At the end of march God has blessed us and we believe many other churches by Good News Pastors conference with Rick & Denise  Renner. It was great time and opportunity for pastors to come together as one big family for fellowship, great balanced teaching of the God’s word, hearing testimonies of what God is doing in different parts of Russia and prayer.

Our fellowship had a special honor we were asked to organize everything for the conference.Transportation,accommodation, music equipment, sound recording. Worship group, food, pick ups in airport and train station, registration etc. for 140 pastors and leaders. At  first we were a little bit confused by the volume of work and responsibility to prepare a good level conference. It was first time for us so we were afraid to fail the whole thing. But praise be to Jesus for courage and strength for prayers of all supporters. We had a great conference. Pastor Rick said it was one of his best conferences in Far-East. Our church also with the help of the Good News association recorded all the materials and worship and by the end of the conference provided with CD disks all the pastors.

Our sister church in Plastun also was able to send 3 people to help us with organization and enjoy the conference. We believe this conference had great impact, and good investment in unity of churches and pastors in Russian Far East.

Shortly after the conference we had an Easter outreach. It became a tradition for our church to invite all our relatives and close friends to celebrate Easter in the church. We provide food and a good Evangelistic program. This year we had more than 120 people. Many were saved.

Right after the Easter our church had some difficulties with a place to meet. We had to move 3 times during one month period. According to the statistic, Russian Far East is only place in Russia where we have more protestant believers than orthodox. It is evident that orthodox church tries to make Russian Government to think that they are most popular and biggest religion in all Russia, basing on that they try to promote a new law, that will be saying that there is a right religion “Approved by Government” and sects. In all Russia they create all kinds of problems for protestant churches. Here in Vladivostok they contact all places that have rooms for rental, and ask directors not to let not orthodox churches to rent it. As a result, almost all the churches in Vladivostok that do not have own buildings have problems with a place to meet and have to move several times a year. Cultural houses, Universities, schools ether refuse when we come to try to rent something or make price unacceptable. Praise be to Jesus He provided a place for us till September in a College. But when study year will start we might need to look for something else. Please pray with us for this need and also for many other churches in Vladivostok. Bible society where we use to meet for several years is also asking us to look for a new place to meet. Currently we have Sunday services at a College, Wednesday bible studies and Friday prayer meetings in the Bible society.


In May we had two wonderful events. We baptized 8 people plus 2 more one moth later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And started a new bible group in an other part of the city. We started with 3 people and it is slowly growing now we have more than 10 people coming. We started this croup with an aim to plant a new church. God has blessed us with some musicians, and we have a couple leaders that will be used for leadership. Victor my assistant might become a pastor of this group. First they will have separate meeting on Tuesdays and if they grow in future separate Sunday services except one Sunday  in month. First Sunday of month we will all be meeting together for communion.

 
In June we got our first vehicle, a van. In this letter we would like to thank all supporters, brothers & sisters, Americans and Russians that helped us with funds and prayers. That is a great blessing from God. We prayed several years for a van for church and God through you all made it possible. Glory to Jesus for all of you. We registered it on Victor and Victor will mainly be driving it. We are planning to use it for work in Plastun. Evangelism, to bring some
old people that we have to Sunday services and other work that church has. Right now we pray for another vehicle for the church since my car got in a car accident and I decided to sell it instead of repairing.  We will need a vehicle during times when the van is in Plastun or is used to evangelistic trips. Also for office work in Vladivostok.


It is amazing sometimes how God is moving in our church. It is interesting that we got some Nigerians. Indians, Americans, a Canadian, New-Zealander Armenians to come to our church. So our church looks pretty International.

Due to that we translate our services  to English and invite English speakers sometimes.
Also God has blessed us with a digital recorder that was provided by one Christian family from US as a gift. We record all the services church members can order any sermon or worship on a CD disk.


