History Makers Church Camp… summer 2010

As summer is approaching, so are all the camps and activities in Bryansk, Russia.  At the popular Christian operated

History Makers Camp at the Christian campground "Yolochka"

campground, Yolochka, 25 miles outside the city of Bryansk, God will be shaping many lives. History Makers Church, the church founded to reach the young people of Bryansk, was initially launched by using  a summer church camp in June 2008.  A ministry team from Dallas, Texas, “Glowing Heart,” (www.glowingheart.org) came to help and host at this camp event… and a church was born.  Now in 2010 the History Makers Church will have their third summer camp. And for the third summer in a row, “Glowing Heart” from Dallas will be joining them.  This summer will offer a bit of a new twist:

June 29-30: Leadership / Discipleship History Maker Camp. For two days a leadership core of about 20 young people will be living at Yolochka Campground for their first ever leadership camp event.  The Glowing Heart

History Makers Church Summer Camp

team will be with them, sharing a great experience of discipleship training and prayer focus. This is a great need for the core team of this young church.

July 1-4: History Maker Evangelism Camp. For four days the History Maker Church will be inviting as many as 100 of their friends for a total outreach camp experience. All four days will be at Camp Yolochka. They will be doing sports, music, and a total package of events geared for young adults and older teenagers, which is the complete make up of this young church.

Yes, you can help…

Pray

• Pray for development of the leadership of History Makers, and that God would use this event to mold and shape this core group

• Pray for the many “fringe” young people who connect to History Makers Church to come to the camp
  

  Young people of Bryansk Russia

  experience, July 1-4. This is a critical week, and many lives could be changed eternally.

• Pray for these two back to back camp experiences. Pray that God would bless these events.

Help with Sponsorship:

• This young church is able to pay for 40% of the cost of the event, but could use some help financially with the rest.  The cost is $15 per day per person.  Our goal is to help with about $4300 of the $6300 it will cost for these two camps. You could help with this. Contact or write the offices of LifeWay Church for how to participate…

• Also, check out Glowing Heart Ministries at www.glowingheart.org then click on the “Russia Report” to
  

  History Makers Church Summer Camp

  better understand the History Maker Camps this summer and past summers.

Tags: Add new tag, Billy Arnold, Bryansk, Glowing Heart, History Makers Church Bryansk, LifeWay Church, Patty Arnold, Russia ministry, Yolochka

It was singing that I heard through the woods on the final night of camp. In July, it doesn’t get dark until after 11pm, but this was “bonfire night” at “Yolochka Camp.” Bonfire night is a very traditional event for any Russian summer camp, a tradition started long ago during communist times.  The kids come pouring out of their cabins after dark, and celebrate friendships gained through their week of camp around a huge bonfire… the kind of fire that is often so large it’s like burning down a small barn. But it was the songs coming out of the dark woods that struck me most. Familiar “praises to

Bonfire at Yolochka Summer Camp

God” music that we had sung all week, and these kids with a joyful noise and at the top of their lungs were belting them on their way to join the bonfire. It was here, and only here, that I realized that these children felt truly free to sing songs like this. Most had no school friends that were believers. Many of them did not come from homes of believers. They lived in neighborhoods where there were very few believers. Even those who attended churches, they were small with very few other children attending. Where could they go sing with this freedom? It was here, at Camp Yolochka. I was glad to be part of it and witness such wonderful joy that overflowed from their hearts. There is great life changing power in the summer camp experience.

Tags: LifeWay Church, Russia summer childrens camp, Yolochka

I would like to take a moment to share a story with you about one of the children who has attended our children’s camp for many years.  This story gives you a glimpse in to the bleak circumstances of these children’s lives year round.  When they come to camp, they are able to have a short respite from the realities of their hard lives and are able to be transformed back to carefree children and see the Love of Christ in action through the love of the people at camp.

Boris has been attending the Children’s camp that LifeWay Church has hosted for years now. Currently he is 13 years old. But he also comes from a very troubled home, raised by his grandmother because his dad is nowhere to be seen, and mom has so many substance abuse issues she is unable to raise him. Boris is also a handful physically and emotionally. He is a non-stop basket full of personal insecurities, and it comes out. There have been times when those who have worked with him have in frustration called him “bad Boris.” But Boris is really a good kid that needed a hero… a mentor… someone to look up to. Scott Jackson became that hero for Boris at camp. Last summer at the end of camp session, Boris asked Scott  from the LifeWay team if he could stay after the camp and help clean up for a few days. It was his way to find an excuse to hang out with his hero, Scott.  After these days were finished, we dropped him off at his apartment complex to rejoin his grandmother. The gang of drunks and drug abusers met him in the parking lot to greet his arrival back. They all knew him. He knew all of them. We quickly realized the incredible value that these few days of camp were to Boris. Yolochka camp was like a spiritual oasis in the middle of a year of darkness. A dark home, a dark neighborhood, dark relationships. At summer Camp there was life, light, mentors, and the love of Jesus Christ. That’s what camp is for Boris. This is why summer Camp is so important.

