Update of the Ministry. September-October 2010

Grace and peace of the Lord to all our dear brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus!

We want to give thanks to our almighty GOD for all the great things He has done  in our lives and lives of the people  we minister to.

In this letter  you will find out about:

• Bible studies for the fireworks students and the church members
• What is new in the  orphanages of Penza
• God  has  revealed His mercy through Olga’s surgery
• Plans for Christmas
• Amazing grace and answered prayers
• And a message from Scott Werntz, Director of Spoken For International Youth Outreach

BIBLE STUDIES FOR THE FIREWORKS STUDENTS AND CHURCH MEMBERS

 What a blessing to be able to study and teach the word of God!! Angelica and I always feel so privileged and honored to be used by Him in this very important task. This study year we have opened with a very fascinating topic; “ How to have assurance in our salvation”, based on  the first Epistle of  John. This book made all of us think deeply about our walk before the Lord. For some people it was an  awakening time of  re dedication to the lord! At this moment we are going through the book of Job,  a rich book for those who going though suffering and pain. The book of Job is about our Loving and Sovereign God, who knows everything about us and uses all circumstances for HIS glory. This study is very relevant for our youth who are going through so many hardships and difficulties being orphans. It gives so much hope and encouragement because the Lord will turn everything for good in HIS timing.

NEW THINGS HAPPENING IN THE PENZA ORPHANAGES

 We know that those who ever have been in the Penza orphanages always keep thinking and praying  about the kids to whom they have ministered to. Penza region has (3) orphanages remaining that are under the Educational department jurisdiction. Penza also has two orphanages with special needs that are run by the department of health and social help. The desire of our government is  to close down all the orphanages in Russia, which is completely impossible at this moment for many reasons. The main reason, I think, is that Russian orphanages are a huge system that have been inherited after Soviet Union with many problems of outdated methods of raising children. This system fights for it self existence and doesn’t want any thing to change. Never the less, there are some changes that we can see happening. One such change is that the orphanages are more and more open for Christians. We believe that this change will  help many kids and adults to find happiness through a relationship with the Lord!

There are some new kids in the orphanages that are longing for adoption.

Angelica and I along with youth of our church continue visiting the orphanages on a regular basis. We are always welcomed in the orphanages. Each time we visit, we  share truth of the Bible with the children and workers. The kids always send their greetings to those who have come before. They think that we all  live in the same neighborhood.

In October we hosted our dear friends Bill and Clara Harden from California. They are one of those couples that encouraged us to start the ministry to orphans back in  year of 2000. God used Bill and Clara in ways while they were here through sharing with the Bible study groups their testimonies and experience of their walk with  Jesus. We also had a chance to visit N. Lomov orphanage where kids shared their faith in the Lord with us. Once again we were amazed by the softness and kindness of the hearts of the kids that comes from knowing Jesus.

The fireworks youth one by one are getting apartments provided by the government. Please pray for Yulia, who will not receive an apartment because of a mix up over documents. Hopefully she will come to study to the States in the near future. God is doing an amazing work in this direction. We need your prayers and financial support to help Yulia.  

GOD HAS REVEALED HIS MERCY THROUGH OLGA’S SURGERY

Scott Werntz (leader of Spoken For ministry) has shared the story of Olga from Nizniy Lomov orphanage who had a very serious operation in Penza. She was born with severe cerebral palsy that caused her knee joints to be permanently bent and she has never been able to straighten her legs. She has never walked, but now she may soon take her first steps! Olya lived with her mother until she was twelve, when she went for a time of rest at a medical rehabilitation facility. During the two years that she was there, she lost touch with her mother and has not been able to find out where her mother is. She has now lived for two years at the Nizhni Lomov orphanage that we visit on our trips to Penza.

