Faith Under Pressure Part 2 (Trip To Moldovia)

Loved Of The LORD, as you who are following this story know; one of the main reasons for me to make this adventure was to encourage and help the Saws get down to Moldovia (Now called Moldova). We needed to make an explorative trip to see where they would set up a camp to operate. Pat had made a contact in Chisinau the Capitol City and the contact had requested some books in Russian by Word Of Faith authors … Preacher/Teachers for his little Church.
So we started to put “Irons in the Fire” to get thing moving, My experience in my walk with The LORD is that it being a ‘Joint Venture’ that we start finding doors to go thru and HE Will open them before us. (Yet of course knowing that if it was not to be HE would use the Philippian Stop Sign . Php. 3:15)

Because of the conglomerate organization we knew the Brother that was in charge of the ‘Churches Of Faith’ organization and we set an appointment with him. Talk about a Gracious Servant he loaded us down with the latest works of all the well-known Authors. We had to stop him from loading us up anymore, as there were only to be four of us to make the trip and we had to pack every thing by hand.

The next thing was to get Visas for the Ukraine, as we had to travel thru there to get to Moldova. That was won kind of wrestling match, as their Embassy bureaucrats made us labor, getting appointments and then finding out that we needed different paperwork and on and on for almost a week. That in itself was a cakewalk, as we made many trips to the Moldovan Embassy, as they did not have a working telephone and every time we went there … no-body home! Nevertheless, we received the Ukrainian Visa the afternoon before we left on the following day. Oh what a hassle getting the train tickets, as all visiting citizens of other countries had to pay an arm and a leg to ride. We had the two young Belarusian men from the Saw’s Bible study running interference for us all thru this ordeal. They finally bought four tickets for nationals, as they were going with us. Do not believe that we question them how that came to pass, as we did not really want to know.

Not having a Moldovan Visa, we decided to chance it and make the trip anyhow. We had to have the Ukrainian Visa, as we were already aware of all the stories of non-Visa traveling passengers who were thrown off the train at the border and waiting for a returning train to return them to Minsk. We knew that GOD had designed this trip and HE would get it done!

By the way, we had to go on this assignment at this time, as the Pastor of the NonDenom Church was taking his family back to the San Diego area for some R & R and Pat was going to be Pastoring while they were gone. That was only to be for a couple weeks, which developed into several months, which is another interesting story in itself. We smiled many times, about what the Sponsors back home would go thru should they find out what we were doing.

We finally boarded our train the next morning and were off on our twenty-two hour ride to Chisinau. Now what I need to remind you is about when the Saws got to Moscow and said that they were on their way to Moldova, the response was, “It is a long train ride to Moldova!” 12 hours to Minsk and another 22 to Chisinau!
We will pick up on this next week! Be Blessed! ©2008

The Humor of JESUS!

How hard is it for you to imagine JESUS being Funny? It would be easier to see Mr. Spock as an ‘On Fire Preacher’. Take a look at this short cut from Mark Driscoll’s sermon on humor. I found it interesting and smiled thru it. You find the whole message by clicking here. Enjoy! I did, 1 ©2008

Tip A Cashier

While checking out a link on Blogosphere I came across an article:
"Spiritual Discipline: Tip Your Cashier" by Pastor Jim Moss. It caught my eye and I left this comment:

Very Interesting!
Hi Jim,
The Wife of my youth and I were in a restaurant yesterday and we watched an elderly, somewhat handicapped woman tip the cashier, looking at wonanother we question our selves about it, to no avail. Taaaaaaa Daaaaaaaaaa!

And today 'Jim' comes up with an answer for us. Now we know that that might not be the answer for her, yet we will consider your contribution to being a part of our expenditures.
Thanks, and I will make a link on our Blog. dp aka www.wonpreacher.com

Jim has a Good Perspective in this post and I recommend that you take a look!

©2008

Faith Under Pressure Part 1

Loved Of The LORD, need to give you a little more of this “Won Preacher’s” Domestic Ministry to lead into the next Story. To preface even this portion, I have to go back three decades to re-commitment to The LORD, as my Savior and making HIM LORD of my life. Remembering seeing seasoned believers watching me (And Helping me grow.) with a big smile on their face. Myself being blessed and basking in the deliverance from Alcohol, Tobacco and a Filthy Mouth partaking of that Real Live Zeal for GOD and HIS Ways, that never shadowed by the neophyte finesse that was always present. I always came forth with a “Praise The LORD!” at Every opportunity, never intimidated by who may be present. Laying hands on and praying at the drop of a dime.

