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October 29, 2007
1. Evangelistic micro-enterprise
business startup: we are assisting three local believers in a
micro-enterprise business startup that potentially has impact for church
planting in the way of better, more stable income for the believers involved,
which in turn can lead to more stable tithes and offerings for the two churches
represented; additionally, on down the line part of the profits will go toward
funding part of the salaries of church planters who are laboring in the Lord's
fields; last, this opportunity affords the believers the possibility of new
evangelism approaches through business and bi-vocational ministry.
2. Hillcrest professional team followup: pray for us as we do
follow-up in coming weeks as a result of an evangelistic business/professional
team that was in Ufa Oct 21-27. Pray for us as we return to different
businesses and gov't offices where meetings took place, so that we may continue
to have access and further opportunities to share the gospel and research
additional opportunities to partner in micro-enterprise business projects that
impact church planting
3. ESL workshops: pray for the 4-person volunteer team from
Eastern Hills Baptist Church in Albuquerque which is coming to Ufa and Ishimbai
Nov. 4-16 to lead 2 ESL workshops. Pray for TeamUfa members also as we partner
with Eastern Hills in this project to share the good news with people interested
in furthering their conversational English skills, that people will be drawn by
the Holy Spirit to repent, follow Jesus, and become part of an evangelistic
Bible study in both cities
4. Julia Bragin: Julia is the little one and a half year old
little girl of Zhenya and Elsa Bragin, members of Grace Church in Ufa. Many of
you have been praying for her for months and have given funds to assist with her
medical care in both Ufa and Moscow. She has a genetic problem that has
contributed to seizures and serious developmental issues. She is currently in
Moscow with her mother undergoing further testing and treatment. A surgery is
planned this week for her in Moscow to correct a problem in her ears. Pray for
her and her parents, that they will sense and experience the peace of our loving
Father as the surgery commences. Pray for her older brother Roma who misses his
sister and mother.
5. Shamil: Shamil became a believer through ESL classes here in
Ufa a few months ago. He has been attending Grace Church since that time and
continues to participate in ESL classes. As a former drug addict, he continues
to deal with adjustment and adaptation issues, and has just this past week
started a new job. He is growing as a newly-born again follower of Jesus and
has experienced some rejection and pressure from his family in various forms.
Join as we pray for Shamil, that he would be a steady witness to his family and
friends, a hard and honest worker, and a daily-growing disciple of Jesus.
6. Pray for the evangelistic bible study group in the Sipailovo
district of Ufa as it is lead by Roman and Elvira who host the Tuesday evening
studies in their apartment. Westside Baptist Church in Sumter, SC is assisting
this young couple with financial support to rent the apartment as a base for
evangelism. Pray for the not-yet-believers who continue to come and
participate. Pray for TeamUfa members Victor and Susan Bauer who also attend
this study, that the Lord would also work through their witness and loving
friendship.
Thanks for praying with us and for the Lord's work in Ufa!
Chris
October 10,2007
Greetings from Ufa where the leaves have all changed colors and many trees are now bare. There is a chill in the air and snow is right around the corner. It is good to see the providential care of the Lord as the seasons change. He gives us food on our tables and gladness in our hearts because of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Please be praying with and for us this following week regarding the following three needs:
1. A team of businesspeople and professionals from Hillcrest Baptist Church (Pensacola, FL) are to arrive in Ufa Sunday evening Oct 21 for a week of envisioning and learning regarding the use of business and professional experience as an approach to communicate the good news. Pray for access, openness, new friendships, and new witnessing relationships to emerge toward possible future return trips, and for real opportunities to communicate the good news during the week
2. Our teammates Victor and Susan Bauer are in Prague (Czech Republic) Oct 21-25 for a week of debriefing and fellowship as they are about to complete their first year of service with the IMB in Russia. Pray for them to have rest, good reflection, and clear direction from the Lord for this next year of ministry in Ufa.
3. Pray for Ufa residents to respond to ads the next two weeks regarding an ESL intensive conversational English workshop in Ufa Nov 5-9. Pray for them to call and make an appointment to determine their level of English proficiency. We are praying for at least 200 people to participate in the workshop. Likewise, pray for the team which will lead the ESL time, they are coming from Eastern Hills Baptist Church in Albuquerque, NM; they are still preparing for the time in Ufa and for a second week of ESL work in the city of Ishimbai (2 hrs south of Ufa) Nov 11-15. We are praying for 100 participants in Ishimbai so that they are exposed to the good news through Eastern Hills and local believers in both Ufa and Ishimbai, so that people will come to know and follow Jesus and become a part of new evangelistic bible studies.
4. Pray for a young new believer named Shamel. He is wanting to grow in his new relationship with the Lord, but is experiencing tension from his family which feels he has rejected the faith related to his ethnic heritage. We are working with him in discipleship and to encourage him to be strong in the Lord as he watches and prays and stands and resists the devil.
Thanks for praying with and for us!
Chris Carr
Ufa, Russia
