Joshua Project. . .

. . . Is an amazing thing for anyone ever wondering about the verse in Matthew 24 where Jesus says, " and this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in ALL the world as a testimony to ALL nations, and THEN the end will come.". Yes there will be the wars, the natural disasters, and other things that He said would happen, but He also said that these were NOT the end but the beginning. THE END is waiting on the gospel's proclamation. So how can that happen? Look at the Joshua Project and it will give you some insight. Maybe it will even encourage you to get involved.
One of the things I've been doing while being laid up on the m field is reading through some of the things in this wonderful web site. Not only does it give listings and info about people groups who have never heard, but it gives ideas for individuals, and churches on how to be involved with the Lord of the harvest in what He is doing right NOW. He said, " I came to seek and to save that which was lost.".
I have a friend who is busily engaging himself and others into this harvest field by posting a new people group to pray for on Twitter each day. They of course come from the Joshua Project listings.
When you remove the "I've got too much to do" log from your eye, you will find an amazing new world of what God is up to. Oh yes, I forgot, take away the 'entertainment log' as well. Yes, I'm on my IPad right now. I can use it for His purposes or mine. Sit down with Him for 30 minutes and do www on the Joshua Project and see for yourself. If you need, He can arrange for you to get off yor feet for awhile, but it's better to do it voluntarily.
One other very cool thing is that Udmurt people USED to be on that list of unreached, and unengaged, but not now. Yes, there is a long way to go, but at least we're going by His Grace.

Thanks for the prayer,
Jack

Baseball, cold weather, and Nikita. . . .

I came here to meet new people, and learn how to better help pray for what God wants to do in people 's lives. Jesus said " pray the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers ...". Now there's a prayer request, from the lord Himself. How are we doing on that commandment? I haven 't been able to do much traveling around, but I am meeting some new people.
One is Nikita. This one is about 9 years old. He can be as rowdy however, as the other one that some of you senior folks remember.
His answer to who is God was, " someone who lives on a cloud".
He lives mostly on the streets, doing what boys like to do, play. He doesn't eat regularly because of family conditions. But he did come to the Bible club last week and listened ( some) to Olga share about God's love for him.
It 's a good possibility that he will become involved with 'drinking' crowd early, because he is looking for something that can meet his most urgent need, attention. Olga can only hold him lovingly around the neck while she teaches the lesson for a short time.
Cold weather doesn't interfere with his desire to play. He will still do that; and with whoever will play with him.
Lord of the harvest, do you have anyone out there that would like to come and play baseball with Nikita?

Epaphroditus and I have one thing in common. . .

Even though I don't know WHAT his illness was, I can certainly sympathize with him being away from home without his normal caregiver and no such thing as tylonal. Thank the Lord for prayer and His healing power.
Having been down for two days, gives you plenty of time to work on talking and more importantly, listening to God. Isaiah writes for the Lord "is God's hand too short that it cannot save?". .. (no implied). . . But it is your sins that have separated you from Him. . . ".
Realizing how much we need to call on Him, and more so him speak to us is becoming so vivid here. Yes we can see the enormous task of reaching lostness. We can even realize our inabilities and helplessness. But, do we realize His power to break through the darkness.
"How do you know God has a special plan for me?", Elana, 14 asked. Then after hearing her friend Tanya read the promises and PLAN of God for her "in Christ" from Ephesians 1 she indicates her desire to have this. Pray for her to receive Jesus's great life for her.
She is just one of many desparately wanting to know is there hope. Pray for the others to find His healing power.

"all things work together for good...". ( Rom., 8:28)....

No one likes being sick,especially me and especially now in Udmurtia. But, the Lord can use anything to work in peoples lives. Yesterday I was able to share my testimony and a simple salvation message to the Bible club kids. It was fun. They were so receptive. Today I had a sore throat and wound up sleeping mostly. Tanya and Olga told the kids about it and several wanted to pray for me. Some who had never prayed before did. Tanya and Olga were excited that so many were eager to pray. We can pray with them that the Lord will use even this to bring them into His eternal life.

Discouragement and victory coexisting. . .

