The Currier

Chris's Corner

This is a post from the Currie Courier, 1 September 2009, v.17.1

The Book of Nehemiah has often drawn me for encouragement and guidance on the subject of leadership. We held our annual New Hope International mission retreat in Williamsburg, Virginia, in June, with 16 people participating, including our missionary couple from India, another couple raising support to go to Russia, a new couple who joined our mission in January of this year, and a new Board member, plus our administrator, current Board members, and friends of the mission. We spent four days of Biblical teaching, worship, prayer, and presentations and discussions on discipleship, communication, building community across cultures, and raising support. We have been accepted to set up an informational display at the Urbana 09 missions conference, sponsored by Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, from December 27 to 29, 2009, in St. Louis, where approximately 20,000 people will gather to hear about missions around the world. At that conference, we are hoping to connect with other missions and to encourage people to enter the fields of mission. Our mission has grown from a simple non-profit organization set up in 1995 to serve the needs of the Currie family in Russia, to one that is providing support and guidance for other missionaries around the world, and so, during the past several weeks, I have once again been reading Nehemiah for encouragement and guidance in lessons of leadership.

In future newsletters, I will go into more detail about the various leadership lessons that I have gleaned, but let me begin with five basic lessons from Nehemiah.  First, Nehemiah sought the welfare of his countrymen first, and not his own welfare, peace, or prosperity. He was a servant leader. Second, when he heard that his countrymen were in affliction, living in unfavorable conditions, he wept and mourned, fasted and prayed—he was passionate about the need of other people, and he turned to God first, knowing that the need was greater than he alone could meet. Third,Nehemiah acted in obedience, and with the favor of the King, even though that king was an unbeliever. He trusted God for guidance through the authority that was over him. Fourth, as he prayed and trusted God, he also had a practical plan for completing the work. Fifth, as the work progressed, enemies came against him repeatedly and ever more forcefully, attempting to stop the work through tactics of discouragement, fear, and physical threats. But through all the ups and downs, through the threats of his enemies and the complaints of his countrymen, Nehemiah steadily kept at the work that God had given him to do.

In like manner, we pray that we can keep steadily at the work that God has given us to do. Unexpected changes in visa laws have kept me in the United States while Mark travels back and forth to Russia, and to the other countries where our New Hope missionaries live, for extended periods of time. But these changes have led to an unexpected opportunity to further my education and acquire new skills that I will continue to use to help missionaries. We adjust to changing circumstances, trusting that God uses government authorities to open and close doors, always guiding us, so that the work consistently proceeds. And, like Nehemiah, with each change we pray, “Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands” (Nehemiah 6:9).

The More Things Change...

Two Years of Transition Comes to a Head. For the last two years, our ministry has been in transition. Last October, a new Russian visa law accelerated the necessity of change. The entire foreign business and missionary community has been in upheaval. To remain legally in Russia longer than 3 months at a time is possible only if a work permit (similar to a “green card” in the USA) is issued by a certified employer. Chris has had a permit through the Hinkson Christian Academy (HCA). Mark does not have a work permit. The church can and will apply for a work permit for him, but that process is lengthy and quotas for non-Orthodox religious workers are severely limited, so there is no certainty that a permit will be granted. We must plan that Mark’s presence in Russia will be limited to 3 months at a time through June 2009. As a family and as a church, we have all sought God’s will in response to our circumstance. David has completed his year of service at Hinkson, and is returning to the USA to apply and enroll in medical school. With Mark under the visa restriction, and David gone, we decided Chris should not remain in Moscow alone –now might be a good time for her to complete her graduate study. The church also realized that the leadership transition we have been preparing for is now imminent –now would be a good time for a pastoral candidate to step forward.

God Provides Direction and Encouragement. First, after working as a counselor at HCA in Moscow for the past three years, Chris qualified for her Virginia counseling license and applied to a doctoral program at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. She was accepted and awarded a graduate assistantship which enables her to continue her counseling studies under a full scholarship. She will live in Virginia Beach next year and travel to Russia as time, finances, and the law permit. Secondly, our Moscow landlord did not raise the rent. This is a remarkable provision because many missionaries in Moscow suffered significant increases in rent this spring. Our landlord only wanted a fixed ruble rate to protect against the falling dollar. Moreover, our landlord will allow us to sub-let the rooms in our apartment. This makes it possible for Mark to continue to live in our Moscow home when he is in Russia. Finally, the church has responded with everyone stepping up to increased responsibility. The elders have accepted a greater burden of preaching and leadership. Congregational giving has increased to enable us to follow through on new outreach ministries. And in September 2008, we will accept one of our own as a pastoral intern to work alongside and, during his absence, in place of Mark. Jan Reus, whose family has been part of the church for 18 months, will serve with the leadership team this summer. In September, Mark and the elders will work with Jan to define his sphere of pastoral responsibility and authority, and the appropriate level of compensation. This is a timely provision, one that bears great promise, and one that yet requires much prayer.

A Year From Now, the Ministry Looks Like This… In June 2009, Lord willing: (1) New Hope Church is moving forward with Jan and his wife Natasha increasingly involved with our Russian leadership team, (2) having gained a work permit, Mark is increasingly based in Virginia Beach, and continues to divide his time between ministry in Moscow, travel to other churches in Russia, travel to MPATs mission outreaches in other parts of the world, travel to supporting churches in the USA, (3) having two years remaining in her doctoral program at home in Virginia Beach, Chris continues to travel with Mark during semester breaks –giving Genesis Factor marriage seminars at churches in the USA and in Russia and maintaining contact with her ex-pat and Russian clients in Moscow.

Chris's Corner

 When I completed my degree in counseling and returned to Russia in the fall of 2005, I had the following two goals:

1. To be a mental health resource in the missionary community by counseling children, couples, and families.

2. To be a mental health resource in the Russian community by compiling resources and designing educational programs suitable for Russian couples and families, and to train Russians to teach these programs.

I have fulfilled the first goal by working for the past 3 years as a child and family counselor at Hinkson Christian Academy —the only international Christian school in Moscow.  In addition to working with children and adolescents, I have done marital and family counseling, and have also served as a resource to several international churches in the city.  As far as I know, I am the only English-speaking, professional counselor in Moscow, and it has been particularly gratifying to know that I have been able to help in a place where there was no other alternative. 

The second goal will take several more years to complete, at least.  As a start, I created a marriage seminar on PowerPoint that I first taught in English in the U.S.; translated into Russian, and I have taught it in our church and at a weekend marriage retreat, sponsored by another Russian church in Moscow.  People have responded very enthusiastically to my presentation and workshops.

 

My next goal is to get additional resources translated from English into Russian, and to organize a program to train Russians to teach the materials in churches and elsewhere.  I am gathering a task force to give help and counsel as we accomplish this project.  The need for family support in Russia is great, and the resources are very limited.

Due to changes in the Russian visa laws in October 2007, I will be based in the U.S.during the next year, and will take the opportunity to study further.  This will open more doors to teach and train leaders in Russia and elsewhere.  In compliance with visa restrictions, Mark will travel back and forth to Russia, and I will join him periodically, so that I can make continual progress on the goal of gathering materials and training Russian leaders to help couples and families.  The door to Russia is not closing, and we are not leaving!!!  Our ministry will undoubtedly look different, but we are still committed to teaching and training disciples through churches in Russia.