If you ever want to see a live view of Nizhny Novgorod, follow this link.
http://www.nbdbank.ru/camera.html
This is from a web cam located on the fourth floor of a bank in Nizhny Novgorod. It is live 24/7. The view is of Gorky Square. We live about 15 minutes walk from here. Timewise Nizhny Novgorod is 8 hours ahead of New England, except for a brief period when daylight savings time starts before it does in New England.
While you are watching please take a moment and pray for Nizhny Novgorod and the surrounding area. Pray for:
http://www.nbdbank.ru/camera.html
This is from a web cam located on the fourth floor of a bank in Nizhny Novgorod. It is live 24/7. The view is of Gorky Square. We live about 15 minutes walk from here. Timewise Nizhny Novgorod is 8 hours ahead of New England, except for a brief period when daylight savings time starts before it does in New England.
While you are watching please take a moment and pray for Nizhny Novgorod and the surrounding area. Pray for:
- Hearts open to the Gospel
- Supernatural encounters with Christ among the people of Russia
- Laborers for the work in the area
- Sufficient funds for the work of church planting
- Health and safety for the missionaries serving in Nizhny Novgorod
- Complete political freedom for the church in Russia
3 comments:
Hi Michael & Karen,
This is off-topic, but I wanted to ask you does your mission have any relationship with the local Orthodox church? And have working with them at all, as you preach the gospel?
Thanks. And I've been enjoying your blog.
Jack
Hi, That is a good question!
The short answer is no. It is difficult to work with a church that believes itelf to be the only true church. This is what the Russian Orthodox Church believes. According to the Orthodox Church there is no salvation outside of orthodoxy and all other 'churches' are labled as schismatics at best and heretics at worst, who must come under the authority of the Orthodox church.
BUT, we have several close friends who are Orthodox and we were invited to witness an Orthodox wedding in August. Currently an Orthodox friend is staying in our apartment while we are in America.
I have a lot of respect for certain aspects of Orthodox theology. There is a deep thread of spirituality which runs through some Orthodx writings. We really respect the emphasis in the act of Communion. Their understanding of the personhood of God is something which all Protestants should read about.
Regarding evangelism,...it is generally limited to small Orthodox book stores which sell books, icons and candles. I remember one conversation I had with a local Orthodox priest in 2005. When we asked if his church did any type of evangelistic outreach his reply was, "If people are searching, they know where the church is. They can come to us if they want to."
In general there is a great disconnect between Russian Protestant churches and the Orthodox church. Most Russian Protestant pastors want nothing to do with the Orthodox church, however, I have been and will continue to encourage Russian pastors to incorporate some aspects of Orthodox worship into their meetings as a way to croos cultural barriers and become more indigenious.
The Orthodox church is instrumental in trying to have anti-Protestant laws passed which would greatly restrict freedom of religion in Russia. On Russian TV, due to pressure from the Orthodox church, Russian Protestants, especially Charismatic/Pentecostals are mocked, and labeled as dangerous cults. In our city, often advertisements for Protestant meetings which have been posted in public places, are ripped down by Orthodox believers. At times Protestant meetings are picketed by the Orthodox.
So....working with Orthodox believers is not something we are against nor would we revile the church. We have been praying for doors of opportunity to open into this community and perhaps they will.
Calvary 4 Sq., Gardiner ME ...we do 'Foreign Missions' column each week in our bulletin. And I really appreciate your site and all the info...really enjoyed the local pictures...beautiful...Our prayers continue to be with you...Margaret, Secretary
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