abel vega: This what we're calling Russia initiative, just this connection online and we're really having an emphasis on on celebrating Advent.
abel vega: You know with with our, our Methodist partners and friends and Russia and so and and so on behalf of the Rio Texas conference we just Welcome everyone to this connection.
abel vega: We and working with Cindy stone, who, who is our coordinator with for the Russia initiative for real, Texas, we, we just
abel vega: Want to make this platform available, you know, to grow in this relationship that is a global but also just knowing that we, you know, there's some history here, right, you know, in terms of just
abel vega: You know 25 years and growing. And so today, we're going to just
abel vega: Hear various testimonies and look forward to just how this platform can be available to us as we move into the future. I know that this is what going towards 25 years
abel vega: In the relationship and a lot of you in Russia, you know, are experiencing that are living history living proof in history of this
abel vega: Relationship and then of course here in the United States, the partners who understand that. So I'm, I'm a learner in this. So it's good to see you. Sergey. Good to see you, and Atlanta and just everyone who's connected
abel vega: For this session. So Cindy, I turn it over to you and welcome everybody and blessings. As we come together and conversation. Amen.
Amen.
Cindy Stone: Well, I'd certainly like to thank able and the call for everything they did to help get us organized and to launch the whole thing. We really couldn't do it out there. Very, very helpful and dedicated to system.
Cindy Stone: And I welcome all of you to this, and I thank those of you who are in a remote timezone from our central Texas time because I know it's evening and almost bedtime. For some of you,
Cindy Stone: So I do thank you for participating. That way, I'd like to open with an affirmation of faith that I have kept for many years taped to the bookshelf above my office desk and it it really takes us from where we are through epiphany.
Cindy Stone: So let's, let's open our hearts to what we might hear from this now.
Cindy Stone: We believe in the gift of Bethlehem is Advent was a candle stall his proclamation was a star is celebration began with shepherds and Wiseman
Cindy Stone: Is meant for us today.
Cindy Stone: We believe in the gift of Jerusalem is Advent was a priestly discussion his proclamation was a new mission.
Cindy Stone: Is celebration began on a solemn hill.
Cindy Stone: He is meant for our maturing faith today.
Cindy Stone: We've we believe in the gifts of Calvary is Advent was an empty tomb his proclamation was a resurrection.
Cindy Stone: His celebration is a kingdom. He is our hope today.
Cindy Stone: We believe we live by our beliefs, our Advent is a gift from God.
Cindy Stone: Our Proclamation is a risen board.
Cindy Stone: Our celebration is the resurrection.
Cindy Stone: Our lives are his kingdom.
Cindy Stone: Thanks be to God for the gift of Jesus Christ, amen.
Amen.
Cindy Stone: So I'd like Sergei to take it for me yours so that you can start our program and begin to share as we go through all the things that we have planned for this morning. So welcome, Sergey. Thank you.
Sergei Nikolaev: Thank you, Cindy. Thank you.
Sergei Nikolaev: Able for organizing this. This is exciting. And this is a second webinar.
Sergei Nikolaev: In our partnership in that way and
Sergei Nikolaev: Since the last webinar some interesting developments happened. Well, first of all of course it's and we're live into that unreal kinds of time we continue living into that pandemic and social isolation that he has to go with that in order to cure of it.
Sergei Nikolaev: For example, had the Moscow seminary, when we had our summer session.
Sergei Nikolaev: One of the classes, was it and of course it was online.
Sergei Nikolaev: For the first time in our history.
Sergei Nikolaev: The assignments for one of the classes, which was called evangelism in covenant groups.
Sergei Nikolaev: The homework was given with understanding that in the fall, kind of will be already
Sergei Nikolaev: Pandemic will be in the past. So you could go out and meet people.
Sergei Nikolaev: Invite them to your home or develop relationship in person. Of course we all know this is not true. There's a second wave. We had to rewrite
Sergei Nikolaev: Homework.
Sergei Nikolaev: In order to keep our students, safe and
Sergei Nikolaev: With the focus on evangelism online.
Sergei Nikolaev: This is a new territory for us. We don't have experience in doing evangelism online on the kind of individual, but not as a seminary as a
Sergei Nikolaev: Kind of practice. So this is actually
Sergei Nikolaev: An experience that we encourage the students to go out online there there's some kind of
Sergei Nikolaev: Hints but without actual
Sergei Nikolaev: Knowing what will come out of it. So we are exploring learning and exploring it this time to be
Sergei Nikolaev: In this continuing social isolation situation but not giving up on evangelism. So we take that
Sergei Nikolaev: Commands of Jesus to us to go and preach the word
Sergei Nikolaev: Even we are trying to to do it even in this situation.
Sergei Nikolaev: And
Sergei Nikolaev: In that respect,
Sergei Nikolaev: The one of our covenant groups.
Sergei Nikolaev: Is exploring a new for them.
Sergei Nikolaev: Kind of technique or approach in that
Sergei Nikolaev: They
Sergei Nikolaev: Recording part of their covenant group meetings with typically our covenant groups, as some of you know it's a place where our students and pastors in the church can go to its online because of our 11 time zones in Russia in Eurasia.
Sergei Nikolaev: Where they can
Sergei Nikolaev: Share the choice and their concerns are they, they're accountable to each other in spiritual growth and they can confess their sins to each other and knowing that it's confidential and then they'll get support not kind of the word will not go out of the group.
Sergei Nikolaev: Which is very important for for kind of living for those situations.
Sergei Nikolaev: So we are exploring how to keep it confidential. But then you use maybe part of the meeting as that group is doing kind of in conversation with each other and putting it to the public on YouTube that people will those who have questions or those who are seekers.
