Russia and Siberia Outreach, Feb-Mar 2003!

One New Man? In Siberia?

Shalom Mishpochah,

What a blessing to be back in the U.S. where it is quit a bit warmer then Siberia (the temperature averaged between –10 and –25 degrees Fahrenheit). In December 2002 the Holy Spirit had awakened me at 3:00am in the morning and directed me to go to Siberia in February. This would appear in the flesh to be an absolutely insane time of the year to go to Siberia but of course the Holy Spirit knew the exact right time. The timing was perfect for an outreach in Siberia and the sharing of the “One New Man”. This fishing trip to St. Petersburg, Russia and Omsk, Siberia revealed that the devil spawned dichotomy of Jew and Gentile is being destroyed and tore down by God and the Ruach HaKodesh in a supernatural way! In it’s place, our heavenly Father is replacing this anti-Messiah teaching of separation with the Truth and Love of the “One New Man” of Ephesians 2:15.

Our first outreach was scheduled for St. Petersburg the day of my arrival from the U.S. In preparation for this outreach, 3,000 invitations had been mailed to local Jewish families and newspapers advertisements had been run by the Messianic Vision staff in St. Petersburg. Our mission was altered in the face of anarchy and protests posed by Anti-Missionary Lubavitchers from Moscow who had heard of our planned meeting. The Lubavitchers showed up at the meeting hall in force, driving away potential attendees with their daunting and intimidating presence as some 6-8 of them protested at the front of the building and attempted to block the entrance to the meeting hall. The head Lubavitcher for all of Russia stationed in Moscow, Alexander Lakshin and several Orthodox Rabbis were inside the meeting hall. In past meetings we have hired off-duty police officers to remove agitators from our meetings. This meeting was different as the Holy Spirit guided us to acknowledge the Lubavitchers, welcome them, thank them for attending the meeting and sharing with them the “Good News” of the Jewish Messiah and the “One New Man” of Ephesians 2:15. Mr Lakshin and his Rabbi friends stayed for the entire meeting and received the word of God in Shalom and without agitation. The meeting ended peacefully and we believe Father placed them there to receive the Truth of Yeshua and to show them Kingdom Love and the “One New Man”. The fact that they peacefully remained for the entire meeting is a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit and Yeshua at work in Russia. The Word of God was spoken in truth to them and I pray that the seed planted in them would be nourished by Father and that it would blossom into the truth and revelation of Yeshua. Even though the power of God was strong in St. Petersburg, it was an intermediate stop on the way to God’s plan and desire, which was Omsk, Siberia!

The flight to Siberia was overnight, departing at 10:50pm and arriving at 6:00am in Omsk.! Russia is roughly twice the physical size of the United States. The Russian landmass encompasses 11 time zones from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Omsk, in Siberia Russia is 11 hours ahead of the Eastern Standard (U.S.) Time Zone. Upon landing, we were meet by Pastor Sergei from the Omsk Pentecostal Church who were the hosts for our four scheduled outreach meetings. We claimed our luggage and proceeded to his church. Can you imagine our shock and surprise when we arrived at this church and Pastor Sergei welcomed us into a beautiful, shinning, brand new three story building! Pastor Sergei shared that the congregation had acquired property (about .5 acres), obtained the required building permits, obtained the needed materials, and the congregation built this brand new church from scratch! Three stories tall, the first floor has two bunkrooms, one for homeless male teenagers and one for female homeless teenagers with showers and a full kitchen and dining hall to feed them. The second floor has offices and a fellowship hall. The third floor has the sanctuary and living quarters for the Pastor and his family with the sanctuary seating between 550 - 600 people. This concept is absolutely unheard of in the former Soviet Union Nations and Russia. Congregations typically meet in theatres and movie halls rented weekly by the congregation. This was the first time I have encountered a Russian congregation that has their own building. We immediately began asking Pastor Sergei about his ministry and congregation to uncover the spiritual reason for this supernatural outpouring of blessings upon them. Pastor Sergei shared with us that his congregation has about 500 members. He shared of their outreach to the local community. How the Church opens its doors for homeless teenagers, providing shelter and food for them. They also have a homeless children soup kitchen ministry to the city of Omsk, feeding, clothing, and ministering weekly to over 3,100 homeless/orphaned children in Omsk. Although these ministries are on the heart of God and Yeshua commanded us to do these things, they alone did not seem enough! It still did not completely answer the questions of why God is outpouring His blessings upon this congregation. Numerous congregations around the world perform these same ministry outreaches and have not been blessed by our Father in such a mighty way! What was different about this congregation? What was this Pastor doing that others are not? Why is God pouring out His blessings upon this Pastor and Church?

Pastor Sergei (almost nonchalantly) added at the end of our conversation that he had befriended the local and only Rabbi in the city of Omsk, a Reform Rabbi of the only synagogue in Omsk, a Reform Synagogue!. Pastor Sergei shared with us his love for Israel and the Jewish people! He also shared of the burden the Lord had placed on him and his congregation to reach out to their Jewish brothers and sisters. This congregation not only feeds over 3,100 homeless children weekly, they prepare hot meals and deliver them to the Reform Synagogue three times a week, feeding dozens of needy Jewish families weekly! This church reaches out to it’s Jewish neighbors, blessing them physically, financially, and spiritually! This congregation also has dozens of Jewish believers in it’s congregation! They are welcomed with open arms and given the greatest gift anyone could give to a Jewish person, the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua! This congregation and Pastor are walking in the “One New Man” and they didn’t even know it! The double portion blessings of God upon them are a testimony to Russia and the world of God’s heart and Truth of the “One New Man”. I explained to the Pastor and congregation Ephesians 2:13-16 “One New Man”, Romans Ch. 11 (gentiles grafted into the Jewish Olive Tree) and Romans 1:16 “To the Jew First”, the Law of evangelism and they replied Hallelujah! They now know and understood God’ heart and will share this Biblical concept of the Glorious Church with other congregations in their area! Also, as a side note Pastor Sergei’s wife we found out is Jewish and they as a couple are living out the “One New Man”. The “One New Man” is not only of God and on His heart, but He is implementing it around the world to those who are attuned to the heart of God and the Holy Spirit! God is and will bring the body of believers together as ONE IN YESHUA! What a testimony to the power of God and the move of the Holy Spirit to travel all the way to Siberia to find a “One New Man” congregation and they themselves could not explain what it was or what was happening, only that they were in fact being supernaturally blessed! God had called them as a congregation into the “One New Man” and they couldn’t explain it and didn’t know what it was!

The outreaches in Omsk were powerful and filled with the Holy Spirit. 300-400 new believers were brought in to the Kingdom of God (Jew and Gentile) and doors were opened for future outreaches. The Spirit of the Lord was strong and hundreds were convicted of Sin and made reconfirmations to God and Yeshua as well and were re-established into the Kingdom. The “One New Man” is being raised up through out the world as Father prepares the world for His Son’s return! Please enjoy the photo's from this supernatural trip to Russia!

Baruch HaShem,

Messianic Rabbi Eric Carlson!