Today I still enjoy being around a Fired Up Baby Christian and love to love them and encourage them, as they Splash all over me, while having that same grin on my face as those present thirty years ago watching me.

No Doubt most of you know about ‘Brother Andrews’ “GOD’s Smuggler”. That phenomenal work “Open Doors” accomplished getting Bibles into the USSR and China since the fifties is a ministry classic. Still going strong and are continuing that ongoing ministry even today, getting ready for the 2008 Olympics. What a blessing for us to have a part in sponsoring a brother who was smuggling bibles into China back in the Eighties.

Said all of that to say this: In that first fifteen years or so being a part with the FGBMFI, when Demas was still alive, (A men’s Global Parachurch Organization) we found ourselves somewhat smuggling food & clothes into Mexico. The reason was that Mexican Customs &/or Immigration wanted ‘Payola$’ or at least a cut of what we were taking in. Enabling us to minister to fledgling churches, orphanages and even just setting up on the street, feeding, and clothing poor people while one of the brothers published The Gospel in Spanish.

On one of our trips, we were taking a Van in to a little Church for their use in the ministry. Something was wrong with it and it was barely making it up the hills on the way to San Diego. We stopped at several Gas Station Garages and trying to fix the problem, put on a new coil, a new fuel pump, filter and several other things to no avail. We were always in a caravan, when the van started to fail the driver and his partner would raise their arms out the windows signaling for prayer, and in turn, the rest of us in the different vehicles would do the same thing as we let them know we were in agreement with them. That must have been a sight to others on the road. They have no idea of who we were or what we were doing.

The van did not have current tags on it and going up one hill a CHP was passing all of us up on this two lane road and got stuck behind the van. No arms out this time, nevertheless, we were all praying and after what seemed like 10 minutes, the CHP passed the van up with out stopping it. Talk about the Praising The LORD!!! As if The Lord put Blinders on him, to never see the expired tags!

This is longer than I thought, so let me finish with this. In San Diego and with all these new parts the van finally quit. I pulled up behind the van and we joined our hearts and minds. With the hood of the van up, I started to jiggle different things on the motor while making the comment, “The only thing I know what I was doing is just laying hands on it and believing GOD would intervene.”

While doing this an experience came to mind about me having a an old Studebaker doing just about the same thing. What I finally figured out after several days of it trying to quit going up a hill was that the fuel line had a tiny pebble it front of the fuel filter. Keep in mind that we had replaced all of those things. I started to trace out the fuel line and when I reached the gas tank I found a kink in the line that only let a nominal amount of fuel get to the pump, but when there was a demand from the pump still only a metered amount would get thru.

That was the day that another verse of Holy Writ became my own personal promise. Let me paraphrase.

John 14:26. But the Helper Himself, the Precious Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you ALL things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I Taught you! said to you.

How many times HE has brought to my remembrance things HE has taught me in the mechanics of construction, using the same words again, ministering not in the traditional way and too many more to mention.

Next week our trip to Moldova and how I tie this above to it.

©2008

Cowboy Missionary Activities

Loved Of The LORD, as I go along I will drop in different activities that a Cowboy Missionary find themselves doing, this post being one. You might find this bizarre, yet it makes a general point to what follows.

While ministering in our own ‘Hood’ (Neighborhood back Home) some of the homeboys would tell me that they were going to a different town to get away from the influence of their peers and the supply of their addiction that was always stumbling them. Nevertheless, when I would see them months or years later, I would hear the same stories repeatedly. Finding themselves in a different place it was only hours, if not minutes that they would hook up with the same type of crowd.

This must be typical with almost any kind or type of crowd. Missionaries are not any different, especially when the turf is open, thirsty, and hungry. The former USSR having been closed to any Spiritual happening for, … (what was it, … 80 years?) was really open to any Preacher, Mystic or Charlatan that had a god type message. One could spot the SLC Boys, even without their bicycles. They were there on ‘Humanitarian Aid’ Visas.

The Saws being there less than a year had already made connections with several evangelical groups. When I arrived on the scene, they were in the process of setting up a conglomerate organization to pool information, mostly on how to thread the needle of Belarusian Bureaucracies and use the different resources that were available.

It was amazing to see how Baptists, Pentecostals, Word Of Faith, Salvation Army and several others including the “NonDenom-Denomination” that I wrote about earlier were coming together to Publish The Good News, of course in their own flavors. Hadley being somewhat affiliated with them, back home and Pat had hooked up with their Minsk Church and were all a part of it. It was working Great and The Ministries were contributing, mostly on how to go about registering with the (Government Agency) ‘Ministry Of Religious Affairs’. The SLC crowd had it figured out at the get go, as to skipping the Missions Registration and starting out with the Humanitarian Aid premise, and almost (If Not Outright) covertly introducing their Doctrine with their dispersing of aid. While discussing this during a meeting, it appeared as a possible way of skirting around the Biggest Hurdles and propagating The Gospel!

