Residential Discipleship Course

Kazakhstan Evangelical Christian Seminary

Residential Discipleship Course - September 1999

DAILY TEACHING SCHEDULE - Monday through Friday

Every day there are 3 hours of teaching in the morning and 1 ½ in the afternoon.

              Mornings 9:30 to 11 a.m. and 11:15 to 12:45 / Afternoons 2:30 to 4

It is the choice of the teacher how to divide this time to best accomplish their goal, i.e. lectures, multi-media, discussion groups, etc. This is the schedule so far:

1 September - Wednesday

Morning - Mark Blair “Why are We Here?”

Afternoon  - Dave Stewart      Character of a Christian Leader

    

     Lesson 1

     Theme:  What is "Discipleship" and how is character related to Discipleship?

2 September - Thursday

Morning - Choon Kong

Afternoon - Dayna Blair - “Growing in Jesus”

 3 September - Friday

Morning - Jim Taylor - Course Intro.Overview, Lordship of Christ, Testimony

                Memory Verse:  1 Pet.3:15, 2 Cor.4:5

                Lesson Objective: Each student to be able to share his

                own testimony in a clear and concise way.

Afternoon - Dave Stewart       

Lesson 2    Theme: Your life and character are more important than what you know!

6 September - Monday

Morning - Andy Carter     The priority of your relationship with God.

                                    (Pervostepenoe znacheniye vashix vzaimootnosheniyesbogom)

" Developing your relationship with God.

(Razviteye VashixVzaimootnosheniye SBogom)

Afternoon - Dave Stewart       

Lesson 3    Theme: A leader must do what he asks others to do! Jesus is our model!

7 September - Tuesday

Morning - Andy Carter      Characteristics of a disciple of Jesus Christ

 (Karakterneye Cherti Ychenika Isysa Krista)

 " Living with eternal perspectives

(Zhizn c vechnoy perspektivoy)

Afternoon - Jan Bolton “How Does God Choose His Children vs. How Man Chooses”

8 September - Wednesday

Morning - Michael Hennon - “Ethics and Accountability”

Afternoon - Dave Stewart       

Lesson 4  Theme: People will forget what you tell them, but they won't forget YOU

9 September - Thursday

Morning - Michael Hennon - “Ethics and Accountability”

Afternoon - Constantine Volkov - “The Importance of Bible Reading”

10 September - Friday

Morning - Jim Taylor - Presenting the good news

                Memory Verses:  Luke 2:10, Rom.3:23, 6:23

Lesson Objective:  For each student to be able to communicate the essential elements of the good news and  be able to lead a person to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Afternoon - Dave Stewart       

Lesson 5 Theme:  From the heart flow the issues of life (God is concerned about the heart)

13 September - Monday

Morning          Baxid                         

“How to Experience God's Love and Forgiveness”

(Kak ispitat boshiyo lyubov i prosheniye)

"The Attributes of God”      (svoistvo bozhye)

Afternoon - Dave Stewart       

Lesson 6 Theme:  Real change comes from the inside out.

14 September - Tuesday

Morning          Scott                            

“How to be filled with the Holy Spirit”

(Kak ispolnitza svyatim duxom)

" How to Walk in the Holy Spirit

(Kak zhit ispolnivshis duxom svyatim)

Afternoon - Jan Bolton “How Does God Choose His Children vs. How Man Chooses”

15 September - Wednesday

Morning          Stuart Savig                

“Biblical Stewardship”

(bibleyskii pacporyaditelstvo)

“How to Love by Faith”  (Kak Lyubit Veroi)

Afternoon - Dave Stewart       

Lesson 7 Theme:  Introduction of the Red Cross (4 quadrants)

A paradigm for the diagnosis and treatment of spiritual problems

16 September - Thursday

Morning          Kathy                          

“The Grace of God”    (Blagodat Bozhe)

"Your Identity in Christ”

(Kto Mwe Takiye vo Kristye)

Afternoon - Konstantine Volkov - “Growing through Bible Reading”

17 September - Friday

Morning - Jim Taylor -  "The scale to the cross"  Review Memory Verses:  Rom.5:8, 10:9

               

Lesson Objective: Present the Engles scale to encourage students that evangelism is a process that takes time and consistency.  Review especially from week 2.

Afternoon - Dave Stewart       

Lesson 8 Theme:  The Red Cross (Quadrant 1) Right Thinking

20 September - Monday

Morning  Peyton Harris  "The Psalms and our Discipleship"

Afternoon - Dave Stewart      

Lesson 9 Theme:  The Red Cross (Quadrant 2) Spiritual Disciplines

21 September - Tuesday

Morning - Steve Gilbert  “Living in Right Relationships”

Afternoon - Jan Bolton “How Does God Choose His Children vs. How Man Chooses”

22 September - Wednesday

Morning       Peyton Harris  "The Psalms and our Discipleship"

Afternoon - Dave Stewart       

Lesson 10  Theme:  The Red Cross (Quadrant 3)

External Opposition and Spiritual Warfare

23 September - Thursday

Morning - Mark Blair - “Where Do We Go From Here?”

Afternoon - Dayna Blair - “Abiding in Jesus”

24 September - Friday

Morning - Jim Taylor - Handling the Most difficult questions Memory Verses: Acts 4:12, Mat.7:13-14

              

Lesson Objective: Work through the most difficult  objections raised by non-believers concerning the gospel with special emphasis placed on Islamic issues.

