It’s WINTER!!!! Really, it is!!!

 

Brrr… you say, but it is truly beautiful out here in Russia at this time of year… some of you will be going “Who cares how beautiful when it’s MINUS TWENTY SOMETHING, you must be crazy!” but let me tell you how wonderful it really is.

 

• The first day it snowed, it turned to slush almost instantaneously. Yet I found the snow so exhilarating – its soft plop on the outside of my coat, its fresh smell, its cleansing whiteness – that I spent 3 hours that day walking across town through the slush.

• The crunch of snow under your feet is probably one of the sweetest squeaks you will know in your life.

• Sometimes it snows and sometimes it’s sunny and clear and yet there is a fine invisible powder of snow falling all the time. And if you look up you feel the little droplets lightly land on your face. Its one of the best feelings I know.

• Fresh snow powder on a clear morning must be one of the most beautiful sights you can see, even if you are not a skier. And somehow even the sunlight on a cold crisp morning seems purer.

• In Russia one of the best parts of my day is seeing kids wrapped up like “the Michelin Man” hardly able to move cos they have so many clothes on, yet happily trundling along through the snow. Sometimes they are being pulled on a sledge by their parents, other times they are being pulled along as they try to stop after every step to reach for the next snowball. Weekends are best as then they are out in full force, wrapped up with hardly space to breathe, yet touching everything they can with snowy mittens.

(Billboards for a “Pet Clothing Store” down the road for me… gotta keep your Cat n Dog warm in the latest branded clothing hehehe)

So How Cold is It?

Winter arrived in Irkutsk at the beginning of November with a soft white blanket of snow and a steep drop in temperature. October might have been Autumny with little snow and a slowly dropping temperature, but when the 4 November arrived, we all had no doubt that this was Siberia. From temperatures that had hovered around the +5C to +7C mark, within one day we were down to the -7C mark and within a week down to -11C.

 

Today the mercury is sitting at a refreshing -17C and I have stocked up on MacCoffee French Vanilla Cappuccino sachets. One thing about having been here for a year and getting into the lifestyle, I now have learnt many of the pleasures of this society and many of the things make sense to me now. Russian tea and coffee is one of them. Actually you could never classify “tea and coffee” as just ONE pleasure… this country is tea and coffee mad. In South Africa we like our tea and we often buy exotic teas, herbal teas and green teas, but here, it truly has become an art. I walked into a little store the other day, no bigger than 8m x 4m (at the most). It smelt of cocoa and contained the most awe-inspiring selection of teas, coffees and chocolate drinks you could ever imagine. Boxes of different flavours were hidden behind other boxes and others were piled up to the ceiling. And that was just one store. I have found each café or coffee shop has its special blend. Coffee Studio has its own speciality coffee, called a “Studio Coffee” (funny that!), with chocolate, cream, espresso and milk and some other goodies. Amsterdam Café here has a great Vanilla Rooibos called the “Best of Africa” and even the local pizzeria (“Mario’s Pizza”) offers a delicious cappuccino to go, in western style cups with lids now. The selection is quite overwhelming. For a country where there are some categories of food where you have very limited choices, warm beverages are probably never going to be in danger of being one of them. From 3-in-1 sachets (with milk powder, sugar and instant coffee) to hot chocolate which is like melted “80%” chocolate, from Creamy honey Rooibos to Strawberry and Cream Rooibos, from Chinese Teas to South American Herbal Blends (hmmm…) you can get tea in almost every possible flavour you want here. And Russians make a number of other “teas” by taking berries and crushing them into hot water to make a delicious and bitter berry tea, or dried fruit left to let their flavour seep into the water… all delicious. So I suppose I am saying, -17C has its benefits… one of which is the chance to really enjoy a warm cuppa…

(the lighter side of Russia – people buying ice-cream from a kiosk… in -17C weather)

My New Year in Africa

Many of you have asked why I am returning to SA at the end of December 2009, and so I must clarify. I am back in SA on 22 December to spend Christmas with my family and take stock of what I have learnt. My desire is to stay in Russia. My heart is here, and my dream is to be an effective conduit for God’s mercy and love in this land… how ever He may deem it possible.

However, my initial plans (from before coming to Russia) have run their course. I planned to spend at least a year in Russia learning the language and discovering how the society works and I have done more than that. I have been here for 16 months and have learnt a LOT. The language progress is slow but real. My ad agency project and the children’s home involvement has given me unique insights into how this society truly works and what is needed to make a real “go of it” out here.

I have also learnt the hard way that rules in Russia are rules, and that things can change in a moment. My desire to find a way to support myself in Russia could have led to me being kicked out of the country, but thankfully did not. However it did mean that my idea of supporting myself in Russia by opening my own business was premature.

So one of the big reasons for returning to SA is that I cannot support myself on a student visa, (even if I teach English lessons out here). I came here with provision for one year, and a very small base of support. My May 2009 trip to South Africa was short and a bit of a whirlwind, giving me time just to touch base with everyone quickly, but did enough to keep me supported out here for another 6 months so I could pursue this Children’s Home project. But if I am to be able to live in Russia I need the following:

• A working visa, so that I can seek employment

• A larger support base so that I can be freed to spend a significant portion of my time in ministry and not only in earning a living.

Both of these things are difficult to get, if I am to go after them by myself, but both of them are EASILY POSSIBLE with God. So I am returning to SA, for as long as it takes for God to achieve these things in my life. I pray it will only take a short while, and plan that it will probably take 6 months, as I will need to visit churches, arrange paperwork and of course SEEK HIS PLAN for the future. I remain open to His leading, wherever He wants me to go, and ask you to pray with me, for His leading and plan for my future.

(tramstop in Angarsk)

Badaboom iAfrika

This week saw me finally break into the Irkutsk Hall of Fame… I finally relented and gave a performance of African Culture and Singing, which included me playing the African Drum and singing Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika, though not both at the same time, which is something to be thankful for, as I seem not to be able to multi-task in rhythm… I now understand why drummers in bands are most often not lead singers, as the temptation to drum with the vocals and not with the beat of the music is huge… I seemed to do well enough to get most of the audience’s attention… and in any case, after last weekend everyone KNOWS how difficult it is to sing the national anthem correctly… hehehe.