Soon there were containers coming in on a regular bases, and Pat somehow had us plugged in to the un-loading and stocking of clothes, foodstuffs and Medicine and in turn we partook of some of it to help in our Ministries. Everyone was generous and blessed to share!

Keep in mind that this was working great for the four months I was there. Yet for a closing note on this post; when my wife and I returned the following year, we found out that the ND-Denom had pulled out of the “Ministry Organization”, because Word Of Faith were a part of it! Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face, I was incredulous! The prejudice that was in The States finally made it self known in Belarus! How Sad!

OK Next week, some stories about the different ministries in action. i. e. Some Good News!

©2008

The Fonz For President: Button

The button was misplaced when I posted "The Fonz For President / Henry Winkler" Last November. Just yesterday my wife found it and I thought I would Post a picture of the button. People that like nostalgic things might like to get a look at it. ... So here it "B"! & Let me know if you like it! 1 ©2008

Missions: Hands On Training!

It must have been early evening when our train left Moscow, because I believe, it was early morning when we got to Minsk. Hadley and his crew were there to escort Ulia and to meet me, and Patrick and his family along with the gang that they had assembled to whisk me off to the Belarusian Daily happenings after I thanked Ulia for all the help..

The Saws had continued their domestic ministry of inviting people back in the States , mostly young men and women, around fifteen to twenty+ year olds, to their home even here in Minsk. After every Bible study there was always refreshments that ranged from different kinds of fruits to some times even big sausages that they would boil then serve hot later in the evening. You could watch them put on weight, especially the young men, as the economy was in hyper state of inflation and the Saws were partakers in ‘Seedtime and Harvest’ (Gen. 8:22) or sowing & reaping (2Cor. 9:6 & Gal. 6:7) depending on what Scripture you would explain their prosperity.

Their Children were impressed that they were living from the Giving that was generated from the limited deputation they generated. It was coming in regular intervals from diversified sources. Baptist Churches, Assembly Of God Congregations and different Friends, Relatives and Spiritual Associations involved in their support! Talk about The Body Of Christ being in one accord, and it was phenomenal in their situations.

So many times in The States, you would find the different factions warring with one another, because of Doctrine, Perspectives and Petty Dogmatic Beliefs.

Patrick was in charge of the design for the ministries per se. Buying Russian new testaments, tracts and what ever was needed. Jamie has told me that she kept track of monies, that were coming in and I know she was influential in the specifics of how it was being spent and getting done. She told me that they were functioning fully on about $500 USD a month, including, housing, food, Ministry and social travel and entertainment, that always included those who were being ministered to. All of that along with Visas and what ever it took to function in the bureaucracies of the strange laws and double standards of the former USSR. It does not take you long to learn to partake of the national economy and prices for the Locals when you are working on a limited income. There always seem to be enough!

Speaking about their economy, Inflation was so bad that they had added invisible Zeros to the only currency that was printed. It changed at least 3 times during those four months I was there. The 100-ruble bill was 1,000 rubles and before I left, I think it was a hundred thousand rubles, even tho it had only two zeros printed on it. The locals changed what money, oh yea some of my Russian is coming back. They exchanged their not needed ‘Dingy’ into $USD so it hung onto is value. I was still able to go to the Opera, Ballet, Circus and other forms of entertainment for the equivalent of an American dime. Jamie always seem to have some project lined up for the “Youth Ministry” and since I was a part of the Ministry, I also got an adequate education in ‘Culture” that I would not ever had at home. The following year my wife and I had to pay $1USD for the same thing, they had printed bigger denomination bills, and the invisible Zeros had disappeared. She was so pleased to having seen so many Operas and Ballets by the best professionals of those countries. Jamie was still at work educating the poor and providing some interesting outings!

BTW! Their bills look like Monopoly money and when I commented about it, I was told that a toy manufacturer had printed it for them. The following year it did look a little more sophisticated though.

Another step of Faith, the Saws were walking in, was they believed GOD to be their ‘Great Physician’, as not having any kind of medical plan, even if you had it, trusting their medical facilities in the former USSR, would have been a quantum Leap of Faith in itself. I was told that years ago their youngest daughter fell out of a hi-Chair and her shoulder was thrown out of joint. It was terribly painful and it took a hospital visit to get it back in shape. While playing in one of the many parks and thru a little horse play, her shoulder jumped out of place again. They knew what it was from their previous experience. Even with the grotesque look of the situation, she did not seem to be in much pain and this former Baptist, Now Bapticostal man laid hands on his daughter with the rest of the family in agreement and watched GOD restore it to its proper place.