When we met on our walks yesterday (Monday), Tanya and Olga were sad about so many rejections of invitation to the Bible Club that afternoon. It seems that as they get older they find other things to do here, just as in the USA. However, watching them go door to door and praying as we went, I knew and asked God that He would reward this act of faithfulness somehow. Fifteen young ones and two older teens showed up. The blessing was that most were ones that had NOT been invited that morning.
I wlll go this afternoon and provide the 'Americanski curiosity amusement' and pray for the Lord to use that as well.
Pray for Olga, a very gifted young lady from Izhevsk, as she helps Tanya here in Chur with this Bible club and a new one in Yaksur Bodya nearby. Pray for the hearts of the young ones and the parents as Jesus walks among their needs to offer them His life. Pray for other laborers into this harvest field.

Three in one. . .

Usually refers to the Trinity, but in this case it refers to one Udmurt, one Russian, and one American holding hands together before the throne of 'the great three in one' and giving praise to Him for bringing us together, as well as joining Him in His own prayer for Udmurtia, Russian and American people to become part of His family that is One. That was this morning, at Resurrection church. Later on a couch in Chur village, listening to one young girl from Izhevsk, share her passion for helping small rural churches in Udmurtia reach out to the children and through them the older ones. You may join us in this united prayer of God's for His children to be One in three.
Had a wonderful day of holding hands with God!

Very exciting things. . .

We've asked you to pray for God to open the doors of people's hearts and He is. Yesterday in prayer drive through several southern regions we stopped and visited with city officials and were encouraged at the receptivity to bring a team into their town to interact with the people. Pray for this college team that will arrive next summer to do this.
This evening we were able to pray with an Udmurt lady who is a new believer and has a new group started in her home just outside Ishevsk. Pray for the husband and wife team from Resurrection church that are leading this on Sunday nights.
Both items above are great evidences of fruits of God's blessing in answer to your prayer.
The good news IS being heard in Udmurtia and is multiplying in people's lives!

Keep praying
Jack

All we can do is pray. . .

After the first day, the most important thing that is so necessary is PRAYER! Not only do people who do not know the Lord need prayer for them to be able to hear God's voice, but the one's who proclaim His message desperately need prayer to keep going with a seemingly impossible task. Life is hard enough in the places we call 'home'. We go about our daily routines and find plenty of obstacles to stress us and wear us down. Try doing it in a place where the whole culture, language and weather is drastically different.
What can you specifically pray for?
1. That God would open doors of people's hearts when they are met by the good news bearers
2. That God would energize the good news bearers with His strenghth.
3. That His Word would find good soil to grow in and bear fruit that multiplies.
4. That His glory would be seen in all of it and He would be exalted.
As we say many times in a crises situation, ALL WE CAN DO IS PRAY! It is God who gives the increase.

God bless you as you meet with Him to join Him in prayer for His kingdom agenda,

Jack

Back to Udmurtia. . .

Monday, I will be back 'in the air' heading for Moscow, Russia. The trip gets more difficult each year, but I do enjoy getting there and being with some very dear people that God has entrusted us to be friends with in the place called Udmurtia.
This time I will be going out into new towns and villages to take pictures and meet people to continue our 'adopt a region' prayer emphasis. I hope that you are involved in this. If not please consider yourself, Sunday school groups or even church to adopt one of these 25 regions where there is no or little evangelical witness for the Lord Jesus.
Stay with me for the next three weeks and pray me through the divine encounters He has planned.
You can go online to an Udmurt map, follow me around if you'd like and pray with me daily as we go. I will try to post something each day, but it all depends on internet connections. We will see if an IPad will work in Udmurtia.

Serving Him together,
Jack

Udmurtia comes to USA. . .

Sometimes the Lord changes the way we do things and as always with Him, blessings follow. This year He has made it possible for us to have a wonderful couple from Udmurtia to come here to the U.S.

Sergei and Tanya Subbotin have come to visit from the village of Chur, Udmurtia in Russia. After landing they immediately wanted to 'see' as much as possible. Now, after four weeks they can say they have experienced quite a lot in such a short time. After a drive tour of several states, visiting her nephew in South Carolina, ministering in several churches, and 'resting' at Jack and Sara's 'dacha' in Yellville, AR., they have many impressions and realizations about this part of the USA. . . all good ones.

But, not only have they been able to receive such blessings, they have been a blessing to many. In the process of sharing their testimony of how they came to Christ and the work in their village of Chur they have been used of the Lord to touch many hearts here as well.

Most importantly, God's Kingdom work will see much fruit as a result of His using them on this trip, both here and there.

Keep praying as we continue our Kingdom walk together.

Serving Him together,

Jack