 

The drum is a hit () out here… and features in almost all the photo’s of the concert. Seems people here think it is the most exotic and wonderful thing… but I won’t be carting it around too much as -17C does tend to take its toll on the wood of the instrument. It took a day for the sound to “melt and mellow” after I got it back to the church.

 

(The park near the hostel at sunset)

 

Of Pigs and Fashions

The latest fashion statement in Irkutsk is a medical facemask, as the first cases of Swine Flu have been diagnosed out here and one of them was from my university… So some students have been wearing facemasks to the university. I am always skeptical of such measures as I think if it was that easy to prevent a virus from entering your system we would all be wearing facemasks most of the time. But, I do realize that anything that can keep you from catching this flu, even if it only helps by 1% or 2%, is a precaution worth taking.

The government response has been quite amazing. Schools remain closed after their mid-term break, and though they were meant to return to classes today after an extra week of holiday, the government has extended the “stay-at-home” period again, and are taking no chances with the health of the children.

That being said, the Children’s Home has also been a “Quarantine Zone,” yet it seems no-one thought to tell me or the other volunteers about it. We are such a part of the family, and though one did mention it to Anne, they simply said: “You’re part of the team, and anyway, you never come here sick, so…”

 

The Children are all well, it seems, other than the normal small colds and sniffs, but no major illnesses and NO SWINE FLU thank the Lord. I arranged a meeting with the Volunteers who want to help with the Children’s Party and only learnt of the “Quarantine Situation” on the eve of the meeting. So, rather than send out sms’s with new venue details, which I felt would confuse everyone, I stood (I mean I froze…) outside the home and directed everyone who arrived, to go to the university where the Dean of the International Department had kindly allowed us to use one of their auditoria for the meeting.

Progress on the Children of Hope Children’s Party

Donations are coming in day by day for the Children’s Party. Firstly THANK YOU for those of you who have generously given. It is so appreciated. We really want to make a big difference in the lives of these children and it seems that with each donation that arrives, God is honouring this desire. Please keep praying for the party, and for the children.

 

We have a fixed date for the party now: Saturday 19th December is PARTY DAY… remember it, and keep it in your prayers.

• Masha and I am in the process of developing another slide show for other churches to show, in the form of a prayer for the children.

 

• We had 22 helpers arrive at the Volunteers Meeting and had another 10 who were either home sick or away for the weekend, so we should have enough help to prepare and get everything ready for the party.

• We have not yet been able to go and see the other Home at Sludyanka, due to snow and a struggle with time, but I am hoping we get to see them soon.

• We are trying to arrange a Murder Dinner here, as a fund-raiser, but struggling to find a restaurant or venue which is willing to participate with us. This really is such a different country. I still struggle with the idea of a restaurant turning away 70 guests because they don’t understand the concept behind the dinner. Even with our written explanation they are skeptical and distrusting. Please pray that we will find a way of raising funds here so that the people of Irkutsk can participate in blessing these children.

I have been asked to meet with the PR Executive of the University as she works with Children’s Homes in the area too… and the university would like to get involved in helping us with this project. Please pray for this meeting.

INSTANT NEWS

Okay, so the thing about writing a newsletter is that in order to write a newsletter that gives a snapshot of things that are happening in my life here, I need to stop time. Every time I start to write, something new happens that day. For example, yesterday I was writing about meeting with the PR people of the University (see above) and today we were sort of informally rushed into our first meeting with them and they are so eager to help. They want to put me in touch with other student organisations (there is supposedly a body in the city which coordinates the efforts of students and volunteers for charity work in the Children’s Homes… which is news to me as not once in the last year have I seen them in the Children’s Home in Nekrasova Street… hmmm!). They are trying to help me find a venue for the Charity Dinner we want to hold to raise funds. They will sell tickets to the dinner, and will find out other ways which we can get funds for our project. They will also help find us a car or vehicle for when we buy the presents (well, they are going to try…) and they will advertise the events we have, like the day to wrap presents, and the day to decorate the homes, in the university. Which means that we should have all the help we need to make these children’s Christmas really special.

A reminder that if you plan to send a donation for the Children’s Party, please ensure we receive it ASAP. We will start to buy the gifts on 1 December 2009.

And an URGENT REMINDER that if you are sending postcards, they should be put in the mail IMMEDIATELY. Preferably by Airmail, as land and sea mail might take too long at this point. A BIG thank you to all who have sent and are sending postcards and who have gone through the process of buying, writing, decorating and posting… May you be blessed for your care for these Children.

 

(Korean, Chinese and Japanese Students and I at a delicious Café called Chocolate Heaven in Angarsk)

Can I speak Russian yet?

Hmmm… It always amazes me how in some situations I can rattle off exactly what needs to be said without a problem, but in others, one word can stop me in mid-sentence and I stumble for the rest of the conversation. The answer to the question is that YES I can speak basic Russian and have basic small conversations, and a lot of the time I even get the grammar right. But the truth is that until I learn about 4000 words (a process of about 4-5 years) I will not really be able to say I speak Russian. What has become clear to me, though, is how complex English is, and how much of our own language we take for granted. Russian has many of the same constructions and exceptions to the rules as English, yet it seems so complex to us, because we don’t even think of the exceptions when we speak our own language. Learning a second language, especially one as complex as Russian, makes you aware for the first time, how complex your own constructions are in English.

Of Singing and Preaching?

My church involvement has been less noticeable over the last few weeks. I have not had the opportunity to preach and in fact have not had to stand in front of a congregation (other than to make announcements about the Children’s Feast) for the whole month, but I have been involved with Sasha on a much deeper level. Sasha is one of the men of the church who, though not on the leadership team, just adds something to the church with his being there. He plays spectacular guitar in church events and loves organizing, especially volleyball games… He is patient with the youth as they try out new things like singing and playing instruments, and is prepared to even sit through some of the most ear-rattling singing, just to encourage the person singing. We started to meet on Saturday mornings to practice music – him on guitar and me on African drum, and slowly more and more people are joining us. I have to share the drum with one of the teenage girls who simply loves playing it and slowly we are finding a new voice of music which was not there before. Sasha loves playing the really Russian worship songs (and I love to hear them as they have a wonderful depth of yearning in them). However we have not just met to play music, but we have started to meet and chat about what we believe about church, and what God has put on our hearts for this church body here in Irkutsk. It has been a wonderful time as it amazes me how God brings people together who have similar ideas and desires.

