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BelarusTen years ago I came to TCM helped me very much in my ministry in the Seminary. In fact I adapted its approach to education in our Seminary and it was completely free. Our teachers began to teach much better (almost all of them are trained here). We’ve got good books for our library. We can enjoy this great place and visit Last year I personally got a real benefit from my friendship with TCM. With the help of TCM (and especially former TCM Senior Vice-president Gary Weedman) I published my first book (in Homiletics). Now all our preachers are obliged to read this book!
In TCM I got idea for second book. It was “New Testament Preaching and Teaching” with John Turner. And recently my second book was published in But I don’t want to tell you about myself. I’d like to introduce a few TCM students. It’s better to ask them to tell something about their training and ministry.
1. Alexander K., pastor, 35 years old
When Alexander was about 20, he tried to commit suicide but he wasn’t experienced enough to do it, so he got to the hospital and there he met Christians and came to Christ. Alexander, what would you say about your training here, in TCM?
“TCM is one of the greatest blessings in my life. All the components of TCM are worth my appraisal – the professional level of the teachers, the faithfulness, sincerity and love of your employees, the importance and the practical value of the materials, the unforgettable days of sessions, which give strength to serve God and His people.
“One of the most serious benefits from my studies became serious treatment of the Scriptures. I am thankful to Christian education for teaching me how to preach the Word looking into its context. Now Bible study [has become] the center of the church meeting.”
2. Alexander L., pastor, 43, former pilot and military officer
“It is a great privilege and honor for me to study in TCM. Here I met wonderful people. They were excellent teachers and sincere Christians. The more I study in TCM, the more I get stronger spiritually and the more help I get for my practical ministry in church and missionary field. TCM teachers have distinct and deep personalities themselves and they help us to be successful and achieve more in Christ. They have many degrees but the teachers can be easily approached and they do not distance themselves from the students.”
3. Dima M., pastor in Minsk, 38 years old
“You know I was involved in student’s ministry more than ten years. And six months ago brothers suggested me to start a new church. After I got approval from the Lord we started to do our preparation. We got registration and then I found a place for our services.(Actually to get such kind of permission is a miracle in our country!) We started in November with group of people 150. I know that it is not easy to build a church but we are so optimistic about it! Now we have a lot of evangelistic projects. Last Sunday we had 55 new people, and three of them came to Christ. I’m doing a lot in order to establish good structure in the church. Our next step is to start Bible groups.
“I’d like to express especial gratitude to TCM. You helped me very much in my ministry. Actually, you encouraged me to start new church. I remember class with “Leadership” with Les White. This teacher gave me impulse to plant new church and to overcome difficulties and confrontation. Well, all classes here are a choice selection. All classes are practical and instructive. And I like your faculty, too.
“I’m very busy man, but in spite of this I put aside my business and take part in session. In fact for me it is a great festival. So I was very disappointed when class with John Turner was cancelled. His topic – “Church Health and Evangelism” – what I need most of all. I will be waiting for John and other teachers. And I will pray for you. And please do pray for me, for core leaders in our church, their commitment, new believers, and permission from local authority to rent a hall for our meetings.
“I do believe that God will use me powerfully to proclaim Our Lord Christ in 1. Ruslan Y., missionary, 27
“On 1 October (2006) “Hope church” prayed over a group of people and blessed us to start a new church in our city. So we were born! At the moment we rent a small room in one church, and at the same time we are looking for a chance to rent something bigger and better. However, it seems to be quite difficult now, because most responsible city authorities are incited against evangelicals. We have to keep it in secrecy in order to escape paying any fines or dealing with KGB. Anyway, I hope soon the church will start functioning legally, as soon as we sort things out concerning church registration.
“We started with 20 people; now 30-40 regularly attend our worship. We worked to improve our Sunday services, focusing them at mostly non-Christian audience. Pursuing this goal, we tried to declare the Gospel in easily understood way whenever we have a service. Firstly one of the students tells a story about his/her way to God, after that we have a worship part singing together, then read and discuss a passage from the Bible. We are very busy with all the people in our church and are grateful to God there are always non-Christians who attend our services.
“Each Friday we have a special service filled with burning prayers about all unbelievers who we know and who we shared about Jesus with. We pray for them by name and see how God’s working answering these prayers. There are also new people who come despite the obstacles, attracted by personal relationships built with them. One of them is Eugene, student of the “As we so far have no possibility to invite people to a certain permanent place, we do our best to lead people to Christ by building close relationships with them. In addition we are about to publish a church web-site in order to help students learn more about who we are, what we believe, etc."
We keep working with new people reaching out to those who like sport through the basketball ministry. Every month there are one or two new boys join our b-ball training interested to play together. Every practice starts with a short biblical message and a loud prayer. Everyone is encouraged to join a prayer chain. Please help us pray for that ministry and about our youth."
"Of course I couldn’t do it without training in TCM. Especially because we try to bring young educated people to our church. God’s will I’ll come here again in October to refresh my soul and get new ideas for me as for preacher and pastor.”
2. Dema C.
"Our church is called Pure Heart. The official church opening took place on 28 January 2007. Before that time we all (about 30 people) were members of the oldest Evangelical community in our city."
“The idea to create a new church came about three years ago. All this time we prayed and prepared for this event. Nowadays our church is attended by 50-70 people every Sunday service. There are some people who received Christ into their hearts. This summer we will baptize 15 people (14 of them are young people ages up to 22).
“There are two big universities, some institutes and many other educational establishments in our city. That is why we pay special attention to the youth ministry. So we organized two music groups in our church. It attracts youth.
“We begin to put into life our sportive evangelistic event. Some of our young people are engaged in evangelistic ministry through sport games: soccer, volleyball, skating. We also plan to invite non-Christian teenagers for roller- blading.
“We also have some projects in social work. This summer our church takes part in preparation of a camp for children with cancer (and their parents). We also plan to help families with meager income.
“In our church we pay a lot of attention to small group ministry. Nowadays we have four such groups and in the near future we plan to open another three. I work with group leaders. Together we discuss study material and the next week they teach this material in their groups.
“In order to develop all this work and especially discipleship I need to learn a lot myself. That is why I decided to become a TCM International student. Deep Bible knowledge can help me to develop a philosophy of ministry. Study of practical disciplines will give me many new ideas and it will allow me to structure my church ministry. And TCM’s close attention to spiritual formation of students will surely input into my spiritual growth. With much respect and prayer about you, Dmitry.”
Leonid closed by asking for prayer for |
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