From Drop Box

In the beginning of October, Olya called our friend, Lena Gubanova, and told her that there was a possibility that she could have a very complicated surgery that could result in her being able to walk. The only hurdle was that she would be bed-ridden in the hospital for a month and the hospital requires someone to be with her 24x7 during that time to take care of her. She needed the caretaker(s) to feed her, wash her, etc. She asked Lena if she could help. That Sunday, I (Sergey) preached at the church on God’s great mercy then asked for ladies to volunteer to help Olya so she could have the surgery. Enough women volunteered that Olya was able to have the surgery!

            During the surgery earlier this week, the doctors cut her joints behind each knee and at her hips. She is on strong painkillers as she recovers, but she is still in a lot of pain. Lena Gubanova intervened on Olya’s behalf and acquired a private room for her instead of the typical ward with 4 – 5 other kids and their caretakers... it was a miracle that the doctors permitted this. The women of the church, including two Fireworks young ladies – Rita and Yulia, have been working in shifts to make sure that someone is there to take care of her around the clock. At first, the hospital staff thought the women coming and going were orphanage workers and she asked Yulia about it. Yulia informed her that they were all ladies from the church, opening the door for great opportunity to share the Gospel.

             Olya likes to write poetry and dreams of one day walking so she can have a job and not have to live out her adult days in an indigent care facility. Olya is doing well, her recovery goes fast, Praise the Lord! Never the less there is a long way  before she will walk.  Please continue pray for Olya. Last Monday she was taken back to the orphanage and after two weeks she will return to the hospital for intensive physical therapy. Pray for the good “soil” of her heart that the seeds of the Gospel would bear many fruit for the glory of God. Olay sent for greetings to all of you and thank you for your prayers. We will keep inform you about her condition.

PLANS FOR CHRISTMAS

It has become a tradition during Christmas,  that Christians of our region make gifts for the orphans. We are grateful to the Lord for revealing in Christian’s gifts of the Holy Spirit through this project. Pray that this year we would be able to bring gifts and share love of Jesus with every child in the orphanages.

AMAZING GRACE AND ANSWERED PRAYERS

Our family daily praises the Lord for His immeasurable mercy and unending grace that He graciously pours on us. As most of you know, for several years I (Sergey) have been  praying and trying to enroll in to the seminary in order to be more effective in the ministry and church. We are grateful to Jesus for His miraculous answer on this prayer and opening the doors for me and my family to be able to attend seminary. We are going to the United States this January to begin this journey. Angelica, David, Illusha and I will be moving to the DFW area with plans to attend seminary over the next couple of years. We have all been granted, “Green Card” status. This is a miracle and gift from God.

 We are not closing down the ministry. I repeat…we are not closing down the ministry. We have been working, along with Spoken For, in  preparing new leaders for the ministry in Penza who are passionate about the Lord and passionate about the children and teens in the orphanages.. God is taking care of every single detail!. None of the fireworks youth will be dropped off or forgotten. We are planning to continue taking groups to Penza orphanages.  We sincerely ask you to please continue supporting the ministry. God has a special plan for our family; we see His hand on this issue. Angelica and I ask you to pray for our hearts that the Lord would prepare us and make us even more dedicated to HIM . Please pray for wisdom in making decisions.

In our next update we are going to give you more details. Spoken For will also be conducting an information meeting in January.

We love Jesus and we want to serve Him every single day until He will take us home.

With love of Jesus - Sergey and Angelica Zelenov.

Gospel to the children, Penza Russia/fireworks ministry.

gospelttc@gmail.com

http://gospelttc.blogspot.com/

A MESSAGE FROM SCOTT WERNTZ, DIRECTOR OF SPOKEN FOR www.spokenfor.org

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

            It is with great excitement and joy that I write you this short message. I just returned from a camp in Arkansas known as SOTO, (Shepherd of the Ozarks), where 185 boys, girls and teens from Arkansas Baptist Group Homes, (orphanages), came for an amazing weekend with each other and the Lord. At the camp, we had six interns who are all originally from Penza, Russia help run the weekend camp. What a joy it was to see these young men and women who were once in the orphanages leading students to Christ. 30 children trusted in Christ over the weekend.