This is the reason that we are in Russia and that we put on our annual auction to raise funds to send kids just like Boris to camp.  For more information on this year’s auction go to http://www.facebook.com/?sk=ff#!/pages/Federal-Way-WA/Russia-Mission-Auction/110516972313436?ref=ts

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Billy Arnold

To register to attend the auction go to www.russiamissionauction2010.com

When the rest of the world thinks of Russia, they often think of winter and lots of snow and cold. During the winter of 2010 winter has put on a great show.

Central City Bryansk Russia winter 2010

No one complains (well… not most of them). Snow and winter here brings a sense of pride. It also brings out amazing coats, hats and boots as well. This is NOT a country that has a problem with wearing the fur from animals. As you enter the bus or walk through the markets in the winter, its like walking through a fur fashion show.

Either way… the winter here is beautiful. Most locals say there has not been this much snow in 50 years. For many westerners who come to work in the camps or work on projects, they come in summer when it is warm or even hot. But Bryansk can be a cold place as well. Russians are typically proud of their winters. It becomes part of their national pride and culturally part of the way life is conducted.

Pray for Russia… and pray for Bryansk as you enjoy these beautiful photos.

Families enjoying the winter festival 2010 in Bryansk

Welcome to Russia from History Makers Church Bryansk

The term “secular” might have several definitions, in a changing world it becomes an appropriate term to describe the world that Christians serve in. I grew up in a world (the southern USA in the 60’s and 70’s) that certainly had plenty of people that were non-believers or at least non-committed to the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. But the community as a whole was heavily affected and directed by many of the standards and values that were set out in Scripture. There was an basic understanding of the values that we find in Scripture. But to be “secular” means that those standards are totally non-existent. To be “secular” means that the church or the Bible is not even on people’s radar when it comes to life’s decisions and directions; these people have become “non-god-affected.”  In the book of

Lenin, founder of the Soviet Union, established a century ago what is a "secular" thinking culture in Russia today. History Makers Church and others reaches out to the secular minded of Bryansk

Jonah 4:11 the citizens of Nineveh are described in this way… those who don’t know their right hand from their left. This is what I am finding in the city of Bryansk… but interestingly enough, this is what I find in the city of Seattle. The challenge of our ministries both in Bryansk, Seattle, and many other parts of the world is that we are having to start and build churches and ministries that reach out to “secular” people.   The History Makers Church in Bryansk is striving to reach out to these secular people. At our camp this week, it appears that many will be here with this kind of secular background.  The leadership of History Makers is trying hard to design a program that helps these people who don’t know their “left hand from their right hand” as it says of the Ninevites.  Please pray for History Makers camp this week and the young people they try to reach.  Pray that even your church might take a hard look at itself to see if there is room to reach out to the “secular” that live in your city.

Tags: History Makers Camp, History Makers Church Bryansk, Secular thinking in Bryansk Russia

Welcome to this site… Come explore ministry in Byransk, Russia!  About 250 SW of Moscow lies the city of Bryansk. Founded on the shores of the Desna River in the year 986 A.D, Bryansk is also known as the “City of Partisan Glory”

Billy & Patty Arnold, Scott & Diane Jackson, leaders of Bryansk, Russia Ministry

from its role in WWII.  Today, God is working in Bryansk in fantastic new ways.  Explore this website and discover for yourself how God is changing the hearts and lives of the people of Bryansk. Explore this website to see how God may use you to get involved in Bryansk, Russia.

Learn about the 3 major areas of God’s work in Bryansk…

• …the “Church Health Plan“
• …”Church Planting“ for a New Generation
• …the Christian Campground and summer camp ministries  that are touching thousands of lives.

Thank you for visiting…

Enjoy and Explore!

Russia has a changing spiritual climate in the 21st century

Bryansk, the city of "Partisan Glory"

The best time for ministry in Bryansk, Russia is our summer season.  There are several new camps coming this summer for you to pray for, and even consider financially supporting.

History Makers Camp – July 1 – 4

History Maker Camp 2008

This is the camp for the new generation church that has begun this past year (see the page on this web site about “Church Planting.”  Last summer this church was actually started using this summer camp experience as a tool. This is year 2!  Glowing Heart Ministries out of Dallas is again playing host for this great event.  Thank you Glowing Heart!  Thank you to their director Henry Loftin!

The young people in the History Maker Church will be financing most of this camp experience themselves… but if you would like to help them financially in this effort, please let us know at LifeWay Church / Russia ministry, and we will pass this on to them.  Pray for this summer camp!

Bezchitsa Church Camp – July 13-18

For the first time ever, one of our “Church Health Churches” (see the page on this web site for “Church Health Plan”) is having their own camp at the campground at Yolchka. LifeWay Church is the partner church with Bezchitsa, and they

Sergei Kyzhekin, Bezchitsa children's pastor, and some of his team and family

are sending a team of 4 to be part of the Bezchtisa Church team. Bezchitsa Church has a great children’s pastor, Sergei Kyzhekin, and he will be leading the camp and this team. Our prayer is that we will see over 100 children participate in this summer camp experience.

