|
“I am the Bread of Life...You are the Salt of the Earth” – Jesus Christ May-June 2009
/read the UPDATE! below/
God has been at work in the lives of people we meet. We don’t always have the pleasure of seeing it. Sometimes the impact that He has on other people’s lives through us is not known until eternity when everything that is hidden will be revealed.
The first run of the Alpha Course in English has come to an end. Through the course we were able to meet four new people. Relationships with both churched and unchurched were deepened. The Course opened a door with one young unchurched lady to continue conversations about Jesus. The Alpha Course in English will hopefully make a return in the Fall. Please be praying for the Lord to lead the lost to Himself through this means.
Summer has finally come to Russia and, as always, is a good time to meet people out on the street. We would like to get to know the people around us better and since formal ministry responsibilities are at a low ebb, summer is the perfect time for more informal ministry. Families are out for walks, children are playing at the playgrounds, and life in general slows down a bit. People have seemed more open the past few weeks. I don’t know if it because the weather has been good or if we have passed through observation period and people are willing to risk talking to us. Pray that we will be able to meet our neighbors and begin to build healthy relationships with them in the coming weeks of summer.
Please continue to join us in praying for clarity and discernment in leading the Ural Bible Church in the coming months. Church attendees participated in a walk for Downs Syndrome Awareness showing the heart that the church has for the community. The church leaders plan to begin a group to minister to their peers. They are starting a group for professionals who want to advance their careers by honest means. We are seeking how the Action Group can be applied to the wider local church body and how other evangelism and discipleship aspects of the church can be developed in the future.
July 3-5th we are hosting an English Camp. It will be a privilege to have some friends from a church in Pennsylvania come and join us for this event. Pray that our friendships with the participants would be deepened, that mutual trust would grow, and that the Gospel seeds sown in the course of informal conversations would find fertile ground.
Thank you for your contributions to the Great Commission Fund (GCF) this past year and for the contributions to our work special account above and beyond the GCF. The GCF enables us to live in Russia and provides some funds for ministry. The work special account provides us with extra funds for ministry beyond those already provided in the GCF.
Your partners in ministry,
Jordan, Heather, Meredith, Lydia, and Katie
For updated pictures, check out www.cmainrussia.org and click on our name.
Your co-laborers in Christ are supported by your giving through the Great Commission Fund. If you would like to make a contribution to their ministry, please make the check out to “The Christian and Missionary Alliance”. Contributions to our support may be marked “Jordan and Heather Irvin - support” and contributions to our ministry may be marked, "Jordan and Heather Irvin - work special", or "Jordan and Heather Irvin - car fund".
Mission address: Our Russia Address:
Christian & Missionary Alliance Jordan Irvin
PO Box 35000 P.O. Box 92
Colorado Springs, CO 80935
www.cmalliance.org
June 12, 2009 UPDATE!
Dear friends and family,
Yesterday I was in a meeting with the head of the department where Heather works and in the course of the meeting it became clear that our visas are in jeopardy. Due to conflicting interpretations of the law between different departments of the government, the college was not able to get the quota/permission to invite foreigners to work. There is somewhat of an appeals process and also another chance to get a quota in early August. The head of the department is gathering documents to build a case that Heather is needed at the college and that she is the only one who can fill that position. She plans on going in next Tuesday to present the case. Please pray that we will find favor in the eyes of the officials and that the college will receive the necessary permission so that our visas will be extended.
Your partners in ministry,
Jordan,Heather, Meredith , Lydia , and Katie
|