            Sergey and Angelica and their two boys are going to be such a blessing to our ministry over the next couple of years. While Sergey goes to seminary, he and Angelica will be partnering with Spoken For here in our local area with outreaches and Bible studies for the hundreds of Russian youth who have been adopted or are here for the Fireworks program. They will also help train people to go back to Russia to do ministry abroad.

            We will be sending more information out soon regarding this new move and we will have an information gathering in early January.

Blessings to all of you,

Scott Werntz

Spoken For International Youth Outreach

Update of the Ministry. Summer 2010

Grace and peace from our Lord and Savior to our dear brothers and sister in Christ.

Thank you for helping and supporting the ministry in Penza, Russia. We had a really busy and exciting summer with peculiar weather. It was an unusual summer – as many of you heard – central Russia had record temperatures. For more than a month we had no rain and temperatures close to and often over 100˚F. This situation created some challenges because most places in Russia, especially orphanages and such facilities, are not air-conditioned.  This summer we had no camp because of the weather and high danger of forest fires. The local government asked us not to enter the forest because our people would be in jeopardy. We submitted to the authority of the government because we understand God put them in that position for our protection. There were many forest fires in Russia in the past months and many people died and had houses destroyed.

 Instead of camping, we had many opportunities to visit orphanages and orphanage camps. As always, we took several Fireworks youth with us and they showed Christ in all their actions and activities. Some of the guys commented that they could not believe how bad orphanage life has gotten and it made them grateful for their current situation. It shows their growth that they now see the reality of that life. They call often to ask about going to visit orphanages. They all look forward to routine visits starting up again in September. We went at least three times to each of the orphanage camps . We shared the Bible, played games, watched videos, did crafts, and gave out presents and candy that the Spoken For teams had left here. We wish more people had been here to go with us as before and we pray that next year there will be a Spoken For summer team. There are many new kids and at the same time many have graduated from the orphanage. The children and youth were excited about everything we did. Kids are kids everywhere! They like to get attention and to be shown love – which our primary goal. Of course, we shared that we came to them and did the things we did only because Christ showed us love. It was a testimony to the kids and the adults. We also talked about having a new life in Christ and how it is important not to just call ourselves Christians but to live a new life. We explained that can only come through the Holy Spirit and knowing Christ through the Bible. We took about 40 pairs of shoes for the younger kids at one camp because some of them were running around barefoot. They had some shoes, but not for playing outside. So we brought some sandals and tennis shoes that they could wear for playing. Almost all of the kids participated in every event, and so did the workers.

This summer was also special for us because we had several dear friends visiting us – Scott Werntz, Darren Macdonald, Misha Werntz, Cory Boyd, Zhenya Nichols, Phil Luckett, and Lori Bond. We had a great time with them visiting orphanages. While in Penza, Misha Werntz found his biological parents after 13 years of not seeing them. 

You may remember that in the past few years we have been helping some of the Fireworks youth get the apartments they are entitled to under Russian law. Around election time, a couple of years ago, we had a lot of success in getting the apartments. However, since the election season has ended we have faced seemingly endless red tape in trying to get the apartments. Through generous donations to Fireworks, we have hired lawyers to help and we are constantly trying to fulfill the requirements from the government but the requirements are always changing. Please pray that God will provide the apartments for the wonderful young people who need them as either a place to live or a source of income through rent.

Now we are getting ready for the new school year. We have several Bible studies planned as usual. We are also looking forward to several more guests who are planning to visit this fall and winter.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (Tit.2:11-14)  Angelica and I are grateful that we can serve such an Awesome GOD together with you! Thank you very much for your prayers and financial support. We love you all by the Love of our Lord Jesus!!

We will be more than happy  to hear from you, please write how we can pray for you.

Your Russian brother and sister in Jesus – Sergey and Angelica Zelenov.

“Gospel to the children, Penza Russia/ Fireworks ministry”

gospelttc@gmail.com

http://gospelttc.blogspot.com

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Visit to Serdobskiy convalescent home.