 

We both would love to see a truly Russian church, not just a western church speaking Russian language…

I could write a whole volume on what this means, but then I’d never publish this newsletter. My prayer is simply that you would pray for the Russian Church. That a real “living” relevant Russian Church could take form in this country.

(Becca, Anna, Galina, myself and Brendan after the International Concert)

 

My newsletter seems to have been one prayer request after another, so please do take time out and pray for everything and everyone I have mentioned. Of course top of mind, keep the children in your prayers. May God bless them, every one.

 

And may God bless you and keep you as you head through these last two months and get ready for Christmas with your loved ones.

 

A Final Thought

I played the short motivational movie “Fish” for my classes last week and they found it to be so inspiring. Many of them had never thought that they could choose to live to different principles than those they had been taught, and some were eager to try out the four principles in their real lives and see how they worked. The feedback was quite astounding, and it has been amazing to see how a saying as simple as “Choose your attitude” can make a difference to people who have never realized that they had a choice…

I challenge you this week to “choose your attitude” to life, to be positive even when circumstances don’t seem to be going your way, and to reach out and “make someone’s day” especially when that someone who disagrees with you. It is amazing that when my students actually changed their attitude to people who seemed to hate them, and instead, decided to make their day, the people responded with love and kindness, and their relationships have changed since then.

 

Be blessed, in His Name

 

Paul

PIR

+79041531934

paulinrussia@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/paulinrussia

@paulinrussia

 

Blog http://thepirjourney.blogspot.com

Join Facebook Group: Children of Hope Children’s Feast to support the feast

Leave a message on Twitter for the Children’s Party: @childrenofhope

Here are some ways to keep in touch with me in Russia

Paul’s God

(just start praying to Him wherever you are… Paul will get the message cos He says He will hear and we all know He is faithful)

Paul’s TELEPHONE and SMS Number in Russia

My Russian number is +7904 153 1934 if you want to drop me an SMS on my Russian SIMcard or even give me a call. Alternatively if you SMS me on my old Vodacom Number I still will get it, but probably only in a few days, as I don’t carry that with me all day long (+27723855290)

Paul’s e-mail in Russia:

paulinrussia@gmail.com (please update your contact list) Please try this way first as it is my primary e-mail address in Russia.

Paul’s Facebook Profile

http://www.facebook.com/paulinrussia

Good Old Facebook – that’s right, just look for my Facebook Profile or click above and you should be able to send me a message or a hug or a beer (or almost anything it seems). Facebook is sometimes blocked in Russian Internet Café’s but if you can wait a little bit I will get back to you as soon as I find a connection that lets me through…

Paul’s Linked-In Profile

http://www.linkedin.com/in/paulinrussia

Linked-In is the business version of Facebook, so please feel free to contact me through this site if you are trying to network or connect me for business with someone else you think I might find interesting (“I thought you two needed to chat… xyz is also interested in Russia/missions/rugby etc”)

Paul's Skype Name

paulinrussia

If you're linked up to Skype, drop me a mail with a time and we'll be able to chat on the phone for a bit (just note that Irkutsk is currently 7 hours ahead of South Africa)

Paul’s Russia Blog

Copies of all my newsletters are to be found here http://thepirjourney.blogspot.com/

 

Paul’s Postal Address

Snail Mail that actually works… yeah the Russian Postal System seems to work so if you can write a letter, I would love to hear from you, at (and please include both Russian and English versions of the address… I suggest printing it out and attaching it firmly to the letter)

 

Россиа

Г. Иркутск 664046

Ул. Баикалская 132 – 507

Пол Уильямс

Russia
Gorod (Town) Irkutsk 664046
Ulitsa (Street) Baikalskaya 132 -507
Att: Paul Williams
(Tel) (+7) 89041531934

 

Paul’s Banking Details:

If while praying, reading details on the sites above, or sharing in this journey with Paul, God speaks to you and leads you to contribute to Paul’s ministry in Russia, then please feel free to, banking details are as follows (please use reference "PIR Fund"):

PW Williams, Standard Bank, Sandton City Branch, Current Account: 220377979

 

For international deposits you’ll need the following info too: Physical Address - 9th Floor, Standard Bank Centre, 5 Simmonds Street, Johannesburg 2001 Postal Address - P O Box 7725, Johannesburg 2000 and SWIFT code - SBZAZAJJ

The PIR Journey 26 October 2009 - of Children's Parties and Freedom

IMPORTANT:

If you are here looking for the Children of Hope Children’s Feast 2009 Appeal Letter. It's available at http://thepirjourney.blogspot.com/2009/10/children-of-hope-childrens-feast-2009.html

A list of Children at Children’s Home No. 1 is also available at http://thepirjourney.blogspot.com/2009/10/list-of-children-irkutsk-childrens-home.html
 
 
Of Children’s Parties and Freedom

(Snow on the mountains as seen from Lystvyanka earlier this month)

Hi All


This letter is a bit of a rollercoaster, so beware… I have had a wonderful couple of weeks since we last spoke, and the Children of Hope Children’s Feast is deep in planning stages… exciting stuff. If you did not receive the Appeal Letter (highly unlikely, if you are getting this, but…) let me know, or visit http://thepirjourney.blogspot.com/2009/10/children-of-hope-childrens-feast-2009.html


Please keep the children in prayer and consider giving to make these children’s Christmas special and their lives a bit more like the lives we expect to give our own children… will you? However, on the other side of the coin there are some serious threats to religious freedom happening in Russia which I must mention here.

“Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.”

Proverbs 19:21

I quote this verse because I know so well how scheming my heart can be. In following the call to organise the Children’s Feast, I had to examine my heart over and over.

Why are we doing this? Do we just want to give presents to some needy kids? Well, yes, that certainly is part of it, but if that is all we are doing then I am scared that we are doing something that will be good for a moment and will have no lasting effects. I hope that we are doing more than this.

