2014 Christmas Greetings and a 1989 Story from Romania

FROM R.K.’S CORNER

Last month, we commemorated the 25th Anniversary of the November 1989 fall of the Berlin wall, which became the symbol of freedom.

This month, there is another, equally important 25th Anniversary commemoration worth remembering: the December, 1989 bloody revolution which brought down the cruel Romanian Communist regime of President Ceausescu. The catalyst in the chain of events which unfolded the following two years — the freedom movement sweeping across Communist-dominated Eastern Europe was ONE courageous young man: a youth Pastor and his congregation of committed believers in Jesus Christ! It eventually caused the Iron Curtain to fall, The story is compelling enough that, although published five years ago on the 20th Anniversary of the event, I have chosen to do a reprint of that article which you will find below — our Christmas gift to you!

In God’s providence, years earlier, I had a small — but not insignificant part — in the dramatic story by helping save the life of this young pastor, Laszlo Tokes, who became known as the man who sparked the Revolution!

This Christmas, as we look to the nations, we see so much darkness, turmoil, war, and suffering — especially in the region of the Middle East. In many ways, the unrest and uproar against wicked regimes and religious oppression in those countries are comparable to the situation in the communist countries just before the Iron Curtain fell. We believe another curtain is about to fall, this time in the Middle East — and the doors to sharing the Gospel will be wide open!

Friends—let us not take our liberty and freedom of expression of our faith and convictions for granted! The descriptions of the names of Jesus Christ, written by the Prophet Isaiah (9:6-7) 700 years before His birth, echoed down the generations for another 2000 years, testifying that He is indeed the Light of the World (John 8:12)! This son mentioned in Isaiah, also said about himself in John 8:36, “If the Son makes you free, you become free indeed!”

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.”

DECEMBER 1989 – 25 YEARS AGO – THE FALL OF EASTERN EUROPE’S IRON CURTAIN

PREFACE

1984 – my first official picture as Director of The Bridge

Ephesians 2:10 declares, “… for we are His (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Have you noticed that these good works are most of the time not bombastic, earth-shattering events, but sometimes a string of day-to-day “happenings”? They are likened to a woven tapestry; we see only the pattern on the top side, but on the underside the Master Weaver has intricately interwoven connections of the threads which each represents a human life. When we as believers live in harmony with God and one another and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, His purposes are accomplished on this earth!

The Lord did the greatest miracle in the history of mankind — the birth of Jesus, by revealing Himself to a young maiden who simply responded, “Lord, let it be to me according to your will”. She bought forth EMMANUEL – God with Us!

My Christmas gift to you is a reprint of a true story from my life. It involves a Mission Director in Germany, a Theology Professor and his Pastor son in Romania, a Senior Pastor in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and myself. The “happenings” in each of our lives intersected as woven threads, and— unknowingly at the time, we each had a part in helping spare the life of the very person who became the spark-plug in bringing down the Iron Curtain!

A CHRISTMAS STORY – A Personal Testimony by R.K. Ulrich

1983— Christmas and Händel’s Messiah

From my seat in the balcony, I glanced around the white cathedral sanctuary festively decorated with hundreds of red poinsettias, filled to capacity with men and women in their best attire. The massive, magnificent pipe organ above the altar provided a majestic background for the 100 voice choir and full orchestra of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church (CRPC) as the magnificent annual Christmas performance of Händel‘s Messiah echoed throughout the building.

Leaning back, while enjoying the rich beauty of the sights and sounds of the music, pondering the profound depth of scripture verses from Isaiah to Revelation describing our Savior, I began sobbing and simply could not stop. It was a heart cry of intercession on behalf of the hundreds of wonderful brothers and sisters I had met from the underground, suffering church in countries behind the Iron Curtain while serving a two year tenure with an East European Mission located in München (Munich), Germany. I was emotionally distraught at the tremendous wealth displayed in this church sanctuary, while the Christian brothers and sisters I had just left behind in Eastern Europe did not even have their rudimentary physical needs met. Just a few weeks prior, I had returned permanently to the States from my stay at the Mission with a commission from the Lord: a vision of a bridge spanning America, Europe, and the Soviet Union with the words, “Return to the States and be a Bridge – do not build one!“ I was to be a voice in the West, representing the believers who were suffering for their faith in the oppressive communist countries, while being a conduit for bringing resources from the believers in the West across this Bridge to the East (2. Cor. 9: 6-15).

During this concert, I had a sense that somehow, in God‘s providence, He had plans to intertwine His purposes for the persecuted church in Eastern Europe, CRPC and myself.

1984 — CRPC Missions Conference

After my return from Europe to the States with the new commission, I re-established myself in Fort Lauderdale. A lovely elderly couple in our local church gave me a condo for rent at a price I could afford. It was in that place, with the help of my church leaders and the Mission in Germany, that the small beginnings of The Bridge originated. It “happened” to be located nearby Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church whose dynamic senior pastor, Dr. D. James Kennedy, was well known for his strong stand against the evil of atheist communism, calling it a religion.

Through one of the teachers at their school, Westminster Academy, I “happened” to be invited to speak to the students on missions. As a result, in the Spring of 1984, I “happened” to be invited to participate at the annual week-long Missions Conference of the church, whereby missionaries from around the world participated. It culminated in the Missions Sunday service, where I “happened” to be chosen from among all the participating missionaries to present the passion for world missions to the congregation during Sunday service.

Mission Trip to Romania

The Bridge was given a generous donation of $1,500 for my participation—the exact amount I needed to go on a mission trip to Romania, which I did under the auspices of my friends at the Mission in Germany. It was one of my many courier trips during which a co-worker and I would clandestinely deliver Bibles and other Christian material to our specific contact persons within the country. This time, before I left for the trip, the Director at the Mission “happened” to ask me if I would take a side-trip to the city of Cluj, located in Transylvania (a part of Romania dominated by ethnic Hungarians, home of the notorious Dracula) to check out the situation of a persecuted Christian leader who had asked for help.

After the delivery of the pre-scheduled material to our precious believers, my co-worker and I drove through mountains and forests and arrived in Cluj late in the evening, in an effort to evade the infamous Securitate (secret police, known for its brutality). We found the address, sneaked into the dingy apartment building, quietly walked up the many stairs, and tapped the secret signal on the appropriate door. A stately, elderly gentleman opened the door and, without a word, waved us into the apartment which indicated that he was a cultured, well read intellectual.

