news

Women's Leadership Training

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST

Six women are currently studying through Entrust's Facilitator's Training in a program that will be completed in May 2012. "The material is challenging us. We are learning how to think in new ways. And, because of our good discussions, I come home greatly encouraged each time we meet." Women are learning how to facilitate small group discussion, plan lessons, train others, and grow in their discipleship vision.

Please pray for protection of these women and their schedules, so that they can complete this course and use it in the future. Please pray for me as I lead the training, that each time would be fresh and that the Spirit would lead.

Two Days Left!

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 04:34:00 EST

Only two days left to fund the Kazakh Bible project so that Bibles are ready to be given out at fall outreaches! For the first time, the whole Bible is available in Kazakh. For the first time, every chapter, every verse has been translated into the Kazakh heart language.

Bibles are vital in drawing Kazakhs to God and discipling them to be life-long followers of Christ. Isaiah 55:10-11 says,

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

The total cost of the project is over $84,000. Only $3,633 is needed to complete the project by July 31. Please give so that the lives of many Kazakh’s can be changed by the powerful Word of God.

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Countdown to Bible Due Date!

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 04:31:00 EST

For the first time, the entire Bible is available in the Kazakh language. SEND workers have a wonderful opportunity to distribute them at outreach events this fall. In order to do that, funds must be raised by July 31 and the Bibles must be printed. Over 3/4 of the funds have already been raised. You can help finish the project by the July 31 deadline to put God's Word in the hands of Kazakhs.

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Open Eyes to Open Hearts

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 05:01:00 EST

For three years, my Kazakh friend C-le has had a vision to invite other Kazakhs into the church to hear the gospel message in their own language and address the questions that concern them most. Recently, Pastor Vic gave his blessing and we began planning. We were counting on Pastor Vic to mobilize church members so that they would invite their neighbors. Just days before the planned announcement to the congregation, Pastor Vic had to go in for emergency eye surgery. His hospital stay was to be three days but he stayed for three weeks. We saw this as a setback. “How do we mobilize the members without him?” we thought. We now know that God had a better plan.

After retuning, Pastor Vic told the congregation his story and cast the vision for this Saturday’s outreach in a way that he would not have been able to before. While Pastor Vic (who is Russian) was at a renowned eye institute, he was surrounded by Kazakh fellow-patients. For a week, he did not speak about his faith. He was uncomfortable bringing up the gospel with people who are often so against Christianity. It was not long before the other patients began to wonder at the peace they saw in him, although loss of eyesight was a possibility for him too. “What is giving you peace?” they asked. He explained that his church was praying for him. After finding out that he was a pastor in the Baptist church, the attitude toward him changed – and he was sought out. “Hey, tell me something about God,” they would say, coming into his room. “The Russian mullah prayed for my operation and everything came out well,” testified one man. Pastor Vic had many opportunities to talk to Kazakhs about Isa (Jesus) and the way of salvation. Local Baptist brothers brought him New Testaments in Kazakh to hand out to the other patients. One man refused to accept the Bible until he washed his hands, which is the Muslim way of showing reverence.

Pastor Vic’s challenge to the congregation that Sunday was that there are many Kazakh seekers. Our role is to pray and invite them, and God will do the rest. I am so thankful that God opened the eyes of our godly pastor to see the openness and opportunities that are among Kazakhs today.

One way of reaching Kazakhs is by getting them to read the Bible in their own language. Until recently, only parts had been translated. But now the first Kazakh translation of the entire Bible has been completed and the Bible League, SEND International and a local Kazakh organization are partnering to print and distribute the Bibles.

The cost is only $6 per Bible. SEND has committed to raise $84,210 - half of the total cost. The money is needed by July 31 to distribute the Bibles through planned outreach events scheduled for this fall. Please prayerfully consider how you can help provide the life-giving Word of God to the Kazakh people.

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Their First Bible

Fri, 8 Jul 2011 04:05:00 EST

II Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” But what if the whole Bible is not available in your language?

This has been the case for over eleven million Kazakhs—until now! The first Kazakh translation of the entire Bible has been completed. The Bible League, SEND International and a local Kazakh organization are partnering to print and distribute the bibles.

The Bible League is ready to print 30,000 Bibles. The cost is only $6 each to give a Kazakh person a Bible. SEND has committed to raise $84, 210 - half of the total cost and already $60,000 has been raised. The rest of the money, $24,000, is needed by July 31 in order to distribute the Bibles at outreach events scheduled for this fall!

Help us complete this project by the end of this month so that Kazakhs can “be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

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Another celebration of sacrifice

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST

As much of the world celebrates Christmas, the holiday Korban Eid comes and goes once a year, following the Muslim calendar. It commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son and how God met him in that moment and provided a lamb. In Kazakhstan, it is common to invite friends to share in this sacrificial meal. But, few people know the reason for offering a sacrifice, the history of the holiday, or that God provided Isa to be a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.

I invited my beautician to Korban Eid. She choose not to come. However, the next time I sat in front of her mirror for a haircut, she asked me, “So, tell me, what is the reason we offer sacrifice?” Beginning with Adam and then with Abraham, I explained to her the history of sacrifice, and that it was need to cleanse us from sin.