Afternoon - Dave Stewart       

Lesson 11 Theme:  The Red Cross (Quadrant 4) Relationships and reconciliation

27 September - Monday

Morning - Randy Fields - “Prayer”

Afternoon - Dave Stewart       

Lesson 12 Theme: Review, Final exam, and Priorities of a Leader

28 September - Tuesday

Morning - Steve Gilbert  “Living in Right Relationships”

Afternoon - Jan Bolton “How Does God Choose His Children vs. How Man Chooses”

29 September -  Wednesday

Morning & Afternoon - Bruce and Nelli Litchfield - “The Healthy Family”

30 September - Thursday

Morning & Afternoon - Bruce and Nelli Litchfield - “The Healthy Family”

Kazakhstan Evangelical Christian Seminary

Residential Discipleship Course - September 1999

DAILY SCHEDULE - Monday through Friday

7:00 Wake up - personal hygiene, individual morning prayer and Bible study

8:00 Breakfast - during this time daily announcements and prayer requests will be shared

9:00 Prayer Service - large group meeting  (during this time one “team” will clean-up from breakfast)

9:30 Teaching Session # 1

11:00 Break

11:15 Teaching Session # 2

12:45 Discussion / Review from Teaching Sessions

13:00 Lunch - groups may sit together to have discussions on important issues

14:00 Group Singing - learning and sharing   (during this time one “team” will clean-up from lunch)

14:30 Teaching Session # 3

16:00 Physical Activities - some days there will be games, other days manual labor projects

17:00 Free Time

18:00 Dinner - time for sharing of thanks and praises for the blessings of the day

19:00 Small Group Meetings

20:00 Special Events

21:30 Individual Study of Bible - completion of assignments

23:00 Lights Out

SATURDAY DAILY SCHEDULE

8:00 Wake up - personal hygiene, individual morning prayer and Bible study

9:00 Breakfast - during this time daily announcements and prayer requests will be shared

10:00 Free Time - washing clothes, completing assignments, personal studies, group meetings, games

13:00 Lunch

13:30 “Being a Blessing” - work projects in the Primoy Put community

17:00 Free Time

18:00 Dinner - time for sharing of thanks and praises for the blessings of the day

19:00 Special Events

22:00 Lights Out

SUNDAY DAILY SCHEDULE

7:00 Wake up - personal hygiene, individual morning prayer and Bible study

8:00 Breakfast - during this time daily announcements and prayer requests will be shared

9:00 Departure for Churches where students are assigned to worship

Follow attendance of worship services, students are free to remain in the city, visit friends, family, and church members or serve others through their ministries.

(Those who remain on campus must organize and prepare their own lunches.)

18:00 Dinner - time for sharing of thanks and praises for the blessings of the day

19:30 Small Group Meetings

22:00 Individual Study of Bible - completion of assignments

23:00 Lights Out

Kazakhstan Evangelical Christian Seminary

Residential Discipleship Course

September 1999

Background - Since 1993  KECS has offered training in ministry for men and women. Our structure has been a traditional academic program taught by local and visiting professors – in both Russian and Kazakh languages.  We thank God for allowing us to teach more than 175 students,  several dozen are currently in vocational ministry, and almost all of them are serving the Lord in some capacity. Yet, as we have examined our work, we realize a missing component is Christian character development.

Plan - We are going to devote the month of September to a Residential Discipleship Course which  will be required of all men and women who desire to study at KECS during the academic year. Students will live together, preparing their food, hearing some formal lectures, spending time in personal and corporate Bible study, prayer, and worship, and seeking the Lord’s direction for their lives. Those whose lives are evidently mature enough to begin a course of academic theological study, will begin their classes in early October. Those who are not yet ready for such a calling, will receive a Certificate  of Completion for their efforts and be encouraged to continue their growth in Jesus. 

Goal - It is our prayer that KECS graduates will be men and women who are spiritually mature and academically competent to be servant-leaders in His Church.

Schedule - (attached)

Curriculum - Various pastors and teachers from several different churches and organizations will work together to lead our students. Their lectures will all explore the basics of the Christian life and the requirements for a Christian leader. The class room component of the course is important. But it will not be the only place where students “pass or fail,” it will also be in washing dishes and cleaning toilets. Specific courses which will be taught include “How to Read Your Bible” “Cross-Cultural Adjustments” “How to be Accountable to Another” “Marriage and Family” “Lifestyle Evangelism”  Manual labor projects to improve the seminary facilities and help our neighbors will be included. One resource will be  the workbook “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby which has been translated into Russian. Another is the “SEAN” new believer workbook which is translated into Russian and Kazakh.

Languages and Logistics -  All of the course will be held at our Primoy Put campus. Both Russian and Kazakh language students will live and study together. We believe  one of the long-term needs of the Church here is for believers of all ethnic groups to live in a community of His love. We pray that this setting will promote such a unity. We will have both Kazakh and Russian translators working the entire month to help facilitate the communication.

Children - We realize that some students will need to come with their children and we welcome them. We will provide a limited children’s program to supplement their care, but we emphasize that their parents are the responsible care givers for the children.

Mentors / Small Group Leaders - These people will be a big key to the success of the course!  They are mature believers, fluent in the local language(s), who are willing to devote a month of their lives to this ministry. Mentors are needed to model and encourage godliness and growth “down in the trenches.” The requirement to be a mentor is not their academic achievement, or church title, but their walk with God. We will offer free room and board for such mentors. (Those second year students who serve in this capacity will receive a stipend for this work.)