Istvan Tokes

Quietly, in German, Istvan Tokes began to tell an incredulous story. He was a senior professor of theology at the Reformed Seminary in town, and had for years been intimidated and threatened by Ceausescu’s leaders to collaborate in the government’s atheist agenda against the Christian believers. “At times, the pressure became too great; I gave in and helped spread disinformation through the church”, he admitted, tears running down his cheeks. He continued, “I have a son, Laszlo, who is a youth leader in one of our churches in the city of Timisoara. There is revival among the youth there. Watching their faith and courage has made me repent. Lately, I have also been speaking openly about the abuses of the regime and standing up for the church of Jesus Christ!”

Istvan then told us that he had learned that government officials had secretly plotted to kill both him and his son — one to be caused by a car accident, the other by radioactive material to be placed in the doorpost of his house. He then “happened” to hand me a typed, three page statement in German, outlining details of Ceausescu’s atrocities against the church and a plea for him and his son’s life. He asked if I would bring this document to America and give it to influential people, preferably in Washington DC, who could make their situation public? I accepted this precious document which was typed on an old-style typewriter. After we had prayed and said goodbye, I took the document and hid it in one of my boots — aware that, if discovered, I might be arrested and charged with Western espionage. There were stories told about Western couriers who had disappeared while on their trips, presumably caught and placed in Siberian prison camps.

Dr. D. James D. Kennedy

God had his protective hand over us; my co-worker and I returned safely to the Mission in Germany. From there I flew back to the States. I had no clue whom to contact. I did not know any prominent American government officials! The first I did, was to translate the document into English. Then, I “happened” to consider that the funds for this trip had actually been provided by Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church — why not contact Dr. Kennedy? After all, both men were Reformed theologians! I made an appointment. Dr. Kennedy met with me and graciously gave me ample time to present my plea for help to save the lives of these two valuable Romanian servants of the Lord. “What can I do?” he asked. “Please inform people who can give this maximum exposure”, I pleaded, while handing a copies of the original and translated documents over to him, “Ceausescu will never kill these men if he knows it will give him bad press in America.” Dr. Kennedy promised to pursue the matter. I left, confident that the Tokes family were in good hands and under God’s protective wings.

1987 — Wedding and Food Parcels

in the ensuing years, with my partners in the US and overseas, I kept building the network of relationships of The Bridge International, domestically and internationally. Our powerful bi-monthly intercessory group prayed continually throughout the eighties that God would smash the Iron Curtain and open the doors for the Gospel. The believers kept suffering!

In 1987, when Steve and I married, we asked that our family and friends, in lieu of wedding gifts, donate a monetary gift via The Bridge toward food parcels for starving Christian families in Romania. Over $6,000 was sent overseas. Steve and I joined hands and hearts, and – while living in South Florida, have continues serving the nations with the Gospel with one hand, while doing business with the other.

1989— Fall of the Iron Curtain

In the late eighties, media news reported on freedom movements that had begun emerging in Eastern Europe. It began with the Pope’s visit to Poland and the Solidarity uprising led by Lech Walesa. Increasing in scope and intensity, it caused, in the Fall of 1989, a largely bloodless political upheaval in Poland, continued in Hungary, then led to what became known as the “Velvet Revolution” – a surge of mostly peaceful revolutions in East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria. Romania was the only Eastern Bloc country to execute its head of states!

Romania’s Nicolae Ceausescu

Nothing matched what happened in Romania! During his 21 years as Romania’s president, Nicolae Ceausescu, one of Communism’s most cruel and oppressive dictators, kept up a reign of fear, suppressing all opposition with the help of the brutal Securitate, with the largest network of spies and informers in Eastern Europe. In December 1989, his downfall came as a result of his violent overreaction to public unrest over issues such as food shortages.

A week later, while standing in line at the grocery store, I picked up a news magazine from the nearby rack. On he front was an image of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu’s dead bodies, shot to death by their own people! As I read the feature article, I was stunned – it described Romania’s bloody revolution and revealed an incredulous tale – Lazlo Tokes and his father, Istvan, were the two Romanian pastors I had pleaded to be helped by Dr. Kennedy! Following is an excerpt from this news-article:

“Laszlo Tokes — the man who Sparked the Revolution! It began on December 15, with demonstrations in the western city of Timisoara against the harassment of a dissident ethnic-Hungarian Reformed Church pastor, Laszlo Tokes, who had the courage to speak up against the atrocities in his country. On that day, an order was served to remove Laszlo from his post, causing his congregation to demonstrate against the order, which was violently put down by government security forces. The revolt blazed a trail to Bucharest and the rest of the country. This soon swelled into a massive protest, during which slogans like “We want bread” soon turned into “Down with Ceausescu”.

Ceausescu sought to restore his own authority, but amid bloody street battles on December 22, an angry mass of people stormed Ceausescu’s offices. He fled by helicopter, but was seized outside the city. In a summary court martial held in secret, he and his wife, Elena, were accused of ordering the deaths of 60,000 people. On Christmas Day, they were shot to death.”

Dr. D. James Kennedy recounts in one of his books, “Interestingly, in the providence of God, I may have had a small hand in that situation. In the mid‑1980ties, I had been asked by a woman missionary, working behind the Iron Curtain, to write a letter to Nicolae Ceausescu. She wanted me to tell him to stop harassing two pastors in Romania , a father and son (who was a youth minister). Frankly, I felt such a letter would be in vain. Why would a Communist dictator thousands of miles away listen to an American preacher? But I wrote it anyway. I mentioned that the eyes of the world would be on the situation. After the tyrant’s fall, I received a note from the missionary thanking me for that letter which I had forgotten all about. She said that after my correspondence, “although the harassments did not stop against the Tokes family, they had diminished. The important part is that their lives were spared.” The name of the youth minister was Laszlo Tokes, the man who had been instrumental in the fall of Communism in Romania!”

On December 16, 2009, on the occasion of the anniversary of 20 years since the fall of the communist regime, U.S. Ambassador to Bucharest, Mark Gitenstein, compared Laszlo Tokes with Martin Luther King. “When Laszlo appeared in the window and gestured his followers to come close, he was not aware that the Romanian revolution started at that moment. With that simple sign of encouragement he said in fact: ‘Come here and let’s confront tyranny’. The same as Martin Luther King and Rosei Parks, Laszlo Tokes inspired those who were deprived of any right, to exert their God given rights, and so he gave the signal of the Revolution’s start”.

