HIS NEWS
StreetCry Ministries
St. Petersburg, Russia
October, 2002

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

God bless and keep you!

It is a joy to write to you again and share what Jesus is doing! You are an integral part of our ministry and lives through your prayers, encouragement, visits, love, and financial support! Thank you very much for all that you do to help us here! At this time we rejoice even more because we are entering a new season.

KARELIAN CHRISTIAN YOUTH CONFERENCE

At the closing of the summer evangelism season our worship and evangelism band along with some of the Bible School teachers and students were invited to minister in the Republic of Keralia in NW Russia at a Christian youth conference. It was an exciting time for us and about 200 young people, youth pastors, and worship leaders from all over Karelia, Murmansk region and St. Petersburg. The theme of the Conference was "Commitment". We ministered as a team of 18 explaining how much every person is important to God and vital for the work of the Kingdom. At the conference we led a worship and intercession night, watching the Lord release the young people into abandoned praise and intercession for the youth of the region; provided personal prophetic ministry, and encouraged the attendees to live lives dedicated to Christ alone. We also held 3 days of seminars on worship and evangelism. Evangelism seminars had a practical side to them as we took teams evangelizing in the city park and other youth hangouts where the attendees had chances to share their persoanl testimonies. For the indoor evangelism concert the hall could not hold all who wanted to attend and so we conducted another one in the street the following day where almost all the local young people gathered and heard the good news. A lot of fruitful conversations broke out after the concerts and many young people gave their hearts to the Lord and were referred to the local churches. We keep receiving a lot of mail from the young people of Karelia interested in correspondence course of the Bible School, participation in the worship nights, receiving the newspaper geared to reach the unsaved youth.

NEW BIBLE SCHOOL YEAR BEGAN

Bible School started October 1st with a 3 day fast, a night of worship, prayer of dedication and key-note address stressing winning the youth of Russia, starting new StreetCry outreaches, reaching out beyond St. Petersburg, raising up leaders, denying yourself, living 100% for God, and community and loving one another. Two Bible Boot Camp, sixteen first year and ten second year Bible School students and their teachers are into the new year of studying the Word of God, putting it into practice in daily life, discovering and learning to flow in God given gifts and callings and finding a place of fruitful ministry in the Body of Christ.

WORSHIP NIGHT

The monthly citywide worship and intercession night on October 5th drew more than 200 passionate worshippers and intercessors from over a dozen churches of St. Petersburg and other cities. We invited the worship team from Resurrection rehabilitation center to participate. They began the night with a lot of spontaneous songs of abandoned praise and thanksgiving prayers. Our part was mainly intercessory. The outburst of intercession happened on the "SMASHING IDOLS" song - for the city, the country, the youth, holiness of the believers, claiming souls of the young for Jesus. Many came to the mic from the hall and prayed; people were on their knees in the audience and prayed. There was freshness in the Spirit and new fire in prayer. We were all very blessed and no one wanted to stop or leave but we must do so at a set time since we only rent a hall and do not own it. There was a sense that the battle in the Spirit that we were waging was won.

EVANGELISM

Andrei found a tract for drug addicts on the floor of the subway. He placed the little paper in his wallet. He was a drug addict. A year ago, he and his wife called in asking about the rehabilitation, but they never showed up for an interview. Finally Andrei's wife, Zalina, decided to visit us and came to one of our worship nights Even though she did not believe in Jesus it was obvious that God began touching her heart, later Zalina brought Andrei to the interview for drug addicts, where he prayed the prayer of repentance, but still had his addiction and needed to go to the rehab center but he did not really want to, so Zalina called her mother-in-law and asked for help. Mom-in-law lives on the southwest border of Russia near Turkey (Osetiya Republic). Instead, Andrei's sister, Vica, came to help. The three of them showed up for the interview again, Zalina, Andrei, and Vica. At first the ladies did not want to hear about the Lord. They basically wanted help for Andrei's drug problem and that's why kept visiting the Bible readings for drug addicts. Through these God started speaking to their hearts. The girls put Andrei in the hospital for detox, and kept coming for Bible studies that we organized specially for them, every day. They had many questions, and eventually understood that only Jesus was the answer to them all. They understood that the love of Jesus was so great - like nothing they had ever experienced before. The two girls repented! Now they pray together and come to fellowship regularly. Vica said, "I can see the power of God working things out in our lives." Recently Andrei and Vica's Mom finally visited St. Petersburg on the way to a medical conference in a town nearby. Back home she is in charge of the first and the only in their republic HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention center. The girls introduced her to StreetCry. She visited interview for drug addicts, talking to Alexey Utkin, who is in charge of the rehabilitation and spent a couple nights in the coffee-house listening to the testimonies of the former drug addicts who are now the Bible School students. God really touched her heart revealing Himself as the living Savior, she came to understanding of the meaning of what Jesus had done on the cross and how it can practically change lives. On the last day of her stay her daughter Vica led her in prayer of repentance.

