Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3)Неужели не знаете, что все мы, крестившиеся во Христа Иисуса, в смерть Его крестились? (К Римлянам 6:3 Russian)
Most Wise and Holy God, our Heavenly Father ~ Thank you for the rich blessings that we experience on this new day. We are especially thankful for the power that is contained in the gospel message. We are amazed and humbled that we are permitted to carry this message around the world in our fragile and breakable bodies of clay. Bless all Christians around the world who are preparing themselves to obey Christ faith, repentance and baptism. In Christ name we pray, Amen.
Yesterday evening we had our usual group of 6 to study the scriptures together. At the conclusion of the service, Stepan wanted to make a public confession of his faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. We informed him and Luda about the arrangements Nikolai had already made at the swimming pool. This morning we all met at the public pool where Nikolai had appointed at 10.15. He had already taken care of arrangements with the director and the bookkeeper so that when we arrived they already had a receipt prepared for us for the 30 minute rental of the large pool. Everyone there treated us with such hospitalities like we very seldom receive at a public facility. That good treatment is generally the case everywhere we go here in Nikolaev. The Lord is definitely going ahead of us and making the path clear for the gospel message. Nikolai is such a warm and friendly person and he is not the least shy about talking to these people about his conversion to Jesus Christ. He called early this morning to ask me for some suggestions on what scripture he should read before the baptism. Both men wanted to me swim a lap with them in celebration of this blessed day. After our little swim, we sang O Happy Day! (In Russian of course) Since the pool facility is near the section of town where he lives, he led us all rejoicing down the sidewalk in the snow storm to our bus stop. If we didn't accomplish anything else today, it would be one of the happiest days of our lives because of the sincerity of these two new brothers in Christ. Galina called it a senior citizens baptism service. As usual she was well prepared with extra towels for everyone and other things we might and did need. We truly expect Nikolai to be able to help lead the church during our absences and in the future. When we first began to study the Word with Nikolai, he told how he had been to a seminar in Feodosia with some friends in Donetsk that he had met on vacation. They are the ones who invited him to go to worship with him in Kiev. It is so commendable that they didn't take a vacation from God, but chose to serve God by inviting their new friend to worship with them. He was impressed with the sermon that he heard at the Obolon Church of Christ. He even told me details about what he heard. The seminar he attended was put on by the Church of Christ in Donetsk that sponsors the nationwide TV program featuring Alexander Prokopchuk as the speaker. Nikolai had the opportunity to meet Alexander and was impressed with what he heard there. It made a big impression on him that there was such a spirit of brotherly love. He said several people made the decision to accept Christ in faith, repentance and baptism. He said some people encouraged him to be baptized at that time, but he explained that he just didn't think he knew enough to become a true follower of Christ. After we began our studies together, he would say things like, "I think I will be baptized at Feodosia next summer when they have the seminar." Then after we would read some conversion accounts in the book of Acts, he would say, "The Lord could come before then and I would not be prepared." My role as a teacher with this good man is simply to point him to the appropriate scripture and he has great faith in God's infallible word. Thank you for your fervent prayers and words of encouragement.
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