Having a part in his Mentoring, the only thing better for me than hearing about it, would have been watching them do it!

A quick note on their Medical field: Their hospitals were like walking into the 1940’s in The States. One of the head Pediatricians who was also a Professor at one of the medical universities became a very good and dear friend of ours. She was a part of those who we were ministering to. My wife & I loved her and her dedication to the children of need in her country very much. A year or two after we came back home she was chosen to visit some of our hospitals here in the US and we were told that she cried when she seen what was available & used to help our disabled children here!

By the time I arrived in Belarus the Saws had close to a year under their belt and I will have to come back later to fill in how Jamie came across a job opening teaching young children of bureaucrats that were from many different countries. They were assigned to their Country’s Embassies &/or working for companies that were under contract to the Belarusian Government to help them get their post Soviet Bureaucracies and Banking Systems up to speed. Now they were ministering, as Tentmakers in the true sense of the term. (Now even with the Title &/or Office!) With this background … track record … other doors were constantly being opened that has taken them to many places that HE has brought them to. This also allowed Jamie to continue in her called ministry to Women in general and Children specifically. She was doing a phenomenal job at this during the day, now generating a steadier stream of Ministry Revenue. She was also a major player to “The Youth Ministry” in the evening!

My assignment was to go with the Saw kids, as they did some of the shopping & delivering messages and ministries that made each one an important part of what was going on. I was told I had two weeks to learn my way around and where different people lived, as the 3 girls needed to be back in their own room, that they had given up for me, instead of camping out in the main room of their 3 room flat. The youngest, being a boy had his cot in the entry hall with the shoes, wraps and umbrellas. Them chillens, sure impressed me, jumping on a motorboose, Tramvia or disappearing below the snow on a meetro (Underground Train) like gophers and having us pop up somewhere else on the other side of town. Keep in mind this was a city of about 2 million people and a great accomplishment for kids from about 14 to even the boy of eight who also had directions dialed in.

I had a need to learn as fast as I could and they all turned out to be great teachers, as they would show me milestones and monuments to tie it all together. I do not think I ever really got lost, tho they might differ with me.

The City had certain street crossings under the street and they would have shops &/or temporary Kiosks where you would be able to buy some of the things that only came available at different times. Since you had to walk about 20 feet down and then back up that 20 feet on the other side of the street. When I had enough Toilet Paper or some other necessities, I gave thought to watch for the cars and when clear jot across the street without all the Up & Down. The first time I did it, I did not pay attention to a Guyee (Police on foot) that had a car pulled over and was doing his thing. I just stepped on the opposite curb, when I heard this loud and persistent whistle being blown. I had a hunch that it was being blown at me and I tried to ignore it and picked up the pace when I then heard this angry yelling still coming in my direction. I incredulously look back over my shoulder and saw him yank his arm motioning me to come to him. He was yelling at me and pointing to the street corner that I had just crossed and I shrugged my shoulders and used two of the Russian words I had learned. Nyet Parooskie, I said over & over again. (No Russian) and he finally slapped his left wrist with his right hand cupped like a bracelet, yanking his left arm like he was going to drag it down the sidewalk and I said, “OH!” He responded with a Sarcastic Ponimyish? (Understand? That I learned later!) & a final “Nyet Parooskie” almost spitting and waved me on down the sidewalk knowing he had adequately warned me. Nevertheless, to say, I very seldom jay walked above ground unless in a “BIG” hurry after looking way up & down both streets.

Next week we will look at some of the Ministry that was going on, including Bible Studies and also praying for the sick and disabled. Oh Yes my newly made friend and roomy for my first move.

©2008

What is too long?

As I continue to Blog, it is so obvious that it is an on going School. Becoming aware that writing a book & Blogging maybe close to the same or completely opposite. I am reading “THE JESUS I NEVER KNEW” by PHILIP YANCEY at my bedside before going to sleep and I try to read a chapter every time. Needless to say, it is ‘Sleep O’Clock’ before coming to the end of the chapter. There will be a posting of ‘Reviews’ here as soon as they are typed up.

That brings to mind the need to get ‘Joel Osteen’s’ “YOUR BEST LIFE NOW” Reviewed and Posted too!

Now for the QUESTION! For you that are reading this Blog, “Google Analytics” tells me you are there! Are the posts too long or do you have time to read it every week as it is? Make a comment and let me know one way or another.

OK back to ‘The Salt Mines’ 1

©2008