Yulia was given our address by a secular detox center where she applied for help after serving three short terms in prison for drug related charges. She came for an interview and after about an hour discussion with Bible school students Vica and Nina she repented. She keeps coming for Bible studies several times a week and Sunday services and is going to Betel rehabilitation center soon.

Masha was referred to us by a friend who went through rehabilitation in one of the Christian rehab centers in the St. Petersburg region. She came on Sunday, several hours before the service began and spent time fellowshipping with Nina. As a result she gave her heart to the Lord and is coming to Bible readings and Sunday services regularly. She also is going to Betel rehabilitation center soon. Please pray for their growth in the Lord and grace to resist temptations.

The Bible School students go out evangelizing as part of the curriculum. Recently we felt led to go to the train stations with our newspapers geared for bringing the unsaved youth to Jesus and get on the "elektrichka" trains going from St. Petersburg to the small towns and back preaching as we go from the train car to the train car, then stopping to talk to the people who have questions or desire to receive the literature. Also as the weather is getting colder and rainier day by day much more young people are coming to our coffee-house where they hear about the Lord over a cup of tea or coffee, music and fellowship.

Lena heard the preaching and received a newspaper on the train to Kolpino, a small town 15 minutes away by train from St. Petersburg where she lives with her parents. She read the newspaper at home and came to the coffee-house the next weekend. She spent the evening talking to Sergei Abezin and Nina and at the closing of the coffee-house prayed and dedicated her life to the Lord. Next day she came to the Sunday service and on to the home group meeting that week. She is very hungry for more of God and His Word in her life. Please pray for her relationship with parents who are not very happy about her new faith Jesus Christ.

NEW REHABILITATION CENTER OPENED

Now we have a rehabilitation center of our own (for men). Two of our Bible School graduates and former drug addicts, Alexey and Sasha are ministers there. At this point two young men are accepted for a one year rehabilitation program. Roman got saved with us about two years ago, but got a job and backslid into drugs again spending over one year in prison as a result, now he is back dedicating his heart to Jesus afresh with a serious desire to pursue a new life with God. Sasha came from Crimea (Ukraine). Please pray for the wisdom for the ministers and God's power and fruitfulness in their labours.

MUSIC STUDIO WORK

The recording of two new albums, one focused on praise and worship and the other - evangelism songs, including the songs written by the members of our worship team began. Please pray for fresh anointing on the musicians that the albums would bless the Body of Christ and bring souls to Jesus.

Again, we want to thank you SO MUCH for all that you do for the Kingdom of God! We count it a privilege and honor to be His servants and we are grateful to Him and you for your partnering with us!

In His love,

The StreetCry Ministry Team
Compiled by Victor Avdyakov
and Vera Abezina

All tax deductible support checks should be made payable to: StreetCry

StreetCry
PO Box 7971
Athens, GA 30604
USA

StreetCry Ministries

DK Bolshevichka
Ulitsa Tushina 9
St. Petersburg, Russia
tel/fax: 7 (812) 440-6794
tel: 7 (901) 305-0249
toll-free voice mail: 1 (888) 696-5577

Safe mailing address:
StreetCry Ministries
P.O. Box 109
WP 619
53101 Lappeenranta
SU-Finland

E-mail:
sons@thunder.sp.ru
streetcry@onebox.com
info@streetcry.org

Web: www.streetcry.org