Eastern European Bible School, January 2006

Sponsor A Brother or Sister To Attend!

There are around 1000 brethren and sisters in the Russian speaking world. They are scattered all over the former Soviet Union. We would have felt more comfortable if the Lord had called them all in a few centres, where large ecclesias could be developed. However, this has not been His way, and our brethren and sisters are scattered throughout the 8 time zones of the former Soviet Union. Ever since the inception of the Truth in the ex-USSR, they have faithfully gathered together at annual Bible Schools. These Schools are often their only chance to meet with other believers, to discuss issues, to learn how to work together, and above all to form relationships. Our young people meet together there with other young people, and several marriages have developed after meeting up at Bible School. With rising costs, the poor getting poorer and the rich, richer, long distance travel is increasingly hard to afford. Some of our elderly sisters travel 3 days each way by train to be present at these gatherings. With rising energy costs, those with no relatives often have to spend most of their entire pension on heating and utilities; they have major problems with food and clothing, let alone being able to fund long distance travelling.

If we cease holding these Schools, then many of our newly baptized brethren and sisters are left in relative isolation, with little practical sense of the one body of Christ to whom we all belong. We have therefore decided to continue holding the next Winter Bible School, in faith that the Western brethren and sisters will consider sponsoring individual brothers and sisters to attend the School. All Russian speaking brethren and sisters are invited, and they are asked to find something towards the cost of the event, according to their means.

The speakers will be Brethren Rudolf Rijkeboer [Holland], Duncan Heaster [Latvia] and David Bushell [UK]. The School will run God willing January 5- 11, 2006, in Poltava, Ukraine. There will also be special sessions for sisters- we expect the majority of attendees to be sisters.

However, to enable us to get funds to brethren & sisters ahead of time so that they can travel, we are appealing at this stage for brethren, sisters, ecclesias and CYCs to consider sponsoring individual brethren and sisters to attend the School. We will give them an update and hopefully a letter and photo from the brothers or sisters whom they sponsor after the School has happened.

The average cost of the School / person attending, including travel, is around US$200, i.e. £120 British, AU$250. There are likely over 100 bre & sis wishing to attend.

Please consider sponsoring a brother or sister to attend the School, and please let us know how many you are able to sponsor, and if you have a preference of age or gender of those you wish to support. Please pray about this, encourage others too to support, and let us know at info@carelinks.net.

Donations 

Photo: Mike & Vanessa Floyd at the end of the lengthy interview of our sister Sofia at last year's Bible School. She was so emotionally overcome at being found ready for baptism.

Photo: For some the long journey to Bible School starts from isolated villages like this

Photo: Young people presenting the story of Balamm at lasy year's Bible School

Photo: Bible School is one of the few opportunities our many isolated sisters have to sing hymns together

Bible School is a good place to distribute clothing and spectacles to the many in need

Photo: Distributing spectacles at the Bible School

It's easy to underestimate the problem of distance in a region as vast as the former USSR. Many family members are scattered between the former republics of the USSR and rarely if ever meet each other. The Bible Schools are a great opportunity for faithful families to meet with each other. A beautiful example is in the way Brother Boris, from Russia, was able to come to the last Bible School and meet his sister Sofia, who lives in the Ukraine. It was so wonderful to hear her confession of faith, to witness her baptism, and to hear her stand up and give thanks to her brother Boris for leading her to the Truth. They're both in their 70s and very frail, and had made a great effort to get there. Sofia travelled for 2 days, slept on a railway station clutching her stick, and gave out 50 Bible Basics leaflets on the train!

Photo: Brother Boris, from Russia, was able to come to the Bible School and meet his sister in the flesh Sofia, who lives in the Ukraine- the Bible School is the only chance they get to meet

These wonderful events are only possible with your support and sponsorship. For the sake of our brethren and sisters in Eastern Europe and their families, we ask for your prayerful and generous support.

Your brethren and co-workers of CCM