Costs / charges - Currently we are blessed to be able to offer our seminary training free of charge to the students. Students of the RDC will be housed and fed free of charge. One compensation we expect is their labor as they do work to improve the seminary.

Admission - We require that each student be a growing believer in Jesus, at least 18 years of age, a Secondary school graduate,  and have a letter of recommendation from their pastor. It is our preference that a person be a believer for at least one year before attending the RDC.

Contacts -

KECS, P.O. Box 244, Almaty 480000, Kazakhstan

telephone in Almaty - 404989

e-mail: kecs@pactec.org,  blairstan@hotmail.com, kongstan@hotmail.com

* * * * *

The Wind and the Wallpaper

“From the Tropics to the Tundra”

An Update from the Blair family in Kazakhstan, Central Asia

                                                            July  1999

E-mail:            blairstan@hotmail.com

Mailing address:         Send support money to:

Blair’s                         Pioneers

c/o KECS                    12343 Narcoossee Road

P.O. Box 244              Orlando, Florida 32827

Almaty 480000           [checks are to be made out to “Pioneers”

Kazakhstan                  - noted for Blair’s on a separate paper]

Phone (from USA) -  011-732-72-636790  [we’re 14 hrs ahead of Pacific Standard Time)

Aloha from Almaty

            We pray this letter finds you well as you trust in Jesus. Your prayers and support are so appreciated as we serve the Lord here. Now we are all out of school until the end of August. The last few months have been busy and enjoyable. Our weather has been very pleasant, but we anticipate that temperatures will soon climb over 100 degrees. Mark and Dayna are now preparing courses for the Fall. Dayna will teach “Christian Education” one day at the Seminary in addition to her teaching at the boy’s school the other four days. We look forward to having a couple weeks off for rest. We pray that this summer season will be a blessed one for you and your family.

Our boys are playing baseball in a league sponsored by the multi-national oil companies here - Mobil, Texaco, and Standard. Most of the players are Kazakh nationals -- a great culture and language learning experience. We’re so glad to see each of them communicating and making friends in Russian language. Nathan and Josiah are on the same team, the only foreigners on that team, coached by a Black American business man who speaks Russian. Aaron is on a team in a younger division with his good friend from school, whose dad (a missionary doctor) is the coach. Each team plays about 3 games a week, Mom and Dad enjoy watching them when they can. It is interesting to hear the coaches and umpires shouting instructions in Russian language; although each game opens with the English words, “PLAY BALL!”

It’s Spring and %$#%$%% is in the Air

            We were so happy to see the coming of Spring. No more morning ritual of putting on layers of long underwear, two pairs of socks, hats, gloves, and snow boots. The boys are again wearing shorts and T-shirts to school, and the parents wish they could too. Spring also meant that our guys were able to get back out into the school playground.

            You can imagine the placid scene. Billowy white clouds meandering across the clear blue skies, the sun’s warm rays shining upon a yard full of missionary kids. The little holy cherubs frolicking  together in the first days of Spring. If you take a closer look you will see Nathan and Josiah Blair on the dirt surfaced basketball court, in the middle of the Jr. & Sr. High game. Taking an even closer look it seems to be more than a game, it is more like the “Battle Royale.” On the court are a mob of Karl Malone wanna-be’s with flying elbows looking for tender opponents. Soon Nathan and a big senior start wrestling (didn’t Karl do some work in the WWF too?), younger brother Josiah tries to break it up. Josiah has learned that day never to approach a fight from the back. Because what he cannot remember is getting punched in the nose by the big senior – accidentally we have been assured! Josiah remembers waking up on his back, looking into the faces of the concerned circle of students who hovered over him.

            When Nathan saw his blood splattered brother out cold on the court he quit struggling; thinking he might be the next punching bag to hit the mat. So he let out a few verbal expletives which he did not learn in his morning devotions. Dayna had to wear “two hats” as Mother and teacher as she sorted things out. Ah! Spring time! We parents ask your prayers that through the punches and the tearful apologies of our boy’s lives we can be wise and consistent. This little episode is  not the norm for them, thank God. But even in this we see God working to grow them, and us, more like Him.

The Wind and the Wallpaper

            Ann, one of our Pioneer’s mission team mates, got an important phone call from a good friend. It happened that at the time she was running water over some frozen chicken in her kitchen sink. Well the phone call went a little longer than expected. No problem, she thought -- until she found that her kitchen had turned into a wading pool! The wind had blown a plastic bag into the drain and plugged it up. Soon Ann’s wading pool became a fountain into the downstair’s neighbors. These folk had just spent great effort and expense on new wallpaper. As you can imagine, it was not the best way to meet them  They were mad, and they let Ann and her roommate Claudia know it. The neighbor man would have to take a day off work to repair the damages.

            We think God decided which day was best for him to the home improvements. Because as this neighbor was about his wallpapering task, he heard frantic stomping and shouting from the upstair’s neighbors, Ann and Claudia.

            The young ladies had a knock on the door from a woman in distress. At least that is what  she convinced them as they communicated through the “peep-hole” in their front door. But as they opened up to help, the lady ran away, and three men wearing masks and carrying guns stormed in. Their intention was to rob them. But their immediate plan was to beat them so that they could not prevent the robbery. So they commenced to strike them about the head and face with their gun butts as they kicked them all over.