My hopes for US:
I hope we are learning how to love, even from a distance. I hope we are learning how to be generous. I hope we are learning how to trust God to provide as we give sacrificially. I hope we are learning how to be a channel of God’s light into lives of people we do not even know, who live on the other side of the world. I hope we are opening ourselves to be people who God can use to make a difference in others’ lives.



My Hopes for the Children:
I hope that they may know true, selfless Love. I hope that they might simply know that God cares. I hope they will know that people all over the world care for them. I hope that they might be blessed and remember this time for all their lives as a time of joy. I pray that they might consider the true message of Christmas and I pray that they might be healed, grown and transformed y this message. I hope for a moment they have an idea that their dreams can come true. (I have a hundred more hopes…)


Why am I doing this? I would be lying if I stated I do not get any sense of personal fulfilment in organising, writing, praying and caring for these kids. Of course I do… I think I was made to do these things and God knows that. But if that is what I am doing this for, then it is a waste. I pray God is showing me how to love selflessly. I ask that God shows me how to trust Him to provide for these children in amazing ways. I pray that He is teaching me to trust Him for the miracle. I hope that He is growing in me the knowledge and the experience that prayer and miracles, and His provision and blessing, and real change in people’s lives, and future hope for these children, is possible. Not only possible, but certain, as He is certain.


What is this Children of Hope Initiative about? It’s about God working in our midst, and us all witnessing His faithfulness, that He may be glorified.




You may not agree with me. I suspect we all may have different reasons for being a part of this. To you, perhaps, it is just a chance to give to those in need, or to care. That in itself is wonderful and a step along the path of spiritual growth, probably the most important step, as the start of 1 Corinthians 13 states that if I do any of these things, but I do not have love, then I am like a resounding gong – hollow and without substance. Love is the most important thing here and I pray you would be challenged to love by this Children of Hope initiative.


But there is another issue I want to apply this verse to. Read on and I will apply the verse after you have read the situation.

(picture of old Russian Coca-Cola ad on the back of a fridge near my hostel with Church in the background… coke and religion, hmmm :-) )






Faith in the Shadows


Tonight I went to a meeting about the Children’s Home initiative, and one of the people in the group, an active Christian leader, brought a copy of the new laws for churches that Russia wants to implement from the 16th December 2009.




I want to share this with you, because I want you to realise how important this year’s Children of Hope Outreach is. This is an opportunity we have to impact these kids which we might not have in the future. The laws that the Russian government are trying to pass are extremely strict and aim to limit ALL non-Orthodox Christian activity and sharing of belief. Some of the restrictions include:


• No talking of your religious beliefs outside of your church building
• No talking of your beliefs within 1 km of any Orthodox church, or within 1 km of anywhere there is an Orthodox prayer room
• No talking to anyone about what you believe, unless they ask, and even then…
• No talking to children about your beliefs or religion, except for your own children
• No involvement by religious groups in social work with Children’s Homes, Old Aged Homes, Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation (amongst others) without written permission of the Minister in Charge of those Homes or Services.


These are just some of the laws included in the new Law being considered for preservation of Russian religion, but it gives you an idea of what the situation could be after December 16th. The government votes on the Law on the 16th December and if they decide that the Law is passed, then the rules apply from the 16th forward.

Non-Orthodox Christians can face large fines and even jail for doing any of these acts.

To us in the west who live in countries where we have prominently Christian governments, and relative freedom of religion, the above laws are ones which are a distant concept, some would call them a joke, and an idea which we would simply ignore (and carry on as we always have done) or fight with all our might… and all His might too.

But this is no joke, This is the reality of life in Russia. This is a document with President Medvedev’s own signature on the bottom, and it has huge effects on the ability of Christians’ to spread the gospel, and give TRUE relationship to the “religion” of Christianity that most Russians know of.


This law was supposedly proposed earlier in the year and delayed due to a petition against its implementation but it seems it is back…


Let me state clearly here though:


• I know God is in control.

• I know He has a plan.

• I know He will make a way.

• I know He can use even this to His glory
and so I trust Him to intercede on behalf of his bride, the church, and I ask that you would do so too.


Our church is not the four walls that the Russian government regards as “a church.” The church is everyone and everywhere where God is worshipped, which demonstrates His Glory, thus all of Creation is His “place of worship”.

He will show His glory and sometimes He will ask us to use words, but I know that even where His people are restricted from talking of Him and His truth, He will still be glorified and His light will shine through their SILENCE if necessary.

I pray that you will pray for this year’s Children’s Feast. It promises to be a time where we truly can give these Children a message of Hope, of Love and of Jesus Salvation. It may be the last time we are able to do something like this, this freely… we pray that it is not… but I ask that you consider what the Law could mean for children like these in the future.

Pray for
• God’s blessing on each Child
• The Holy Spirit’s work in each heart
• Miracles, blessing and salvation in the lives of each child
• Healing in the lives of each child
• Hearts turned to Christ, both amongst the children and all those involved
• Fruitful Lives for these children
• Peaceful and caring Homes where these children can know love and joy
• Provision for all their needs both now and in the future
• Fullness of Life beyond their wildest dreams
• Protection from the bonds of their past and from evil which would want to derail their lives.

Most of all, I pray that we will react to the laws above with love. Yes, they are laws which promise to be restrictive and to change the society in ways we can only imagine. But I pray that, should they become a reality, we remain loving and as people who show God’s love through our lives, even if we cannot show it through our words. The plans in the hearts of men are often ones of anger, hatred and even evil, but God’s purpose will prevail. Our bible and history is littered with stories of how God has turned situations which were unfair, wrong or even simply evil, and used them for His purposes. The greatest example being the execution of Jesus, His Son, which God turned around and used for the salvation of all people.


I ask that you pray for Russia. Pray that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated. Pray that religious freedom will not be limited and that the law will not come into effect, but pray for God’s will to lead Russians and people working in Russia to a closer relationship with Him.


The Effect on the Children’s Party
The possibility of the above law means that we plan to hold the Children’s Party EARLY in December. The date has to be confirmed, but it will need to be no later than the 15th December 2009.


