Gospel News — Sep-Dec 2013

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Photos: (top) Sister Emma's baptism; John & Erica serving soup at the feeding scheme.

RUSSIAN BIBLE SCHOOL

Erica and I have just finished lunch on the fourth day of the Moscow Bible school. We have been privileged to join nearly 80 of our Christadelphian brothers and sisters and friends from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Latvia and Moldova for a period of bible study and fellowship. Those from Moldavia spent 30 hours on a train to get to Moscow before a bus trip to the bible school venue from Moscow. We are at a large hotel/conference centre approximately 60 kilometers from Moscow situated in lush natural woodlands. We had always thought of Moscow as cold and snowy but here in July it is hot and humid so that most of the talks and activities are held out in

the open in an amphitheatre. Lighting is no problem as it is light from 4:00 am to 11:00 pm.

After breakfast, the activities commence at 10am with the three readings. Following each reading a talk and what is becoming very lively discussion ensues. This discussion has to be terminated at midday to allow a bible talk before lunch which up to now has been on the letter to the Colossians led by myself. We would love to understand Russian and so follow the discussion and other talks by Bro Duncan and other Russian brothers but can sometimes pick up the gist of it from the broken English of brothers or sisters sitting near us or some comments in English by brother Duncan. In the question session questions included, the origin of the Israeli priests mentioned in Exodus before God ordained any, and why Abraham was asked to offer up Isaac. It is great to see so many of the brothers and sisters contributing to the discussion.

I found talking, with a brother interpreting, a challenge but I am sure the brethren doing the interpreting found me a greater challenge and I thank brothers Alexei, Igor and Duncan for their efforts.

As the Bible school has progressed the talking and discussion has become more lively and the enjoyment and fellowship between everyone here greater. I know leaving will be a "sweet sorrow" as we "commend all here to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified"

--Bro. John Galbraith

We're pleased to report the baptism of nine brothers and sisters: ALEXEI, a man who has studied Bible Basics from Kostroma, Russia; IRINA, mother of bro Zhenya who was baptized 20 years ago, one of the first we baptized in Russia; NATALYA, from Krasnodar in southern Russia; DIMA, ALEXEI and VLADIMIR from the Pavlograd ecclesia in Ukraine; PETYA, son of sis. Tamara from Poltava; OLYA, mother of bro