Greetings to our brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus!!

Last week I visited a convalescent home in Serdobsk where most of the graduates from the Nizhniy Lomov orphanage live. I had several reasons for making that trip. First, I miss all the youth a lot. Another reason was a phone call from Sergey Antonov (many of you know him as “Scott’s Sergey”) which made me worry.  He told me that he is tired of life.  Usually Sergey is full of optimism and joy, but on the call he sounded sad. He was sent to Serdobsk six months ago. Sergey stayed at the orphanage until he turned 22, yet he is still very vulnerable. I would say that this is a typical situation for all youth with special needs here.

While we were talking on the phone I tried to calm him down and encourage him. As soon as I told him that I was going to visit him, Sergey immediately changed his attitude. When I got there one week later Sergey was just fine.

The convalescent home is a three-story building which reminded me of a dormitory with many small rooms. Most of the residents are elderly people. This place is very different from what I have seen in America where people have marvelous conditions (beautiful buildings, nice meals and a variety of entertainment). The front door guard directed me to the section where all the youth live.  I walked through a long corridor with many art pictures of farm life painted on the walls. It was obvious that the building was recently remodeled yet it was pretty dark and stinky. I turned the corner and almost ran into Renat. He was so excited to see me that for several minutes he couldn’t talk about anything else; he just constantly repeated, “What a surprise, what a surprise!!!”

Then we took a walk around the convalescent home. Renat asked about everyone who ever visited the orphanage before; he definitely has good memories. Needless to say, each of our visits to the orphanage was a big deal for him. While we were walking we met other former orphans of Nizhniy Lomov. They all looked well, yet their eyes reflected sadness.

Renat showed me everything around the place. His favorite thing to do is to play soccer, therefore all the walls of his room are covered by posters of soccer players.  I asked him about difficulties and he relayed that he has big pressure form his friends and other adults because he doesn’t drink.

Renat is 23 years old and his whole childhood was spent at the orphanage. His mom abandoned him right after she gave birth because of his physical defect (split palm hands). When Renat turned 16 he decided to find his parents. I can imagine how painful it was for a teenager to hear all that from his mother and father.  Renat has a sister and a twin brother. When he found them, he had a lot of hope that he would have a home and many relatives, but this dream fell apart. Two weeks after he arrived, his mother kicked him out and demanded he never come back. Thus Renat was abandoned twice. Nevertheless, Renat forgave them.

I asked him what the purpose of his life is.  He replied that he wishes to become a sportsman, a soccer or football player. And someday play for Russia for the World championship.

Then I shared about the purpose that the Lord has for all of us which is to bring glory to HIS name through our faith in Jesus. Please pray for Renat and other youth at that home. They struggle intensely because of the conditions they live under. God knows what is best for all of us. He allows bad things to happen in our lives that we would see HIS Grace and draw us closer to NIM.

 We are working on getting permissions for tent camping for our church. Please hold us in your prayers because it’s a huge task which we can accomplish only with His help.

Angelica and I are excited about guests from the US that are going to come this summer. Please pray that God would help them with different issues as they are getting ready for the trip.

 Our oldest son, Elijah, has graduated from middle school with good marks and is now getting ready for high school. We are so thankful to the Lord for that. He dreams of being a pilot.

Thank you for your prayers.

Serving Christ together with you.

Sergey , Angelica Elijah and David Zelenov 

"Children on the oil side".

Gazeta.ru

Translated by Google translator.