Germany: Commemorating The Fall of the Berlin Wall

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; as the rivers of water, He turns it wherever He pleases.” Prov. 21:2

On November 9, 2014 Germany celebrated a major historic event: the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall which took place on November 9, 1989. It marked the beginning of the German reunification after the country had been partitioned by World War II’s winning powers, and the Soviet Union, in 1961, had erected the Berlin Wall, dividing East Berlin from West Berlin.

On the day of celebration, hundred of thousands of Berliners, dignitaries and visitors from around the world gathered around the city’s iconic Brandenburg Gate to remember the moment which became the symbol of the end of the Cold War and the beginning of the end of the oppressive communist era of the Soviet Union. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the fall of the Berlin Wall sends “a message of hope and that dreams can come true, nothing has to stay as it is, even if it’s difficult. It is a message of confidence in our ability to tear down walls today and in future, walls of dictatorship, violence, ideology and hostility.”

Under a spectacular project named Lichtgrenze 2014 (Border of Light), 8,000 helium balloons were installed along a nine-mile stretch of path where the Berlin Wall once stood, separating East Berlin from West Berlin. A lit-up sky resounded with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony “Ode to Joy” played by the Berlin State Orchestra. Later, the balloons were released one by one – each bearing a message of peace and unity. The release of the luminous balloons was accompanied by a brilliant display of fireworks which bathed the Brandenburg Gate in an array of multicolored lights. Many of the people also visited he East Side Gallery where 1.6 miles of the wall is still standing.

A BRIEF HISTORIC BACKGROUND

Toward the end of World War I (1914-1918), the 1917 Bolshevik October Revolution in Russia heralded the overthrow of the Czar dynasty and set in place a new government. It was ruled by a state controlled, one party Bolshevik leadership who adhered to the Marxist communist ideology. In 1922, in union with Ukraine, Belorussia, and part of Caucasia, the Soviet Union (USSR) was formed which was legitimized by the British Empire in 1924, then later – the rest of the world.

In 1941, shortly after the outbreak of World War II, Hitler’s Nazi troops invaded the USSR, and the Soviet Union entered the war on the Allied side. The Soviets took control of several countries ceded to it by Germany, including the Baltic nations, Poland, Eastern Romania, and Eastern Finland. During the end of the war, the USSR began the permanent occupation of the countries where they were victors over Nazi Germany: Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and to some extent, Yugoslavia. These countries lost their sovereignty, were annexed into the Soviet Union, later referred to as Soviet Satellite States.

In 1945, Germany surrendered to the victors, the Allied forces of Britain, France, the U.S., and the Soviet Union— World War II had come to an end! To ensure that Germany would never again rise to power and go to war, the four Allied powers decided to divide Germany into four occupation zones for administrative purposes, which, in August, 1945, was ratified at the Potsdam Conference

The joint governing of Germany operated for four years, but it had become increasingly evident that the cooperation between the countries did not function well. In May 1949, the three Western Allied powers withdrew. The western occupation zones ceased to exist, and the three zones merged into the formation of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRD) – West Germany emerged as a capitalist, free democratic society. The Soviets followed suit, but by very different means. They took full control of their zone, forced the Marxist-Lenin ideology system onto the people and annexed that part of Germany into the Soviet Union as a satellite state. Controlled by the central Kremlin government in Moscow, it was, in October 1949, established as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), known as East Germany.

THE CITY OF BERLIN AFTER 1945

The city of Berlin was located deep within the Soviet zone, app. 100 miles from the border of the nearest Western zone. Due to its symbolic importance as the nation’s capital and seat of the former Nazi government, Berlin was not considered to be part of the Soviet zone, so, in 1945, it was jointly occupied by the Allied powers and subdivided into four sectors. Later, the three Western zones merged and became West Berlin, while the Soviet-occupied part of the city became East Berlin.

In the following years, West Germany and West Berlin began to prosper, whereas the Soviet-controlled parts did not progress. Before the wall was built, the Berliners could freely move between East and West Berlin, but during the next decade, an increasing number of Germans, most often the best and the brightest, began fleeing from East Germany into West Berlin and West Germany, seeking freedom and opportunities. Throughout the fifties, the stream of refugees became a flood; in June 1961, 19,000 people left East Germany through West Berlin, in July 30,000, and during the first eleven days on August, 16,000 crossed into West Berlin.

To stop this bleeding, The Soviet regime made a decision to block East Berlin from West Berlin. On August 13, 1961, the Berlin wall was erected. Built by concrete reinforcement and barbwire across the city, separating the East from the West, people were all of a sudden permanently separated from family members, jobs, and life’s normal social interaction. This halted the emigration, except for a few who risked their lives fleeing. It is estimated that between 1961-1989, app. 5,000 escaped and app. 200 died in the effort.

THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL

In the late 1980-ties, a gradual thaw began in the Cold War relationship between the two world superpowers, the United States and the USSR, which had a positive effect on the people of the East Bloc. On November 9, 1989, an East Berlin Communist party member announced the citizens of the GDR were allowed to cross the East-West borders. In response, thousands gathered during the day on both sides of the wall, demanding the gates to be opened. When, finally, at midnight, the authorities decided to open them, the crowd poured through the checkpoints. Euphoria and ecstatic joy flooded the crowds as family and friends, who had been separated since 1961, were reunited!

That weekend, more than two million people from East Berlin visited West Berlin and participated in a celebration that was called, “the greatest street party in the history of the world.” People came running to the wall with sledgehammers and picks; later they were assisted by bulldozer and cranes which pulled down section after section. Soon, the wall was gone! In 1990, Germany was officially reunited. The collapse of the Berlin wall became the symbol of triumph of freedom & liberty!

