Pastors’ wives conference in Russia brings encouragement

God steps in to do what we cannot when we get to the end of ourselves, and that is exactly where He wants us.

This was the message of the Far East Russia Women’s Conference that took place August 13-16. Karen Jones of First Baptist Church, Crockett, Texas, traveled 30 hours and 15 time zones to arrive at Z Region* to meet with 15 Russian women –pastors’ and leaders’ wives in desperate need of renewal and refreshment.

“As I wrote my materials for the conference I felt impressed to teach the women about how indispensible they are in the home and church, as teachers, mothers and wives,” Karen said. “But it is Christ in us the hope of glory; not our own ability and frantic effort,” she said. “My heart was to encourage and free them.”

The message of reaching the end of ourselves is one that resonates quickly with Russian women, especially those in Z region, an area roughly the same size as Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia combined, but with only a handful of evangelicals. Ministry is difficult, challenging and lonely. Although the pastors and leaders come together for fellowship on a monthly basis, their wives are prohibited by distance, cost and child/home responsibilities.

Jessica*, a missionary living in Z region, spearheaded the conference. Her heart has been burdened with these ladies’ needs since she arrived with her family 3 years ago.

“Most of these women are young believers with no childhood Christian background,” Jessica said. “They have had little to no mentoring or practical training. They get what they can from books, which are very hard to find in our area.”

Even for simple discipleship, few options exist. The older women in the churches were adult converts to Christ so they have had no experience in Christian parenting, marriages or the special situations faced by those in leadership.

“They’ve been learning as they go about Christian living,” she said. “The sky’s the limit for discipleship and training.”

The conference was a target of spiritual warfare from the beginning. The original leadership team from the states cancelled; then half the women invited to attend had to pull out; finally, the conference center fell through at the last minute. But Jessica wasn’t disappointed.

“This was a God-sized task that He accomplished,” she said. “God gathered the Russian women He purposed, with His choice of leader, in the place He wanted.”

Karen was grateful that God opened doors for her to come.

“God had invited me to be a part of (bringing life),” Karen said. “It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”

The 15 ladies left grateful, rested, encouraged and better equipped. They were strengthened to press on in their intimate relationship to Christ and in areas of service to the Lord. And they were challenged to never lose their passion for the lost in their region.

*Names of peoples and places are changed for security purposes.

Posted by Karen Pearce on Aug 27, 2010

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