Please, send your postcards as early as possible and PLEASE will you consider giving early to this initiative, and if you are wanting to give, please let me have your contributions AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I know Christmas is only on 25th December and many people will want to give from their bonuses but I pray you will give as early as possible so we can have time to buy all that is needed to make the party a real blessing for the children.


Other News:
Sometimes the BIG projects and the BIG issues leave me with little time and space to tell of my news in Russia, but I will try to give you a short summary of what has been happening:

• (pic of youth party at Angarsk church) I spent the day in Angarsk yesterday again. The charismatic church there has been such a blessing to me. This is the second time I have attended church there and the service was wonderful. The worship is led by a band of “on-fire” youth fronted by a woman with a wonderful voice and a gift for leading people in worship. I spent a little time with the pastor afterwards and he has agreed to help us through prayer for the Children’s Feast.


• After the service, Sergei and I and two of the younger youth took “a short walk” (5km) across town to an activity centre where the youth had organised a birthday party for all the people who had birthdays in September and October. Somehow I have been included as part of their group, though I suppose I have to face reality sometime and realise that I am no longer really “youth” (at least on the outside hehehe). But they have been so welcoming and I feel like I have known them all my life… what a privilege.


• The ad agency seems to be dead for the moment. We followed all the paths to their extreme endings and found that without my open involvement, it would be too taxing and too impractical to continue. So perhaps it can be resurrected later once I have a working visa… but in the meanwhile I have been teaching English to make ends meet and to be able to earn my keep in Russia. God has provided amazingly, and the university has given me three classes of conversational English to teach each week, as well as other colleges and universities giving me so many opportunities to speak, I am literally full up every evening and all Saturday afternoon each week with lessons. Thank you, Lord (the view of Kirova Square from my classroom in IGLU)

• Of course all this teaching does take its toll on other parts of my life, so I have had to withdraw from the cooking schedule, as I am never home in the evenings… so now I eat separately from the rest of the international students. It really is a shame as it was the main time that we connected together, and I am usually too tired to party late into the night with them so I do not get much face-time with them right now.


• I have had some time with Deb and Stuart and their children out here, and they have been such a blessing to me too. We were all invited to go to a group of teachers in Studgorodok (pronounced Stood… literally “Study Town” the village around the universities where students and academic staff live). It’s the usual warm group that Ernie and Ricky used to go to, and which I was privileged to go to last year. We were welcomed so openly and warmly and we shared a great lunch together. They invited us to share our stories with them and to come back, which I had to decline as I have Russian classes at the time of their proposed meetings. But it has worked out perfectly as Stuart and Deb are free at that time and I know that this is their gifting… (pic below of light snow on bench near the church)

• Some of you are wondering about the weather out here, as you are warm and feeling perky after a weekend in the sun down in SA. Well it’s still sunny here. We’ve had three lots of snow since early September. The first literally on the 1 September was a wet, swirling soggy mess, the second, around the 14 October was more like I would expect a Siberian snowfall to be like – soft, ongoing and pretty… and the snow stayed around for a couple of days. Recently we had some more snow, but all that’s on the streets now is a little bit of white powder left over in the gutters… though the temperature has slowly decreased down to -5C in the day and -12C overnight. (But that’s actually not too bad…) (picture of Sasha helping me practice with the drum from SA… hoping to be good enough soon…)

The Future


God alone knows the future, so I leave it in His hands, but I write this to let you know of my plans for December. I have booked a ticket home, and will be in SA on the 22nd December in time for Christmas. It has been a big decision for me, and one which I considered all the options. The situation with the ad agency having to close and the lack of a working visa has meant that my stay in Russia is limited by my current finances and support, and that I am not able to supplement them in any real way (other than English Classes), thus it is necessary for me to return to SA for a period to sort out all the elements which need to be put in place for me to return with a more viable financial plan to sustain a ministry and life in the future. I have also realised that I have little desire to study for a Linguistics Degree. It was never my goal, rather I simply wanted to study the language so as to be able to understand, speak and write well. The Linguistics course I am currently doing involves a huge amount of stuff I don’t need and which is not going to help me reach my goal, such as statistical and linguistic mathematics (!?!?) as well as the linguistics of English. Thus I will only study until the end of the year at IGLU, and will probably not return there.

I have been praying and asking God to show me what the next steps are, and I expect to be in South Africa for between 3 – 6 months in early 2010 and thus I pray you will join me as God guides my steps – His purpose will prevail.

Thanks to all of you who are avidly following my blog, sermons and ESPECIALLY those supporting the Children’s Party. I am so grateful for you in my life and thank God for your hearts towards these children.

Be blessed by Him

Paul Williams
PIR






+79041531934
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@paulinrussia

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(pic of Russian Manhole Cover with Soviet Star in Angarsk (there’s ME!!! top right hehehe)






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Snail Mail that actually works… yeah the Russian Postal System seems to work so if you can write a letter, I would love to hear from you, at (and please include both Russian and English versions of the address… I suggest printing it out and attaching it firmly to the letter)


Россиа
Г. Иркутск 664046
Ул. Баикалская 132 – 507
Пол Уильямс

Russia
Gorod (Town) Irkutsk 664046
Ulitsa (Street) Baikalskaya 132 -507
Att: Paul Williams
(Tel) (+7) 89041531934

Paul’s Banking Details:


If while praying, reading details on the sites above, or sharing in this journey with Paul, God speaks to you and leads you to contribute to Paul’s ministry in Russia, then please feel free to, banking details are as follows (please use reference "PIR Fund"):


PW Williams, Standard Bank, Sandton City Branch, Current Account: 220377979

For international deposits you’ll need the following info too: Physical Address - 9th Floor, Standard Bank Centre, 5 Simmonds Street, Johannesburg 2001 Postal Address - P O Box 7725, Johannesburg 2000 and SWIFT code - SBZAZAJJ

Sermon on Mercy (1Tim 1:12-20), Irkutsk, 18 October 2009

IMPORTANT:

If you are here looking for the Children of Hope Children’s Feast 2009 Appeal Letter.  It's available at http://thepirjourney.blogspot.com/2009/10/children-of-hope-childrens-feast-2009.html

A list of Children at Children’s Home No. 1 is also available at http://thepirjourney.blogspot.com/2009/10/list-of-children-irkutsk-childrens-home.html

 
Sermon Notes: Sovereign Mercy not Selfish Religion

I’ve titled this week’s sermon “Sovereign Mercy not Selfish Religion” and I pray it will indeed give you a vision of God’s heart.