Sergei Nikolaev: For personal relationship with Christ or whole learn about Methodist Church through that, that they would contact them and in that way relationship will develop and
Sergei Nikolaev: We are excited about this new opportunity that this pandemic gave to us in this Advent season, because without pandemic. I wouldn't even
Sergei Nikolaev: Think of assigning students in evangelism class to kind of go on land to do evangelism. That's just does it not the first thing that hits my mind, but because of that, you know, we are converting we decided to convert this
Sergei Nikolaev: challenging situation in a in a gift into a gift. So we decided to take it as a gift and go with it.
Sergei Nikolaev: And secondly, which I wanted to share with you and some of you already read it in my newsletter.
Sergei Nikolaev: That
Sergei Nikolaev: In the full meeting our board Board of Trustees meeting.
Sergei Nikolaev: Our board members. You're pleasantly surprised to learn that
Sergei Nikolaev: This past year,
Sergei Nikolaev: The
Sergei Nikolaev: offerings that our students collected for the seminary.
Sergei Nikolaev: was higher than the offering stats local United Methodist churches in Eurasia collected for the seminary. So it's a
Sergei Nikolaev: We're still processing this situation, but we
Sergei Nikolaev: The way we look at it as a very positive development because the people who are closest to the seminary, the students and they want to invest their
Sergei Nikolaev: Small
Sergei Nikolaev: Finances into the future of the seminary and that tells us that they are confident they believe in it. They want to support it and of course this is excellent kind of development for us as we are working on on developing culture of generosity around our seminary and as
Sergei Nikolaev: Many of you know because pastors and
Sergei Nikolaev: key leaders were always involved with finances as well.
Sergei Nikolaev: The generosity starts from your, from the leader. So the Board of Trustees, the students. The staff professors at the seminary.
Sergei Nikolaev: This is a fantastic signal, the way I read it that our students took it to heart and invested in the city and the same there is a very critical.
Sergei Nikolaev: stage where the world doesn't know what to expect in the next year or so the student or whatever happens in the future. I
Sergei Nikolaev: The way I read what students are doing with their offerings, is that they believe that the seminary will continue to serve God and will continue to train key leaders for whatever situation is coming
Sergei Nikolaev: And I'm excited to bring bring this news to you this Advent. And we'll hear from several students
Sergei Nikolaev: And a pastor who one of the pastor's the so who sends those students to the seminary, so
Sergei Nikolaev: We'll, we'll look at see it from different angles, as well as we hear from
Sergei Nikolaev: A long term partner.
Sergei Nikolaev: In with the seminary Denison enchanted fishers and they're exciting and creative ministry Marfa ministry, those who haven't heard that they will share about it with us today. So with that, I am
Sergei Nikolaev: Asking Ileana Monica, who is vice president for Development Administration at the seminary to greet you and share with you now. Thank you.
Елена Мельникова: Thank you, sir. Again, thank you, April Thank you, Cindy and all of you who have come here and it's my pleasure to greet you and to wish you every
Елена Мельникова: Reach and happy Advent and Christmas time. And I want to start in not
Елена Мельникова: Not in a traditional way I'm not used to it. But as Sergei shared, we have to face the new norm in your reality. So I also had to face it, and to start working on building up my
Елена Мельникова: Computer scales and you know all this digital stuff. So I tried to make it a little informal and I know that, like if we were in a real setting, we would have all these decorations around and maybe candles leads and stuff like that. It would be cool, but
Елена Мельникова: Unfortunately we can't have it in real life. So I tried to I tried my best to to share
Елена Мельникова: With you, some of them pictures and
Елена Мельникова: Advent mood, if I made and also some of their
Елена Мельникова: Little presentations that you can read from our speakers. The speakers, our students and our ourselves.
Елена Мельникова: About advanced spirit. And so without further ado, just let me start. I'll try and please forgive me if I if I mess up anything. So I started the demonstration of my screen.
And here it goes. Hopefully,
Okay.
Wow, please.
Елена Мельникова: Please, please, please, please let me know if I'm doing it right because I can't hear it and can see you, though. Yeah.
Елена Мельникова: Looks good.
Елена Мельникова: Looks good here up here. Thank you. Here are the precious memories and thoughts from Moscow theological seminary for advanced
Елена Мельникова: And so if you can read. You can read, but I'll read out loud. If someone can see
Елена Мельникова: From Dr. Organic alive. The president during Advent, our family is filled with the
Елена Мельникова: Holiday festive spirit, this time is full of anticipation for Christmas. Jesus verse Christmas decorations gifts location family time together.
Елена Мельникова: Holiday dishes and special worship services. Last year I don't burn what we did for Advent. This year we will be in the investor New York for a month with the two older kids who are in colleges in the
Елена Мельникова: Younger kids and Russian school system and will continue to study on land from the years
Елена Мельникова: One of my favorite memories is from a visit of family about 10 years ago book was the pastor and the college Chaplain both and Richard prepared and next month dinner.
Елена Мельникова: For us. Additionally, they had a race where they lit candles before dinner and all of us together saying account or come Emmanuel. It was a beautiful, simple but powerful experience.
Елена Мельникова: Here's the message from our students all the container for
Елена Мельникова: The time of other end is
Елена Мельникова: Family me and suddenly have met in September of 2017, a month later, she has accepted Christ and came to our church. Two weeks later and ever since.
Елена Мельникова: We're both of us on our journey. I had a prophecy. Prophecy that my wife will be a girl whose name is Tanya and the did we got along very fast and
Елена Мельникова: Christmas in January 2018 we were engaged to be married. Around that time, Tanya and prayer has learned that our firstborn will be a boy as a by main
Елена Мельникова: Areas and waited for two years for this prophecy to be fulfilled. Isaiah was born in March 2020 today adventures. A special a special for us as
Елена Мельникова: It is a small reminder that throughout our entire life, we should wait to meet our Lord on their wedding feast.