The number of street children in Russia has reached the level of the Civil War. "In recent years the number of street children is increasing and now stands at 2.17% of the total number of children, ie 2 out of 100 children in Russia - Gaming" - the head of the Interior Ministry data published Committee on Social and Demographic Policy of the Public Chamber Elena Nikolaeva. According to her, in Russia today for 28 million children, "appears every 115-120 thousand orphans ..., 200-220 children each day taken from neglectful parents; 600,000 ... are in boarding schools of various types.
According to experts, Russia's street children for the most part are not orphans who lost parents and children who, for whatever reasons, left the family on their own. President, Association of child psychiatrists and psychologists Anatoly Northern cause of modern growth in the number of street children is called a complete discrediting of the family during the social changes in the last century. The crisis in the economy and ideology has caused the destruction of family ties - ties between children and parents, the mutual obligations of some over others. The state has not taken or is taking comprehensive measures, which would reduce the number of street children. This topic has not even heard in the speeches of heads of state and government or regional authorities. Now, if the homeless are detained, then taken to the shelter and return back to the family, whatever it was - a happy or problematic.
In Russia, unlike Western European countries, there is no system to prevent homelessness and rehabilitation of street children after their return to the family. Because the majority of returned children run away from home again and again. Against this background, especially cut rumor replicable official media hysteria political officials, deputies, representatives of some NGOs regarding violence against Russian children adopted by foreigners. Of course, every such case should be subject to consideration by the relevant Russian government agencies. Yet the primary responsibility of politicians and bureaucrats is the problem of street children in Russia itself.
These data representative of the Public Chamber of the official police statistics on the homeless (and these statistics can at best be relatively adequate, and at worst - low) sound quality of the verdict of public administration. Even at the level of political rhetoric to combat homelessness in Russia is not in the list of declared government objectives. The last time (again, purely rhetorical) the problem of homelessness and combating it signified the current governor Valentina Matvienko, when he was a "social" Deputy Prime Minister in the early 2000's. But ten allegedly prosperous, according to authorities, years when the country finally appeared a lot of money from the ever-increasing energy prices, the situation of street children only worsened.Meanwhile
homeless - an indicator of degree of tissue collapse of the state and society. The effectiveness of the state is measured not only the ability to ensure sustained economic growth, protect the border or to create opportunities for the maximal realization of professional citizens. Primarily, this efficiency depends on the quality of education, health, position in society of children and the elderly. Old men in Russia are the poor and powerless, even veterans do not bother to power, despite the constant loud promises to provide housing for the 65 th anniversary (!) Victory. Nursing Homes across the country in a terrible state. The same applies to children's homes. A number of street-level Civil War (ie, return to the state of society almost 100 years old!)-A sure sign that
Inflationary from excessive geopolitical ambitions of Russia, a member of the Group of Eight, the world's largest gas exporter and one of the largest exporters of oil, remains a backward, barbaric country. A growing number of street children - is the cry of abandonment of Russia itself, the country where the government does nothing that solves their personal financial problems, forgetting about the affairs of state primary importance.

link to the original article http://www.gazeta.ru/comments/2010/05/26_e_3373902.shtml

The ministry update.

Hello dear brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus!!

 We would like to share with you the highlights of the past month.

 The Youth Conference in Samara

We are so thankful to the Lord for the abundance of Bible teaching that we have now. Just recently, April 16-17, eight of the Fireworks youth went to a Bible conference in Samara. This helpful event was held by the “Transfiguration” church which hosted over 500 participants from 20 cities of Russia. The theme of the conference was “It's decided! Realize the seriousness of the Gospel”. This topic is derived from the example of the great theologian, Jonathan Edwards, who lived in the eighteenth century. “On January 12, 1723, I made a solemn dedication of myself to God and wrote it down; giving up myself, and all that I had to God; to be for the future, in no respect, my own; to act as one that had no right to himself, in any respect. And solemnly vowed, to take God for my whole portion and felicity; looking on nothing else, as any part of my happiness, nor acting as if it were; and his law for the constant rule of my obedience: engaging to fight, with all my might, against the world, the flesh, and the devil, to the end of my life. ” (quote from J. Edwards’s biography)

the conference different speakers emphasized the seriousness of the Gospel call, seriousness of redemption, seriousness of sin and punishment for sin. Everyone returned from the conference very charged up and encouraged. Rita shared with us that it was a time of re-evaluating her life. She has never thought that the Gospel is so precious to God. Slava B. said that after this conference he realized that he has a lot of small things in his character that hold him back in his walk with the Lord. God is working in his heart by allowing him to experience many difficult situations where Slava can be trained in patience. He also shared that he became more sensitive to sin and how much it hurts his relationship with the Lord.