Bryansk Regional Camp – July 12 – 18

This camp is for anyone in the Bryansk region. We will see numerous churches from across the region sending children. The LifeWay team is led by Rich Long. Our prayer is that we will see more than 200 children participate in this camp experience… including many unchurched kids. Thank you LifeWay Church and Rich Long!

New Life Church Camp – July 20-23

This is a first as well… a small and relatively new church in the Bryansk region that is pushing the envelope to have a camp for their children and the kids in their community. Our prayer is for 40 children to come! Their partner Beverly

Pastor Travis McIntosh from Beverly Park Baptist Church Seattle, preaching at New Life Church Bryansk, their partner church

Park Baptist Church in Seattle is playing host to this event. Travis McIntosh is their pastor. Thank you Beverly Park and Pastor Travis!

If you feel you can and would like to help financially with the cost of hosting children for any of these camps this summer, contact us at barnoldlifeway@gmail.com. LifeWay Church / Russia Missions in Federal Way, Washington is host for this ministry.

The City of Dyatkovo is a beautiful “country feeling” smaller city set in a lovely countryside accessed by long country highways, wide open wheat fields, dramatic clusters of birch trees, and endless miles of pine forest. The city itself has a long and colorful history, founded in the 17^th century when some glass and crystal business people moved to this area from Trupchevsk, a hundred or so miles south, due to the preferable sand in the making of their product. The leaders of this business needed some expertise in the crystal making business, so they recruited craftsmen non-Russian foreigners from Europe, a common practice in those days. However, the local Russian citizens often had a difficult time pronouncing the foreign names of the new workers, so they called them by a common Russian friendly name… Dyatka… or uncle. The name stuck and the name of the city came to be known at “Dyatkovo” .

Today, Dyatkovo is a “county seat” town for its region that is a 40 minute drive from the city of Bryansk, and is the most influential city in the northern section of the Oblast (state) of Bryansk. The population is around 30,000 people. It is close enough to the city of Bryansk that it is influenced heavily by the city. There are regular buses and regional trains that commute people back and forth to the larger city. But Dyatkovo itself has industry that keeps it alive and active. The two most significant industries are the Dyatkovo crystal glass factory and the now famous Dyatkovo furniture factory. Both companies have substantial employment of thousands. The crystal factory has shrunk some in recent years, but it still famous for its crystal that they supply the Kremlin and many national state affairs. There are many advertising photos of former President Vladimir Putin and other national leaders hosting state events using the beautiful cut glass crystal from Dyatkovo. This factory, museum and store is a favorite stop for many tourist and visitors to the region. In the recent days the Dyatkovo furniture factory has been the fastest growing business. You can see Dyatkovo furniture stores all over Russia including many in the city of Moscow. It is a thriving business that has helped keep Dyatkovo a thriving city and good place to live.

Even though it has some national prominence because of these businesses, Dyatkovo has kept its sort of cozy smaller town feel. It has a charming center street running north and south, with the main square and a statue of Lenin (as in almost every Russian city) surrounded by the city and regional government offices and courthouse. There are several schools in different parts of the city, plenty of stores everywhere, and some growing and developing modern malls taking over and growing.

Would you like to help sponsor Russian Children for Summer Camp???

Come to the Dinner and Auction at LifeWay Church, Saturday April 25 at 5pm. The Russia Missions Team at LifeWay Church is helping sponsor and host 300 to 350 children in Russia for their summer Christian Camp experience.  In order to fund this great project, that same missions team is hosting an auction and fund raiser.  100% of the money collected goes to help the children have this camp. This is not a fund raiser for the American mission team to go. They fund this in personal ways. Just by attending this event, you help in a great way to fund the summer camp, and give a great blessing to so many children.

Dinner is $15, and even 100% of this money helps fund the kids camp.

Auction Items: There are many delightful and useful items that will be auctioned off, as well as great services that can be rendered.

Just some of the Items:

Vacations, Outings & Great Activity Events:

• A Week Vacation at a Condo on the Beach in Ocean Shores
• Day Hikes in the Washington Cascades
• Fishing Experience for 3, Breakfast Included
• Fall All Day Pheasant Hunting Trip, license included
• 2 Day Backpacking in the Cascades
• A Guys – All Day ATV and Target Shooting Trip
• Dinner for 4 and Wine Pairing
• Italian 5 Course Dinner for 4
• Christian Hip Hop Dance Party

Services:

• A Personalized Home Mural
• Personal Massage
• Professional Window Cleaning Service
• Personalized Creative Memories Storybook
• Complete Hair and Makeup Makeover
• Personalized Stained Glass Painting

Items for Sale:

• 42″ LG Plasma TV
• 25 different Baskets with great items

Learn more about Russia as well! At the event you will be inspired to learn so much more about what God is doing in Bryansk, Russia where we work and serve. So come, bring a friend, enjoy dinner, and have fun with the auction.  To sign up, go to lifewayconnect.com or call the Church office at 253-946-8107.

Doors open at 5pm, with dinner beginning at 6pm.

Where?  LifeWay Church Campus, 5015 SW Dash Point Road, Federal Way