FROM PASTOR TERRY TO ALL FRIENDS OF
THE CHURCH IN KLIN, RUSSIA
“If
sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies.
If they perish, let them perish with our arms over their knees. Let
no one go unwarned.”- Charles
Spurgeon
These
words have paraded across my screen saver for months. They, along
with the message of 9/11 can not be forgotten. That Tuesday
night at prayer meeting, God had told us that He had a fire
to His Church just as surely as the WTC was ablaze. Then He
prompted me to ‘own this’ as one responsible. Though the
Church didn’t do it we have the ability to stop more of what it
represents from happening again.
In
the same way the fertile spiritual fields of Russia are being
threatened. England learned that when their churches didn’t help
foreign missions, their homeland churches dried up. Having been
involved in short term missions for years, I am aware of our
responsibility to be a blessing to the Church around the world. When
there is a threat, when there is a great need around the world –
America has responded. The Church in America is still blessed
because they too have responded.
Today
there exists a threat in Russia. Few churches are
being built, but one I know of is continually on the edge of the
blessings of faith. The only place faith exists is on the edge.
That
is where Rev. Sokolov’s Church in Klin today, and the edge
is defined as a governmental and an Orthodox threat.
For
most Americans it would be a financial victory to be broke. But most
are worse than broke, they are in debt. In Russia this is
extremely dangerous. Can you imagine coming home one day and your
house, your car and your family are gone? In Russia that can
happen with no warning – no notice from the courts. If you
owe something – you can lose it. That already happened to many
churches in that part of the world! We can’t fathom that if church
down the street doesn’t like our church, they could appeal to the
courts without our knowledge and suddenly we would only have a
street ministry.
Right
now the average American credit card debt is around $8,000.
That means that in Klin Pastor Sokolov could lose his church
for the average debt of about 2 Americans!
What
I’m asking is that you would help ‘own this’ challenge
of being on the edge of the blessings of faith. Here is a proven
ministry that will let no one go unprayed for or unwarned. Maybe you
could imagine the literal, physical stress this puts upon a person,
but Pastor Anatoliy has the same commitment our President
made about terrorism. “I will not give up, give in or relent
until this challenge is won”.
A
lady in our church recently had cancer, however she was greatly
encouraged when someone said, “But we are not defeated, are
we?” When we realize that one Christian’s battle is all ours
then our united stand will defeat the Enemy. Won’t you contact Pastor
Sokolov with support? We almost over the top. The victory is in
sight.
Terry
Hartikka, Pastor
Cornerstone
Family Church
Virginia,
MA
For
more info:
thartikka@rangenet.com