Another thing that made this conference so special for us was the fact that God moved a college-age young man who used to be an orphan and was adopted into a Christian family in America, to cover all financial expenses for the fireworks youth who went. This young man mowed yards in his neighborhood in order to make it happen. Isn't it amazing how the Lord put all things together for His Glory??!!!

Visits to the orphanages

month we visited all the orphanages that we work with and shared with the kids why the good news about the risen Christ is so important that Easter is celebrated in every country in the world. I talked about the origins of Easter that is written in Exodus chapter 12. This story prefigures Jesus' sacrificial act of love that He has done for our redemption and justification.

This story becomes alive when someone shares how faith in Jesus changes everything in their life. When we went to the Gorodishe orphanage Julia Shlyaposhnikova, who grow up there, boldly shared in front of all kids and adults how much she appreciates Jesus and all He has done in her life through faith by grace. Irakly shared how his sacred dream to be adopted came true through a relationship by the blood of Jesus that all Christians have. Everyone was very attentive to the words they said. Please pray that the Lord would grow the seeds of faith in the hearts of those kids and adults.

Bible study

Angelica and I are continuing Bible studies with the guys and the girls at our apartment. Recently we finished the Gospel of John (with the guys) and the book of Colossians (with the girls). That was my third time teaching the Gospel of John, nevertheless this study opened new sides and depths that I hadn't seen before. What a joy that our process of knowledge of God and His word will never stop.

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR?

Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN?

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

(Romans 11:33-36)

Please pray:

- For the fireworks who will be graduated this summer. We put a lot of effort to help them walk with the Lord by faith and prepare them for adult life.  We realize that with out God’s help they will not be able to endure.  

- for the situation with international adoptions which are temporarily suspended. Each time we go to the orphanages the kids ask us when their parents will come for them. Over 3000 families are waiting for adoptions to be allowed again. Please find time to read an article about the situation Russia has with the orphan and foster care system. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/world/europe/04adopt.html

Serving Christ together with you.

Update of the ministry. February 2010.

How great is our God!  We are grateful for His never-ending love and mercy that He pours on us day by day. 

 “I love the LORD, because He hears my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live”. (Ps.116:1-2)

February was a very hard month because everyone in our family got sick. Angelica and I were very worried about our youngest son, David (4). He got sick twice, once we even had to call an ambulance because he had an extremely high temperature which we could not reduce with any medicine for a long time.  I (Sergey) was sick for almost two months. Those of you who came to Penza for Christmas probably remember my cough; I didn’t stop doing that until last week. I had been trying different medicine, including two types of antibiotics, but it wasn’t helpful. Praise the Lord that all of us are doing much better. Thank you for your prayers for our family.

Although we had so many problems last month, we continued visiting the orphanages and holding Bible studies. Even though winter was unusually cold, people still came for Bible study from different parts of town. Sometimes they rode very cold buses for more than an hour.

It has become a good tradition that each year around Christmas time, members of our church put together gifts for the orphans. Bringing those gifts to the kids and seeing their happiness are moments I would never trade for anything. Last month we took gifts to the Serdobsk orphanage. This orphanage has a special place in our hearts because of the many wonderful memories that we’ve made there through the years. Before going there we had heard that the director of that orphanage, who always kept the doors open for us, had to leave his position. We prayed to God that He would appoint a new director who would love children and understand the need of salvation through faith in Jesus. What we saw when we got there was beyond our expectations. The new director gave us a very warm reception and was very attentive to what we shared about our faith in Christ. The Lord had gone ahead of us and prepared the heart of that man. Igor (the director) asked us to come anytime we want. Most of the kids of the Serdobsk orphanage were new and our crew had good chances to share the Christmas story with them. We also had a lot fun playing games. Please pray for the kids, and especially for Igor, that our friendship would help them to know Jesus as Savior.

