article sharing the spiritual moments experienced by the elevan member team from Open Door Church. This picture is one of those moments experienced by Tina Hamilton. Tina led this yound lady Alyona to the Lord and then Batised her at my request.

 

Such baptising by lay members of the church (a terrible term) is not common here in the USA but in Russia is common. It was a spiritual moment for Tina that she will never forget.

 

I have been a part of four major moves of God and they all have one main thing in common. There is always great darkness before the great blessing of God. Right now Russia is experiencing the worst heat wave in recorded weather history. I pray that this is the darkness before a great new move of God in Russia.

 

While in college in the 60's the God is dead theology stuck its ugly head up. The youth of that day had become beatniks and then moved on to being hippies rejecting the establishment of that day, rejecting the morals and faith of their parents. Accepting drugs, eastern religions, and even Satanism they rushed to find "real life". They ended up finding Christ and the Jesus Movement came about. I was in the center of it ministering in a Christian Coffe House named The WAy located on Burbone Street in New Orleans.

 

My next two experiences were in local churches. The first was in Winter Park, Florida. A wealthy old refined church tasted a touch of the Carismatin Movement and it was wonderful. It is great to see hundreds of people being saved and filling a church. The second was a church in Birmingham, Alabama named Eastmont Baptist Church. This church grew from sixty people to six hundred in just six months.

 

The latest move of God in my life has been the one in Russia. The first sermon I preached in Russia was on thithing (a requested subject) and twenty people out of two hundred accepted Christ during the invitation. After 70 years of darkness people found the light.

 

That light has dimmed in recent years but now I'm looking for that bright light to return. Around the world heads are hanging but look up for your redemption draws near.

 

Begenning in May Webinars were started teaching our deciples in Russia. The series is taught by Pastor Michael French. Michael is pastor of The Bridge Birmingham and has done extensive mission work in Africa and Russia. A teacher of Streams Ministry he is teaching The seminar The Art of Hearing God. Rita Collett is interpreting.

 

Groups from many different places in Russia attend these weekly classes. The future seems to be unlimited usuing this technology. There are plans to have joint home group meetings, training sessions, and even joint worship. 

My son Timothy gets upset with Ann and me because we have not been here for his birthday for the last seventeen years. The first school was in August or it would be the last eighteen years.

 

We have also not been with our families for our wedding anniversies during all those years. Each year our anniversy is a big deal at the school and we are showered in love. Here we are pictured during a prayer of blessing.

 

Next year perhaps all the family will come to Russia for our 50th. Or we will have two parties.