Morling Tuesday Chapel: Missions in Russia

Photo: George Leslie Mackay and his followers. In 1872, George Leslie Mackay from the Canadian Presbyterian church entered north Taiwan. Mackay was one of the most remarkable missionaries in the late Victoria era, whereby during his three decades in Taiwan he single-handedly established the groundwork of the northern Presbyterian mission. Only the brave and God trusting could survive, as the preaching, teaching and medical ministries were hindered by suspicion, jealousy, wild rumours, fierce antagonism, grim persecutions and rioting mobs. There were incidents when missionaries narrowly escaped with their lives. 
James R. Rohrer, “Charisma in a mission context: the case of George Leslie Mackay in Taiwan, 1872-1901”, Missiology, 36 (2008), 228-229.

Speaker: Tim Kay, a Morling graduate working with Operation Mobilisation (OM). Tim moved to Russia in January 2014, to serve with them in their discipleship centre in Siberia. This discipleship centre has been running for 10 years working with Russian Baptists.

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-3 (a common passage God uses to send people to missions)

When called to missions, God gives you a heart for the people you’re called to and their culture.

Abram was growing up in a pagan context: So who was he praying to? Who is the centre of your life? You are! Because you are asking all these little gods to help you.

But here, the voice of God called Abram asking him to go! This was a call to faith in a God he probably didn’t know yet.

2003: Tim had a vision calling him on missions to Russia. His wife also had the vision.

Some people around him say, “What? You’re called to those “grumpy Russians”?” (ie. they don’t smile on the streets.)

Getting to the Northern Hemisphere in winter, minus 40 in Russia! The cold froze his nostrils and bones despite wearing a jacket!

A sacrifice: You’re not going to watch your nephews and nieces grow up, your parents won’t see their grandchildren, etc. Tim didn’t get to see his father before he passed away. A sacrifice meaning Jesus’ plan for your life is all that you want, even if it meant financial cuts etc. God’s blessing and promise is never detached from his calling. Abide in me and you will bear much fruit! I will make you a great nation! There is fruitfulness in the blessings of God.

What does it mean to be a blessing?

God is saying to Abram, “In a cursed land, Abram, you’re going to be a source of blessing: be a potential source for people to know me. I will bless those who bless you, and curse anyone who curses you.” If we are called one day to do missions abroad, would we rather to go to the place of our calling or stay in Sydney and pay off the mortgage for our one million dollar property?

The goal of the OM discipleship centre is to send people to unreached people groups.

In the city Tim’s in, there is an active radical Islamic group, so there is always a threat of getting blown up. You can tell who they are because they are all dressed in the full black attire. One day someone dressed like that turned up in their centre and wanted to come in. She asked for the leader of the gathering, which is Tim (and of course he was very scared... but he was even more scared of denying Jesus because of the bible verse "if we deny Him, He also will deny us"). She is part of the radical group. She was in a religious meeting a month ago when she felt a fear fall upon her and she had seizures. They thought that was the work of the demons and kept trying to shout the demons out and that didn’t work. They took her to the psychiatrist and that didn’t work. Then she heard there are some Christians in the city that might be able to help and came to the discipleship centre. So they prayed for her and casted the demons out, and she gave her life to Christ. Her husband also came and gave his life to Christ. So this couple went from preaching Jihad to preaching Jesus.