FROM R.K.’s CORNER

I remember that day very well. My husband, Steve and I were visiting a number of friends and ministry partners in several countries in Europe, and were driving by car from Nürnberg to München (Munich), when I turned on the radio. “The Berlin Wall has fallen”, the newscaster announced. We were stunned! How was that possible—how did it happen? Since 1981, when I joined an East European Mission in West Germany, and later, after The Bridge, in 1983, was established in the States, I had regularly prayed with fellow believers on both continents that the Lord would break the Iron Curtain and the Gospel be freely shared among the peoples oppressed by the communist regimes. However—when it did take place, we were as surprised as everybody else! In 1982, I had traveled through “Checkpoint Charlie” (the term for the most popular entrance gate between West and East Berlin) by car in which was hidden Bibles and Christian literature to be clandestinely delivered to East Berlin believers. I had experienced first hand the severe control apparatus at the checkpoint – the border guards with machine guns, killer dogs, floodlights, and the open area in the no-man’s land which we were told were full of landmines – “killer zone”, they called it. It was unfathomable that such a bastion of power of control suddenly would crumble – and that without a shot being fired, and without a charismatic leader being at the helm of the event! But it did! We contribute that to a demonstration of our God’s sovereign intervention in the history of mankind in answering the cry of the people for freedom!

In this issue, I am giving a brief overview of the main historic events behind the rise of the Soviet Union, the 1961 erection of the Berlin Wall, and its 1989 destruction, culminating in the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union’s Iron Curtain. It is a reminder of the truth that God has created man for freedom and that the fight and price for freedom is costly. The United States which was founded on a Biblical-based Constitution which established the God-given right Presently, in the Middle East, there are walls being erected against freedom. Those walls are not physical, but ideological! May those who are searching and seeking for freedom, find Him who declares, “When the Son makes you free, you become free, indeed.” John 8:36.

As you gather with friends and family around the Thanksgiving table and thank God for His blessings for our liberty and prosperity, please take a moment and pray for the millions who are suffering under oppressive regimes, and the approx. 100 million Christians – persecuted and tortured, simply because they express their faith in Jesus Christ!

North Iraq – Relief Aid for Syrian and Iraqi Refugees

FROM R.K.’S CORNER

There is no such element as “darkness”. In fact — darkness does not exist, it is simply the absence of light! When light shines, darkness disappears. It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. “For in You is the Fountain of Life. In Your Light we see Light!” Psalm 36:9

The above statement depicts the significance of our Arab friend/partner (we have withheld his name due to security reasons) and his wife’s September trip to the Kurdish part of Northern Iraq with relief aid to some of the two million Iraqi and Syrian refugees who are displaced by the terror advances of ISIS. They are overcoming darkness with LIGHT!!

Here is an uplifting trip report from our friends who are making a difference — they are Light-bearers in every sense of the word! I learned about their planned trip only a couple of weeks in advance, so in a hurry, we were able to collect $2,800.00 which we sent with them — 100% of the funds were used toward aid for the refugees! For those of you who donated — THANK YOU!

In November, our friends will again visit the people mentioned in their report, and we will continue to raise funds for the refugees they serve. I urge you to be generous — this is an unprecedented opportunity to demonstrate the love of Jesus in very tangible ways! Please donate on our website either via debit or credit card or your PayPal account, or send us a check in the mail! Please mark your gift: Relief Aid—Refugees in Iraq. Blessings!

TRIP REPORT FROM IRAQ

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus and in the name of the most Holy, our Father and Almighty God. I pray this letter finds you in the best of health and in the perfect graces of our majestic King.

We recently traveled to Northern Iraq where the Islamic State has attacked and displaced close to two million people. The purpose of our trip was to deliver relief and assistance and to recon the situation to see how we could mobilize the church in America to come to the aid of our brethren and to reach out to the unreached people groups living in the Mosul plain and Kurdistan region of Northern Iraq.

We traveled through Turkey, stayed one night in Istanbul and continued on to Erbil where we met with Ashty Alisha the founder of Zalal Life (Zalal meaning “pure”) which is an NGO operating out of Dohuk, Kurdistan. We asked Ashty to bring us to visit the Christian refugees in an effort to hear their stories and respond with the gifts of God’s people here in America.

Tarps hung across ropes tied to trees stretched for miles along the highways – the only shelter for tens of thousands.

Although the refugees were literally everywhere, we visited three refugee communities. Our observation was that the Christian refugees lived outside the city in outlying areas, while the Muslims and Yazidis congregated in the center of the city. Dohuk is a city with a population of one million; approximately 500,000 live in the city center, the other half live outside the city proper. The population of Northern Iraq is around five million and is approximately 96% Muslim, 3% Christian and 1% Yazidi and other religions.

Three generations from one family with a 93 year old grandmother — all displaced!

The Christian population consists mainly of traditional Armenian, Chaldean, Roman Catholic, and Greek Orthodox churches. The evangelical church is small, but very active and vibrant. The believers endure a significant amount of persecution from the traditional churches. The people of the traditional churches are very much in love with Jesus and willing to die for their faith, but know very little about their faith and put a great deal of stock in what the priests teach. Reading the Bible is looked upon as something only the priest does. Evangelicals are regarded as a cult, therefore not the true church.

The Kurds are very nationalistic. In most cases in Kurdistan, being a Kurd, trumps religious preference. There are exceptions, but the majority of Muslim Kurds are fighting the Islamic State.

Refugees from Mosul living in a hallway in the village of Howrysk.

The Province of Kurdistan is oil rich and becoming increasingly very modern; it bears all the earmarks of a developing nation. Left to grow, the state of Kurdistan could become a very wealthy, progressive state in a strategic location.

As we visited the Dohuk and Erbil regions we saw very limited evidence of aid reaching the people. We did see UN food trucks, but, contrary to media reports, there were no tent cities. The photographs included here are examples of the living conditions we witnessed.

Refugees living in unfinished buildings without walls with no water, bathrooms, or cooking facilities.

Many of the Christians are living in schools and unfinished buildings. Several unrelated families are sleeping in the same room with one bathroom. Unsanitary conditions are already causing health problems. There is no privacy for husband and wife. Children are at risk. This situation has no immediate solution.

Even if ISIS left tomorrow, the cities are littered with land mines. Very similar to Afghanistan it will take years to clear the mines. This means that there will be a large resettlement in certain areas for the Christians; this segregation will need to be addressed.

38 people from different families living in four small rooms.

In November, we will be bringing in a team of medical doctors to minister to the overwhelming medical needs in these villages. We will also be gathering the local pastors and leaders to do grief-counseling training and crisis management training to help the local leadership deal with the trauma their people have experienced.

The government has agreed to give land to the refugees. We can build basic block homes with one bathroom, a kitchen, and sleeping area for app. $3,000.00 The homes are small, but will keep the people warm in the winter, cool in the summer, provide privacy, and helping with sanitation. These homes can be erected in less than 30 days.