Елена Мельникова: When our entire world will become as beautiful as the Garden of Eden. During this time, we call our brothers and sisters to be faithful to God to cleanse our thoughts and arts
Елена Мельникова: To wait upon the Lord and be obedient only during the spirit but anytime in any place. Because our God is faithful and, you know,
Елена Мельникова: What is that one for me is the spirit of waiting for my lords birthday, the birthday of someone who is very important and dear to me.
Елена Мельникова: So I spend this month pondering on who Jesus really is for all the people and for me personally, he has brought joy. He has shown the way he has brought home.
Елена Мельникова: Advent is the preparation period for great celebration to come. It's time, all I pre
Елена Мельникова: Prepare the Christmas trees and decorations and I love the way how the houses renewed. I always look for something special. Try to prepare special testimonies and surprise for every week. But most of all, it is the time of active waiting upon the Lord
Елена Мельникова: It is not like, when do you know that something is going to happen and just wait. But it is a special time similar to a time when you're expecting a baby. Your brain constantly, constantly and listening to someone who's inside you and waiting for the time of fruit to come
Елена Мельникова: And finally, Elena melting color.
Елена Мельникова: It's been to me was always the busiest time of the year time of preparation time of running around getting
Елена Мельникова: Ready to celebrate come and Christmas time when you have to take care of lots of little adult so little things ultra declarations Christmas programming sources violent reports finishing the fiscal year. Well, and so on.
Елена Мельникова: With all of that spending quality time with Christ. During this period, oftentimes is a highly desired but really good treat
Елена Мельникова: But when you actually get to slow down. Listen, and wait for becoming Christ, you know that it's the best moment on Earth, but my fondest memory of the
Елена Мельникова: Of the period is the one of setting a new tradition in my own home for my family, especially the kids that tradition of Advent wreath and candles tradition of celebrate enjoy this hope and love coming as a family to stop and know that God is love.
Елена Мельникова: So,
Елена Мельникова: This is what
Елена Мельникова: This is what they're adamant spirit is about for all of us. And for many of you, of course, as well, and specifically this
Елена Мельникова: Time made me think of the traditions that we can actually set new traditions and
Елена Мельникова: You for you. It is quite ordinary may be to know about the given Tuesday. It is something that happens every year that you'll know about that is
Елена Мельникова: Taken care of each time. But for us, it was something different. Actually this year for the first time we have found out that fine found out that
Елена Мельникова: Given Tuesday is not
Sergei Nikolaev: Seriously.
Елена Мельникова: I'm really sorry.
Елена Мельникова: The internet connection went off.
Елена Мельникова: So, can you hear
Елена Мельникова: Can you hear me.
Sergei Nikolaev: Yes.
Елена Мельникова: Okay, I'm yeah I'm sorry about the internet. But I mean, as I said, I tried my best to use all the technology as well.
Елена Мельникова: So anyway, I was saying that their idea of adventure is about certain traditions certain the traditions that we keep for for life. And we have set another one in our Moscow Theological Seminary this year.
Елена Мельникова: All of you know that
Елена Мельникова: Given to us. There's a powerful tradition and in the US. It is widely spread, but in Russia. It was not like that.
Елена Мельникова: For for for a long time, actually, though.
Елена Мельникова: I found out that it is known by some of the nonprofit organizations they practice it, they call it actually their generous Tuesday and some people learn to to to participate and to show this generosity.
Елена Мельникова: So we decided why not try and doing it in our seminary for our seminary and it is something powerful in it because there is something powerful in it because
Елена Мельникова: It's about changing our focus from from this busy life I was talking about running our errands doing all this preparation doing all this
Елена Мельникова: Shopping and whatever else is involved in this season.
Елена Мельникова: shifting the focus from all of that to Jesus Christ to doing something great for him to to show our love into action or inaction.
Елена Мельникова: And this is what we did. So I tried all my best to to publish it in all the social media in actually for the first time I wrote for the first time ever in my life. I wrote a message for the is Instagram about the given
Елена Мельникова: To us during the half of the seminary and then people actually started to call me and ask about the this
Елена Мельникова: wonderful opportunity and try they they wanted to participate in it. So I used all this mess messengers and social media and guess what on their day have given
Елена Мельникова: Tuesday we received such a great number of people actually supported our vision, our vision of being with Christ in victory over Covina over all this suffering because our students then stems through they they entered the seminary for the first time from their hospital.
Елена Мельникова: Been in the hospital. They actually pass their exams and entered the seminary some some others, they just
Елена Мельникова: continued studying right out of the hospital and so everyone keeps so we get serve and do it all the Social Ministries.
Елена Мельникова: Are feeding the hungry literally feeding the hungry literally dressing the naked.
Елена Мельникова: Regardless, all the situations that for around them. And so I shared this with vision and people supported it. And the most
Елена Мельникова: Powerful thing for me was that there I've got the messages mass messages on my phone when I announced that today is the given Tuesday.
Елена Мельникова: And I've got so many elements. I've got so many gladly jurors Post saying,
Елена Мельникова: Thanks God, it is so cool that we can do it. We did it. Let's do it. And so this really warmed my heart and I think this is the the best. I mean, I know I sound crazy, but this was the best year ever in this, you know,
Елена Мельникова: In this terms for me it was such a testimony of people who who love God who want to serve God and who want to stand with those who who
Елена Мельникова: Who, who want who who wind up with Christ. And it's a mighty and powerful witness. For me it was for me and and I hope that it inspires you as well. I mean, this was some
Елена Мельникова: Seminar is a place where the seeds grow into great plant plants and bring lots of fruit and it's my joy and pleasure and great honor to be serving this this place. And thank you, all of you who actually participate in supporting our vision and mission. Thank you.
