TELA | Geography

TELA is located in the Central Black Soil Region of western Russia. The CBS Region covers a land mass of 167,700 square km (100,620 sq mi) which is mostly rural, has a population of about 8 million people, and is comprised of five provinces, TELA has its ministry in three of these provinces, approximately 200-300 miles south to southeast of Moscow.
TELA has its ministry in the provinces of Voronezh, Lipetsk and Tambov. Full time staff members live in the capital cities of these provinces that bear the same name. The city of Voronezh has a population of 1 mil; Lipetsk 750,000; and Tambov 350,000. A staff member also lives in the city of Morshansk (pop. 70,000), in the Tambov Province.

The Union of Evangelical-Christians Baptists, the largest protestant denomination in Russia, has named the CBS Region one of the most spiritually poor regions in the entire former Soviet Union. It's estimated that only 0.2% of the population is Evangelical Christian, compared to the national average for Russia of 0.7%.

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The saga continues on the boilers. Additional details for completion were given by the gas company before the boilers are allowed to be switched on at TCC. These details of course, cost money; and winter is quickly approaching. PRAY for God's provision.

No heat at TCC meant that session 2 for the CBSR (Central Black Soil Region) Training Center was held at the First Baptist Church in Tambov, and students lived in the HiBA Center. On Saturday at the end of the session there was a seminar for mentors to the students. They were given an overview of the purpose and program for the training center, and given an explanation of their responsibilities to the students, and how their role is essential to the success of the students. They will be monitoring their students' progress in 3 areas: their personal walk with God; their homework assignments; and their ministry involvement. PRAY for these mentors to have a major influence on the progression of the six students.

Donna Macomber was a missionary with High School Evangelism Fellowship for many years before joining SEND International in 2002. She recently finished her language study in Far East Russia, and her assignment by SEND is to work with TELA in western Russia. Her ministry will be to lead the HiBA Club part of TELA, which will include writing materials and training leaders. Donna has many years of experience with the HiBA Club ministry in NJ, and is very qualified to oversee it in Russia. However, some issues with her parents' health have required her to be in Maine for making some very serious decisions with her brothers and sisters concerning the long term care of their parents. PRAY for Donna to have wisdom and strength, and for her father to know Jesus Christ as his Savior.

Two of TELA's staff members are involved in new churches. Pasha Litvinov is the pastor of a church in Morshansk that he began, and Andre Motenko leads the youth ministry and outreach of a new church in Lipetsk. PRAY for these 2 churches to grow in the grace and wisdom of God, and that God would add more people to their number.