Two small cook-tops used in the preparing of food for 360 refugees living in a hallway.

While these conditions can be said to be horrible by human standards, we see Gods hand all over this situation. Every day there are Muslims and Yazidis affected by this crisis, who are coming to faith in Jesus Christ. This Diaspora of Christians has awakened the church to be the church in a place where it has been traditionally very challenging to share faith. The Evangelical believers who are on the ground have become emboldened to share in ways they never did in the past. There is a harvest taking place that is greater than the harvest of the Gulf war which is reaching people that were previously unreachable.

What I see happening, is not only a trial for Northern Iraq, but a testing for the church in the west. I believe that if we do not respond properly, the apathy and neglect we show towards the church in the Middle East, will bring judgment upon us in the West.

Our prayers, our gifts and our actions are tantamount to the grace we will receive in the coming days. This crisis is an opportunity to demonstrate the grace of the Father which we, in the western church, are commanded to manifest. The displaced people need everything. Some expressed that the children were so traumatized, it would help them if they had something to play with. So we went out and bought soccer balls, dolls, and other toys. The families were deeply grateful to see a smile on their children’s faces.

Our brethren have asked the church in America not to forget them. We told them we would tell their story. We need your help in ministering to the hurting, the lost, and the destitute.

Our plan is to make several trips into Northern Iraq this next year, not only to deliver funds, but to oversee the work the Lord has placed before us. We will make sure the gifts of God’s people get to their intended destination. We will come alongside of our brothers who are laboring on the forefront in this harvest the Lord has prepared.

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you, or thirsty, and give you something to drink? And when did we see you a stranger, and invite you in, or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.’” Matt 25: 34-40

Thank you for you for your love, prayers and generous gifts. May the Lord richly bless you for your obedience to Him!

Your Brother and Sister in Christ.

Jason and Jammie Stark – Birthing Hope in South Sudan

FROM R.K.’S CORNER

Last summer, Steve and I spent our vacation in rural Idaho with Kirk and Laura Keuter, decade-long friends, business- and ministry partners who, a few years ago, moved from South Florida to the beautiful Northwest. Kirk and Laura used to attend our Bridge prayer meetings faithfully, and Kirk is still a Board member of The Bridge.

Kirk and Laura introduced us to Jason and Jammie Stark and their three children who were temporarily renting their downstairs apartment, while preparing to move as a family to South Sudan to fulfill God’s call to Africa.

At first, we were skeptical — was it not too risky and dangerous for a family of five white, blond, blue eyed Americans to go live among Africans in a poverty-stricken, crime ridden country? However, as we came to know Jason and Jammie – their faith, character, determination, endurance, and commitment to their long term vision which Jason is presenting in this issue, our doubts gave way to admiration and support. They are the real thing — missionaries with a unique combination of deep, abiding faith in God’s goodness, grace, and guidance, combined with down to earth practical know-how! They are an excellent family to sponsor.

If you feel led to help sponsor the Stark family and their ministry via The Bridge on this website, please click on the DONATE button above, and mark your donation SOUTH SUDANESE WORKERS 2.

BIRTHING HOPE IN SOUTH SUDAN by Jason Stark

Jammie and I founded Birthing Hope International in 2009 and have been working in various parts of Africa for the last 10 years. We have just begun a long term work in South Sudan Africa among a people whose hearts and lives have been broken from decades of war. Although their hopes have been crushed by darkness, we are confident they will be restored with the light of the Good News.

B.H.I.’s purpose is Restoring, Equipping, Empowering His people through Christ centered relationships and unified works. We are focused on intentional, relational discipleship that sees people restored in relationship with their Creator, equipped to be obedient disciples of Jesus, and empowered to go out and fulfill their God given purpose for His glory. What we do is both spiritual and practical; we labor, knowing that God’s intent is a whole work of redemption and reconciliation for man and his environment. We plan to be based in Juba for one year with a long term goal of planting a discipleship school, mission base, church and holistic development work among an unreached tribe in the northern region of South Sudan.

MINISTRY

Gateway Group – We officially began our home based fellowship & Bible study group 3 weeks ago. These groups are focused on building community bonds, equipping believers to be obedient disciples of Jesus and empowering them to be those who transform their communities. It is a place where people find personal one-on-one support, prayer and encouragement forward.

This kind of group is rare. The traditional church is not well attended. Most people only know “church” as a place to pray and worship on Sunday, were they are not able to ask questions, or share their hearts. We are excited to watch people of all ages, those from different nationalities and backgrounds take hold of truth & live it out every day! So far it is going very well, God has blessed us with a small group full of passion to see others restored, equipped and empowered to BE the church wherever God has placed them.

Water Projects

One of the very obvious practical needs in our community is the necessity for clean water. Everyone in our neighborhood has trouble obtaining water for everyday use, like washing, cleaning, drinking, cooking, bathing, etc… Most people (us included) have to buy water from delivery trucks that bring it in from the river. This water is very dirty, both because of the muddy nature of the Nile River, but also from the fact that many people bathe, wash clothes in, and dump their wastes into it.

In addition to give away Sawyer water filter systems to help families, we also have plans to drill two community wells for ministry partners in and around this area. We were given a small water drilling machine which is now being prepared to be shipped to us through one of our ministry partners; they are committed to raising the funding for the first two wells. We are currently in the planning phases for these wells – working on material lists, pricing and fundraising for the truck that is needed to begin these projects. (Comment by R.K.: Bert Cole bought the drilling machine with the idea that he would stay long term in South Sudan and drill a water well for Simon’s rural tribal people, then one for Matthew at his property and ministry center in Juba, and then for others. Upon Bert’s death, in consultation with his family, we have given the drilling machine to Jason, who is well qualified as a businessman to learn the ropes and become efficient at well-drilling for the people in South Sudan)

We are believing the Lord for a truck to help in the work here. This truck will not only enable us to haul a well drilling machine anywhere we have opportunity to drill wells, but will also be used to haul the piping, rock, laborers who will help us, and other supplies needed to complete the wells. The Isuzu Elf will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $14,000 (import taxes, delivery costs, license and registration included).

