“And
I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge,
and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not
destroy it: but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30
The
Lord has provided and Independent Baptist church in Krasnoyarsk,
Siberia, Russia with several deaf families that are faithful to
church. The church has no interpreter or anyone who can effectively
and efficiently preach, teach or communicate in Russian Sign Language.
The church has only been able to minister to them by having people
in the service take notes of the sermon; then one of the deaf
reads it and signs the limited, written portion of the sermon
to the others. (Click the photos to enlarge them)
Pastoral counseling with them often includes writing and lip
reading. It is very limiting, as many of you can imagine. The
absence of an interpreter limits the church’s ability to
work with them and see them grounded and growing in the Lord as
is needed. It is our desire to see these families grounded and
growing in the Lord.
The city of Krasnoyarsk (population 917,000, almost one million!)
has many deaf that need to be reached for Jesus Christ. It is
a ministry that is much neglected. In Russia, handicapped people
are largely ignored. Missionaries there frequently see people
signing to one another and know that there is a great opportunity
to reach many deaf with the Gospel.
(One
new-evangelical church in Krasnoyarsk has a deaf ministry. However,
they teach a different doctrine and position since they do not
believe in eternal security or Biblical separation from the world.)
The Independent Baptist church has the opportunity of providing
visas for new missionaries, and can help missionaries get permanent
residence in Russia. It is a great opportunity and open door.
Missionaries in other regions of Russia are having problems staying
in the country while missionaries are freely allowed into this
Siberian region.
We are praying that the Lord will send laborers into this harvest
that is so ready and ripe. Will you please pray for the Lord of
the Harvest to send forth laborers into His harvest in Krasnoyarsk?
Will you consider the possibility that the Lord of the harvest
would have you to go and stand in the gap for the deaf of Krasnoyarsk?
For more information, write me, David Bennett, at davidbennett@silentword.org.
I
will be awaiting your call of interest. God bless you.