            Their treachery was so noisy that Mr. Wallpaper came upstairs to tell the ladies

 to keep quiet, unaware of what was happening. When he knocked on their door he was met by the men with pointed guns. Guess what! Mr. Wallpaper is a military man with a good heart -- and a gun of his own! He ran downstairs, called the police, and returned back upstairs with his own bigger gun! Thankfully, no shots were fired, but his intimidating presence distracted the evil intruders long enough for the ladies to safely barricade themselves in a room until the police arrived. Two of the men were caught still in the apartment. Anything they had planned to steal was recovered. Four other loony “master-minds” of the plot were also arrested. The police here have never heard about “Miranda.” If they get one criminal, they have effective means for finding the rest. I am not endorsing their methods, but it in this case they did  work.

            Ann needed lots of stitches on her head and face, even in her mouth! She and Claudia were badly bruised - physically and emotionally. Claudia had some vision problems from blows to her head, they have now healed. Neither young woman had any broken bones or internal injuries. Their Christian faith has shown through this injustice by their peaceful and prayerful witness to medical workers, police, concerned neighbors, even over Kazakh television nightly news. Continue to pray for them, because you know that the bruises and fears on the inside take longer to heal than the ones on the outside.

            The “lady in distress” who got them to open their door has at least 7 years in prison to think before she tries any more knocking and running. The men who planned and carried out the evil deed have 15 to 20 years of prison time. Join Ann and Claudia  in praying for them too. “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot  tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (The Lord Jesus said this in John 3.8).

“Nothing!”

            Zarinna, a church worker graduated from our seminary,  recently invited me to attend a house meeting she leads. Her “invitation” came at 4 p.m., on a day that I began lecturing at 9 a.m. I learned a family had prepared a special meal for me that evening at 6 p.m. She went on to explain how they were very poor and such preparation was a great sacrifice, “They will be so disappointed if you do not come.” I was intrigued because I had never met these people, frustrated that my colleague was such a poor planner, and tired from a busy day. But I went.

            As we approached their gate, two smiling young girls came out to greet us. Their father, working hard on a building project in his yard, dropped his shovel and ran to meet us. Three young boys, covered with dirt from helping Dad, gave us hearty handshakes. They all escorted us into their small, sparsely furnished, house to meet “Mama” and their college age daughter. We all sat around their big table for the feast. Then a group of neighbors came in and took their places. A bare light bulb with a fly buzzing around it hung from the ceiling. Mama brought out the popular Central Asian dish “plaff” (similar to rice pilaf). Plaf is boiled rice fried with cooking oil, grated carrots, onions, and pieces of meat - either beef, lamb, or horse. One strong cultural value here is that the visitor can never eat enough! or drink enough tea! If you turn your head for one second they will quickly dish you out more food and drink. “If you love us, you will eat!”

            During our table conversation, I realized the purpose of my presence. Zarinna kept emphasizing that I was “THE DIRECTOR” of the seminary. This family, members of the hierarchical Russian Orthodox church, had questioned the authority of this “unaffiliated” woman who told them about Jesus. So she brought me from “headquarters” to assure them of her integrity. But I told them that God’s “authority,” revealed in the Scriptures for everyone in Christ, is what really matters. After dinner they asked me to share a message. My invitation to turn to the Gospel of Luke sent them on clueless search from one end of their borrowed Bibles to the other. Almost twenty years of membership in the Russian Orthodox Church has not done much for their Bible familiarity. After sharing about the “Rich Man and Lazarus” from chapter 16, Mama started asking questions. “What can I do to be a better Christian?” “NOTHING,” I firmly replied. Thinking that I was going to use this question as a chance to tell them to “do” this or that, Zarinna questioned if she heard me correctly. “Well then,” Mama continued, “what can I do to be a better mother?” Again I loudly stated my one word answer, “NOTHING!” Behind her sincere question I perceived the notion that is so popular in every religion -- we can do something to please God. Hasn’t she gained some religious merit by hosting this American cleric? Won’t her earnest labors of motherhood count for something as she works her way into heaven? Prayers, rituals, and religious traditions all build one’s case for eternal glory, don’t they?!!?  NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves, to merit God’s mercy. In fact, as I told this surprised Mama, everything we try to do to please God only makes our spiritual condition worse. Because in “our doing” we add pride to the endless list of sins which stands to condemn us.

            But I quickly told them the Good News. “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as is it written, ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1.30,31). What can we “do” to better our hopeless spiritual condition? Fall in complete dependence into the gracious arms of the living God. We must admit our utter helplessness to receive His help. We must confess our thorough sinfulness to gain His salvation. We can do nothing to save ourselves, because He has already done everything. Praise Him! Of course once we are in Christ, there is much we are commanded to “do” in the power of His Spirit, for His glory! There are many thousands of homes in Kazakhstan filled with people waiting to hear this Great News.

21 Fountains of Joy

One Sunday in June Mark had the privilege of baptizing 19 new believers in Jesus. He joined with two other pastors for this great event. One of the pastors was the Provost of Asbury Seminary in Kentucky, here then teaching on the book of “Revelation;” and a Kazakh pastor recently graduated from our seminary. He and the other student leaders had introduced these people to Jesus. Among the 19 were an elderly couple who both loudly affirmed their desire for baptism as we gathered in the church hall for a worship service prior to the event. I shuddered for them - and for me - as I remembered the baptism I witnessed in the frozen mountain stream a few months ago. Once we got to a nearby lake, I was grateful that it was the beginning of summer - the water was tolerably cool. As the woman in her 70’s was lead into the water I began to question whether “sprinkling” might be more appropriate for her than “immersion.” But after lowering her into the water in the name of the “Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” she sprang up like a water cannon. She then jumped and splashed and summer-salted for a couple of minutes to the cheers and joyful tears of those of us who watched. It was such a privilege to share the hope of these new believers. We rejoiced with the angels. Then after all the 19 were baptized, I was too! The Kazakh pastor, a former wrestler – proven by his gnarled ear, dunked me - and himself - into the lake. Then there were 21.