 

Let’s read together from the Word in 1 Timothy 1:12-20:

 

1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.

1:13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.

1:14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.

1:16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1:18 Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight,

1:19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.

1:20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

Here are some basic background points to set the scene:

• This is a passage at the beginning of a “pastoral letter”. Paul is writing to Timothy, a protégé or young “disciple” of his living in a part of the world where Paul had travelled through, but where Paul was unable to visit again immediately.

• The goal of the letter was to guide Timothy as he tried to lead a new church in that area.

What is astounding to me, is the words which Paul uses as a starting point to his instruction to Timothy. Paul the Apostle near the beginning of the letter starts by saying “I am the greatest of sinners.”

Sarcastically, I am inclined to say: “That sounds like good advice, and sounds like someone I would take advice from” If someone walked into the doors of your business today and said I am the greatest of business failures, would you invite him in and take his advice? I am not sure I would…

The inclination when faced with works like these in the bible is to analyse WHAT is being said. But I want to change our focus today. I think we understand what is being said, but I want to find out WHY Paul would say such a statement at the beginning of a pastoral letter to one of his disciples who needs his help.

Why does Paul say “Jesus Christ came to save sinners of which I am the worst”?

I would like to suggest two reasons:

• Firstly, I believe Paul is providing Him with the greatest principle of a good church – the principle of “Mercy”

• Secondly, I believe Paul is showing Him that God uses the most unlikely people to do the most amazing ministry. It’s one of the paradoxes of Christianity. God uses the sinner to show off his holiness.

Sovereign Mercy

When running a church the greatest temptation is to run a “successful” church, that is, a church with everything you could ever want… strong leadership, warm congregation, good teachers and well structured programs. A church which looks good and that people see as part of their community. It is often expected that the church should have a big building, and that the church should have good facilities, and that leaders should have respect in the community and that the people of the church should be upright citizens.

 

None of what I have mentioned is wrong, but none of it is the starting point for a good church. Though I believe Paul writes this particular passage to change Timothy’s paradigm, and draw it away from these normal thoughts of “successful” churches.

 

Timothy is a new believer and has no idea of what a church should be like. He has no model church which he should follow and there are no sets of rules, constitutions and guides to running a good church available. So he needs help.

 

If I was Timothy, I would probably look for examples of other churches in my area. Perhaps in the times that this letter was written, I would look for churches of other gods, perhaps look to the Jewish temple, and find out how it is run. Of course I would try to listen to God in prayer as the starting point for anything, but I have to do something, so I would be tempted to find some kind of model. The next option would be to set a whole series of rules and guidelines for the church, thus I would turn to the Law of God as read in the scriptures (our Old Testament) and place it over the people of the church. It is a common mistake as a starting point for a church - to set out some rules…

Paul says “No” to all these options. He does not start his letter by saying “Take a look around you at other churches, what they do”, or “I suggest you set out some rules for your church, a kind of guideline”… in fact he speaks against that type of action, saying that The Law is of primary use in convicting unbelievers of their need for God and their need for grace, and should be employed in that sense – when working with unbelievers, and not with believers.

But then, how does one run a church of people who have accepted Christ?

Paul seems to reject making the Law the basis for running a church. That’s quite a statement. Paul says “No. The Law is not for Christians, but for unbelievers who need to be convicted of sin.”

I think Paul is quite wise here.

Because I have found many churches who have made the New Testament into a ‘Second Law’. Let me repeat that, there are many churches who use the New Testament as if it is a Second Law.

 

What do I mean?

I mean that, in Judaism, and the Old Testament, God gave the Law to Israel, and the Law was what their whole lives were structured around. Their daily habits, their prayers, their services, their relationships, their civil society… it was all structured around the Law. And they invented a huge amount of smaller “rules” which put in place structures in the society and in the lives of their people, so that they could keep The Law.

But then Jesus came. And He made atonement for our sins so we could be free. And that does not means that we throw out all the laws of the Old Testament, but I find that some people don’t know how to practically live out their Christianity. The freedom of Christ feels a lot less secure because of its lack of prescriptive structures. In contrast, the old way of the Old Testament is easy. In Jewish society and religion, there are clear rules and Laws which structure everything. It allows you to decide once and for all which is the right way to do something, and you never have to think about it again, and you never have to consider all the other options. The rule tells you what you should do, and that’s that!

But Christianity is not a set of rules. It is not a set of Laws. It is a relationship.

And seeing as our churches have been primarily led by men for the last 2000 years, we have a little bit of a problem with that. Us men, and I include me… us men are notoriously bad with relationships.

We prefer things that have a set of rules or instructions, not things that change with circumstances. Women look at a situation and say: “Hmmm, that child is being naughty, I need to punish him.” The next day they look at the same situation and they intuitively know that punishing the child is not going to get the result… so they say ”Hmmm, that child is being naughty, perhaps I need to go have and ice-cream with him and chat about what is irritating him.” You women realize that there are no “one size fits all” rules. It’s not about making a new set of rules. It’s about RELATIONSHIP.

For example: If I know my wife loves roses, and I buy her roses on her birthday it is romantic, but if I buy her roses every day and never realize that there are days when she really does not want roses, but would rather just spend time with me, then I am not having a relationship with her, I am applying a rule to my dealings with her.

I cannot apply a rule to my relationship with anyone, I know that people have different emotions and need different things each day.

It’s the same thing with our relationship with God

 

I have been in congregations where there are leaders who will look at the bible and examine a passage like this and make a whole lot of rules about how a church should run out of this… but I do not think Paul ever expected His words to become a set of rules for all churches. I do not think that Paul ever expected His letters to be a “one size fits all” solution for running a church. I don’t think he expected us to make women sit quietly in church with headscarves and I don’t think he meant that we should make a set of laws about when and where “tongues” should be used in the church.