Sergei Nikolaev: Thank you. Thank you. Deanna are
Sergei Nikolaev: Now we are moving to to the student couple they one of the testimony sketchy Deanna read was from Tatiana and addict pop off and
Sergei Nikolaev: Their baby Isaiah.
Sergei Nikolaev: And
Sergei Nikolaev: I'll just give them the floor, Tatiana puzzles.
Tatiana Popova: Wishes multimedia provided product.
That's
Tatiana Popova: Interesting to me as a piano Popova.
Sergei Nikolaev: Good morning. My name is Tatiana Popova.
Tatiana Popova: We move really new, and it's more than just which
Sergei Nikolaev: Unfortunately, my husband will not be able to take part in this webinar.
Tatiana Popova: You will use up numbers will in there are both
Sergei Nikolaev: He, he is a pilot and he was called unexpectedly it to do his work. Wow.
Tatiana Popova: We seem to sign up to see what new cloud signal my you
Tatiana Popova: Know,
Sergei Nikolaev: My baby is a will also not able to join us because he didn't sleep through the night, and just went to bed right now.
Tatiana Popova: Yet others too. Yeah. Yes.
Sergei Nikolaev: But I'm glad that I'm here even though alone.
Tatiana Popova: Yeah, because that's the scenario that you're too many are breached, nice. Very nice.
Sergei Nikolaev: I simply want to share what the seminary gives me in personal life and ministry.
Tatiana Popova: glitzy be our seminary Yana slot witching Menorca knows knock on the door.
Tatiana Popova: Which is the law.
Tatiana Popova: Money into brushing
Sergei Nikolaev: For me personally, I found that the same enter a
Sergei Nikolaev: New friends. That's, I was
Sergei Nikolaev: Yearning for since the moment of my conversion
Tatiana Popova: Measured circle in the morning.
Tatiana Popova: You can tell is Bush Senior in the Christian school
Sergei Nikolaev: Our churches rather small, and I wanted for wider a Christian fellowship
Tatiana Popova: Yeah, there's a killer idea to we tried it now because losing Amber gets their career more emotion. Yeah, because the bank scenario.
Sergei Nikolaev: At a certain point I will save and I think until I started going to other churches larger churches, but my husband.
Sergei Nikolaev: Talked with me.
Sergei Nikolaev: About going to the cemetery.
Tatiana Popova: You
Tatiana Popova: Look at them as mugla for those it because Virginia was Christmas cards. The cards that was Christian Yes way itself. He
Tatiana Popova: Must be white is not going to wish him a little gift for me.
Sergei Nikolaev: And because of that, I was able to continue to be an active member in my local church but also
Sergei Nikolaev: Go wider learn from experiences of ministries of other seminary students
Tatiana Popova: Such as well. Very much. We will do create know what was looking at a seminary Yamaguchi. It's a group of group is areata EP, which I know pretty much my dear screaming
Tatiana Popova: The whole nother condition.
Sergei Nikolaev: And because of the seminary, even when I was expecting my baby and couldn't physically wouldn't have been able to go physically go and study
Sergei Nikolaev: The covenant groups that the seminary.
Sergei Nikolaev: He has for every student
Sergei Nikolaev: Helped me to be part of the Christian Fellowship weekly even from home.
Tatiana Popova: Solution enough scenario.
Tatiana Popova: Discipline is a change seminary for my god
Tatiana Popova: No down in Miami and bringing my two
Tatiana Popova: Brothers, the linear at national pastime.
Sergei Nikolaev: In terms of ministry, our pastor is scheduled to retire next year.
Sergei Nikolaev: The seminary is helping us to start taking more responsibilities and to prepare for the transition period without losing momentum.
Tatiana Popova: The CMO
Tatiana Popova: CMO
Tatiana Popova: National
Tatiana Popova: media consumption per neuron cutter, the it was more
Tatiana Popova: None of which, at the seminary much and look at that means that
Sergei Nikolaev: I want to say personal thank you to every American partner that your support allows us to
Sergei Nikolaev: Study at the seminary. Thank you very much.
Tatiana Popova: ENGLISH ENGLISH. Yes, good Lana's national suffering, you know, she she thought it
Tatiana Popova: was caught up with him first term isn't a pastor
Sergei Nikolaev: For us personally it's a
Great support.
Sergei Nikolaev: Because soon we will be our family couple will be a pastor and the pastor spouse.
Tatiana Popova: A VM theorists discipline as possible. Every man.
Sergei Nikolaev: And Christmas is very special for us.
Tatiana Popova: But those are very mad VM deficiency not come to me.
Sergei Nikolaev: Is to an admin time in 2017 we made a decision. So to marry.
Tatiana Popova: The dining
Tatiana Popova: Stove and no you do not see me.
Sergei Nikolaev: And we were expecting, not on the for the birth of a baby Jesus, but also for the growth of our family.
Tatiana Popova: He might encourage this tells his story, Liam precludes us some kind of email between, you know, very much a silly seminarian
Sergei Nikolaev: During the summer, I had a special
Sergei Nikolaev: thing happened to me at the seminary session.
Tatiana Popova: Nobody malignancy. She yeah she is knowledge to dream in my emails tonally
Tatiana Popova: CMO group as of yet.
Tatiana Popova: timorous DDT. He just regular when you bring you up to me.
Sergei Nikolaev: At one of the Covenant group meetings and I didn't know at that time that I was already expecting
Sergei Nikolaev: A question of
Sergei Nikolaev: Childbirth.
