On Sunday, April 23rd, we had the blessing of hearing the reports concerning ministry in St. Petersburg, Russia, from Pastor Charles Hoblitz and Pastor Oleg Vladyko.  Pastor Charles has been a faithful servant of God for some 30 plus years in Madagaskar, South Africa, Germany and for the last 13 years in St. Petersburg.  It is a hard place to ministry but God continues to bear fruit through his labors.

Those that came had the opportunity to meet a dear young pastor, Oleg Vladyko, with whom I had the privilege of forming a friendship when I ministered in Russian in October of 2004.  Oleg and his wife, Catherine, have stepped into a challenging circumstance as they took over the work of a country church in Otrodnoye.  There they have continued that church's outreach to an orphanage just three miles away into the next town.  It was so encouraging to hear of God's hand of blessing on their ministry.

We were all challenged by the greatness of the needs that these children experience. One of the key ministries that the two churches partner in is their summer camp.  Over a series of three one-week camps, the children are given the blessing of going to the country for a week for games, crafts, swimming, and of course the learning of God's Word.  Camp is a key experience when many young people come to Christ or commit their lives fully to him.

We have already taken up a collection to send several of these kids to camp this summer. But what was so heart warming was to see the way our kids' hearts went out to these children overseas.  My daughter, Eden, and some of the other kids immediately began brainstorming about ways they could raise some extra money.  And that leads me to this appeal.  How can we help the kids?  Not only the kids in Russia, but how can we help our kids' faith grow by helping them attach the good work of giving as an expression of their faith.  Not so much a handout.  Let's find ways to help them work for it.

Ephesian 4:28 says, "let him that steals, steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need."

Eden's original idea was a car wash.  Then we moved to a church-wide yard sale.  We thought that might be doubly profitable--the kids could raise the money, we all could get our basements and garages cleaned out, and we'd have a few less things grabbing our time and attention.

Drop me a line to give me your ideas and make sure your  kids get to be a part of the discussion.  After all, we're trying to share the blessing of giving with them.  Also, if anyone has some expertise on organizing a bang-up yard sale, let me know.