In April, Jamie Willis, Steve Babineaux, Ife Ogunleye, Andy Coticchio and Lucille Coticchio from 121CC, and our mission partners from India, Jeremy & Zarema Dawson, traveled to Penza, Russia to assist with mission efforts at Bethany Revelation Church.  The main goal of the mission trip was to share testimonies within an outreach program.  The idea was to bring in a diverse group from all over to illustrate how God works in similar ways to reach the hearts of lost people from all across the globe.

The group started the trip touring Moscow and then traveling to Penza.  They toured around the town and met staff and members of Bethany Revelation Church and the Fireworks Ministry.  The group lived with the host families and participated in small groups to dig into the Word and share testimonies with one another.  The members of the church also brought in unbelievers to the groups, where they could witness the healing power of God through the words of the group and the missioners.  The group also had the unique opportunity to serve the church youth group, which includes many young people from the Fireworks Ministry.  The American/Indian group joined the Russians for praise and worship and then had the chance to hang out with the youth.  The youth asked many questions about dating and relationships.  Next, they ordered pizza and soda and ended up staying with the youth until 9:30pm eating food and enjoying fellowship.  Steve Babineaux said that the highlight of the trip was seeing the praise, worship, and fellowship of the Fireworks and church youth. 

Since their return, the group has stayed in contact, reached out with prayer and financial support of the Bethany Revelation Church and the youth, and teamed up with lifegroups in support of our brothers and sisters in Russia.  The Bethany Revelation Church, and really any non-orthodox church in Russia, falls under great scrutiny by the local government, which makes it very difficult for the churches to function.  For example, the Bethany Revelation Church owns land to build a new facility; however, the local government has placed several obstacles within the permitting process.  This is troublesome, because the church needs to break ground for a new facility by 2011, or they risk losing the land.  The Bethany Church needs prayers from everyone at 121, and the support of lifegroups and 121 members so they can continue God’s work in Penza. 

::John Fielder