Pictures of Russia!!!

(Russian dolls from the Burnetts)

We just received a handful of pictures from our field directors, Brian and Cara! We are so grateful to them for sharing these with us! Since we have never been to Russia before, we did not have anything to show people about the country! Now we have wonderful pictures to help people take a peak into the Russian life! We also were blessed by a couple here in Jackson, the Burnetts, who gave us some things they bought while in Vladimir! We wanted to share some of the pictures with you!! Hopefully they bring as much excitement to you as they did to us! Brian and Cara also sent us a CD of Hillsong worship in Russian. One of the Hillsong churches, which is one of the largest churches, is located in Kiev, Ukraine. Hopefully we can load some on the blog sometime so you can get a taste of the Russia language in worship to the Lord! We appreciate each one of you!

More dolls from the Burnetts

The Bible College located in Vladimir

National Church leaders:
Anton is Senior Pastor of Tokareva Wesleyan Church and Inna teaches classes at the Bible College.

Young people in Vladimir at a Day Camp

Russian Orthodox Church

Moscow

(pronounced Mosco...long o at the end...we have been told there is no "cow" in Moscow!)

The Need of His People

As Philip and I sit here in Jackson, Mississippi enjoying the 60 degree weather, our hearts are burdened for the people of Vladimir, Russia. Though we enjoy the warm weather here, we are anxiously anticipating the day when we can join with the Russian people in their cold and snowy winter! We received an update from the field through Kerry Pickard, another Global Partner Missionary. We want to share with you some prayer requests and concerns. Even though Philip and I are not yet on the field, the ministries in Russia still need your prayers as well as us. We are so gratefull for your commitment to join us as we prepare to leave in the coming year.  

Please Pray:

• Youth Group--The youth group is undergoing some changes as the youth leaders have established small group Bible studies on Thursday evenings instead of the more entertaining events.  Pray that the youth and leaders can adjust to the change and that youth hearts would be open to the learning that can take place during this time
• Young Adults--The young adults are gearing up for the International Young Adult Retreat on March 13-15.  The retreat is going to be held at the Tokareva Church here in Vladimir.  Pray that hearts would be open during this retreat time and that young people would come to know Christ in a personal way. 
• GP Missionaries--Jeff and Gelya Whitney and their daughter Joy will be returning to Russia after many months in the States raising support.  Pray for their transition and for their travels to go smoothly. Also, another GP missionary, Mandy, will be ending her time in Russia and will be heading back to the States on March 15th.  Please pray for her as she spends time in the States sharing about the work in Russia.  Please also pray for our field directors, Brian and Cara Burke.  They are currently raising support and traveling to churches with their new daughter, Sophia.  Pray for safety as well as rest and good health for all of them.  Also be praying for the funds and prayers to come in so they can head back to Russia soon.
• US--Philip is getting ready to do a senior chapel at Wesley Biblical Seminary.  It is an honor to preach during this special chapel time, so please pray for wisdom and guidance from the Lord for this special message.  Also, we will be presenting and sharing our vision with our first church on March 14-15th in New Jersey.  Please pray for us as we prepare and pray that the Lord will open hearts to hear and have a passion for the people of Russia.  Also be praying that people would continue to give and support this ministry. Pray for boldness for Philip and I to talk to people about giving.

Thank you for your support, encouragment, and prayers.  The Lord is faithful to His children! 

--Philip and Kara

God's Faithfulness

Over the past week Philip and I have received confirmation of people who have joined our support team!! We want to express our thanks to those that have become faith promise givers and prayer partners! What a faithful God we serve! We know so many letters have gone out and that many of you are still praying about how the Lord can use you in this ministry. We urge you to continue to pray and allow the Lord to place an amount on your heart that you can give as you join this ministry. We also encourage you to commit to this ministry through prayer as prayer partners starting now through the duration of our time in Russia. We understand that financial times are tough, but we serve an Almighty God who has promised to supply our needs. Philip and I know without a shadow of doubt that God has lead us to Russia, and that He is going to provide the way for us. We appreciate each and every one of you. Our hope and prayer is that the Lord will ministry to you in these years to come through this ministry!
Thanks be to God!

Prayers for a Snowy Vladimir, Russia

We just received an update of some things that are happening in Vladimir, Russia. A fellow Global Partner Missionary, Kerry Pickard, is currently in Vladimir holding down the fort! Kerry mentions that Russia is beautiful during this time of the year because the snow has finally started falling! Kerry also talks about some of the ministries that are taking place among the people of Vladimir. Though we are not physically there on the field right now, our hearts are united in prayer for what is going on in Russia. Please pray with us for Kerry as she and the nationals gear up for another year serving the Lord.

