Pasha and Lena Baranov
Vladimir, Russia |
Monday April 30, 2012
To my dear comrades and faithful warriors in the battle of the Good and evil. The war in the invisible realm
rages as real and fierce as ever. Even thought we fight from victory there is yet to many fights to engage
before it’s over. Peace to all of you and grace from our Savior and Commander. In the middle of the battle
we do have His peace. Thank you for all your prayers and patience - in case you do get tired of not hearing
from the field you are praying for. May God reward you even in this life for your perseverance and love for
us. I think that my last writing was in the beginning of March or the end of February - when I returned from
Cuba. There were quite a few things to catch up with.
Since last writing we had two German brothers come and teach at the Bible college. German way often corresponds
with very orderly style. Indeed it was the case with our friends. They did a good job teaching at the college,
as well as everything else they did while being here with us. We thank God for them, their families that let
them go and the church in Munich that prayed for us. Well, while we are on the college topic I want to
continue with a couple more thoughts and s couple of prayer requests. It is about a month before the semester
ends. One student will graduate, others will continue. Please pray for the next semester. The way Bible
college works here is a bit different from how it works in most of the western countries. That is the financial
part. Because of economy and the size of churches (to be short) most students can not afford even to come and
live on campus, much less pay anything for the studies. The teachers don’t for ask anything either. Most of
everything is volunteer. So, the way it has worked for years was the help of the churches in the West. Both
with providing teachers and sponsoring serious students. Please pray for the next semester’s sponsors and for
genuine serious new students to come and continue to learn the Bible. Our goal with Bible college to help
prospective ministers to grow in the knowledge and love and to return to their home churches, so they can
effectively serve the Lord. *If this is something you have the heart for, please consider adopting a student
for next semester. Feel free to ask any questions, write us.
In March we had a couple of fundraisers for Kenya team. This thing is still quite new to us, but it went very
well. People have donated quite a bit of money and any proceeds from the kraft and sweets sales went towards
the mission there. Murom church has joined us once again - by sending one member for the team and collecting
some funds as well. The team is leaving tonight. Please pray for effectiveness, boldness, love, wisdom, unity
with local church in vision and efforts, protection and safe travels. We expect great things from our Great
God. It is the right thing to do and it is so good for the church. On top of normal good things God also does
miracles. He is God! May God’s kingdom expend!!
There were a few good events around the Resurrection Day. Russians celebrate Easter by some other calendar. So
we had our service on the 15th of April. The day is not important, but the essence of the fact very much so.
Church handed out invitations, shared the Gospel, had good church service, did some goodly labor together. Few
new people showed up, some dinosaurs too. The news of resurrection bugs the mind and reaches to the hearts.
Please pray for all the people that did hear the Gospel once again and for all the many folks that heard it in
last few years to finally really submit to the Lord and live for him. Pray for God to send His Spirit and save
many in Russia.
Calvary Chapel Vladimir will celebrate it’s 20th Anniversary on May 15th. Wow!! Praise God for Real love and
for His great Faithfulness!!! He reached out to us in time and space and saved us. It is not only Galilee and
the generation of Apostles, but wild barbarians like us from all over the place. Endless thanks and
gratefulness from deep within our hearts. I can’t even start remembering the numberless things that God has
done for this reality to be ours today in the city of Vladimir, Russia. Thank you to all of you faithful
brethren who prayed, worked, continue to pray and work in His fields. The fields indeed are white even still,
even more so than they were. God, send the workers! God - Maranatha!! Both cries are ours.
May He guide you, strengthen you and glorified in you!!
Pasha B. - CCV
P.S. We did move into our new apartment. I am still working on finishing it. It is some security measures on
the outside (because it is a ground floor) and last touch-ups on the inside. Please pray that we have funds
to finish those things and be done with it. When you are in Vladimir, please come and visit us.
P.S.2 – I will be coming to California. Unfortunately, all by myself. But I will be there for the pastor's
conference and one more week on top of that. I deeply feel the importance of this visit and just the time
of all things and events in life at the moment. I hope to see many pastors and talk to many faithful comrades
in the faith while there. Please pray that I could have a lot done.
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Thursday March 15th:
Hello. This is Pasha from Russia.
I wish I was a poet, or at least a writer.
About the trip to Cuba I write a little note ~~~
Please see the attached PDF report.
AGAPE
Sincerely,
Pasha B.
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Tuesday January 17th:
Hello dear brothers and sisters.
Attached is the letter of mine for January. It is not quite a newsletter, but a missions fund raiser rather.
Because of the time shortage I send it separately. The newsletter will be coming shortly as well.
Please read this short note and pray for us.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Pasha B.
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Saturday December 17th:
Hello dear and beloved brethren.
Merry Christmas to you all!!
I wish I was sending you a gift. But like in the case with Jesus, you are the ones that bless your Russian
comrade by praying and other blessings.
And I am like a boy with my drum. Ra-ppa-pam-pa.... Behold my drumming on the keys - some news. Hope you
enjoy to read the news, rejoice in what the Lord does here and can continue to pray. My deepest thanks
andappreciation.
Sincerely,
Pasha B.
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Wednesday August 12th:
Dear brothers and sisters in arms,
Grace and peace to you in Lord Jesus’ dear name!
Without smoke and fire, without being in the war, for some reason I feel like being part of all that. I hate
to exaggerate things because I know that there are may many places where the actual wars and battles for life
are taking place. Millions of people have it much harder and intense than we do over here. But it’s hard to
actually sit down and make an inventory of what has been taking place in the last couple of months. A lot took
place, a lot of battle, even though I mostly did not play a central role. Many others did and me, my family
and the church took part. It is always good to realize that our God control all and nothing escapes His sight.