Instead I think He shows us the main key principle on which to base our church life on, and he does so in these verses, and then He applies that principle to Timothy’s situation.

Think about it. If you were writing a letter to a young man starting a church, would you write at the beginning of it “I am the greatest of sinners”?

There are only a few reasons why one writes those words at the beginning of such a letter:

• Either you are trying to be humble and want the recipient to know that you are writing humbly.

• Or you are highlighting a fact which is meant to change the paradigm of the person you are writing to.

I think Paul is doing a bit of all three of these, but none of his reasons are based in “feigned selfish religion” He is not trying to be pious or holy. He is not trying to make his religion look like something it is not. He gets rid of the rules, throws out the stuff that looks religious and seems pious and rather says:

Here is a trustworthy PRINCIPLE (and I add) to base your church on…

 

Here is a trustworthy PRINCIPLE to base your church on…

 

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I AM THE WORST.

 

Where is the principle here? What is the principle that he is referring to?

The principle, as I have titled this sermon is “Sovereign Mercy not Selfish Religion”

That is the principle - MERCY, God’s Mercy comes before all else.

If you are building a church, let your church be a beacon of mercy, a lighthouse of God’s mercy to the world. Paul understood that HE had received God’s mercy and all that he had become, was because of the mercy he had received from God, and now, He advises Timothy. Make your church into a shining light showing God’s mercy to the world, and base the rules, structures, activities and worship of your church on the MERCY you have been given.

It’s a shocking yet wonderful principle.

Let me give you an example:

I was part of a church in South Africa. A small church in a rich neighbourhood. And we had a congregation of people who loved to worship there, because it was a pretty church situated in the backroads of their neighbourhood, and because many of them had grown up there and could relax and enjoy their time with God each week.

But there were people around us, who were suffering. People who had no money. People who had no resources. People who were regarded as having no power or influence. There were old people who were weak and in need of someone to visit them. There were children who had no-one to care for them and provide for them. There were foreigners who lived in fear for their lives in the suburbs due to xenophobia and there were homeless people who struggled to even have enough food to eat.

One day I went past a park near our church and realized there were over 50 homeless people sitting in the sun there each Sunday. They would come, perhaps wash their shirt under a tap that was situated there, and they would lie on the grass in the sun waiting for their shirt to dry. One day I stopped at the park after church and one of the guys asked me for something to eat. Now, I know that there are a number of churches in the area who feed the homeless, so I asked why he had not gone to them that day… and he said that none of the churches offer meals on a Sunday. They are all too busy worshipping God.

So I took it to our church and each week the people of the church would cook soup, and freeze it in plastic containers in their fridges. They would bring it to the church so we always had enough soup for a week or two, and then while the service was on, we would heat the soup up and it would be ready after the service. It was a way we could show MERCY – we had been given everything we had, freely, by God, even though we did not deserve any favour from Him, so we, in turn, would give to others who needed, even if they did not deserve it.

Now this park was a little far from the church, so the homeless guys did not come to the church. Instead we took the soup to them, with cups and bowls for them to eat out of. And we approached a local supermarket and each Saturday they would give us left over bread that had not been sold, and we could give the bread to the homeless people too. It was a good little arrangement, and it showed mercy to the homeless. But a funny thing happened… One of the homeless came to the church one day and sat in the congregation and listened. He had been very ill when we first met him. He had TB and looked like he would die soon. But he came to the church… and he listened… and we prayed with him, and later he received Christ. And yet the first thing that one or two of the people said was… “This must stop!!! We don’t want all the homeless people coming to our church. We don’t want our church to be known as a place where homeless people hang out. Our church will be frowned upon in our society. It will become a dirty place… No, we can’t do this anymore.”

Do you see…?

Do you understand???

They had an idea that church was a place for THEM to practice their Christianity in a SAFE way. They had forgotten that they had been saved by GRACE. That there was no difference between them and the man who was homeless… they had forgotten that they had NOTHING to offer God, and that THEY were THE GREATEST SINNERS. They wanted a selfish religion. They wanted a religion where people lived to a set of rules: you dress like this, you act like this, you don’t make me step out of my comfort zone… then you are part of my church. I call this type of religion, a club… they were not going to church, but to their weekly Sunday Club. I speak with respect about these people, as they were and still are my brothers and sisters in Christ. I love them and do not say this in a way as to shame them, but as an example of how our religion can become selfish.

There are churches where people have a wonderful sense of community and where they are involved in many projects but where they have forgotten this principle. MERCY is the basic principle that the church should be based on. And without mercy, we are simply serving ourselves, not God.

My Church in South Africa had another time where we were faced with the question of homosexuality. The church was situated in a very rich area, and there were a number of homosexual couples living near the church. We wanted to understand how to deal with this new “phenomenon” in our area. In fact, I don’t think it was a new phenomenon. It had been there for many years, but we had just chosen to ignore it, rather than face it.

We had a number of meetings, and usually the people that won the day were the ones who said “homosexuality is a sin, and thus should not be tolerated” (I am shortening this example and thus I am shortening the position too). But I was always left with the idea and the question: “But we’re all sinners. So what are we doing to bring God’s salvation to these people?”

I remember how my own “becoming a Christian” had not suddenly led to me becoming sinless and faultless. I remained a sinner, and a willful one, at times, for a long time after I became a Christian. It was only as God worked in my life, and the Holy Spirit convicted me, that I became aware of my sin, and that my behaviour started to change. But it seemed to me, that we were saying “Homosexuality is wrong, so we deny the homosexual any access to God’s grace, unless he or she comes and repents immediately of his or her homosexuality.”

 

My position on this issue has always been that as a church, and I speak of any church that we are a part of, we have two choices here (and of course, a range of combinations of the two choices)… two main choices:

a. Choice 1: We stand for “Holiness” – Homosexuality is sin and we represent the opposing force to sin, so we will not have it in our churches. But then we must realize that our message of mercy to these people will be compromised, and in all probability they will never see the church as a place of mercy, where they can find people to give them “undeserved favour” as we have been given.

b. Choice 2: We stand for “Mercy” – We choose to walk the road with the homosexual, as they struggle and discover their sexuality, life, and everything that goes with that. But then we must realize that our image of being a “holy” church (at least by the world’s idea of ‘holy’) will be tarnished. They will look at us and go: “Who are you that you mix with sinners???”

