FaithSearch International

Proclaiming the Gospel with Evidence to All Peoples Everywhere

Schedule an Event Today!

952-401-4501

  • Home
  • Events ▾
    • Events Calendar
    • Community Building ▾
      • FaithSearch Discovery
      • FaithSearch Origins
      • FaithSearch Destiny
      • FaithSearch Answers
      • Unmasking the Masquerade
      • Explore the Evidence Community Breakfast!
    • Church Training ▾
      • Friend to Friend
      • Growing Faith
      • Operation Armor: Youth Initiative ▾
        • Explore the Evidence Youth Camp
      • Explore the Evidence Holy Land Tour
    • Speakers ▾
      • Dr. Don Bierle
      • Adrian Van Vactor
      • Dr. Oleg Voskresensky
    • Event Reports
  • Questions ▾
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Amazing Discoveries
    • Paraclete: News and Evidence
  • Dr. Don’s Blog ▾
    • Happ-O-getics
    • Christmas
    • Origins
      • Creation
      • Evolution
      • Intelligent Design
  • About ▾
    • Our Staff
    • Meet Our Speakers
    • News from the Field
    • Statement of Faith
    • What People Are Saying…
    • What Leaders Are Saying…
  • Connect ▾
    • Schedule an Event
    • Feedback
  • Donate ▾
    • Give to FaithSearch International – Support Gospel Evidence Today
      • FaithSearch Policy on Donated Funds
    • Many Ways You Can Help
  • Resources ▾
    • Checkout
    • Cart
    • Browse Catalog
    • Resource Categories
    • My Account
  • Learning
    Center
You are here: Home / News from the Field / International Projects / Russia / 2023 May Trip to Russia: Samara, Moscow, Novokuznetsk, Bryansk

2023 May Trip to Russia: Samara, Moscow, Novokuznetsk, Bryansk

May 22, 2023 By Dr. Oleg Voskresensky, Teacher

I had only four days in the Samara Region, but each of them was special and beyond everybody’s wildest expectations. In two state technical colleges where I was invited to teach a class on the Historic Foundations of Christian Faith, the audience halls were packed as the organizers had made it available to the entire student body. In the evening, the Neftyannik “culture palace” was again filled to the brim when I presented the Intro to Christian Pedagogy for teachers and parents of the oil producing town of about five thousand people.

The two young local priests who invited me there were totally shocked and very encouraged by the success of their event. They joined me for the Q&A session at the end, to follow-up with the answers to many questions and inquiries from the audience. I was, in turn, inspired by their enthusiasm and faith in the Lord’s provision for their ministry: “Honestly, we first didn’t believe that a speaker from the USA would respond to our request and would just show up in our small town. We believed in miracles – now we’ve seen one.”

Then it was back to Moscow for three days, to teach in a seminary, a church, a teachers’ conference, and a Sunday school class. The last presentation was done in English – at an Anglican church in the very center of Moscow. It felt quite unusual to hear people worshiping in English with the widest variety of accents possible, while being only a mile away from the Kremlin, where diplomats, visiting professors, businessmen, and exchange students come from all over the globe. Our ministry name FaithSearch International fit perfectly into that crowd, and our material – manuscript and archeological evidence for the Gospel – seemed to have made quite an impression on the regulars of that church denomination. Many came to me afterwards, apparently “surprised by faith,” to shake my hand and to ask for more references and links to the subject.

Another surprise awaited me when I arrived to Novokuznetsk as the keynote speaker at their state university conference on… what I had mistakenly read as “meditation.” As I was polishing my presentation for the next morning in my hotel room the night before, and still wondering why would they ask me to speak on “Conflict and Forgiveness, A Christian Perspective” – the word “mediation” (NOT “meditation”) popped out at me. It took me only a couple of the remaining nighttime hours to edit and format my PowerPoint® slides for each of my three presentations at the forum. I should read my invitations more carefully next time.