PRAY FOR:

1. Young Adult Ministry at the University in Vladimir--prayer for the leaders to be able to build effective relationships with the University students. Pray for open doors and for the Holy Spirit to work through those in leadership positions.
2. The Russian Economy--like many countries, Russia too is struggling economically. Pray for wisdom for the leaders of Russia as they make decisions in the next few months.
3. The Youth Group--the leaders are looking for new ways to reach the kids in more effective ways. Pray for wisdom for the leaders, and for unity among the leadership team.
4. Us--We have just sent out our first group of support letters! (One is on its way to YOU!) Pray for the Spirit to move the hearts of people to join with our passion for reaching the people of Russia. Pray that people give generously and pray fervently for us and this ministry.
   

Blessings

Philip and I have already seen God's hand in our ministry! Over the past few weeks we have been working on our support letter to send to you! Our dear friend, Emily, offered to work with us to help us organize our letter and contacts. She took our letter and contacts and did a mail merge through our word processing. Though it may seem like a small simple task, it was a huge blessing to us! Today, we pushed a few keys and pressed print...and all our letters printed off our printer beautifully! We just wanted to thank Emily for her work and let you know what a blessing she was in helping us with the small details! God is good...even in the little things!

"Oh, the Places We'll Go!"

I (Kara) just wanted to give you a brief summary of what we are anticipating our next year to look like! We are in the process of finishing up our time here in Jackson, Mississippi, gathering up our last bits of "hot and humid" weather before we head to the "cold" lands!

• In May, Philip will graduate and I will complete my third year of teaching. We are moving up to Terre Haute, Indiana to live with Dad and Mom Gormong as we raise our financial and prayer support.
  
• We anticipate being on home ministries (raising support) for about a year. During this time we will be networking with people, churches, and any other open doors!
  
• After all or most of our support is raised, Philip and I will head to Columbia, South Carolina for language school. Columbia International University has a Russian Language Institute. Here we will take a semester (spring 2010) or intensive 8 week course on Russian. (Check out the link to your right under Helpful Links)
  
• Shortly after language school we will depart for Vladimir, Russia! (Summer 2010)

We are praying in faith that the Lord will supply us the prayer and financial support needed to meet these time goals list above. We thought you might like a little "vision" of what our next few months are going to look like!

On Journey with God

It is a terribly exciting time for Kara and I (Philip). If you are reading this blog you most likely realize that Kara and I are intern missionaries to Russia with Global Partners, or you at least realize that there is some connection between Russia and Philip and Kara Gormong. As of last Fall (2008) we were appointed missionaries to Russia. We will be located and working in a place called Vladimir, a city in western Russia, east of Moscow. But, we are not there yet. Kara and I are presently in the United States, finishing a school semester and beginning the process of building and establishing a support team, as we make preparations for our term overseas. We want to have this blog as a means of communication, a way to keep those who so desire updated on what is going on in our lives in this missions journey with God. We hope it is a helpful way for people to stay connected and up to date on where Kara and I are in this process (by God's grace) of learning, support raising, eventually departing, and ministering in Russia. So where are we now?

Presently, Kara and I are living in Jackson, MS. I (Philip) am heading into my final semester at Wesley Biblical Seminary to complete my Masters of Divinity. Kara has one semester left of teaching 4th graders at a Christian school. We are both very excited as we look ahead to the future, excited about being appointed to Russia, excited to establish a support team, excited to be a part of the Lord's work in Russia, and excited to see the amazing ways God is going to work and move in people's lives, including or own.

Though Kara and I certainly have our hands full with education (each in our own respective ways), we are not hesitating in taking some steps to build a support team. This task of building our support team can seem fairly daunting, wondering where all the prayer and financial support will come from, wondering how time and contacts will work out, and wondering when we will be able to depart to Russia. But, these thoughts are quickly followed by the Lord's ever present, gentle, and assuring reminder that He has led us to this point and that He is with us. His promise is that He will never leave us nor forsake us, and it is upon this promise that Kara and I rest our fears, uncertainties, insecurities, and weaknesses. Praise God for His presence, and Praise God for His wanting to use such ordinary people like Kara and I to be a part of His work in the world.

Please pray for us as we are in the very beginning stages of our lives as appointed missionaries. Pray that school would go well for us as we conclude our time in Jackson, MS. Pray that we would establish numerous contacts and that people would have a heart for overseas missions. Pray that people would be sensitive to the Lord's leading in becoming a part of our team for this ministry in Russia. Thank you for your involvement and interest in our lives.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)