As you may remember in my December update I shared that in the fall a friend of mine Kelly McCarty and I begin spending time regularly in prayer and study of God’s Word on skype. Kelly is a professional basketball player in Russia, a naturalized Russian citizen and a member of the Russian national basketball team. Back then I shared that over time we were joined in our regular time on skype by 2 more guys from other basketball teams in Russia.

We took a break in our study over Christmas and resumed it only 4 weeks ago. In our first week after the break we had 9 guys, all of whom with an exception of me are professional basketball players in Europe. The following week we were joined by 3 more. Two weeks ago I lost count at 16 and then this past Monday 5 more guys joined our time in the Word and prayer. We now have over 20 guys from Russia, Poland, Slovakia, Israel, France, Germany, Italy and Greece, representing over 10 different teams.

Some of the guys in this study only recently came to know the Lord while others have been walking with Christ for years. There are those who returned to the faith of their youth couple months ago and those who already have disciples joining this weekly conference call on skype. It is amazing to see how transparent the guys are, how genuine and eager to grow in their knowledge of Christ. This is a unique congregation that sees the basketball court as the mission field. Not a day goes by when these guys would not take a stand for Christ on their respective teams.

Skype conference call allows for 24 connections at a time. I did not think we’d come close to maxing out this number in short 4 weeks. But we did.

In the photo above are Kelly McCarty (right) and Keith Langford
during a recent game between Unics Kazan and Khimki Moscow Region

 You can see more pictures from this game on my Facebook page HERE 

With the foundation for the ministry having been laid last year, this year Krysha Krasnoyarsk was ready to host its first Business Seminar.  There have been various events and conferences in the past year, but this was the first event that sought to help local businessmen clearly understand how faith can transform their lives and business practices.

 When the Krysha ministry first began in Krasnoyarsk, there was an immediate interest among Christian businessmen not only in Krasnoyarks, but in neighboring cities as well.  Krysha is the only ministry in all of Siberia seeking to minister to businessmen.  While the mere mention of Siberia usually conjures up images of indescribable beauty in a vast wilderness held tightly in the grip of an unforgiving climate, there are several cities with populations over 500,000, three of which, including Krasnoyarsk, with populations over one million.  The ministry started with two staff members with a heart to reach the businessmen in their city in the fall of 2009.  Over the span of the following year the ministry saw small group Bible studies form, regular prayer meetings take place, and volunteers come forward to assist our staff.  For one year, Krysha Krasnoyarsk prayed for their city and for the opportunities God would present to impact the lives of the business community in their city. 

You can read the rest of the story in PRAVDA February ’11.
Just CLICK HERE to download the rest of the newsletter.

You can also see more pictures from Krasnoyarsk business seminar on my Facebook page HERE 

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: PEARLS IN THE MUCK
BY ANTON ANTICH

When I was in the first grade, I had a crush on a girl, Olya.  I loved walking her home after class.  Once, during class, I received a note.  My heart beat like never before.  I unfolded the note and as my hands were shaking with anticipation, I read the words “Anton, I love you,” signed “Tanya.”  I shrugged my shoulders, crumpled the note and threw it in the trash.  I loved Olya!

I experienced a similar feeling the first time I was told “Jesus loves you.”  I think this is common.  When you hear these words, you want to shrug your shoulders and say “Jesus loves me?  So what?  I love Olya!” I don’t have need for the love of people I don’t know.  Who is He, this Jesus and what is His love to me?

You can read the rest of the story in PRAVDA February ’11.
Just CLICK HERE to download the rest of the newsletter.

Coming to know the Lord

Constantin grew up in a blue color neighborhood in Moscow. His high school years were a strange mix of studies, karate training and a seemingly endless series of fights. He did not believe in God and really had no intention of changing that. But the Lord had other plans. During Constantin's senior year of high school, the Lord took hold of of his soul when he heard about the resurrection of Jesus at a meeting put together by “Student Venture” (the high school ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ). He could not quite shake the nagging voice inside his head that kept telling him that what he had heard at that meeting was true. That Christ indeed rose from the grave and that, truly if there ever was a God in this world, this God is no other than Jesus of Nazareth.

That night Constantin picked up the New Testament determined that reading it would allow him to discount it all as nothing more than a fairy tale and to put an end to the nagging voice inside his head. A couple of months later he prayed asking God to forgive his sins and enter his life.

Constantin's last year of high school was full of excitement. He had taken additional courses at the Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technology in Moscow, which enabled him to enter that institute on early acceptance, however the most exciting thing and biggest change for Constantin at that time was not the move from high school to college, but that he had become a Christian that summer. During his freshman year at college, Constantin had become involved in the ministry of Student Venture, and even though he participated in various mission trips and projects, he still struggled with sharing his faith with his college friends and classmates. At the time there were perhaps only 2 or 3 Christians in the entire student body of several thousand students.

