flight as I will not have any time in Moscow to adjust my inner clock. The Fifth Annual All-Russia Orthodox Conference on Missions opens four hours after I land and they will probably stop letting people in after the Patriarch begins his opening speech. Hopefully, they will not make me speak on day one and it will mostly be the time of networking, formal speeches, and informal connections. And, hopefully, I will still be awake by 11:30 pm to present a Part II of the audio version of FaithSearch Discovery on the Russian Christian Radio channel in Portland, OR, over Skype.

It will be the longest day of my trip, however. On most of my other days, I will only have one event per day. Every day, including those when I fly or travel by train to other cities – Bryansk, Yekaterinburg, Asbest, and others. Actually, this time my geography will be rather simple: two weeks in and around Moscow and one week in the Urals. My audiences, on the other hand, will range widely and will include public school teachers and university students; church folks and clergy; Orthodox and Evangelical. I will also have a chance to address “open audiences” at city events and public forums, in person and over the radio.

I am looking forward to sharing my faith and the presenting the Gospel with Evidence to all these people and ask you to pray for openness of their hearts and minds to the truth of Christ. I am commissioned and sent by you and totally depend on your support and prayers.

What a joy it is to hear a response from one of the participants at the end of the presentation: “Thank you! My mind has been always looking for what I knew in my heart. Today I have heard it and seen it – loud and clear.” Nineteen M.Div. students and about eighty undergraduate students of Belgorod Theological Seminary (with Missions emphasis) were trained in FaithSearch Discovery and a complete presentation on a CD was added to their missionary toolboxes. I was not left empty-handed either, receiving two very flattering offers: to come again in November as a keynote speaker at their Conference on Missions and Christian Education; and to become their visiting professor for an extended course on “Applied Apologetics.” They want me to come four times a year, even if for a couple of days, and teach at both graduate and undergraduate levels. They will pay my travel from Moscow and a professor’s hourly rate at 120 RUB (~$3.50) an hour.

My travel and lodging arrangements there were, as always, simple but fully accommodating—an overnight train and a student dorm room with three meals and Wi-Fi service in some corners of the main building. Our conversations with faculty and students lasted for hours and touched on subjects of faith, culture, politics, arts, family, history, and many others. My audiences were rotating, as they had to run for shores and lectures, but they were coming back with more questions and inquiries.

During of my both teachers’ trainings in Moscow earlier last week the same question was raised repeatedly: “How shall we present the case for the validity of Christian faith to many students from a traditionally Muslim background?” This gave me an excellent opportunity to try some of my new material on these audiences and to hear their feedback. So far, it was mostly positive and encouraging, but answering some of their questions made me reach to the very bottom of my knowledge base in the subject. I have to keep reading and researching more on the Muslim theology and culture before I feel and sound confident and comfortable.

What a joy it is to hear a response from one of the participants at the end of the presentation: “Thank you! My mind has been always looking for what I knew in my heart. Today I have heard it and seen it – loud and clear.” Nineteen M.Div. students and about eighty undergraduate students of Belgorod Theological Seminary (with Missions emphasis) were trained in FaithSearch Discovery and a complete presentation on a CD was added to their missionary toolboxes. I was not left empty-handed either, receiving two very flattering offers: to come again in November as a keynote speaker at their Conference on Missions and Christian Education; and to become their visiting professor for an extended course on “Applied Apologetics.” They want me to come four times a year, even if for a couple of days, and teach at both graduate and undergraduate levels. They will pay my travel from Moscow and a professor’s hourly rate at 120 RUB (~$3.50) an hour.

My travel and lodging arrangements there were, as always, simple but fully accommodating—an overnight train and a student dorm room with three meals and Wi-Fi service in some corners of the main building. Our conversations with faculty and students lasted for hours and touched on subjects of faith, culture, politics, arts, family, history, and many others. My audiences were rotating, as they had to run for shores and lectures, but they were coming back with more questions and inquiries.

During of my both teachers’ trainings in Moscow earlier last week the same question was raised repeatedly: “How shall we present the case for the validity of Christian faith to many students from a traditionally Muslim background?” This gave me an excellent opportunity to try some of my new material on these audiences and to hear their feedback. So far, it was mostly positive and encouraging, but answering some of their questions made me reach to the very bottom of my knowledge base in the subject. I have to keep reading and researching more on the Muslim theology and culture before I feel and sound confident and comfortable.

On the road again! Actually, this trip will not be covering as much ground as were most of my recent ones–to the Urals, Siberia, Caucasus, Ukraine, etc.

Moscow alone, having a population of 12 million, should be quite enough for three weeks of classes, lectures, presentations, and preaching. At least, I thought so when I started planning this trip. Well, as it is said, “If you want to make God laugh–tell Him about your plans.” I have learned, therefore, to  p l a n   p r a y e r f u l l y , that is to simply make myself available to whatever routes and itineraries He has in mind for me.

[Read more…]

On the road again! Actually, this trip will not be covering as much ground as were most of my recent ones–to the Urals, Siberia, Caucasus, Ukraine, etc.

Moscow alone, having a population of 12 million, should be quite enough for three weeks of classes, lectures, presentations, and preaching. At least, I thought so when I started planning this trip. Well, as it is said, “If you want to make God laugh–tell Him about your plans.” I have learned, therefore, to  p l a n   p r a y e r f u l l y , that is to simply make myself available to whatever routes and itineraries He has in mind for me.

[Read more…]