Pastor Steven Teo

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A Whole New World

The Bear meets the Dove!

The Bear has come a long way for the Gospel. Russia is very open now for the Word of God. The people are open and hungry for the Lord. Russians are also most hospitable. I have had a wonderful time of ministry in Moscow and the Pskov region (north west of Russia towards the Estonian border).

I am prophetic in saying that God is positioning this great nation with economic growth, political stability and an ever improving living condition for its people in order that this nation will bring the Gospels to many around its vast border - from the Far East facing North Korea and China, the Islamic and Arabic world to the European/Scandinavian parts of the West.

This great country is called to the "nations". I am trusting that the Christians in Moscow and regions in the huge country (largest land mass for any nation) will respond to this call of destiny.

Some of the team members in Red Square

With Pastor Kameel in front of the St. Basil

Pskov

Within a day of arriving in Moscow (after a 28 hours marathon flight from Melbourne!), I was heading into the city of Pskov. It was an exhaustive 12 hours overnight train ride from Moscow to Pskov. God was good - I had the whole cabin of 2 bunks to myself.

Map of Pskov Region

Emmanuel Faith Church

I ministered in two services on Sunday for Emmanuel Faith Church. We had a wonderful time in the presence of God. People were touched and healed by the Lord. Many at the altars were receiving the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Both services saw spiritual giftings in operation. It was mind-bogging - here I am in Russia ministering in the Holy Spirit! What a privilege! Praise God.

Emmanuel Faith Church - The Russian Church of Evangelical Christians

The Church Building

Sunday morning first service

Wonderful worship - songs are all Hillsongs!

Pskov New Life Bible School

I thoroughly enjoyed ministering in the Bible School. There were twenty students - and I fell in love with all of them! What a wonderful bunch of people preparing to serve God in the fields. It was such a defining moment. I have written a separate report for it. Read all about it

Pskov Hospitality

I must admit that I had apprehension prior to the Russian ministry. Russia was the great unknown for me. I wasn't sure what the reception would be, particularly when I will be travelling alone and ministering in my own right. Those feelings were unfounded.

Not only were the Christians open and hungry for the Lord. My hosts in Pskov and indeed the regions were most hospitable. They took really good care of me. I had a wonderful place to stay. I was served really well. Marina, the chef at the Bible School (I stayed at the School hostel in a visiting lecturer facility) was a very good cook - and she served brilliantly. Thank you so much Marina.

Having breakfast with the students @ 7.15AM

With Marina at a historic site tour

Street Evangelization

Evangelization - Russian style! We had an outing and many of the Bible School students tok advantage of that by distributing a Christian "newspaper". I was very thrilled to see that I was among a group of people distributing "something" in the PUBLIC for Jesus. This is the new Russia!

Students and members positioned in front of a cinema

The "newspaper" we distributed

Radion, our Central Asian student holding a copy of the "newspaper"

Good News Church, Pechory

I visited Pechory, a town 50 km away from Pskov. It is a border town with Estonia. Pastor Pavel Zouev is a humorous, kind and supportive person. We had a wonderful meeting although the turnout is small on a Tuesday night. I prayed for the sick and had a blessed time with the people. I felt in my spirit that this church will receive favor from God.

Fellowship with the pastor and wife during meal time was really sweet. I am most moved by the dedication of this family. I was keen to leave behind a "seed" of faith - I'll be painting a picture to raise a A$1,000 for this church in due course.

With Pastor Pavel in Perchory

Service in Perchory

The Orthodox Church - a massive influence in Pechory.

Public funding for Orthodox churches is apparently a common practise

New Life Christian Church, Ostrov

The pastor is away working in Norway to raise enough money for the family and ministry. The church is being administered by his wife, Veronika. We had a wonderful service - a long Q of people wanting prayers. We prayed for all the people who were sick. A leader commented that it had been a long time since they were ministered by the Lord in such a powerful way.

With pastor Viktor Petkevich of Emmanuel Faith @ Ostrov bridge

The church meets in a rented public hall

Veronika and children at their flat

Reconciliation Church, Porkhov

Pastor Natasha is a wonderful godly person. I loved her generous spirit. It is a small village church yet she gave a lovely offering to my ministry. I did not want to receive it but she said, "I want to give..." We had a great service with word of knowledge in operation and we were praying for the sick.

Pastor Natasha (left) with my interpreter, Alina

Dinner with Natasha and members

Church of Christ, Opochka

I visited this church on the way to the city of Nevel. Again the pastor was away in Norway working to support the family and church. Alla, the wife together with the leaders were left to manage the church. I was very touched by Alla's commitment to the work of God. I prayed for her (and the church) before we continue our journey south.

The church property

Lunch with Alla (on my left) at the church office

The church is heated by burning wood

Good News Church, Nevel

Nevel is 200 kms south of Pskov. We had a very good meeting. It was a pleasure to pray for the pastor and his wife. I preached the Word in the open as the church is being built. It was freezing cold. By the time service was over, I was rushing for the van (as the vehicle had a heating system).

Incomplete building... open church!

With Pastor Nikolai and wife

Moscow

I headed back to Moscow on Saturday night - 12 hours overnight train ride from Pskov. I was picked up from the train station by Pastor Andrei Blinkov @ 6.35 AM. I preached for Andrei's church and stayed overnight in his flat in Moscow. It was a great time of fellowship and encouraging Irena and Andrei. I also had the privilege to meet and chat with Elijah, the brother of Irena.

Back to Moscow - to the Red Square

Revival Centre Church, Moscow

I had two wonderful meetings in this church - the Sunday morning and a workshop on Understanding Finance. The Lord moved in a special way that morning. I was being very prophetic to a lot of people including the pastor and his wife.

Moscow morning service

Andrei also works for the Office of the Russian Church of Evangelical Christians. He was very helpful indeed in arranging the Missions Conference in Moscow (in which we participated and part sponsored) and our various ministries in the regions.

With Pastor Andrei at Red Square

Missions Conference, Moscow

I was privileged to be part of an exciting Missions Conference for pastors from across the great nation of Russia - many of whom came from far away distance.

Most of these pastors were planting churches under a project of The Russian Church of Evangelical Christians group - Project 42. The purpose is to plant 42 Pentecostal churches in 42 cities (without a Pentecostal church), across the huge country of Russia. Isn't this the most exciting project?

The team had a great time - and I personally spoke at a session during the conference and did a couple of afternoon seminar on "Understanding & Managing Finance".

I can tell you that the people benefited much. Many were expressing delight and were inspired by the sessions. I had a good time connecting and building relationships with many Russian pastors. Praise God.

Conference Participants

With the Russian leadership

Session in progress

In worship

A day off

It was good to relax and sight see Moscow for a day. The team had great fellowship - and we took plenty of great photos and videos. Enjoy the pictures:

Mackers in Moscow! Lenin and Stalin would had turned in their graves!

Beautiful Autumn in the city of Moscow

Goose-stepping march - guard change

Memorial to WWII soldiers

The entire team in Red Square