Rehab

Yesterday I was imprisoned briefly. Today Larry and I were in Rehab while Jen rested. We traveled to Lipetsk (1.5 hours each way) to the facility where 12 people at a time live in a full-time in-patient drug and alcohol recovery program. This is the same facility where summer camp is held.

Dick Shaw (pastor of First Baptist in Caldwell) and I visited this place 21 months ago. The leaders of the Tambov churches liked what they saw, but there were some struggles with the director of the progarm over the philosophy of the rehab ministry. At that time there was a dream to have such a place for the Tambov region and for it to be 100% devoted to Bible study, prayer and fellowship. We prayed it would be so.

The answer to the prayer was much different than expected. The leader of the rehab facility abandoned the faith and turned to the Orthodox Church. He was excommunicated from his church and the ministry stopped. A lot of progress had been made on renovating the extensive facility, but the future was uncertain.

In the fall the doors opened again. This time the ministry is led by Vasiliy, who is totally committed to doing it without any medications or worldly psychology. He himself is a former addict. To get into the program (which requires 2-3 months to complete) a person has to interview with one of the pastors in the Tambov region and his or her commitment to change is assessed. Only those approved by a pastor can enter. Now in the best of hands, this ministry is changing lives one at a time. Not all become believers, but the vast majority kick their drug and alcohol habits permanently. The ministry is being supported by the churches of Tambov.

One of the graduates of the program was in our class this week, clean and sober and saved and reunited with his wife and daughter. He went with us today to visit the place, and brought his wife who has not yet become a believer. Please pray for her to be saved; she is attending Vadim's church with her husband. Wish I could remember their names.

Without Rader and Megan here, our I.T. department is absent, so you'll have to wait to see photos of this place. It's another example of how much ministry our Russian partners accomplish with so few resources by our standards.

Tomorrow we're off to church in Kirsanov, then back to pack and be ready to leave early (4 AM'ish) Monday. God provided us with a skilled driver who will take us directly to the airport and save us a lot of money we won't spend on a train ride. Monday is that 34-hour long day when we cross 10 time zones. Please pray it goes smoothly for us as it did for Rader and Megan. The connection in Munich is a little tight, and the Eberhardts had just 5 minutes to spare.

- Jim