DEARFRIEND adim Kibe was a young Global Mission pioneer working in Kostroma, Russia, where the Kostroma and Volga Rivers merge. His task? To plant a Seventh-day Adventist congregation in this ancient, historic city. Carefully he planned a series of public evangelistic meetings. The first night seven attended. The second night four attended. The third night nobody attended. Not one. On that unforgettable night, Vadim still preached his message. But he preached it to 160 empty chairs. “I imagined that in every chair there was an angel,” he said later, “and that 160 angels were looking at me and crying with me.” I often think of that dedicated young man, standing in the empty hall, preaching his heart out to the angels, tears streaming down his face. “Since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart . . .” writes the apostle Paul. “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair. . . . Therefore we do not lose heart. . . . For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:1-17, NIV). After that discouraging night, Vadim didn’t give up. He stuck with his task. He later held another evangelistic series, and finally established an Adventist congregation in that region of Russia. Often we hear wonderful stories about mass baptisms and thousands of new churches. And we praise God for them. But let’s not lose sight of the other side—the Adventist Mission stories that don’t seem to have happy endings. There are many stories of sacrifice, struggle, hardship, and disappointment. But despite these setbacks, God is still doing wonderful things with dedicated people. Thank you for your prayerful support of Global Mission around the world. It is making a difference. In Christ,
Gary Krause Adventist Mission Director
12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904
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PICTURESTORY reaching
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