Sergei Nikolaev: Came up and I kind of reacted pretty abruptly. I didn't realize why I reacted that way.
Tatiana Popova: To do this quick good New York is not was not used to get beat him and last year was a
Sergei Nikolaev: Few days later I learned that I was expecting. And I'll have my baby.
Tatiana Popova: debunk a third of August.
Tatiana Popova: August for 20 years
Sergei Nikolaev: And the baby that's
Sergei Nikolaev: The Lord put on my heart to call Isaiah.
Tatiana Popova: He
Tatiana Popova: Is a chance to respond to Justice Kagan.
Sergei Nikolaev: In
Sergei Nikolaev: Closing of my testimony, I would love to sing a Christmas song for your
Tatiana Popova: Shoe brushing your membership.
Tatiana Popova: Schema pros.
Sergei Nikolaev: Forgive me some technical kind of
Sergei Nikolaev: Steps. I need to take here.
Tatiana Popova: This region.
Tatiana Popova: Friday.
Tatiana Popova: Yes.
Tatiana Popova: Ya.
Tatiana Popova: Yes.
Tatiana Popova: No.
Tatiana Popova: Yes.
Tatiana Popova: I see.
Tatiana Popova: You soon.
Sergei Nikolaev: Spicy, but it's yellow
Sergei Nikolaev: Flower bulgur, thank you. Jana. Praise the Lord. And now we're moving across the Atlantic and I would love to invite Jonathan dentist Fisher to share, but they're Edwin experiences and partnership with the seminary.
dennisfisher: Well, we bring you greetings from the world headquarters of Marfa ministry.
dennisfisher: Here in Denton, Texas in a 10 by 12 foot bedroom in our house and and we have assembled the entire staff of Martha minutes
dennisfisher: here with us this morning.
dennisfisher: Janet is the full time and I am the the halftime do whatever she tells me to do. Yeah.
dennisfisher: Part of have more of a ministry and we appreciate the opportunity to visit with all of you about our ministry and what we have partnered with our partners in Eurasia area and people like the arena mission and others that we have been able to partner with
dennisfisher: In on our very first trip to Russia. We worshipped in Surat off with Tatiana melodic and
dennisfisher: And became good friends with her and as she was building a new church needed assistance with finishing the interior
dennisfisher: And so, and one of our pastors wives suggested that we might start selling some products of her artwork to to help with that completion of the interior of the church. So in 2008 we took her very first
dennisfisher: Offering of artwork and reproduce it and that was the beginning of our partnership with her and
dennisfisher: In 2012 we became a 501 C three as a means of legally doing all of this and sending money through GV GM to support the interior renovation of the church in
dennisfisher: Our church entered into a covenant with the Surat off church as a means of helping to support them have officially and we've continued that partnership until now.
dennisfisher: In
dennisfisher: Tatyana who was on leave from the church allowed us because we had completed the interior of the church and Surat have allowed us to begin to use the the proceeds from the sale of our work to support scholarships at the seminary and shortly after that time.
dennisfisher: Bishop Edward asked if we would be willing to expand our partnerships to other churches and other artists in Russia as a means of providing self sufficiency and we began to do that as well. Our first additional partnership was in a bar, it's
dennisfisher: Currently we have nine active partners in the in Eurasia area and 100% of the proceeds for sale of all of their products go back to their churches.
dennisfisher: Any partner that we have pledges to to allow us to send all of the money back to the church, not to them personally.
dennisfisher: And through the generosity of some of our donors, as well as sale of commercial products were able to send 100% of the proceeds as an example, if someone spends $20 on a product that entire $20 goes back to our partner church in Russia.
dennisfisher: So just as a really brief kind of summary of what we've been able to do since 2012 we have been able to help send
dennisfisher: More than $66,000 worth of money that has been earned by our partners and will soon send some more money that has been during this year even though the pandemic is cut deeply into our opportunities to sell. We've still been able to to generate some money.
dennisfisher: Since 2015 we're happy to to tell everybody that through the sale of Tatiana's artwork, we have been able to to send a little over $25,000 to the seminary that has been able to be used for scholarships and we will continue to do that in the future. And I see that Cindy is holding up
dennisfisher: One of the, one of the pieces of artwork and we're happy to be able to continue to do that.
dennisfisher: I'm going to let Janet talk a little bit more about the products that that we have, especially as it relates to Tatiana, and the money that will go back to the seminary for scholarship assistance.
dennisfisher: I'm happy to speak, Sergei asked us to focus on advantage. And that was absolutely perfect.
dennisfisher: Reverend Tatyana started this project with a baba glue a pair of scissors and old magazines. She snipped up pictures and made these gorgeous, gorgeous pieces of artwork, allowing all the proceeds now to go back to the seminary scholarship fund her most productive.
dennisfisher: We have two pictures here of hers that are by far the biggest sellers and I have chosen her Christmas one to share with you today.
dennisfisher: I'm gonna bring it over.
dennisfisher: Right, this picture, I will try to get it as close to the camera. And this is the original we have all the originals at our house regarding them.
dennisfisher: This was done in the style of Andre group lives Russian icon, the Holy Trinity. You can see the insides of their bodies would you use a hand stuff. I can't let go. Okay, thanks. The inside of their bodies form the outline of a chalice.
dennisfisher: We are so proud of this artwork and we are double A double a proud of it because a year ago just a year ago today right now.
dennisfisher: She, those were chosen to be on the cover of the upper room and I have the upper room right here to show you how beautiful it is. And that upper room went worldwide, not just America and Russia, it went worldwide.