We ask you to continue praying for the “Fireworks” youth (Vitaly, Slava, Sasha, Larisa, Yulia and Rita) who still didn’t get an apartment from the government. We help them to do the required paperwork and provide legal assistance in the courts, yet there is long way to go.

All the youth are doing well spiritually. They love visiting orphanages with us. All of them dream of going on a mission trip someday. Please pray for the three of our youth who are studying in America, that they would be good examples of people devoted to Christ.

We are now making plans for summer. We have many ideas of how to glorify the Name of the Holy God. One of them is to do a Bible camp where the theme would be “Walking with Jesus”. We want to take a walk with the youth of our church through four Gospels and see the beauty and majesty of Our Lord.  "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”(Lk.9:23). This is not an easy task; please support us by prayer, we need a lot of wisdom to prepare the talks and organize everything.

Serving the Lord together with you,

Sergey and Angelica Zelenov

Gospel to the children, Penza Russia / The Fireworks ministry. 

All for the glory of Your name , Jesus!

We are so thankful to the Lord Jesus that He came to this earth and brought JOY and PEACE to all people. The Christmas season was full of blessings!
Thank you very much for your prayers about the Christmas project, by God's grace it went really well. This year we hosted the biggest team ever (59 people lead by Scott Werntz, the director of the “Spoken For” ministry in Texas, + 35 Russian volunteers). We all were amazed how smoothly every single detail of this project went. GOD opened the hearts of people who work for the city government. They helped in many ways and even took an active part in many events that we did for students and orphans. The team performed two shows of the play called “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” for a thousand Russian students who study English. It was a huge success. The nativity story was proclaimed very clearly and it made everyone think about the humility of our Savior.

We invited many students from different schools to be interpreters; most of them heard the Gospel for the first time. Since the project has been over, almost all of them have kept in touch with their American friends. We pray and hope that it will help them know more about Jesus.

Angelica has a very dear friend in N.Lomov handicap orphanage Kristina. She is 10 years old. Every time we come to the orphanage Angelica spends time with this girl talking and playing. As always, we came to this orphanage to celebrate New Years. When we arrived Kristina was looking for Angelica but she couldn't find her because there were too many people around. When the program was about to start, Kristina still could not find Angelica. She began to cry hard. Then she noticed that Angelica walked in the door – she shouted with all her strength, “Angelica, you came!!!” Then hugged her tightly and told her through tears how much she missed her. After that she gave Angelica a hand-made Christmas card. What a precious gift, knowing how much time and effort she put drawing and writing that card!!.
We come to the orphanages to bring Love of Jesus to the kids. Nevertheless, there are so many times when we receive HIS love from them and it really encourages us to keep going.
Scott and I (Sergey) shared our faith in Jesus with the director and her assistants. Through the years we can see changes in the hearts of people that we have known for a long time.

All the “Fireworks” youth played a big part in this project. Each of them tried hard to find their special way how to help: Dima and Alexey S. helped with technical equipment for the play; the girls (Rita and Julia) assisted Angelica in many things while she was preparing for the project. Most importantly, every one of them served the Lord side-by-side with our American brothers and sisters with great happiness. You can find many pictures of this project here.

On the last day of the team’s visit, we had an outstanding Sunday worship service at church. We all praised the Lord – singing and praying in two different languages as one. This is just a glimpse of great worship before the throne of our LORD Jesus! We can't wait for that time!
Please pray for us:

·         for the fruit of the Gospel that the Lord planted in the hearts of people;

·         for Spiritual growth of our your Fireworks youth;

·         for keeping doors of the orphanages open for the Gospel; there are so many kids and adults who need salvation;

·         for the authorities of our city who helped to organized this project; pray that the Lord would reveal Himself as He did to apostle Paul and change their lives forever.

We are so thankful for every one of you who came to Penza, Russia this Christmas and shared your hearts full of the love of our Lord Jesus.
May the Lord richly bless you.
Sergey and Angelica.