Construction Nearing Completion at Smolensk Conference Center

From the ashes, two beautiful buildings making up the Smolensk Conference Center has emerged. This has been made possible not only from the vision and tireless work of the Smolensk Church, but because White Memorial friends have been generous and faithful in their financial support. We are told that at least 85% of the funds have come from White Memorial. We can be very thankful that WMPC has helped gift our Russian friends with their own "Montreat"!

Here is a list of supplies that are still needed to complete the building - some have an estimated financial cost attached:

Radiators 46 @ $200 a piece
Doors 30 @ $175 a door (includes frames and hardware)
Tile $8.00 a square meter
Wallboard 150 sheets @ $8 a sheet
Railings $400 (for both buildings)
Metal frames for window & stair (no estimate provided)
Light fixtures 35 @ $25
Toilets 11 @ $150 (includes installation
Showers (no estimate provided)
Dormer Windows $12,000
Plumbing piping (no estimate provided)
Windowsills $8 per meter (exterior)
Windowsills 50 @ $50(interior)

Pray for Victor Ignatenkov

On November 18, Victor Ignatenkov was doing some finishing work on the eaves of the main conference building at the site of their original youth camp when the scaffolding gave way. He fell two stories to the concrete walk below. Two vertebrae were broken. His treatment is to lie flat in the hospital for two months at which time the doctors believe he can be moved home for further bed rest. He is not paralyzed. If the vertebrae mend properly, he should be able to return to his former physical functioning.

White Memorial friends have already contributed to Victor's medical care. Victor expresses great appreciation for his friendships with the people of WMPC. Victor worked tirelessly on the building project since their camp was destroyed by fire two years ago. He is chief architect, general contractor, laborer, and fund raiser for the two beautiful buildings that make up the conference center. Those of us from WMPC who have traveled to Smolensk have a great deal of love and respect for Victor. We have seen firsthand Victor's visionary and faithful ministry.

Please keep this dear man in your prayers.

Pray for the Television Ministry

Television studio "Istochnik" has been operating in Smolensk for 10 years. Four young men create a half hour weekly program mostly from a small room in the balcony of the church. The TV program has about 500,000 viewers. In addition to the segment especially created for children, the program includes information about the church ministries and other news from the Protestant Christian community. Some people seek church membership after being introduced to the church community through television. In addition to the weekly program, the studio is called upon to shoot Christian concerts, conferences, Christian films, social programs, puppet shows, and much more. Istochnik is the only Baptist TV studio in all of Russia.

Please pray for the TV ministry. New and better equipment is needed to make their work even more professional. Please pray also for Sergey Sergeev (pictured far right), studio director who wears many hats in the church - that of Deacon, Regional Youth Leader, Choir Singer, and Preacher. Sergey is married with three wonderful children.

Pray for the Camp Building Project

About 10 years ago the Central Baptist Church of Smolensk bought a camp building on the outskirts of Smolensk. The church conducted 3 to 4 sessions of camp each year serving at least 1,000 people during those years of operation. Christian believers came as well as many people without faith. Children, youth, old people all made their way to camp to enjoy respite from the burden of Smolensk living. The camp was a favorite destination for these faithful servants of God.
In the fall of 2008 an unknown intruder came to the camp and set fire to the main building. The destruction of the building was a great shock for the children and adults of the church. There were a lot of tears shed in the church community. But perseverance, faith, and shear will power won out, and the church began the rebuilding project. The wooden building was replaced by two brick ones - the main building which is designed as a retreat center, and a caretaker house. Both are 2 story buildings. In Olya's words, "The rebuilding of the camp is very difficult, long, and expensive project. Please pray for us."

Pray for Victor Ignatenkov, Senior Pastor of the Central Baptist Church of Smolensk

Along with his duties as Senior Pastor of the Smolensk Church, Victor made the architectural drawings for the camp buildings; he is the chief general contractor for the project as well as a laborer in all phases of building. He spends entire days at the camp in his determination to see the project completed. Olya, his daughter, asks us to pray that God will help him by giving Victor the strength, passion, and wisdom he needs to lead his people in this project.