dennisfisher: That, of course, was so popular, we package the artwork Christmas cards for sale. We also she has a set of cards that
dennisfisher: Are Christmas cards and she has done seven different designs. The first one I just talked to you about this one is probably my favorite. And there are little things that you can learn about it, you know, for example, the, the rope on the camera was the stripe on a woman's on a woman's dress.
dennisfisher: Let me show you some more things. This
dennisfisher: This absence of color hair shows the humble beginnings of of Jesus and all these beautiful stained glass represent our opulent world that we live in now.
dennisfisher: Beautiful picture of shepherds in the field. And this one is one of my favorites because we do have it in our house here just for an example, her
dennisfisher: Her angels dress was a picture of a couch and in a in a magazine and the hair has seven different pieces the eyes actually have four layers of paper.
dennisfisher: And I asked Tatyana. I said, How do you do that without getting glue everywhere. I've never seen glue her didn't belong. And she said, it is easy. You just don't glue until you are ready. Well, she she is an incredible artists. This
dennisfisher: All the sequence all these stars around here. We're a picture of a sequence. First, this is
dennisfisher: The glory of the Lord shone around them with a shepherd's and this is the one Cynthia Cindy has
dennisfisher: The Angel Gabriel, this represents the earth. And of course, Mary and Jesus and this represents the heaven I show you those because they are for sale on Etsy and all that's a $28 set of
dennisfisher: A $35 set of cards. I'm sorry. Se prices is just a little bit higher, and all that money will go to the seminary scholarship fund quickly. I want to tell you her very best seller continues to be this sweet little cat.
dennisfisher: And if you look closely, you can see that all of these pieces that she has snip snip out of magazines are pictures of pairs of jeans and I don't know if you can see closely enough the leg of the cat is the leg of a pair of jeans.
dennisfisher: My husband and I had to get creative. This year, because the in person fairs just didn't exist.
dennisfisher: Also, we could not come to Russia to pick up the merchandise that we typically do and to sales. So we had to get creative and my super creative husband has started making puzzles. We took this most popular picture here and
dennisfisher: Made it into this fun wouldn't puzzle.
dennisfisher: And not surprising at all. This has been our best seller because it's a new product.
dennisfisher: We would tend to see the same people over and over at our fairs and so it's very important that we have new products. So we were happy to be creative.
dennisfisher: And we have that puzzle and three different sizes. This one has 224 pieces.
dennisfisher: Clear down to this one that we designed specifically for a lady whose mother has dementia and she wanted a puzzle. Easy enough that she could buy for her and do, and this has only 12 pieces.
dennisfisher: Our relationship with a seminary has grown over the years. We are very excited that Tatyana continues to allow us to send the proceeds from hair.
dennisfisher: As my husband said 100% of the proceeds. If you look on the Etsy store the name of it being more for ministry and in anywhere you see that Tatyana was the art is was the artist, then you know 100% of that is going to the seminary.
dennisfisher: I don't know whether to brag or apologize. We specifically chose this background. All of you have such beautiful backgrounds in your picture. This is probably the messiest part of our entire house, but we want you to see that we are committed to this, we
dennisfisher: Have completely turned to my bedroom and I only
dennisfisher: Allow just a few special people to come in here and see it because it is not beautiful, so you are among some of my very best friends, anyway.
dennisfisher: There's more. You know, it goes all the way around the room and touch and for some of you might know that we have started helping with some godly play trading.
dennisfisher: And we have a whole nother bedroom with God. They play things that need to come to Moscow, but we didn't get to come to Moscow this year or so we are just having that in a second bedroom. So don't come to visit us, because you'll have to stay in a hotel.
dennisfisher: Thank you so much for allowing us to do this and to be a part of your lives. We love you all.
dennisfisher: This year financially won't be what it has been in the past, but last weekend we had to cancel affair, frankly, because I panicked about the coronavirus
dennisfisher: Affair, where we usually make $500 I was sad about that. Well, guess what yesterday a $500 donation came in the mail. So God does provide
dennisfisher: We have have probably basically for people, but a lot of people have made donations. This year, and there are four people that just continue
dennisfisher: And they send one check and a few months later we get another check or thinking, oh, my gracious, people have been wonderful making this year as good as we could possibly make it
dennisfisher: I would be glad to answer any questions about Marfa ministry. Also, if you're interested in any products and you want to talk about anything. You can call me on the telephone, you can get my phone number off the website.
dennisfisher: You can order from antsy you can send me emails, whatever, whatever you want to do, and I will take you on a personal tour of market ministry and what's in all of these boxes. Thank you so much and merry Christmas to all of you. Merry Christmas.
abel vega: Love somehow you can post the link in the chat that way or when I think
abel vega: Yes. Yeah, that'd be great. Awesome.
dennisfisher: We will do that.
Sergei Nikolaev: Thank you, Jenna. Thank you. Dennis. This is exciting every time I hear your presentation is just
Sergei Nikolaev: I want to buy something or some of your products.
Sergei Nikolaev: This is
Sergei Nikolaev: Thank you.
abel vega: Really appreciate it. I have a question in the piano is the art made with are you doing like a collage or how is it
dennisfisher: Like a
abel vega: Large ok
dennisfisher: Magazine pictures chopped up
Yeah.
dennisfisher: Yeah. And of course, all the cards etc are reproductions of that artwork.
abel vega: Ya know. So I find that very intriguing because I would imagine when you start to look. Are you just trying to just understand how its put together and
dennisfisher: Absolutely. Every detail and things like maybe Jesus's hands.
dennisfisher: You know, that is all one cut it is even
dennisfisher: It's even shaded to his hair and his whole profile is just beautiful. I just don't see how she does it.
dennisfisher: He has a pair of scissors that don't look fancy to me at all.
dennisfisher: But she does amazing work and we are proud of her.
abel vega: Well, that's the gift. Wow. Awesome.
dennisfisher: Gift. Yes.