“Our House”

“Our House” is the core of what we do. This part of our ministry is in a nutshell — opening up our home, our gates and our hearts as a central hub to our neighbors and to those who want intentional discipleship lived out in the context of family and Christian community. Over the last month, we have been praying, cleaning, rearranging, and preparing the BHI compound for those who will join us to call “Our House” their home. We are so excited and almost ready to dig into this part of Birthing Hope South Sudan! There are three additional houses on the property and we have two families planning to join us so far. One is a South Sudanese couple coming next week, and the other a family of five from Idaho, hoping to arrive late November. We still have one room available and are hoping for a children’s ministry, and teaching interns to join us at the end of the year. Pray for us, for these families and for the future members God would add to our team.

JAMMIE SHARING FROM DAY TO DAY LIVING IN JUBA

We have been here for almost 2 months now. It has been a really crazy time with both amazingly good and amazingly difficult experiences! We thank God that He has given us the strength and endurance to persevere through all the trials, and that He has given us joy through being a part of His work in people’s lives!

We are all settled into a daily routine, are learning the language and have somehow figured out how to do life as a family. Although Jason and I have been to South Sudan numerous times, living everyday life here with children, is a whole different story! We have no municipal running water or sewage. Water is trucked in and stored in holding tanks on our property Electricity is only available for two hours in the morning, and three hours in the evening by generator. Everything is done by hand, and so… our daily schedules have changed quite a bit from what we are used to at home! The food is very expensive here, so the picture above shows our first efforts at planting a vegetable garden in our back yard in the city.

Overall, the girls are doing well with adjusting to life in South Sudan, minus some cold/flu symptoms, pesky mosquito bites and Aliyah losing multiple teeth in one week! All three of them are happy to have made a few friends in the neighborhood and at church. We have not yet begun their home school studies, but are hopeful that we will have the funding for their curriculum by mid-October. Later this year we hope to have a teaching intern join us, not only to help with their school lessons, but also to be a part of our ministry team. He or she will also be working with the kids on outreach projects for the other children in our neighborhood.

God has blessed us with the opportunity to be here, to live right alongside the South Sudanese, while experiencing some of the same struggles, fears, and opportunities to overcome as they have. Through all this, we have had many opportunities to share with people who we are, why we are here, and what God has placed on our hearts for the future. This is what it means to be a witness for Jesus; sometimes it is fun and exciting, but sometimes it is also very humbling and frustrating, too – but we believe that He who called us, will do it!

More information about us and the work we are doing in South Sudan, as well as the opportunity to sign up for our monthly newsletter, can be found at www.birthinghope.org and our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Birthing-Hope-International-Inc/115403088789?ref=bookmarks

Iraq and Syria – Genocide!

FROM R. K.’S CORNER: The airwaves are full of gruesome images from the Middle East and West Africa of Christians being hunted down en masse by Muslims, then tortured and killed in the most despicable ways: by crucifixions, burials, beheading, being slashed in half and organs removed — all done while the victims are alive. The terrorist offshoot of Al Qaeda, ISIS, is in the process of carrying out a carefully crafted plan to eradicate all Christians in the areas they conquer; so far, they are making good on their promises. Ten years ago, there were 1.5 million Christians in Iraq. Today, there are less than 400,000. A large portion of them have now lost everything and are now on the run to save their lives. In Syria, the situation is not any better. In Northern Nigeria, Boko Haram is leveling and burning whole villages, often while the villagers are trapped inside their homes, being burned alive.

WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHY? In this issue, two of our partners. Sargon Daniali, an Assyrian born and raised in Iran, who ministers among Afghans, Iranians, Turks, and the peoples of Kazakhstan where he has lived for two decades (I visited him and his family there in May), and Paul Booher, the head of our Bridge online intercessory prayer team, are giving their perspectives on the current situation. Their answer is unified and clear:

Having ministered the Gospel among Muslim nations all his adult life, Sargon Daniali knows first hand Sharia Law’s effect on people subject to it. Below, he gives his perspective on the horrific genocide presently taking place in the Iraq , Syria, and other Muslim dominated parts of the world, and what our response as Christians should be.

MY PERSPECTIVE ON THE GENOCIDE TAKING PLACE IN THE REGION by Sargon Daniali

God is unmasking Islam and revealing its true nature by the brutal, deadly rampage of ISIS and like groups directed against Christians and other religious groups in Syria and Iraq. The deception that Islam is a religion of peace is being shattered before the eyes of the world, as these terrorists are racing to establish an Islamic State by instituting absolute obedience to Muhammad’s 7th century’s edicts from Allah, as written in the Qur’an:
In Islam, there are two houses, THE HOUSE OF WAR and THE HOUSE OF PEACE. The latter, which includes all true Muslims, must wage war against all non-Muslims (“Infidels”) and give them the choice of submitting to SHARIA LAW (Islam’s Constitution) or face certain death. JIHAD is the “Holy War” which is unleashed and will endure till those who refuse to submit are eliminated and a world-wide CALIPHATE (Islamic State) is established under Sharia Law, run by a supreme CALIPH — a successor to Muhammad.

ISIS is performing specially brutal forms of violence against women and children. It is part of Islam’s roots and core values. While Muhammad controlled Medina, he established a Bazaar (marketplace) called SABAYA, where women and children were auctioned off and sold into slavery.

ANTI-SEMITISM is at the core of Islam, originating from Muhammad’s anger toward the Jewish merchants in Medina. They rejected his belief system, with the result that he and his followers beheaded between eight and nine hundred of them, and gave their women and children to his fellow Muslim victors. Anti-Semitism is the demonic underlying force fueling the present conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The Response to the Genocide of the Muslims in the Region

The young people live in an atmosphere of deep hopelessness, considering Islam bankrupt as religion. They resent the brutality with which their leaders enforce the strict, outdated laws of conduct. They are torn between modern life and long to join the global community of freedom and liberty, but are forced to live in a society that demands a 7th Century lifestyle. They must live in a kind of schizophrenic society. Disenfranchised, with no future, and a sense of life having little or no value, they are easy targets for those waging Jihad and enlisting them into the ranks of suicide bombers. But deep inside, these young people are seeking for spiritual reality. They need something worth living and dying for! They are ready for the Gospel.

