Recently I’ve been re-reading a great book called The Heart Reader. It’s a story about a guy who is suddenly given the gift of being able to hear the deepest needs of people’s souls. At first, it seems like a curse to him, because he feels inadequate to respond and is overwhelmed by the needs. But he soon discovers the joy of being able to present people with the perfect solution to their souls’ cries: Jesus Christ. And because he is able to speak to what specifically concerns them, they are willing to listen.
In the world around us, each person is seeking in some way to find an answer to his or her soul’s cry. Recently, I was in an Orthodox church and observed a large group of people, all lined up and waiting to kiss an icon of Mary.
Obviously, these people are seeking something. They are in a church, even a church that teaches from the Bible, but they are putting their hope in a man-made picture of a simple woman. I felt so sad as I realized that most of them would probably leave that church with their soul’s cry unanswered.
As we continue to build relationships with people here in St. Pete, God is giving us glimpses into people’s souls.
Sometimes people share their needs openly; sometimes we can discern from what we observe. Sometimes God reveals specific things to us. If we didn’t know Jesus, we would only be able to offer a listening ear, maybe some practical help. But, we have much more than that to offer.
We have Jesus, the answer to their soul’s deepest need! It sounds so simple, but there can be many obstacles thrown up between the seeker and his Savior. Pray for us to hear the Spirit clearly as we speak to the souls of people. Pray for the lost people of St. Pete to meet Jesus.
Pray that it would happen this summer—this week! Your prayers bring down obstacles and pave the way for our ministry. THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!!
THANK HIM!
Ways God’s been working since our last letter:
► Special Visitors - We are so thankful for a wonderful 2-week visit with Donnie’s mom, Becky and our good friend, Gloria. It was great to be able to share our world with them and be encouraged at a point when we were feeling especially lonely.
►English Club - Yesterday was our final official English Club before a break for the summer. (see pics of our cookout party!) We are so thankful that we’ve gotten to know over 40 non-churched people through this ministry. During the summer, we will build on these relationships through an English Camp and many informal events, but right now we’re thanking God for the success of this ministry so far. Thanks for praying!
ASK HIM!
Prayer needs for the month of June:
►Fundraising - As we’ve mentioned before, our long-term goal is to develop a community center, Road of Life, through which we can minister to felt needs in the city and build relationships. As our North American teammates return this summer, we hope to begin pursuing this goal more aggressively, and fundraising has already begun. Please pray that we would see miraculous provision of the resources needed for Road of Life Community Center. You’ll hear lots more about this in the coming year!
►Prayer Ministry in our Church - We’d like to help our church grow in the area of corporate prayer. Donnie has begun gathering people before Sunday services to pray, and each week more people join in. He has also begun leading prayer walks in our region. Pray that God would give our church a passion for prayer, and that He would use these prayer walks to prepare our neighborhood for spiritual breakthrough!
►Baseball with Canadians! - We are currently working with a Campus Crusade missions team, here for 5 weeks from Canada. On Saturdays, we are playing baseball and other sports in a public park, hoping to draw in passers-by and build friendships with them. Pray that God will work in and through this team for His kingdom!
►Family Life - We’ve noticed more conflict and tension than usual lately in our marriage and interaction with our kids. Ask God to restore peace and joy to our family, and that He’ll teach us to live out His love and righteousness. Pray that He’ll use our upcoming vacation to draw us closer to each other and to Him.
►Apartment-hunting - One of our responsibilities this summer is to find apartments for our returning teammates. Pray that God will lead us to the right apartments for the Friesens and Eggletons. Pray for these families as they prepare to return to Russia.
►Job-hunting - The financial crisis is hitting Russia hard, and many are losing their jobs or simply not being paid regularly at the jobs they have. Pray specifically for jobs for Yuri (from church) and Olya (from English Club), and for people to see God’s provision for their financial needs.
Donnie, Blythe, Isaiah, and KatyaMason
C&MA missionaries to Russia
Finances
One helpful way you can support us financially right now is to give to the Great Commission Fund in our name. When you do, 100% of what you give goes toward our support, freeing up other GCF funds to support other missionaries around the world. To do this, make a check out to the Christian & Missionary Alliance and write “GCF, for the support of Donnie and Blythe Mason” in the memo line and send it to: The C&MA, P.O. Box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO 80935. Or, you can give online by going to www.cmalliance.org and select “How to Get Involved”. Then choose “Support the Mission”, “Give Now”, “Support an Int’l Worker.” If you’d like to give toward Road of Life Community Center, at that last step, choose “Provide Relief to a hurting world” instead, and click on “Donate now.” At the bottom of the page, choose “Approved Special”, then “Jump to Europe/ Middle East”, then “Russia Field”, then “St. Petersburg Church Plant”.