Nathan’s News

As the eldest of the boys in our family (He became 15 this month! - Dad), I have taken on the responsibility to tell you about our recent rafting trip here in Kazakhstan.

Last month Josiah and I, along with our classmates, spent 2 days on the Ili River, 2 ½  from Almaty by bus. Leaving early in the morning gave us more time on the river, we arrived at 10. The Ili river is in the bottom of a canyon,  like the Colorado river in the Grand Canyon, but not as deep. It took us 25 minutes to hike down to the boats. There were 4 three-person canoes and 2 six-person pontoon type boats. I was assigned to a canoe because I had some experience. The river was flowing fast that day, which helped in the paddling. We floated/ paddled down the river for about 2 hours before we stopped to view some ancient writings and drawings on a couple of the many  cliffs and boulders in that region. They were made in the 6^th century by the Chinese. We ate lunch, sitting on the big rocks, taking in all the beauty surrounding  us. I then went to  the pontoon and Josiah went on a canoe. My friends and I enjoyed jumping off the  boat into the icy, cold water. We arrived at the camping site around 4:00. We played croquet, soccer, football, and rugby till 5:30. Then we hiked atop a small mountain nearby. When we returned we jumped into the river for another cold awakening. We set up our tents and finally ate. Some of us then  played some more croquet while others sang songs. Around 11:20 it became dark enough to play flashlight tag. It was fun because you couldn’t see anything but, the flashlight. I kept tripping over all these little bushes which got me out a lot of the time because I kept crying out in pain after continuously flying to the ground. We stopped around 12:30 because it was late and we were tired.  My friend and I  stayed up late talking, eating, and drinking Coke. The typical things to do when you’re on a sleep-over without your parents. I didn’t fall  asleep till 2 because of the loud croaking of about a million frogs outside of our tent. I was awakened at 4 because it had started raining and I had to put the  rain tarp on my tent, after taking it off because of the intense heat inside the tent. I then woke up at 6:45 because we were going to play some tricks on the other campers. We didn’t get very far because we were tired and the ground was soaked with rain. But we took some pictures of the other tired and grumpy campers with their early morning hairdos. After everyone had gotten out of their tents, we enjoyed a wonderfully spread meal consisting of cereal, toast, and fresh fruits such as strawberries, cherries, and oranges. We also  had water, Coke, tea, and lots of coffee to keep everyone awake and energized for our 2^nd day of paddling down the river.

 After disassembling the tents, we started our 2^nd  day on the river. All of the boys in our group decided to ride on the larger of the pontoons because  we were all sick of sitting in the canoes and getting blistered and soaked bottoms. This caused some disagreement because the other pontoon had all the girls. And they were angry at us because they didn’t have anyone to paddle for them other than the two Russian guides that went with each pontoon. I think that was the best thing that happened on the trip. We didn’t have to worry about privacy and we had all the good and junk food. It was sunny and hot that day so all of us went shirtless and got some great tans floating down the river. Some of us slept for a little at the same time too catching up on the sleep that we had missed.  Another fun thing was tying a rope around yourself and getting pulled down river by the current and the boat.  We also sang some hilarious songs that probably made everyone sick of our “great” musical abilities. The girls became really jealous at this point so they started to sing songs too. Their singing wasn’t that bad, it was the fact that they had composed little choruses ridiculing each member of our  crew. We were outraged and had to get them back. So we applauded them for their great composing abilities with freezing cold river water. We were then yelled at because our wonderful, tired, school principal was onboard trying to catch her Z’s. After this experience, we stopped with the rest of the group to go explore this small swampy area that merges with the river. We held the advantage because we had the superior manpower to push through the reeds and  the small shrubs on top of the water. So we made it all the way through. We had to turn around because the others were getting stuck in all the muck and sludge floating in the swamp. One of the canoes almost tipped when one of the girls stood up because she saw a spider in the bottom of the canoe. It was a rather comical sight because she would rather fall in the swamp than have a harmless spider in her canoe. After getting out of the swamp,  we stopped on the side of the river and dragged out the boats.  After cruising for the day, we then disassembled the boats and waited for the bus to pick us up. The bus took us back upriver to where we had camped for our late lunch around 2. We played and  swam till 4 when we left for Almaty. We talked, and snoozed on our ride home.

I hope to write more for the next newsletter because I think it will give me practice in my writing skills and an opportunity for you to read something from somebody else other than my dad who usually constructs our newsletter.

Thanks for your support to our family.

                                                Aloha from us all,

Mark, Dayna, Nathan, Josiah, and Aaron

Waiting for Winter to End

“From the Tropics to the Tundra”

An Update from the Blair family in Kazakhstan, Central Asia

                                                            April  1999

E-mail:            blairstan@hotmail.com

New address:              Send support money to:

Blair’s                         Pioneers

c/o KECS                    12343 Narcoosse Road

P.O. Box 244              Orlando, Florida 32827

Almaty 480000           [checks are to be made out to “Pioneers”

Kazakhstan                  - noted for Blair’s on a separate paper]

Phone (from USA) -  011-732-72-636790  [we’re 14 hrs ahead of Pacific Standard Time)

Aloha from Almaty

Hallelujah! He is Risen! We pray that you are experiencing His joy this wonderful Easter season.