The State of the Church in the Middle East

The tens of thousands Yazidis languishing on top of one of the mountains in North-Western Iraq, some of whom are being airlifted to safety by the U.S., are a religious minority group whose faith is a mixture of an old Mesopotamian religion, Catholicism and Islam. In Mosul, the 60,000 Christians have been forced out of their homes and run out of the city by ISIS who demanded, “Leave, convert, or die” are Chaldeans and Roman Catholics, ancient churches who have had presence in Iraq for 2000 years. It is estimated that perhaps another 50,000 Chaldean/Catholic Christians have died, many at the hands of ISIS, others while fleeing from heat, lack of food, and water.
Traditionally, these churches have been spiritual enclaves and have preserved the Christian presence in the Middle East, but they did not evangelize Muslims. I have just finished reading about the seven churches in Revelation. The Lord judged the churches because they had failed to share the Good News and had lost their first love, Jesus. Twenty two years ago, I visited Northern Iraq with a suitcase full of Bibles to be distributed to the people to help them reach others for Christ, but the Priest forbade me to distribute them. He was not happy about his congregation evangelizing! The Middle Eastern church has been more concerned about preserving status quo than reaching out to the Muslims in their community. God is calling the church to repentance for being lukewarm! From the rubble, He will raise up a victorious church worthy of the words in Revelation 12:11, ”…and they have conquered him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death”.

Our Response and Responsibility as Western Christians

Pray for the believers in the region, that their eyes will be focused on the Lord, that they will look to Him for supernatural deliverance and provision!
Pray that they will be strong, courageous, and stand firm in their faith in face of persecution and death, not succumb to the pressure of conversion to Islam!
Share your finances and help resource the missionaries who labor in the region (Kurdistan can be reached from abroad). Donate to Christian relief agencies who are doing effective, low cost humanitarian aid!

CHRISTIAN’S GREATEST WEAPON: PRAYER, PRAISE, AND WORSHIP by Paul Booher

The horrific tragedies being played out in the Islamic world are being widely broadcast in the news media, so most Christians in America and around the world should by now be aware to some degree of the genocide of their fellow believers. We have been hearing about militant Islamist attacks on Christians in the Middle East and villages in Northern Nigeria, in Libya, in Syria, Iran, and Iraq. Hardly a day goes by unless we learn about groups of Christians being attacked and martyred for their faith; but what we have seen up to this point, pales by comparison to what is right now unfolding before our very eyes in the towns and villages of Northern Iraq. ISIS, a newly formed and incredibly vicious and unmerciful group of terrorists have unleashed a brutal wave of murders, beheadings and other things so terrible against women and small children which I cannot describe in detail for fear of traumatizing the reader. When I first became aware of what was happening, my immediate reaction was to cry out to God for His divine intervention on behalf of these people. But at the same time I was overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness in being able to do anything to help them myself. Knowing I am so far away and have so few resources that can reach them in time to help, what can I do?

Yesterday (Sunday, August 10^th), while attending our morning service at church, we were engaged in the most intense and moving period of worship and praise that I have experienced in many years. In the middle of the worship time, our pastor took the microphone and announced that he had been led by the Lord to have us intercede on behalf of the thousands of people who had been pushed out of their homes and had fled to the top of a mountain in a desperate attempt to flee for their lives. We began a period of united prayer so intense, people were crying out to God all throughout the congregation and weeping uncontrollably on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Iraq.

During this time, as our pastor was leading in prayer, God gave me a vision based on the story of the Prophet Elisha in 2 Kings 6. The King of Syria had come with his army to capture Elisha. When Elisha’s servant woke up in the morning, he saw this mighty enemy camped all around them. 2. King 6:15b—17: “The servant said, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ Elisha said, ‘Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them’. And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” God enabled Elisha and his servants to see His heavenly Hosts fighting for them! God told me to pray this prayer for the multitude stranded on the mountains, that He would open their eyes to see that God is their deliverer, He is their mighty fortress, so when they see with their eyes and understand with their hearts, their faith will break forth into praise and worship which is their most mighty weapons against their enemies.

As I have reflected on that vision and prayer, I have come to understand what God wanted to teach me in answer to my deep feelings of helplessness. United in prayer, praise and worship we have access to the most powerful weapons of spiritual warfare available to man. God has already given us, as Christians, access to His throne and His power through the Mighty Holy Spirit who lives within us. I am hearing a call from the Spirit of God for Christians to unite in prayer, praise and worship all over the world against this outpouring of evil and present darkness. Isaiah 59:19 is our call to arms as intercessors: “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in, like a flood the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”

Kazakhstan – R.K.’s visit to Yermek Balykbekov in Karaganda

FROM R.K.’S CORNER

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. I believe it is equally true that seeing in person is worth a thousand pictures.

In 2003, John Macintosh, a Canadian missionary to Russia who visited our home in Florida, shared Yermek Balykbekov‘s testimony with my husband and me. A year later, I briefly met Yermek personally while in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It took, however, ten years — not until my trip to Central Asia in May – before I was able to personally see him and his family in their own home, which is located in the city of Karaganda. In the interim, we had become good friends and ministry partners thanks to modern online technology which enables us to communicate directly face to face across the globe on the screen in real time. Karaganda is located in the central part of the country which is a ten hour ride by overnight “express” train due north from Almaty.

It was fun to be among Kazakh and Russian people without any guide or translator – no one on the train spoke a word of English; on the other hand, I am not fluent in either Russian or Kazakh. The sink-and swim sense in trying to communicate and be understood without words is wonderfully challenging – I had a great time with the people on the train! Once in Yermek’s home, language was not an issue; both he and his wife are quite fluent in English.

During my three day visit I stayed with Yermek, his wife Kamazhai and their children, and was met with boundless love and hospitality. They walked me through their lives and community while introducing me to their friends, family, and church fellowship. A scrumptious celebration meal with members of their extended family who are believers in EISA (Jesus), was indeed a feast fit for a king —bountiful with many Kazakh delicacies, all made from scratch with natural ingredients!

Before you read on, you may like to familiarize yourself with Yermek’s background, testimony and ministry to his people. You will find that by clicking on the PDF Archive button on the top menu list, then scroll down to the October 2011 Bridge Report and click on it. You can also click on the following link:

https://www.bridgeinternational.org/pdf/october2011.pdf

THE BACKDROP

The diverse ethnic peoples of Central Asia were oppressed for seventy years under the brutal force of the Soviet Union with demands that they conform to the Russian language and culture to find their identity as the atheist “Soviet citizen”. In 1991, when the Central Asian peoples declared their independence and established their individual national boundaries, the young generation began searching for their identity and spiritual significance.

