a few days in Russia (a blog from greg)

For the past 8 years, I have been involved with a ministry outreach in Ryazan, Russia. There are several churches in the West Virginia Baptist Convention support churches in the Ryazan region. I have had the privilege of making 7 trips to Ryazan, each time strengthening relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our church has a sister church in Ryazan, Hope Church. I had the privilege of preaching there once again and staying with Pastor Pavel and Zoya Jirov during my time in Ryazan. They are a loving, fun family to be with and I always enjoy lots of laughs and smiles while in their home.

During my trip this past week, I had a meeting with all the missionaries in Ryazan. It was good to be with them and encourage them in their work to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Russia is a difficult place to share the gospel. For so many years people have not thought about God or their need for God. The work of Christians is in Ryazan is bearing fruit. They spend much time building bridges to people in the community and loving them just as Jesus would do. It is an honor and quite humbling to be part of this ministry. I am thankful to the Lord for the chance to join arms with these brothers and sisters in Ryazan.

Even though I have been to Russia many times, this trip was different than any other. I had a few transfers in Moscow by myself. With the help of some friends from the Baptist Union in Moscow, I was able to get from the train station to my sleeping room and from there to the airport. The trip home was an adventure…I woke up ten minutes before I was suppose to leave (still had time to take a shower!)…spent ten and a half hours on the plane from Moscow to New York (read two books and more)…made my short connection in New York...and then waited for a plane to Charleston. Seems the weather was holding up our plane in St. Louis, so we sat waiting in Cincinnati. With the weather bad at home (icy roads) and the late arrival, I didn’t know how I was going to get home. There were no motels in Charleston…no rental cars…only one good Samaritan from Hurricane who gave me a ride to my dad’s house. God provided all that I needed…including the safe return of my luggage, which opted to spend an extra day in New York!

God is good…I am home safe with my family and have had another chance to see the work of God in our world!