           

            About a year ago as we read a book entitled, “Waiting for Winter to End” about Central Asia. (We highly recommend it for anyone wanting to learn more about this part of the world.) As we read in the warm tropics of Hawaii it seemed a strange title for the book. Now we recite the phrase daily - with feeling - waiting for winter to end!! Just today the temperature climbed above freezing - may it keep climbing.

            Many great things have been happening in the last few months. We are glad to be able to share some of them with you through. We are very grateful for your support through “Pioneers” and especially ask for your continued prayers. We love hearing from you, remember our e-mail address is the best way to write, if you are “on-line.”

A NEW BEGINNING

            We have ten new students in the seminary this term. Eight of them are from churches pastored by our graduates. This is living proof of the power of the Gospel and the growth and maturity of the Church here -- a new generation of leaders being raised up for Kingdom service. Katherine and Roman are mother and son. She is divorced. They both came to know the Lord about two years ago and now lead a “home meeting” in their house. They have been growing in Christ and leading others to meet Him. She thought she was too old for studying (she’s all of 40!), but praises God for this opportunity. When I asked Roman what he thought of studying with his mother he said that it was a great privilege (of course, she was listening!). Four of the students are Kazakhs, studying at the Russian language campus. This is a manifestation of the reconciling power of Jesus. Two of them are men in their early 40’s with families, eager to be trained to share with their countrymen. Jhanat is a young woman who has recently completed a Teen Challenge program to break a drug addiction. She is still new in the faith and needs prayer for continued strength. She shared that her past life, including time spent in jail, has burdened her to reach people in similar troubles. A Korean Russian lady, Louisa, is a retired beautician in her early 50’s. She is filled with zeal for the Gospel. She shared about a prayer service she led in the hospital ward where her daughter is recuperating from surgery. Many, including atheists and Muslims, asked her for prayer and saw the power of God. Marina, is a young Russian woman, with several years experience in church ministry; she brings much maturity and wisdom to the class. Another student is Ben-Chur, a Korean Russian man retired from the KGB, recently went on a short term mission to South Korea. Experiencing loneliness in that foreign land gave him great appreciation for those who have left their homelands to serve the Lord.

Several students  told of lessons learned through their two months of evangelism. A number of people came to know the Lord. One Kazakh team in a city without a church (and there are still hundreds in this country), led 19 people to Christ. So one of  the students on that team has left the seminary and returned there to pastor these new believers. We now have 24 students in the Russian Department and 29 in the Kazakh. Most of them are relatively young believers (as is the whole church here). They face many struggles. They have financial problems as they care for their families. Jobs are very difficult to find and the economic prospects here are poor.  Many face pressure from antagonistic family members who attack their faith. Pray with us that God will prove Himself faithful to them as they step out in faith. These 53 students are the primary reason our family is here and we thank you for your support that we might give to them. 

TIEN SHAN SCHOOL REPORT by Dayna

            We are back into the routine after our long six week break. I  enjoyed the rest and  having no schedules to follow. I am glad to have a new colleague from Australia, Phil Tucker, who teaches the math and science courses. During the first week back we had a very special and  heartwarming time of sharing among the students. Mr. Tucker shared how he grew up as a “Missionary Kid” in Papua New Guinea, attending boarding school. He shared how God called him to serve here as a missionary. He spoke appreciatively of  “receiving”  the training he got as an “MK.” Now he wants to be on the “giving” end to each of the students here at TSS . As a teacher, one of my concerns is to see the high schoolers understand God’s grace in their lives, that they would want to be committed to Jesus. Each of them come from Christian homes and they know all this “stuff.” So, I thought it would be fitting to ask them what God has taught them during the break, or  what goals they set for the new year.  I rejoiced to hear how God was busy working in their hearts. These were some of their statements: “I was far from God and didn’t understand the Bible, but now I feel so close and happy in Jesus. I now read His Word and it is making sense;”  “I always worry...especially about my courses and studies and what will happen when I get back to England,  but God has given me a verse…;”  “I am struggling to understand what God is doing with my life, but I know he loves me and I am learning to trust Him;”  “I was angry with my parents and teachers for getting after me to study harder; and I was mad with God, but I am going to work harder;”  “I have committed my life to the Lord and I want to be a missionary.” These, and many other expressions, blessed my overflowing heart, and brought tears to all of us. It was a powerful time of prayer and rejoicing in the Lord as I realized how God is at work in their lives. We miss two of our students who moved to boarding schools, in Australia and Pakistan. This has pushed the remaining  students to further spiritual growth. God’s timing is the best! We have gained two new Korean girl students who add another dimension to the class atmosphere. We look forward to each day as I see these young people grow stronger in their Savior!

            Winter Volleyball -’Tis the season for the  Jr./Sr. High PE class to have volleyball. As we got ready for our first class, my colleague, Mr. Tucker, and I remarked that this was going to be a new experience for us! Yes, we both know how to play volleyball, but in the snow? We had to bundle ourselves in  jackets, warm caps, gloves and snow boots. We all looked like eskimos as we began the class. We had four heavy balls made in Kazakhstan, yet we started to teach the basic skills to them. It was  hilarious as  we slid and fell attempting to return the balls successfully. As one tries to volley, or set, the ball, a flurry of snow covers your face. It is hard to return the ball while you are wiping the snow off your face. So it took a while for our students to learn their skills. Half-way through the class, I had peeled down from my jacket, cap, gloves and scarf. It was too hard moving around, slipping and sliding like a stuffed bunny. By the time class was over, my pants were soaked, and my face, fingers, and contac lenses were frozen. It is quite different from playing volleyball on the warm sands of Hawaii.

