These days, you can hardly turn on the news without hearing some commentary about Russia. But what you will not likely hear through the mainstream commentary is some of the best news coming out of Russia: The Lord is building His church!
Recently, the Samara Center for Biblical Training (SCBT) held its annual “Preachers’ Conference.” More than 450 pastors were in attendance, from every region of Russia—the world’s largest country by land mass. The men received instruction from SCBT faculty, as well as the conference speaker, Jerry Wragg. The teaching focused around the theme “Building a Ministry Team – How to Prevent, Resolve, and Deal with Elder Conflict.”
This conference was a rich blessing to all in attendance. As one conference attendee said:
“I would like to sincerely thank SCBT for their ministry. During the last few years of my life, I have benefited much from your ministry. By God’s providence, seven years ago the Lord took away my health and then I lost my job. But these circumstances allowed me to begin my studies. Before that, I could not imagine that I would be able to learn how to preach expository sermons, but now my sermons are expositional. I praise the Lord that I am able to study because of your materials and resources. Though circumstances prevent me from attending SCBT full time, I can still study on my own thanks to these resources and your conferences. Once again, I’m praising the Lord for His wonderful provision that enriches my life and equips me for the work of ministry.”
Each attendee of the conference was provided several resources to help them to continue to grow and develop as leaders in their church. These resources, the various conferences by SCBT, and the classes being taught to full-time students have a direct impact on church leaders in Russia. This impact is then passed on to those sitting in the pews, and entire communities are transformed.
Last year alone 48 conferences were held through TMAI around the world, reaching nearly 12,000 church leaders. These conferences, in turn, create a hunger for faithful preaching and often results in church congregations and pastors looking to TMAI for training.
This conference, and any conference hosted by a TMAI member school, displays the power of God’s Word through expositional preaching. Last year alone 48 conferences were held through TMAI around the world, reaching nearly 12,000 church leaders. These conferences, in turn, create a hunger for faithful preaching and often results in church congregations and pastors looking to TMAI for training.
Please continue to pray for the many churchmen who attended the conference, that their ministries would see much fruit as they apply the biblical wisdom they learned. Please also be in prayer for the faculty and staff of SCBT, who continue to travel across the region teaching classes and seminars about marriage, hermeneutics, and preaching. These men are instruments of the Lord as He continues building his church in Russia and around the world. Praise the Lord!