Then it was back to Moscow, again – this time on my way for a one-day conference in Bryansk where yet another surprise was ready for me: this year’s Cyril and Methodius Annual Orthodox Church Conference was canceled “due to the circumstances” (nobody here calls it the “war”) and so was my presentation. Not wasting one minute on venting my frustration to organizers for forgetting to let me know about this, I contacted my local Baptist brothers and, sure enough, they had me speak (for three plus hours!) at the half-way-house for a most-appreciative audience of former drug addicts, alcoholics, and criminals. Their questions are always very honest and profound and their interest is sincere and practical. I needed that especially after spending maybe a little too much time in university settings and seminary auditoriums.

Filed Under: Events, International Projects, News from the Field, Russia

Recent Posts

  • 2023 November-December: Belarus, Russia
  • 2023 November-December: Belarus, Russia, Tatarstan
  • 2023 September-October: Kemerovo, Tambov, Moscow, St. Petersburg
  • 2023 September-October: St. Petersburg, Moscow, Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo, Tambov
  • Mount Moriah
  • Happenings: September 2023

What People Are Saying…

FaithSearch Discovery

I have appreciated your teaching.  (I have already begun using it to answer the questions of my daugher.)  Thank you!  Your teaching is well-organized and clear, and full of insights I needed to be reminded of.  I was challenged to share my faith with boldness, equipped to defend my beliefs.  Again, thank you!

--KB Participant Binghamton, NY March 2, 2017

Read More Testimonials
  • Home
  • Events ▾
    • Events Calendar
    • Community Building ▾
      • FaithSearch Discovery
      • FaithSearch Origins
      • FaithSearch Destiny
      • FaithSearch Answers
      • Unmasking the Masquerade
      • Explore the Evidence Community Breakfast!
    • Church Training ▾
      • Friend to Friend
      • Growing Faith
      • Operation Armor: Youth Initiative ▾
        • Explore the Evidence Youth Camp
      • Explore the Evidence Holy Land Tour
    • Speakers ▾
      • Dr. Don Bierle
      • Adrian Van Vactor
      • Dr. Oleg Voskresensky
    • Event Reports
  • Questions ▾
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Amazing Discoveries
    • Paraclete: News and Evidence
  • Dr. Don’s Blog ▾
    • Happ-O-getics
    • Christmas
    • Origins
      • Creation
      • Evolution
      • Intelligent Design
  • About ▾
    • Our Staff
    • Meet Our Speakers
    • News from the Field
    • Statement of Faith
    • What People Are Saying…
    • What Leaders Are Saying…
  • Connect ▾
    • Schedule an Event
    • Feedback
  • Donate ▾
    • Give to FaithSearch International – Support Gospel Evidence Today
      • FaithSearch Policy on Donated Funds
    • Many Ways You Can Help
  • Resources ▾
    • Checkout
    • Cart
    • Browse Catalog
    • Resource Categories
    • My Account
  • Learning
    Center

What People Are Saying…

FaithSearch International

I have invited Dr. Don Bierle to preach and hold conferences in the two churches I have pastored in the past twenty years more often than any other speaker because of his appeal to both the head and the heart.  His premise that faith in Jesus Christ—is a more reasonable response by a rational person ... Read more >>

-Bruce Montgomery, D. Min. Pastor, Grace Church Desert Hot Springs, CA

Read More Testimonials
Donate to FaithSearch

FaithSearch International celebrates over forty years of proclaiming the Gospel with evidence to all peoples everywhere. Thank you for considering being a prayer and financial … Read More >>

About FaithSearch – Our Promise

The mission of FaithSearch International is to "Extend the Gospel with Evidence to all peoples Everywhere." FaithSearch delivers the "Ah-ha!" moment in your church and community with an exciting, … Read More >>

Search our Site

Member of ECFA


FaithSearch is a member in good standing of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability® (ECFA).
All donations to FaithSearch are tax deductible to the full extent of IRS regulations.

Archives

FaithSearch International

6750 France Ave. S., STE 270
Edina, MN 55435

952.401.4501

Office hours are Tu-Th, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM

Schedule NOW

Bring a Speaker to your Church

Main Events

FaithSearch: Discovery

FaithSearch: Origins

FaithSearch: Destiny

FaithSearch: Supernatural Exposed

About Us

Get to know FaithSearch

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy
Policy on Donated Funds
Return Policy
Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2023 · Outreach Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in