            We have some great news about our Tien Shan School, we were able to purchase our own building. For the five years of our existence we have moved several times from various rented facilities. Next year we hope to play indoor volleyball in the gym of our new building -- it will be boring by comparison! Please pray for the transition and preparation of the building for our move this summer. There are still some funds needed for equipping the facility, pray that all the needs will be supplied.

MUSTARD SEEDS AND KINGDOM  HOPE

One cold gray winter Sunday I traveled to a village about an hour outside the city.  Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city with about one and half million people, is quite unlike the rest of the nation. Here there are shops filled with goods from around the world, electronics, cars, fashions, anything money can buy. Even if most of the city’s residents can not afford to buy them, the fact that they are here creates an impression of relative affluence. That impression is shattered in just a short drive. Small, poorly built, houses contrast with fancy, solid looking Islamic tombs. Most houses have no running water. If there is electricity, it is not predictable. Heating comes only from wood or coal stoves in the kitchen. Most family members all sleep on the floor in the same room. If the nation was “on the way up” then people might view their humble circumstances as a beginning to brighter days. But people here know that the glory of the Soviet empire, if  it ever really existed, is past. There are plenty of factory buildings which used to provide jobs for village people. The only thing they now provide are bricks, electric wire, plumbing parts, and wood which the villagers steal from their collapsing buildings. The gray skies matched the colors of the buildings. Paint, if it were available, is way beyond the survival budget of the householder. One shining new factory dominated the horizon, an American owned cigarette manufacturing plant!

So when we arrived at a small home my spirit was as dreary as the day. Taking off my shoes according to local custom did not change my mood, it just froze my toes! Yet, God began to warm me from the inside. The family who live there are Kazakhs. She came to faith in Christ last March, her husband just last August. Her gracious spirit of Christian love broke his alcoholic heart, and he gave the pieces to Jesus. Since then they have never looked back. As we waited for others to come, their three children, 6, 8, and 11, sang praise songs in Kazakh, beaming with joy. The first to come was a powerful looking man,  a former member of the Soviet army’s equivalent of the Green Berets. He traveled the world fighting for the cause. He spoke with quiet humility about Jesus, his new commanding officer. Another man and woman came who also had been long time alcoholics (as are perhaps 70% of the people here). Our seminary graduate who leads this group brought out a letter which the woman had written a couple months before. It was her suicide note. Indeed she did die, to her old self, now she has everlasting life in Jesus. A woman whose husband is in prison for murder, shared how Jesus is helping she and her kids daily. A kind of spiritual thread tied the members of the room. The first person to receive Christ in that village said, I brought her to Jesus, then that person said I brought him, and on it went. It continued on up to that very day when someone brought a new person to that meeting. I did not hear the newest person share a testimony but when we left, her head was bowed and tears filled her eyes. One wonderful thing about the Kazakh church is that everyone is eager to share their testimony of faith in Christ. The place is  too cold for anyone to warm the pews. No one is there who has not counted the cost.  Several people shared about how Muslim leaders in that village had been to their homes that very morning, warning them to stop attending this new church. Some had been threatened with physical harm. Yet our graduate and these new believers continue to visit from house to house in that village, sharing what God has done for them.

Throughout the meeting Victor, our Seminary driver who had brought us, sat in silence. He is a fine Christian from the Russian Baptist church. Each testimony brought me near the point of tears, his words pushed me over the edge. You should know that there is little love between most Russians and Kazakhs in this nation – sadly, even in the Church. John’s words, “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4.9), fit the situation here. In this country it is acceptable for Russians (40% of the population) to be Christians, but not Kazakhs (about 50% of the population). We hear weekly about Kazakhs who have become Christians, and as a result lose their jobs, their homes, and their families. Hundreds of years of mutual mistreatment have taken their toll. In fact, the looks given to Victor and our Russian translator Alexander in that room reflected lots of pain and misunderstanding. As Victor sat in silence their suspicion level rose. Then he finally spoke. He said that his grandfather had been a Christian, as had his father, and he was born into the faith. He shared vivid memories of his grandfather pleading for God to reach Kazakh people with His love in many church prayer meetings. Such prayers were beyond people’s imagination; everyone knew that Kazakhs were only Muslims! But tears came to Victor’s eyes as he said, “Today I have seen the prayers of my grandfather answered. God’s salvation has come to the Kazakhs.” The Kazakhs cried too as we all praised God with one voice.

Being a Christian in America I have often said, “Jesus is our hope.” And it is true, no matter how wealthy a nation may be. But viewing the hopelessness of this broken Soviet wasteland it is very clear, “Jesus is our ONLY hope.” To sit with my new brothers and sisters, Kazakhs and Russians, freezing together in faith, was conclusive proof that our hope in Him is true.

LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR NOSE!