Being rooted in Islam since the 8th century, Kazakhstan reached back, rejected the Russian influence, and declared that the Kazakhs, their language and culture were to be dominant. Although the country comprises over 100 different ethnic groups, “The Kazakhs belong to Islam and Islam to the Kazakhs”, became the slogan. It was not publicly acknowledged that there were thriving Christian communities all throughout Central Asia in the six centuries before Islam, mainly due to the massive missionary efforts of the Assyrian church. The historic fact is – Christianity was there before Islam!

The years right after the fall of communism, Kazakhstan was wide open to the Gospel, being called “The Gateway” to the other more spiritually restrictive neighboring countries. The evangelists from the West found open hearts to faith in Jesus mainly among the ethnic Russians in the country. Agape in Almaty with whom I just celebrated their 25th Anniversary as Evangelical Center, is an example of that (see last month’s report).

It continues to be more difficult to reach ethnic Kazakhs with the Gospel, as they reject Jesus, considering Him to be a Russian or American god. Another deterrent to the Gospel is a recent legislation which was passed and ratified by the President a couple of years ago, which has placed more government regulations on churches, and restricts individuals to openly share their faith in public. This restrictive law does not as readily apply to the Muslims or the Orthodox church. The new-found oil riches has lifted many out of poverty into a better life, but with the drawback that the prosperity has created a consumer society of materialism which drowns out the quest and hunger for God. In spite of all that, the young men in Karaganda flock to the magnificent-looking new mosque in the center of the city and find their identity in the resurgence of the Muslim faith. Not so many find their way to the Christian church.

YERMEK’S MINISTRY

Yermek, more than anyone I know, understands the importance of presenting the Gospel so that it is relevant in the Kazakh cultural context. “We must demonstrate that receiving Jesus Christ does not mean we must forego our own culture to embrace a foreign one, but that in Him we become the person we were created to be as Kazakhs!” A three time national Champion in Marshal Arts on behalf of Kazakhstan, Yermek laid down his future ambitions when he met Jesus Christ, and returned from Moscow to his home city where he tirelessly labors to present the Christian faith to his people. For several years he pastored a growing fellowship of new believers. Recently, he felt called to merge his fellowship with one of the larger Russian-speaking churches in the city where he is Assistant Pastor and leader of the ethnic Kazakh believers within the church. “It is important that we understand who we are as Kazakhs in Christ, but also that we belong to and function together in love with the larger Body of Christ in the city and world-wide. We recognize that God equally loves all nations of the world.” He has been given space in the church building to decorate a large room in the Kazakh tradition where he conducts services , teaches, and trains the believers in the Word of God, using the Kazakh language. Their meetings always include food and fellowship.

Great emphasis is placed on intercessory prayer. The prayer corner has pictures of friends and family members being prayed for. “Prayer is the very backbone of what we do together. We are now in the period of the Islamic RAMADAN. We are surrounded by Muslims who faithfully pray five times a day to Allah. Should not we as believers in Christ pray the more to our God—the author of Life?” Regularly, he and a group of brothers do prayer walks in the city while proclaiming the Word of God over the people! To the left, Yermek points to the customary three intertwined strands of the circular wood that is placed at the open top of their traditional YURT, the customary movable home of the Kazakhs living the nomadic lifestyle on the steppes. He likens it to a tangible symbol of the Biblical Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Their national string instrument, the DOMBRA, is displayed in the background.

HOME AND FAMILY I had a delightful time with some of the believing members of Yermek and Kamazhai’s family. Hospitality with food is a hallmark of the Kazakh culture—it was quite a feast! There were a variety of dishes of all sorts – meat, vegetables, fruits, pastries – all colorful, tasty, and homemade! The main dish is the traditional Beshparmak – “Five fingers”, signifying that it used to be eaten by hand, which is horse-meat with potatoes and vegetables, seasoned with culinary spices – after all, they live along the Silk Road! After dinner, I was given extravagant gifts — a gorgeous Kazakh national costume with hat, a shawl, and miniature handmade replica of a the yurt, the Central Asian camel (which has two humps) and the Dombra.

THE KAZAKH CULTURAL CENTER

Yermek is actively engaged in The Kazakh Cultural Center downtown where both adults and young families with children are introduced to their Kazakh cultural and historic heritage. So much was lost and forgotten during the seventy years of Soviet rule when the Russian language and culture were dominant. During my visit, I was introduced to language teachers and artists, musicians, and dance teachers with many volunteers who conducted a variety of classes; the building was full of joyful activities by children of all ages. I was especially taken by the masterful playing of the national instrument, the DOMBRA, by the music teacher who was training a young girl how to play. Please watch the video below: The Center is an important meeting place for the building of inter-relationships between families within the community! The glass cage above contains Kazakh artifacts still in use today.

One evening, I went with the family on a walk downtown. New, impressive buildings, expansive malls, broad avenues, and beautiful fountains with splashes of colorful lights demonstrate that Kazakhstan has made the leap into the modern world and has been transformed from being known, just twenty five years ago, as the obscure hinterland of prison and labor camps for unwanted Soviet citizens to becoming a major economic and perhaps political force in today’s world.To supplement the rather meager Pastor’s salary, Yermek has opened an attractive trade spot, (kiosk) in the hallway of one of the malls downtown. Among miscellaneous personal and household items, he sells mobile phone cards and accessories. Right now it is touch-and-go, but “My goal is that, hopefully in the near future, my business will enable me to be fully self-supported as a minister of the Gospel.”

Yermek understands that if he is to effectively reach his people for Jesus Christ, he must be active and relevant both in church and in the marketplace. “We must not only preach the Gospel, we must also demonstrate it through our lives – just as Jesus did.”

We would like to raise an extra $500-$800 per month toward Yermek and his ministry. If you want to sow into his life and ministry to his Kazakh people, you may either:

Give via PAYPAL by clicking on the DONATE button above and follow instructions, or:

Write your check to The Bridge International, mark it 8342 KAZAKH WORKERS 2, then send it by postal mail to: The Bridge International, 13762 SW State Road 84, Suite 423, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33325.

If you desire to give a set amount monthly, please download the Electric Funds Transfer Form (Direct Deposit) from the DONATE page above, fill it in and send it to us with an attached void check. This authorizes us to withdraw your donation monthly from your bank account. You may also call me and give your EFT information over the phone: +1-954-916-0521.

Two sisters — different ethnos, cultures, languages, backgrounds and outlooks on life—yet one in heart and spirit through Jesus Christ.