October 16, 2003

Dear Friends in Christ,

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

I know that you have just heard from me recently, but I hope you have a few minutes to read a piece that one of our American partners has prepared for you. Last summer, Gordon Shaffer and I sat talking over a quick meal at McDonald's as he waited for a train, and this letter is one of the fruits of that conversation. Gordon is a member of Crestwood Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia, and has been involved in the Twinning Project for six years. He has gained a lot of insight. I asked him then if he would consider preparing something for one of our newsletters, and this is the result. I hope you enjoy his piece as much as we have. We are grateful for Gordon's friendship, his insight, and his many contributions to the Twinning Project.

May the peace and blessings of our Lord be with each of you!

Ellen & Al Smith

The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 94

Another Train Coming

By Gordon Shaffer
Crestwood Presbyterian Church
Richmond, Virginia

Looking at the train from the station platform, it was difficult to tell, but it seemed as though the train was getting smaller, moving away. Where was everyone? This couldn't possibly be happening. How could I have messed up? I should have known better. I've ridden this train several times now. But the fact remained, the train was leaving and there was no way I was going to be on it. How humiliating, how unbelievable! Fortunately, I didn't see the four members of our mission team. I hoped they were safely on the train. Maybe there's still a chance. Yet that lone blond-haired, conductor leaning out the train car seemed to be consoling me as she watched my determined, yet futile, effort to run and catch up to her car. Stopping. They were now on their own. The next 13 hours my church-friends would ride to a destination and to a people they had never been to before. I was alone to figure how to reunite with them. Thus begun this past summer's visit to our sister church in Kirovo-Chepetsk, Russia.

It was only six years ago that I made my first trip to this remote northern region with the pastor of our partner, the Church of Grace. Since we began a partnership in mission and ministry, we have learned about each other and have grown to respect and trust each other. I was confident our dear Russian brothers would meet them at the other end and look after them. I also knew our missionary host in Moscow could help me. God was in control. This was another opportunity to walk by faith and to see His hand providing for our every need. In fact, every visit with our sister church is seasoned with these realities.

From the beginning our churches cautiously explored the meaning of our new relationship. Crestwood paid annual visits to the Church of Grace. Returning every year helped communicate our ongoing commitment and desire to partner in the work of God in their region of the world. Fortunately, the Church of Grace has been able to regularly keep in touch through email. We enjoyed hearing about and praying for each other and experienced a growing friendship. Last fall, we brought the pastor, his wife, and their church translator to our church. What a great privilege and blessing it was to host them and have them be a part of our church life! As expected, a groundswell of interest has grown from their visit, which resulted in this mission team.

Visiting our sister church in Russia is like a retreat of spiritual encouragement and renewed vision. Treated with graciousness and selfless hospitality, we are humbled by the enormity and the sincerity of their sacrifice. We feel embraced in an unusually rich form of honest fellowship. It’s like a combination family reunion and business luncheon. We recognize these people are about "the Master's work.” There's a sense of community and compassion for the spiritual needs of others that stand in stark contrast to American individualism. In spite of the language barrier, the Holy Spirit conveys insight into the hardship and deep devotion of those we meet. It is very apparent that it's not about religion or formality. They love Jesus Christ and labor to give the opportunity to their countrymen to find Christ too. We noticed the large number of lay ministers who by faith and prayer were being obedient to minister to others. Most had come to Christ in the past ten years and were burdened by the plight of those they knew who were separated from God's love and mercy. These dedicated brothers and sisters eagerly offered themselves and their limited resources to others for Christ's sake.

The Church of Grace and her daughter churches represent a respite of grace and hope in a destitute and discouraged region of Russia. We were given a sampling of their ministries. We became a part of a team from the church's ministry to orphans. The sacks of food we brought with us appeared later to be the very food fed to the children during lunch. The directors informed us they had run out and didn't have money for any more. We joined a busload of joyous church members to celebrate the first anniversary of a rehabilitation house for addicts. This ministry was started by a man who had a deep compassion for the addicted and homeless. One evening we took part in outdoor evangelism. The church youth mingled with the kids, and Bibles and literature were distributed while musicians playing amplified Christian music attracted people from the surrounding apartment buildings. We visited one of the youth camps where scores of kids gathered around us to get our autographs. We enjoyed meeting them and the having soup, bread, and tea with the camp directors. We learned that all the camps were run by church volunteers, who gave up their vacation to provide non-believing and orphan kids a wonderful, Christian experience.

Yes, God is in control. He is faithful. And we must walk in humble reliance on Him. During our visit these truths were seen being lived out. It's never too late. I may have missed the train—busy doing something else. But thank God, "there's another train coming later tonight."