            Our family has grown to love the family of a Kazakh pastor who serves as the leader of our Kazakh seminary, Malik and Jhanna. They are blessed with three lovely daughters who are also growing into Christian servants…three daughters, our three sons, that’s another story. Humanly, they are the reason why our seminary has a Kazakh department. Malik attended the seminary (Russian department) about five years ago. He was one of the first graduates and soon became one of the first Kazakh pastors. He and Jhanna are former ballet dancers, although for Malik that was at least 100 pounds ago! Their heart for reaching their kinsmen is inspiring. Upon coming to know Jesus, they immediately began to share their new faith. Dozens of Kazakhs, many now Christian leaders, can trace their spiritual birth to their witness. Malik is also a professional producer of recordings and has done much to present the Good News in audio and video tape for Kazakhs. His excellent guitar playing has been used often in worship. They had the initial vision that their people needed a theological seminary and believed God for an excellent facility one block from their house, in a village 8 miles out of Almaty. This site was a former Soviet Kindergarten with 45 rooms. Some of you know the Lord provided it for just $ 16,000, given by a church in Korea. If it sounds like I am describing a busy guy here, you’ve got the picture.

            One consequence of being a busy pastor is not having much time for sermon preparation. Malik’s course at the seminary was only eight months long and it did not include much about preaching, that was five years ago. I have wanted to be helpful to him in this area, but did not know how to bring it up. Asking some American preachers to talk about improving their preaching is similar to saying, “I don’t like your face!”

            Not so with Malik. When I shared the general idea of talking together about this subject, he was enthusiastic beyond my expectation. In fact he did not want to talk alone,  he invited 20 other Kazakh church leaders! The result is a weekly evening gathering which has been going great. One leader shares a sermon, we started with Malik, and the rest of us have a “talk” about it. I also give a teaching about preaching. One thing I’ve sought to show by my example is “constructive criticism.” The Soviet educational system is “shame based.”  Somewhere somebody decided the best way to educate children here was to send them through an emotional meat-grinder. So by the time they’re sliced and diced down to humble pie they will unquestioningly submit to authority - at any level. It “worked” for 70 years at least. Even today in “free” Kazakhstan there has been no shift in  educational philosophy. I did not want turn these meetings into a blood-bath. So we’re learning many things together. And what I continue to learn with joy is the fresh enthusiasm which drives the church here. There is not much personal agenda or peacock flashings; people just want to help one another be the best communicators of God’s Word they can be. Even in a message which one might consider poor in organization or presentation, the power of eager innocence in faith is compelling.

 

            It has been a great privilege to gather with these friends. The church here is like “wet cement” and it is such an opportunity to have some small part in its formation. Pray that God would raise up great spokespeople for His Kingdom. Out of these meetings has come the invitation to write a book on Preaching which will be translated in Kazakh, and perhaps Russian too. I am working on this now. Though perhaps I’d prefer the more humble title of “booklet”. As such, I’d appreciate prayer on this assignment.

AND THE CHURCH GROWS…

            It was my joy to witness the baptism of nine Kazakhs, six men and three women. It was certainly the most unusual baptismal event I have ever seen. Word of the event came a week before, when one of our pastors invited me to attend and preach. I said yes. His second question was whether he could use the seminary van to transport the congregation to the baptismal site and back. I said no. Then I did not hear from him again until the morning of the event and I assumed it was a package deal. Maybe he wanted only a van, not a preacher! So it was a pleasant surprise to get his call the morning of the event.

            The van, and the whole issue of finance and properties, has always been my least favorite aspect of missions. Our family is living rather simply here, at least by American standards, but we are among the upper class of the city. One example, we can afford to pay $ 2.50 to squeeze the five of us into a sub-compact taxi going across town. Most local families pay $ 1 to squeeze onto an even more crowded bus which stops at every corner along the way, to get even more people. Some are forced to walk, or stay home. So to refuse any request for material assistance pains my heart. I am trying to find a balance between giving enough to help launch the new churches, and not so much to make them forever attached to our made in the USA umbilical cord. I am praying and teaching that churches need to take on projects which their members embrace and support. So my conviction was that the church which believes they need to baptize their new members should pay the price. I was happy to see they paid in ways beyond my expectation.

            I had the seminary van drop me off at the “church” - I  felt somewhat like a hypocrite but the driver was on his way to do some other necessary business. The believer’s meet in the apartment of the pastor and I arrived to find about 30 people gathered. After the customary cup of tea, we walked down the four flights of stairs to board a fleet of taxis they had hired. All of them were Muslim drivers, rather typical; and Islamic charms dangled from their rear view mirrors. The car I was assigned to ride had, “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammed is his prophet” written in bold Arabic script across the top of the windshield. So the joyful throng squeezed into these chariots and we sang Kazakh worship songs to ‘Isa (Arabic and Kazakh for Jesus) all the way up into the mountains. You guess it, this is still the dead of winter. We’re all wearing heavy coats and warm caps. We wind around to a mountain stream. We climb down trails of ice and snow to the water’s edge. There the pastor gives a sermon which included his biblical justification for the necessity of baptism by immersion.  I wondered whether the Jordan River was an arctic stream, but I kept my mouth shut.

            The nine daring candidates, stripped down to whatever was decent, stood by the rivers edge. The pastor and his associate entered the frigid stream with a gasp. One by one, beginning with the men of course -- sorry ladies – they made their confession standing in the stream, held by the pastors on either side. Then they went all the way down into the water. I was the photographer. I am sure some of the prints will show true blue believers as they emerged from the water breathless and stunned, yet filled with joy! How glad I was to be a seminary director and not a pastor at that point. Though it was unusual, it was wonderful. What a great joy to see the Kingdom growing. I rejoiced with the angels of God. The Muslim taxi drivers stood on the bridge above and watched. One joined us for worship service back at the pastor’s apartment following the baptism. He may be next, and the church grows…

            Love and blessings to you in the name of our Risen King,

                        Mark, Dayna, Nathan, Josiah, and Aaron