July brought some new challenges and we gladly opened ourselves for more work. In the beginning of July part of our church members took part in a cultural exchange program held buy Luke & Missy Mardock together with a Baptist church, our fellowship and Friends church from LA. We had a team of  9 teenagers from LA  plus about 20 Russian students unbelievers that a Baptist pastor invited for the program. Al (Baptist pastor) has made an awesome program, where for several days these students where in a very close relationship with Russian and American believers. At the end of the program they all watched “Passions of Christ” 5 of them got saved.

 

After the program was over our church had a trip to Plastun where we have done pretty much work. With the team from LA, Luke & Missy, and 8 people from our church all together with interpreters 20 people we had a 5 days outreach.

We brought some equipment and borrowed a video projector from the Baptist church. In most of villages in primorye they do not have any cinema theaters, so we decided to come to Plastun with a projector to show some Christian cartons for children (Josef, Prince of Egypt, Biggest gift). And for adults “Passions of Christ”, “The Climb”, “Moses”.   Plastun church made good advertisement. 3 days we showed cartons and our American team made a program for children after cartons. First day we had 25 kids, second 80, and third 50. Many of them got saved. At evenings we showed "Passions of Christ" at 18-30 in the Cultural house Yaroslavna. And late at 21-30 outside on the air we showed “The Climb” and Moses.

On The third day we had Thanks Festival outside on the air, Mayor of Plastun gave us a good powerful speakers and other equipment to use for free. We got quite many people to come and take part. During the “thanks festival” We had music, testimonies, a skit, and altar call.

Everyone who got saved (We do not know how many exactly got saved we had a lot of children as usual and adults) got new testaments and Christian calendars. During these 3 days Americans where spreading tracts and invitations, preached on streets.

They walked through all Plastun many times.

On forth day we had a picnic at a resort area about 45 people took part. We took only adults and youth. At this picnic  we had 7 people that came through the outreach rest of people where some of church members and our team. We had nice fellowship, baptism (baptized 8 people) and communion.

 

 

 

Also during this visit Victor and I were able to do some encouragement of the flock in Plastun. You all know that since the last year they did not have pastor and were moving under my pastorship. That was creating many inconveniences. Since Plastun is quite far away from Vladivostok. But praise be to Jesus, Victor & Tanya Pels has grown since last year so much that Victor and I had a privilege to appoint Victor Pels as leader of the church. Church in Plastun accepted it with great joy. He is not yet pastor, but he will have the position of pastor for one year and if capable and faithful we believe he could make a God pastor. Please pray for this family they need our spiritual support.

 

Their picture is here    >>>>>>>


Soon in a couple days we will have first time in our church a 6 days Youth Camp. Starting in August 9th we will go about 20 people (youth from Vladivostok church and their friends, some of them unbelievers) to a place called Livadiya near Nahodka with our youth where will have special evangelistic program. Please help us with prayer we need God's grace and joy.

 

 

 

Some of you know that I and Tanya are going to the US in September for about 2 moths. We would like to thank Juneau church that provides us with this wonderful opportunity to enjoy fellowship with the church in Juneau and also LA friends church.

Since our church has grown and we have more than 50 people coming regularly I was a little bit concerned about leaving Victor Korotkov (my assistant) for such a long time. It is not easy when you do not have a helper. And again God has shown His faithfulness to provide everything.

 
We have got a new family to help Victor while we are away. Their names Slava & Luda Piscunov. He is a good teacher and leader. She is a professional music player and a gifted worship leader. I know them for about 4 years. They gladly agreed to help Victor while we are away with Tanya. Please Support Victor and Slava & Luda in prayer so that God would keep them in unity and use this family for the glory of Jesus.

Psa 84:4-7  Blessed are they who dwell in Your house; they will still praise You. Selah. 5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You; Your ways are in their hearts. 6 Passing through the valley of weeping, they will make it a fountain; the early rain also covers it with blessings. 7 They go from strength to strength, appearing in Zion before God.

Thank you very much for being great help and support for our ministry in Vladivostok. With Christian love your brothers and sisters from Russia, Vladivostok

Roman & Tanya Gorlov, Victor Korotkov and VCCC
 www.primorye.com
vladivostok@ica.ru
August 2004