Monday, April 5, 2010 - Pray for Anatoily

Please pray for 14 year old Anatoily. When Antolily was first introduced to the ministerial team from the Smolensk church, he was very resistant to the message he heard from the team. He was hostile to the team and even returned his notebook to them. Rather than participating in the crafts and classes, he laughed at the team who shared the stories of the Bible. Antatoily's negative behavior continued for 2 years. Something happened to change Anatoily's heart. Now he is responsive to the stories, and he has become one of the very best participants in the orphanage program. He is a changed young man. The Orphanage Team see Anatoily as a very promising leader as he is gifted with intellectual and artisitic capabilities.

Monday, April 5, 2010 - Pray for the Orphanage Ministry of the Smolensk Baptist Church

The Smolensk Baptist church ministers to about 1,500 orphans in 16 orphanages in the Smolensk region. For 20 years the church has had some ministry to the orphanages, and for the last 9 years an orphanage team has gone to orphanages regularly. To some of the orphanages they make weekly visits. The main orphanage team is made up of 5 team members. When at the orphanage, they lead the children in Bible lessons, Christian songs, the making of crafts, in organizing competitions, with picnics, and with a variety of other activities. Many children through the years have responded to the gospel by changing detrimental habits and by associating themselves with the churches of the area. The team minister in such a way that they model God's love to the children. Orphanage directors welcome the association of the church team. They see positive changes in the children, and orphanage directors have come to see that faith and spiritual leanings help the children succeed through the hardships of their lives. The church gives practical help to the orphanage children with their gifts of clothing, shoes, food, medicines, and books. White Memorial has been fortunate enough to help with some of the gifts given to the children.

Pray for the Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center of Smolensk

Sponsored by the Baptist churches of the Smolensk, Russia region, a Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center was established 18 months ago. Already the center has given significant life-changing help to the people of the area. 200 addicts have come for information. 65 have participated in a residential program with 12 of them completing the 8 month treatment program. Of those numbers, nine people

have joined the Smolensk Central Baptist church through Baptism. Presently there are 15 in the center. Beyond rehabilitating their lives from drug and alcohol use, participants learn a Christ centered life style through Bible study, discussions, fellowship, and prayer.

Please pray that another rehabilitation center can be established in the region. Pray for leaders to come out of their present Residential Treatment Center who can then lead others to alcohol/drug free living. Also, pray for the ex-addicts who go into schools to tell their stories and inspire the youth to avoid the use of drugs and alcohol.

Dmitriy Glinskih

Dmitriy is the organizer and director of the Rehabilitation Center. Demitriy is a a former addict. Five years ago he achieved sobriety as a result of a Rehab Center in St. Petersburg. He gained knowledge of the center through the television ministry of the Smolensk Baptist Church. To hear of all these connections is very rewarding for us at WMPC because we have partnered financially in so many of the Smolensk ministries - in this case, both the Rehab Center and the television ministries.

Please pray for the leadership and ministry of Dimitri.

Nativity Program

Christmas comes to Russia in January.

In early January, twenty young people from the Smolensk church will take part in fifteen performances of a nativity play. They will share the Christmas story with their church, with Sunday School children, with children from the neighborhood, with children from the many orphanages in their region, and for groups of disabled children. Along with the Christmas performance, the church brings gifts to the children. Many of the children who hear and see the Christmas story will never have heard or seen it before.

Please pray for this special part of the churches' outreach ministry.

Natasha Kilesnikova

Natasha is a special, creative leader. She was the script writer, director, and costume designer for the Christmas play. Natasha shares her creative skills throughout the year - particularly for Easter pageants and special children's celebrations.

Please pray for Natasha as she leads her church in so many significant ways.