Constantin’s perspective on Evangelism changed when in the summer of 1994 he was baptized during a mission trip on the Black Sea. This public testimony of his faith became the first step that eventually led him to full time ministry. Shortly upon returning from this mission trip, he began openly sharing about his faith with his friends. In the fall he, along with Adam Richardson and Brett Budd, founded the youth group for Russian teens at Moscow Bible Church and became the intern youth pastor. At the time, it was one of the first church youth groups in all of Russia.

Working with Bill Bright and years at the International School of Theology

In the fall of 1995 Constantin had the privilege to work briefly with Dr. Bill Bright as his personal translator during his visit to Russia. During his speech at a large conference of pastors which had drawn thousands of church leaders from all of Russia, Dr. Bright made the statement that he was an heir of God. Constantin misheard him and translated the statement that he was an "error of God". This address to the conference was later printed in a Christian newspaper in Russia with the words of praise for such a humble servant of God who called himself the mistake of the Creator. The translation mistake didn't affect Dr. Bright's opinion of Constantin in the least and perhaps endeared him all the more. Dr. Bright and Constantin formed a good relationship, in part based on their mutual appreciation for a good sense of humor and even more so on their common heart to see people's lives changed with the Gospel. After the trip, Dr. Bright invited Constantin to come and study at the International School of Theology in California.

In the fall of 1996, Constantin moved to California to began his studies at the International School of Theology. He graduated from the school in 1999 with a Masters of Divinity in Exposition and Teaching, as the youngest graduate of the institution. During his time at the school, he served with Redlands Bible Church and the campus ministry at California State University at San Bernadino. Shortly before he graduated, he became the campus director at CSUSB but only because there were no other men left on the team.

Serving at the Moscow Bible College “New Life”

Upon his return to Moscow in the fall of 1999, Constantin took the position of the rector of the Moscow Bible College “New Life”. During his 7 years serving with the school, he taught several courses including Apologetics, Hermeneutics, Oral Communication and the Pauline Epistles. He was also involved in personal discipleship with dozens of graduates of the institution and went on half a dozen mission trips.

While working with the Bible College he was in charge of leading an outreach for students on the campus of Friendship University in Moscow and he oversaw the field ministry department of the school. During his time with the college, he had the privilege of traveling extensively due to speaking engagements at various schools and campuses throughout Russia. Additionally, he served on the board of Moscow Bible Church.

“Krysha” and Current Ministry

Constantin left Moscow Bible College in 2006 in order to pursue a brand new ministry to businessmen and young professionals called “Krysha.” While still working with the Bible College he started leading a small group in his home comprised of several believers from various business offices in Moscow. In the fall of 2006, the ministry to businessmen and young professionals was launched with one small group of about 8 people and 3 volunteers. In the following 3 years, the ministry grew to over 300 people and about a dozen volunteers. While discussion groups remain the focal point of everything that is done in the ministry, Krysha currently offers a variety of activities starting from parties, business seminars and the “Executives Breakfast Club 360” – the latest venture of “Krysha”, all leading down to small groups and accountability groups. Currently, “Krysha” has gone national, spreading to St.Petersburg and Krasnoyarsk.

Constantin is the director of Krysha Russia and he also serves as the director of the community ministries of Moscow. Moscow Community Ministries is a joining of several different ministries of Campus Crusade for Christ with their unique target audiences, identities and strategies, but existing as one movement, with one vision, one set of goals and distinctives, and one brand. It is comprised of Athletes in Action, Crescendo, Cross Roads, Family Life, International Schools Project, Student Venture. Moscow is a city like no other in Russia. It is the financial, political and educational capital of the country. Fifteen million people, which is ten percent of the population of Russia, lives in Moscow and accounts for 80% of Russia's financial resources. To put in simply, you reach Moscow today and it transforms Russia tomorrow. Moscow Community Ministries allows each ministry the opportunity to work together in such a way as to truly create a movement in the city of Moscow so that every person knows someone who truly follows Jesus.

Constantin serves “Krysha” Russia by leading the movement in a broad range of areas from casting vision, training and supporting a team of volunteers, to writing and teaching Bible studies. He also has a dynamic personal ministry of discipleship and evangelism in Moscow. Additionally, he supports and leads the ministries of Krysha in St. Petersburg and Krasnoyarsk in their unique development.

In serving as director of Moscow Community Ministries, he is able to lead the directors of the Moscow Community Ministries in a unified vision and strategy to reach the city. Additionally, Constantin serves on the preaching committee at Moscow Bible Church and regular preaches at the church.