I received this letter from a friend, Andre, who is a pastor in Russia. It’s a matter of great concern. Please read it and join us in prayer for the liberties and faithfulness of God’s people in Russia.
Putting the Puzzle Together
Dear friends! I was writing you a letter. But then I got these pieces of news one after another. And getting this news made me leave my ministry update letter and write to you what will follow. Here is the update, which I considered to be urgent.
The first piece of the puzzle: Putin's government is trying to push (and will do so) a new law about high treason. It will widely embrace a whole range of so-called "disagreeable" people. Considering the general situation, evangelical Christians will be a perfect target. And those, who have connection to the West and the so-called detestable American sympathizers—BEWARE. Please, pray for our wisdom and courage under the unraveling situation. We knew these things would come. They are coming a little faster than we expected. I am praying for the safety of our kids in this police state. We are rapidly traveling back to the notoriously known thirties. The same flavor, really, though a slightly different color. More brownish than red. No drastic changes at a time. But the notorious frog boiled alive in the water is being slowly heated. That is a perfect analogy under the circumstances.
The second piece of the puzzle: We have also just read on Russian on-line news that each Russian citizen will be assigned a personal e-mail address for direct connection with the government. They try to represent it as a step toward more freedom and better manifestation of true democracy—after all we will be able to contact the government without having to stand in line or trying to break through a bunch of unconquerable obstacles. However, taken in context and especially in light of the general development and the flow of events in this country, we can see that it is but another tool for people to rat on each other like they did under Stalin, and also a way for the government to exercise tighter control of who is who and what he or she is doing. Fun, huh?
In light of all this we wrote on Facebook that we were even more sure that we wanted to homeschool our girls to prevent them from political brainwashing. How great that homeschooling is legal here these days. We have actually just bought a book with all the laws on the matter....OK. Here is the punch line. I did write these exact words on FB, when all of a sudden….
The third piece of the puzzle, which made the picture almost complete: I called one of my daughters' teachers concerning some homeschooling logistics, yet, this is what I got from her: the Russian government is making a 6 day school week compulsory with kids being kept in school up to 4 p.m., and is already passing a new law in its second reading about homeschooling becoming completely illegal in Russia. Yes, they are planning to ban it completely. Please, pray. They tried to do it before, but there was a major resonance on the part of the people in Russia, and worldwide, which made them relent and recoil.
Whoever is involved in advancing homeschooling in this country, please contact and help us get in touch with people who have any say in this matter. If you know such folks, and if you could help us to connect with them preferably in St. Pete, please, help us do so ASAP. We need good lawyers and also Christian school principals in St. Pete, who might accept our kids while allowing us to teach them at home and have them come there for testing once in a while, whenever required.
The puzzle complete: Taking this news in context of a couple pieces of the puzzle everything becomes clearer, at least for those who can read the signs of the times. Where else can your kids be best brainwashed? Bingo! In the public school system that has ALL of its SOVIET values, however disguised, shoved down your children's throats with no say on the parents’ part concerning what they are taught on a day-to-day basis. The water is slowly getting hotter for the notorious frog to boil to death slowly, slowly, slowly, without making any life-changing and earth-shattering jumps OUT. Now my first thought was—we are outta here. No way am I staying in this country, after all, we still have our visas. But then the second thought immediately was—NO, NEVER, WHAT A FOOLISH NOTION! God did not call you to leave, Andre. You gotta remain and be here with the people, who He called you to lead, encourage, support, pray for and with. You need to serve them and suffer with them if needed. Keep your eternal perspective. I do believe that together we will be able to do something. WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT more than ever.
Thank you for walking this way together with us.
photo credit: Jennuine Captures via photopin cc
