The Lord has blessed the mission this past year, as our mission continues to show signs of growth. Let me share a few things that have been happening at our mission during the past few months. One of our volunteers, Shirley Miller, was uneasy about the many people in and around our mission who are struggling to make ends meet. While many economic aspects of life in Russia have improved, many are still underfed. Many elderly or poorer families cannot afford meats or fruits, and their health suffers. So Shirley started a food bank in our mission. She recruited some of her English students to assist her in purchasing food, then dividing everything in preparation for distribution.

Another ministry is the distribution of warm coats through our mission. Seed of Hope is a humanitarian aid mission located in Florida that wanted to assist people around our mission with warm coat, especially children. They enabled our mission to purchase 100 coats for children to help them stay warm this winter.  What is unique about the food bank and the coat project is how they work together to bring people into our church. Because it is so difficult to decide who has should receive assistance, a portion of the aid was given to the needy in our church, but the bulk of the assistance is distributed through the regional government.  They do a much better job of screening people, and when the see a family which could benefit from our assistance, they give them our address and a coupon. This family then comes to our mission, where one of our church members spends a few minutes getting to know them, telling them about our mission, and giving them the groceries or coats.  Now our mission has only been doing this for a few weeks, and the results are already noticeable.  On Sunday, December 24, when we have only 10-12 children in our morning service -- this last Sunday, 34 children attended! We estimate 40% of that growth was directly related to these humanitarian aid ministries.  We give Him praise for both the opportunity to share, and the result of more people coming and hearing the Word of God.

The volunteer ministry also directly effected on our Christmas eve attendance, for many English students were curious about Christmas and our mission.  So they normally come to our mission for the first time on Christmas.  Last year, attendance at the Christmas eve service maxed out our worship center with a record attendance of 105. Since we knew more people would come this year, we made an agreement to hold our worship on the first floor of our building, in a store which is currently being remodeled.  The work crews simply removed their things, and the church cleaned and decorated the area.  Many helped moved all the chairs, altar, and Christmas tree to the first floor.  It was worth it, because a record 144 people attended worship! The unique fact is that our mission only has 140 chairs, but there was a bench left over by the workers, so everyone was able to find a seat.  We held a traditional candle light service, followed by a reception in our mission center. 

This was a special Christmas for many reasons, but especially because our congregation is in the process of registering.  The congregation held it's first voters meeting, signed a charter, and has submitted its registration papers with the local government.  The new name of the congregation will be Christ the Savior.  The congregation was formed by joining two worshiping groups in Novosibirsk, our mission congregation and a house church of Finnish Lutherans near Novosibirsk.  The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria has accepted our request to join them, and now all that remains is for the Government to give its stamp of approval.  Please keep this in your prayers, as being able to register a congregation is very important in Russia, and not always automatic.  The process takes about a month, and we should be registered in January. 

Our family is now taking a two weeks off for our annual retreat in Finland.  Each year, the missionaries gather together for a week so that we can get a little rest.  Denae especially needs to rest because she has been very busy in school where she sings with a quartet, acts with an English Theater group, plays the organ on Sundays at church, and helps out with the puppet shows.  She did have one hardship though, she had to attend school on Christmas because there was a big test.  Remember that December 25 in Russia is just another day, many celebrate Christmas on January 7 in keeping with the Orthodox tradition.  

We are very thankful to everyone for your on-going support of our Lord's mission here in Novosibirsk. We are very thankful for the many cards and e-mails filled with encouragement.  We are sorry we don't always have time to write everyone personally, but we do appreciate hearing from you.  If you e-mail us, remember that we will be on the road, or in Finland until January 12.  From Jeanne, Denae, Jena and myself, we wish everyone a very happy holiday, as we give thanks for the many blessings that the Lord has given us. 

Missionaries Jeff and Jeanne Thormodson