Sergei Nikolaev: Thank you.
Sergei Nikolaev: Thank you so much, friends. Before we hear from
Sergei Nikolaev: You looping in in the meeting and time is running short so I will but they still would love to ask
Sergei Nikolaev: Melbourne chin scared to say greetings as the head of national
Sergei Nikolaev: Eurasia initiative, which in our board of global ministries and also I would love for you may also pray for Jim Athan who was your predecessor in this position, who just last
Sergei Nikolaev: Week was
Sergei Nikolaev: Diagnosed with lymphoma cancer and now we are praying for him all over Eurasia and know in the United States also that
Sergei Nikolaev: The doctors will pick the right treatment and that
Sergei Nikolaev: Kind of
Sergei Nikolaev: The whole situation is in God's hands.
Mel (Miloslav) Munchinsky: Well, thank you, Sergei I did, I did not know that that was a situation with Jim, thank you so much for sharing that.
Mel (Miloslav) Munchinsky: And I'll definitely contact him because I didn't realize that there was any issue there. And so, most certainly. And I want to bring you greetings.
Mel (Miloslav) Munchinsky: From the American partners, you have American partners with regard to the seminary, but there is, there are also partners that partner with
Mel (Miloslav) Munchinsky: Many Eurasian churches as well as Central Asia, and it is a I was not expected to continue in this particular situation. This year, except that 20 days later from
Mel (Miloslav) Munchinsky: January, the first and Jonathan Park was going to be taking over at all of a sudden global ministries asked him to go to Vietnam.
Mel (Miloslav) Munchinsky: And Jonathan now is in Cambodia and He's preparing himself for his Vietnam mission and vision kick. He asked me to continue on this year.
Mel (Miloslav) Munchinsky: And just talk to him yesterday and apparently I will be continuing on for 2021 as well. It's good to be with you and on during this time with regard to
Mel (Miloslav) Munchinsky: The seminary. It's a wonderful to hear these testimonies and everything else that is happening and you are to be greatly blessed and privileged and we certainly pray
Mel (Miloslav) Munchinsky: That the Lord will continue to bless the seven area and your ministry there. Let's have a pre prayer for gym this morning, or this afternoon or evening, wherever you are.
Mel (Miloslav) Munchinsky: gracious lord, we're truly thankful for your healing power upon our bodies.
Mel (Miloslav) Munchinsky: You have been able to be so faithful to each and every one of us had many different ways.
Mel (Miloslav) Munchinsky: And many of us have experienced or healing power upon our body or lines and our spirits in our emotions.
Mel (Miloslav) Munchinsky: And over truly grateful that the great physician. Jesus Christ is with each and every one of us, Lord, we do pray for your special anointing upon a gym this morning.
Mel (Miloslav) Munchinsky: Lord, I do pray that your blessing and enabling with regard to his particular coping with this situation, Lord, you will give him a sense of comfort and peace and strength from day to day
Mel (Miloslav) Munchinsky: Lord, help us as a church to support him, but we do dearly love this brother in Christ, in the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.
Amen.
Sergei Nikolaev: Thank you very much. Well, just because
Sergei Nikolaev: Ileana in arenas testimony and singing will be concluding our
Sergei Nikolaev: Time together. I just wanted to say thank you very much.
Sergei Nikolaev: For joining this Webinar, and especially
Sergei Nikolaev: To the organizers April and Cindy and to our board members who are on this call also do and
Sergei Nikolaev: And Craig Hammonds and their friends.
Sergei Nikolaev: And
Sergei Nikolaev: Really appreciate
Sergei Nikolaev: Your continuing to be with us and
Sergei Nikolaev: inspiring us to do what God is calling us to do in Russia and Eurasia together and thank you Scott Gilpin also which general board of higher education and ministry, who is consulting Lynn and me on a fundraising on nuances of
Sergei Nikolaev: fundraise the skill of fundraising. Really appreciate it. Our friends before
Sergei Nikolaev: We move on. Is there anything that's you think very important. That's all of us here that are kind of in this context, right now, maybe something short but very, very important, without which you want sleep well tonight.
abel vega: I Sergei, I would just offer just be considering when you want this to happen again in 2021 so you know as this as hopefully this testimony can continue to radiate out. I know that there's much to share, you know, as, as we all grow in Christ, amen.
Sergei Nikolaev: Thank you everybody really appreciate your invitation and your partnership.
