Rick & Pam Barry Prayer Letter - March 2005

 

Dear friends and family,

 

Pam and I are overdue in sending an update about the work with BIEM. We delayed purposely in order to include details of Rick’s trip overseas from February 28–March 15.

 

First of all, Christians in both Russia and Ukraine send warm greetings to you, their brothers and sisters in Christ here in the U.S. Although there was still a foot of snow on the ground, the fellowship was very warm in each place I visited.

 

In addition to transacting financial business on behalf of BIEM and preaching in each place, I wanted to get better acquainted with our pastors, church planters, and children’s workers. In every ministry, there must be a good flow of information back and forth. As a link between our workers on the field and our supporters in the U.S., part of my role is to stay in touch with both the successes and needs on the mission field.

 

In Dyedvosk, Russia, the Lord gave me opportunities to encourage Volodya Makarenko, a church planter who has established two churches and is now preparing to start a third in an area called Mitino. Despite the fact that the Lord has greatly used him (how many people do you know who have started two churches and also teach seminary courses?) he had been feeling discouraged, feeling that his ministry wasn’t producing fruit quickly enough. We had some good conversations, and I believe the Lord used me to lift him up.

 

In a meeting of pastors in the Moscow area I sensed a genuine excitement. These men work together strategically to plant new churches. Even as one church grows and matures, their vision is to help start churches in other places as well. It is very common for several church members or a portion of the choir from one church to travel to a new church in order to bolster the fledgling congregation as it grows. This obviously helps the new little church, but it also helps those who travel there to help out, as they continuously see fruit for their labor and sense how the Lord is using them. BIEM is helping a couple of these churches financially with their building programs, and pastors and laymen alike express deep appreciation for you who have sacrificed on their behalf.

 

BIEM’s children’s workers have terrific wide-open doors for reaching kids. They have permission to visit orphanages regularly to teach Bible lessons. Also, in Kyiv, Ukraine, I visited a public school where they have Bible lessons as part of their school curriculum! I shared my testimony with the kids and quizzed them on Bible questions, which they answered. The librarian said they have a few Ukrainian children’s Bible story books but would love to have more, as the kids constantly check out these books. I’m going to try to find some for them.

 

Also, two of our children’s workers are hoping to have a really good flannel graph someday. Quality flannel graphs last many years but cost several hundred dollars. If someone has a Betty Lukens flannel graph to donate (or if someone would like to purchase a couple), I’ll deliver them to these dedicated ladies.

 

I also visited and preached in new churches in Fastiv, Chervona Sloboda, and Zgurivka. The Fastiv church is well into their building program. The church in Ch. Sloboda has purchased an older home and torn down an inner wall in order to use it for services. It is functional but very old, and will need repairs. The congregation in Zgurivka still squeezes into a member’s living room. It was thrilling to hear their testimonies. For example, one man declared he was once very far from God and never expected to become a Christian. But he heard the Gospel and came to Christ. He was the only Christian at his job. Next another man came to Christ. “Now there are three of us believers where I work!” he said, his eyes shining with excitement.

 

I have to confess that, having grown up in America, I too often take for granted having Christian co-workers or a church to attend. Visiting and helping believers in these formerly communist lands does as much good for me as it does for them! It’s like an injection of “spiritual adrenalin” that makes me want to do even more.

 

Pam’s and my support level is hovering around 30% right now, but love offerings from churches and donations from friends have helped greatly. Because there are so many future missionaries struggling to raise support, and because we are based in the U.S., Pam and I have adjusted our strategy concerning support funds. Since missionaries traditionally must ask churches for enough support to cover their insurance needs, plus enough to provide for retirement, funds for traveling, etc., this becomes a huge sum. So, to make it easier for churches to support us (and to leave money in their budgets to help other missionaries too), Pam works a secular job to provide for our own insurance and retirement. Donations that arrive at BIEM for the Barrys will go toward our actual living expenses, plus the costs of traveling and ministering overseas. Pam will still help at the ministry as needed, but for at least the present time, her outside work is really essential.

 

Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and in your prayers! We sincerely do feel the power of prayer. Our lives have undergone many changes in the last year, but we are confident that we are where God wants us, and we feel the rewards of being used by Him.