And that He plays the main part. All of you, faithful prayer partners help us to keep up the good fight and to
withstand the enemy’s attacks. Thank you so much. Please keep praying with us and in heaven you will see how
much you have actually took part in the ministry here in Vladimir and helped us to stay strong. We pray that
you keep it strong on your end. May God be glorified in all the earth!!
Since May we had several outreach teams from US churches come and serve the Lord along side us. Different
churches, different ages, different many things, but all who love the Lord and desire to do His will, all that
share love for Russian people. There was much done - not just in Vladimir, but the sister churches in the
region here. Concerts, street evangelism, body ministry of all forms. Our minds had to engage in all sorts of
things… We felt the resistance from many directions, but also had so many joys. This is why I actually have a
hard time concentrating on something one or few things right now. Also because there are many things that need
the attention right now.
So, I just want to praise the Lord for what He has done and ask you to pray for the continuing work of His in
days and weeks ahead, before snow comes. It is a good and exceptable year of the Lord. Fields are white and
there is much to do and not enough hands. We all need to pray like disciples were commanded - to send more
workers in the fields. There are white fields… there are us… Maybe we can also pray - Here am I, send me…
Between me and now, all of you, this is the prayer that I have prayed quite often - especially after the trip
to Cuba. The Lord has answered and confirmed that I am still sent here for now. So…. even being someone local,
someone from here I am still sent here to do the work, to continue the work. I do not write this to brag, or
make anything special of me. A would actually feel more heroic if I went somewhere far. But being home and
continuing faithfully and boldly with the same people actually demands a lot more. That is how most of us
learn the depths of genuine love. Most of good missions come form good foundations of home church. Well, I did
not mean to be teaching in this letter, just some thoughts out-loud…
As summer heads toward it’s end please pray for all the many people that have heard the Gospel in our lands.
We pray for them to be saved. Pray that they come to church and become disciples of Jesus Christ. Pray for the
church to receive and befriend them, help them grow. There must be unity and love between us, so that the
babies don’t just hear, but see the life of Christ in the church and taht they grow healthy. Everybody knows
this stuff, but it is a real time real struggle for all of us - to be what we are supposed to be.
Next semester of Bible College is starting at the end of August. Please pray for those that will join the
studies in Vladimir and for those who will take distant learning courses. These are the people that want to
know more about the Lord and want to serve Him. We want to see just that. And what the Lord wants to do with
them, of course. His will to be done in all the lives!
In September there will be a conference for the women - here in Vladimir. Please pray for the teachers to be
divinely inspired and prepare that good strong teaching that is well fit to the situation and time. We have
many ladies in the churches in Russia. They want to serve the Lord. So, we pray that he meets them and renews
them to follow Him strongly, boldly and to bear much fruit this in next academic year. Lot of them have kids
in schools and even those that don’t have many areas to practice the true Christian faith. Again I say things
that everyone knows…
Our annual Calvary Chapel conference that takes place here in Vladimir is planned for November 3-6. Please
pray for this blessed event. God blesses it always, but perhaps there is things that we miss and He wants to
do more - we need to get HIs will and do it with Him. For that we can pray. Maybe for nice big hall this year
and for many people to have the opportunity to come.
Please pray for our children - to grow in the knowledge of the Lord and to be strong in faith. So even our
kids would be a bright testimony of God’s truth and love in our families’ lives. VBS is great, conference
VBS is great, Sunday School has been good. But everything else in their families’ attitudes and their own
to change. Can we pray together fro them as the next school year comes around.
On May 15th of 2012 our church will celebrate 20 year anniversary. I seek the Lord to understand His will
concerning this date. In my opinion it is a great date to celebrate the many good things that our Great God
did here. How big of a deal we should make it, how much noise to allow, I am not quite sure. Please pray with
us for God’s clear vision, to know what He desires to do in that time. Perhaps and good big outreach with our
many friends’ help? God has many resources and He has all the wisdom and plans. We just need to hear from Him
on this. Perhaps I make it to big of a deal at this point, but it is a big deal. Please pray with us.
Thank you very much for turning the listening ear, looking into my words and seeking the Lord on our behalf.
I and we (my family and church) GREATLY APPRECIATE your prayers. With God the very prayers are collected in
bowls (Rev.5:8)… So whether we see things now or not, whether we understand what He decides to do with a
particular request, we can gladly realize that it’s in His hands now. Submitting all of our ways to His will
is the best thing sew can do of our lives. So, even if my letter just adds more prayers to your list of things
i don’t feel bad. Be blessed, dear friends and partners in the Lord’s work!
We love you and appreciate you dearly.
Your co-laborers in Christ,
Pasha and Lena, our family and church.
P.S. You can continue to pray for our move. Actually for selling of our current apartment. It’s been good to
be able to live in the house and not start the hassle of moving during this busy summer. But as the
construction company is coming closer to finishing the new place we need to sell this old place, pay them
the rest of the money and start working on making the new home livable. We think that we have entered into
this ordeal with God’s blessing, so if it is all good then He will help us to continue on well. Thanks for
your prayers and help.
P.S.#2 The Lord has blessed us indeed to attend the missions conference in Austria again. We can’t express
how happy we are to go as a family once again. Please pray for our safety next two weeks and for our dear
church to stay strong, safe and healthy.
Shalom!
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