Sergei Nikolaev: And then we are pleased Irina and Ileana, the floor is yours.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Your name is going to speak and she she doesn't know English well. But see I translated
Sergei Nikolaev: Your speech to her in
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: English so
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: She is going to speak English. For the first time in such a big and important.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Audience
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Yeah, brothers and sisters greetings from Stavropol Russia. My name is Ian know up. Now I showed us a local pastor in STEM Stavropol United Methodist Church. I have been a student of Moscow.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Theological Seminary science 2014 now I am writing my diploma paper and I hope to grey date the seminary next year.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: My education at the seminary has given me found them and our knowledge of Christian
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Hip heritage heritage church history and of course Westland geology.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: For the last three years, we took part in Westland covenant groups seminars and today I am a coordinator of one of these groups during the as of today studies, I got a clear vision for my ministry acquainted, who is nice and talented brothers and sisters increased from
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: From Russia, as well as from other parts on the world.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Those Yes, where the yes of transformation. The transformation on my character. My understanding of
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Christianity Christianity.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Yes outgrowth of my love to my neighbors and to God that was their way of sync to the location certification certification for me. I believe that someone can rally love something only when he or she invest time, money and force and live in the thing
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: That happened to me when I started at Moscow seminary. I love my seminary, because I have
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Invested in it.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: As well as it invested in me.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: I want to thank this stuff on Moscow Theological Seminary all the US, who spent a lot of time to make our studies at the seminary and meaningful and pleasant, I am grateful to
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Each professor and a lecture, lecture.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Who bought a
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: To put a part of his of his
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Heart and God's love into me. I'm also grateful to those people who have been playing
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Brain for us during this yes to those who support or our seminary, not only with their place, but also with their
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Finances
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Thanks to you. The study at the seminary, because every label two people have different social and economic status thanks to you a lot of in your busters and divided developed devoted devoted devoted ministers and parents in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: In
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Conclusion. I went to share my Christmas Story related to my studies at the seminary during one of my Winterson session I attended a crease must worship survives intense. So this service and I heard a sermon about the stars of the
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Very
High
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Yes and yes people have been waiting for them both all this stuff when it appeared in the sky. It was very bright and everybody called hood see could see it in different parts of the world.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: However, its main purpose was not to show its, its beauty, but to show the way
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: To them manager where Chris is them.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Savior was boom, boom, boom, boom. This story.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Enlightened my understanding of pastoral ministry. I rarely is it realized, I realized that a pastor shoulder calf many gifts and have a
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Bright personality.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: To lead people feel a best that fills a pastor
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Suit have a heart.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Of em seventh
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: To lead people to hurry to Christ. So Christ.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Every day I learn more and more what it means to be this kind of kind of pastor
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Through praise and Bible study. My motto. My motto is shine and survey.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Thank you for your attention. I'm grateful for this.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Opportunity.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: To share my
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: My desk and
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: God bless you.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Sorry.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Young women, young boy. I hope you understood my speech. That's what I want to add. So I'm very proud of my my system.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: I want to just add a little bit about my understanding, and my understanding of
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Importance of seminary studies as a district superintendent, because a lot of people came to started their ministry just
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: They came from different professions and from different cultural
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Lands and cultural groups and some people think that just be an administrative stuff like this. So, of course, Holy Spirit works.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: For everybody and and everybody but still I believe that when you study and when you study all the seminary subjects Holy Spirit works too. And that's why I'm very grateful to seminary and to all of you who support the seminary I inspire
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Encourage all facets of our district to study and
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Old best so five pastors from from from the seven churches five testers, they are students of the seminary and
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: I hope that they will be good leaders educated and of course humble and I believe the more person. A person knows that the more humble he or she becomes and I'm very thankful to the to do the president of the seminaries that again.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: We we talk from time to time of our students and we have a good connection because we we do one thing we
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: We have one purpose in our ministry, the seminary and the district superintendents and the churches. So it's very important to have this unity and one way and one spirit is with as I'm saying, and so I believe that
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: In spite of this mutation in the road.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: The seminar will will be preparing good good leaders for our Eurasia area because we need leaders. We really need good leaders and I wish a blessed Advent time to everybody to all our friends here in Russia in Eurasia and all over the big lake.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: And alive to call this ocean. The big lake and thank you for all our partners is very important to us. During this time, to, to understand that God
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Is the one who is, who is the meaning of our life and our purpose is just to to bring new life to this role and to
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: To make disciples for transformation of the world. So I love you all and it's a great privilege for me to see you all in to talk to you. And thank you again to everybody. And in conclusion, we want to sing a lot of prayer. The Lord's Prayer in Russian.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: And I wrote the music to this, this
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Way of singing. It's a kind of old church tradition, like an echo answer. So I say phrase and that everybody seems the phrase, it will be in Russian. But you can try. I believe in you. I believe you are you'll do it.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Okay, let's, let's see. The last Bram
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Who
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Destiny to
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: That he did
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: He did.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Yo,
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Whoa, whoa.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Whoa.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: So,
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: The Prestige.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: See prestige.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Hockey League Shah
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Ii Ii
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: II school Shani
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Know is
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Our flow GABA.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Move.
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: He
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Is
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: He
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Is
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: He see His law he see
Irina Mitina and Yelena Uryupina Stavropol, Russia: Ba, ba, he
Sergei Nikolaev: Thank you very much. Able Oh, Cindy. You want to close us
Down.
abel vega: Yeah, no thank you all for being here that we've recorded this session. So we'll send that out to everyone. And then I think
abel vega: Atlanta, you have, you have the slides. Yeah, we can also add that in.
Елена Мельникова: I may email them to Nicole, so you
abel vega: Broken yeah i think i thought that
abel vega: Yeah. So Cindy. I don't know if you have any closing words but you know again. Thank you all very much. And we'll be looking for a time to coordinate with Cindy and Sergey and Atlanta. I think just
abel vega: For more
abel vega: Sharing as you move into the future. I know that this relationship is right it 25 years or so, you know, and, and you got several things you're working on. We know that. So, so, Cindy.
Cindy Stone: Yes, thank you all very much for participating and being committed and and for all the love that you've shared
Cindy Stone: I keep remembering what someone told me on my first trip to Russia. She said, before I met all of you. I didn't understand how God could be in two places at once.
Cindy Stone: But now that I understand that he's in our hearts, then you can be in the United States, and you can be in Russia or India or wherever, and God is with all of us all the time.
Cindy Stone: So I wish you blessings for Advent and Christmas and the New Year. And if God is with me. God is with you. Amen. Amen.
Sergei Nikolaev: Amen. Thank you.
abel vega: God bless would go forth in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
abel vega: Amen and Merry Christmas, everyone.
Sergei Nikolaev: Merry Christmas.
Kamal Kumar: Merry Christmas, everyone happy.
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