I seem to remember Jesus was asked the same question. Why do you mix with sinners and tax-collectors?

Because He came to save the lost – you and me. Because He chose to have MERCY on you and me… sinners… no not just sinners. The worst of sinners!!! Jesus had mercy on you and me, the worst of sinners.

 

Now you might be sitting here today and you might say: “Hey, hold on. Okay, I am not perfect, but the worst of sinners??? Come on! I’m not the same as that child Molester. I’m not the same as that mass murderer. I am not the same as that violent man or that drunken crook.”

I hate to burst your bubble. But in God’s eyes each one of us is.

 

I am exactly the same as the man who kills his friend so he can have a relationship with his wife. I am exactly the same as the man who molests children for his own pleasure. I am exactly the same as the woman who kills her child so she can live the life she wants, without responsibility.

Sin is like pregnancy. There are no levels of sin. You’re either sinful or you are not. Just as you are either pregnant or you are not. You are not more pregnant than someone else. You are either pregnant or not. The same with sin. Either you are a sinner and God cannot commune with you, or you are made holy, and you have communion with God.

 

Some of you might not even believe that you are sinful. You may not believe that there is such a thing as sin. Rather it is just that people are “ill” or in need of “counseling”. Let me try and dispute the reasoning that says there is no such thing as sin:

 

The definition of evil is that it is the opposite of love. And the definition of love is that it “puts the spiritual well-being of the other person FIRST, always, even at the cost of death to oneself”. Jesus defined love as “No greater love has any man than this, than he lay down his life for his brothers”. The opposite of love must thus be that ‘no greater evil is there than this, that we save ourselves before we save others’. Evil is when “We put our own well-being before that of others”. Thus I ask that you look around you. Do you see people putting others before themselves? All the time? Or is it the exception to the rule? Do you see people putting their own interests before those of their brothers and friends? Before those of their enemies? (remember Jesus said “love your enemies…) Is it the exception or the rule?

 

Sin is very real and it has no grades of sin, as either you put yourself first, or you put others first. That is the only choice. Thus there are no gradients of that.

Christ Jesus came to save sinners, of which I am the worst. Paul was one of Jesus Apostles, probably the most godly of men that we can refer to, certainly one of the most influential Christians of all time, and he says “I am the worst of sinners.” He knew what grace He had received from Jesus.

 

His religion before Christ had been “Selfish religion”. He had persecuted Christians much like Islamic radicals persecute all who disagree with them. He murdered Christians. He ordered that they be stoned. It was religion which made HIM look good and made him look holy, not a religion which put others before Himself… not a religion of MERCY. Not a relationship of MERCY.

 

Thus I reiterate my point on homosexuality (amongst so many things that the church seems to avoid answers to). Do we condemn the homosexual until he or she changes, so we can continue to look good to our peers, or do we have mercy and walk the road in relationship with them?

 

Amazingly God is able to use the most horrendous moments of history for the greatest good. Jesus was murdered on a cross, and his murder was used by God to save the world.

 

Paul realized that everything that He had been given was from God. Paul was not great, Paul was not a good man. He was a sinner, yet God could use Him to change the whole world.

 

David realized He was the same.

Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Solomon and so many others. They were sinners, and yet God chose them in his plan to change the world.

 

John Newton is remembered as one of the most effective preachers of the 18th Century in England, yet he was a slave-trader, and captained a slave-ship for many years. He wrote probably one of the most loved Christian hymns of all time: Amazing Grace.

 

Russia’s own Princess Olga, who was the woman who first accepted Christianity, in the 10th century, was a tough woman. She avenged the murder of her husband at the hands of the Verungian tribe by burying a ship of people alive and by burning villages of people. Yet, she was chosen to be the woman God used to bring Christianity to Russia.

Paul knew that it was God, who was doing it. Not him. I ask you to consider today, if you realize that ALL that you have, has been given by Christ. I ask you to realize that there is not a hint of goodness in you that qualifies you to be Christian. But there is Christ in you who has given you MERCY and GRACE to follow Him.

 

Paul wanted Timothy to know that He should base all his decisions in leading a church on the principle of God’s Sovereign Mercy. And Paul wanted Timothy to know that He should not be like the Pharisees, who flaunt their righteousness and proudly display their piousness, and he should not be like the people who followed vain genealogies and different sets of rules, which make them look clever and worthy of God’s righteousness. Timothy was not to be like them.

 

He wanted Timothy to realize that God had been Merciful to him, and thus he was to act in mercy to his congregation and to those who were seeking God.

 

I want to challenge you.

 

Sometimes I think WE, and I include me… that WE have forgotten to be merciful. I look around in society and I find very few places, very few examples of real mercy. Sometimes I think we are part of a selfish religion, where we put our happiness first and we forget about the lost woman out there who has no hope and no way out of her pain. Sometimes I think we have forgotten to be merciful to the man who does not know where his next meal will come from, the man who has no hope because he has lived a life of crime, and we rather worry about how WE will look if we are seen caring for a man who eats out of the garbage cans, the woman who looks sick and dirty.

 

Paul realized that he was no better than the man who you’ll find lying drunk in the mud outside, or the woman who is addicted to heroin, or the widow who has no-one to care for her, or the child whose parents have committed a crime and who has no-one to care for him… James writes in his letter to God’s faithful people, in James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

 

He is pointing us towards MERCY. To give where it is not deserved. To be generous even to those who do not deserve it.

 

A final word.

WE are the church. Not the leaders of our congregation, not a group of people who make decisions in our “church”. WE are the church. You, when you walk out of these doors, are the church. You and I are called to organise our lives around the principle of MERCY. Around giving where it is not deserved. Around taking care of people who have nothing to offer us in return. Our “church” relies on each of us taking personal responsibility for this principle in our lives. We cannot have a “church” based on mercy and live our lives in a way that ignores it.

Let’s pray.

• Or you are giving glory to God, and this is just a way of giving glory to God, by demeaning yourself.