Thank You!

Always being ready

I'm pretty sure Jesus was good at these kinds of things. Actually, I'm positive He was.

He had a lesson for everything. Even more so, He had a knack for speaking truth on a moment's notice. Whether in the faith of a mustard seed (Matthew 17), the example of a withered fig tree (Mark 11), a wine-less wedding in need of a miracle (John 2), or a shortened nap marred by faithless disciples in stormy weather (Mark 4), Jesus was extraordinary at making the plain, edifying and the temporary, eternal.

I had a moment like this recently. A friend here in St. Petersburg asked me, "Will, what do you think of other religions?" Before I knew it, I had grabbed a pen, a folder - and I began to write.

For me, as a follower of Jesus, I yearn to be wise in my words. To walk in confession. In truth. For my heart to overflow with rivers of living water (John 7:38). I want to speak the words that Jesus spoke.

But more importantly, I want to always be ready.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you..." (1 Peter 3:15)

Prayer

A few prayer requests of areas where Myself (and my team) are still trusting God for over the next few weeks:

1. Settling in - All my things are still in my bags! Finding an apartment in Russia can be difficult as it requires you to go through an agent (who charges 1 month of rent) and it has also become frustrating finding a roommate who has a good enough budget to share a decent apartment with me!

2. Schools opening their doors for English Club - We have been initiating with teachers and administration - and we're hoping that over the next few weeks we'll be able to begin English Clubs at 5 schools around the city. It's through English Club that we hope to build the strongest relationships with high school students here.

3. Intentional relationships - really finding students who are spiritually open to talking about God. Our desire is to seek out those who are "FAT" (Faithful. Available. and Teachable) - and, in turn, pour truth into their lives.

4. Creativity in ministry - the sky is the limit for us as we seek what God would have us do with our time and skills here. Whether it be in partnering with other ministries (Orphanages, YoungLife, etc.), starting a Sports club outreach, or sharing English Short Film movies, the opportunities are endless for us.

5. Abiding in the Vine - knowing that without us growing in our own relationship with God and spending due time with Him, everything else we do is in vain. The struggles and fears that go with being in a new culture a world away from home are minute compared to the promises and faithfulness of the Lord that He will "never leave us nor forsake us". I daily need to remind myself of this.


Please be praying for us in these things. It's crazy to have been a month here already - and I know the last thing we want to do is to let the year fly by and we miss out on what the Lord could have for the youth of Russia through our ministry!

I don't know if you've ever INTENTIONALLY committed to pray for a specific ministry, but I would ask you to consider consistlently praying for my ministry with Russian youth.

And as you pray - I look forward to sharing with you what God does with your faith.

"The fervent prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16

Please. Please. Pray.

Meet the Team

Here's a video of an introduction to the team I'm serving with over here in St. Petersburg - I'm going to put it in my upcoming email update, but I figured you blog readers would like a special preview - so enjoy!

Oh. Boy.

I got stopped by a post man today. No not a mail man. A Russian military officer. Without giving many details - it's not a good situation to be in. What made it worse - is that I had none of my information on me.

No registration.

No passport.

No copies of anything.

I usually carried it all in my bookbag - but I was running late and we were all going bowling with some Russians and so I just left without it.

The conversation went something like this:

PMan: "Excuse me. Your information."
Me: (most likely turning pale/deathly white as I search my pockets and realize I don't have my paper work) "umm."
PMan: "Passport, please"
Me: "i. do. not. have. i. am. sorry. i. am. late. to. meeting. [speaking slowly, hoping he knew some english]
PMan: "Are you student?"
Me: (still in shock mode - but looking back I'm extremely thankful he could speak english!) "Yes. Here is my license." [i had my wallet on me]
PMan: "Your name is William Rush?"
Me: "Yes"
PMan: (After a long, seemingly eternal stare down...) "Ok, you may go."
Me: "Pazhaulsta, Spoceba! Pazhaulsta, Spoceba" (Excuse Me. Thank You! Excuse Me. Thank You!)

And just like that. I left.



Everyone i've talked to since - Russian and American - have considered it a miracle I got out of there unscathed.


Miracle or not. I am thankful - thankful indeed.

A Stop at the Metro

Here's a short video of my journey to pick up my friend Niko at the metro, with views of my apartment building and the area I live in...



Enjoy!

"Knowing someone who truly follows Jesus Christ"

Campus Crusade for Christ's mission is simple: "...to build spiritual movements everywhere, so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus Christ".

I've read it many times. I've heard it many times. I've definitely said it many more times. But I think something I've really missed out on in my life is being able to experience and ask myself that question: "Do I know someone who truly follows Jesus?"

My first gut reaction is "of course I do!" And, to reassure my Christian friends out there who might be reading this, I'm pretty sure I can name off some who really do follow Jesus.

But, the more I think about it, the more I realize that I've NEVER been able to really focus on those around me and the way they've lived. I have great Christian friends from college and in Indianapolis. I have strong faith-based parents and family. I also have many spiritual mentors who I look up to and admire their faith and devotion to the Lord. I've always taken inspiration and wisdom from these Christians in my life, but rarely have I ever just sat back and watched how those people lived as followers of Christ.

Well, until now.

My current roommates name here in Russia is Andre Anokhin. I've lived with the guy for now 4 days - and he has already encouraged me and inspired me to walk closer to the Lord. Here are a few ways how:

• Daily disciplines of time with God (something I am not good at) - he takes time to study scripture, journal, meditate on the Word, and pray BOTH morning and night. Craziness.
• Devotion to prayer. So many times I've told and heard people tell me "I will pray for you" - or "I'll pray about it". But rarely have I ever seen anyone actually act upon it. I think I've prayed more times randomly in the day with Andre than ever in my life.
• Serving others. This guy is like a servant machine. Part of it is that here in Russia, the body of Christ relies on each other way more than in the states (we've had to help friends put up furniture and carry huge suitcases from the metro to their apartments). But it just has been encouraging for me to see his humility in helping others.
• Commitment to sharing the Gospel. Whether it has been online to random people he has initiated with to talking about God - or in handing old ladies "Knowing God Personally" and "4 Spiritual Law" booklets in the metro after helping them with their bags. It is obvious that his life has been changed by the Gospel - and he is passionate in getting the Word out!
  

I could probably list more - but I often have to catch myself from putting others up too high on a pedestal. I'm sure Andre has his struggles and he is no where near perfect. But it has been encouraging for me to see a peer who, despite being in a culture and country where there is a lot of intimidation and pressure against faith, loves God and truly follows Jesus Christ with his life.

I figured it was worth writing about.

So what about you? Do you know someone who truly follows Christ? If so, have you taken the time to watch them live (not stalkingly - nor facebookishly - but just living life..ishly)?

I encourage you to.

Here's another thing to be reminded of in this blog:

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Hebrews 12. The chapter before it talks about those in the Old Testament who had courageously given up their lives for God. And then Chapter 12 says:

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

I love it because it encourages me, as a Christian, to know that I am surrounded by those who love God and follow Him...but most importantly it reminds me that I am not only to know of those around me, but to know more of He who is front of me: Jesus. Keep my eyes on Him. Be someone who truly follows Him.

Because in the end... it's all about Him.