Two weeks ago, I was touring the Kremlin in Moscow Russia at the end
of my Spring mission trip to Russia. Yesterday, Russia’s new president,
Dimitry Medvedev (med-vya-deyev) took office in that very same
Kremlin and today the former president (as of yesterday), Vladimir
Putin, will be confirmed as the new prime minister – a post appointed
by Russia’s president.

I refuse to sensationalize current events (I hate when Christian leaders do that), however, there is no doubt that God’s purposes and the destiny of nations & peoples are being played out in the happenings of the world around us. Because of treeoflife’s work in Russia over the past 5 years, we have a special interest in that part of the world, and many of the readers of this blog have prayed, given financially, traveled with us to, or supported the work in Russia in some way so I wanted to give some links to articles that may hold significance for our work there and/or the future of that nation & it’s people.

Day of the Bear – Medvedev’s name & Russia’s symbol (Moscow Times)
Russians look for continuity – a report on the transition of power (USA Today)
Economy of Clay – a critical view of Russia’s oil dependent economy (Newsweek)
Putin confirmed as PM – a short article on Putin’s new role (CBC News)
Russia’s Time Bomb – Aids is a rising epidemic in Russia (BBC News)
Warning shot? / Playing with fire. – 2 articles on a troubled spot in the Caucus region (MT)
US Pastor imprisoned in Russia – 3 years for a box of ammo? (Fox News)

While I don’t agree with everything these articles endorse, there are merits to what they are expressing according to my experience in Russia and trends I see emerging in that nation. However, I ask that you approach this info first and foremost as followers of Jesus trying to understand these events in light of what it means for the Body of Christ NOT primarily as Americans/westerners looking for reasons to fear/attack Russia.

Please pray for the nation of Russia, the precious believers there, & missionaries from all over the world that are working in that nation to see God’s love & power demonstrated.

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