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- TeamUfa
- We are a team of people trying to reach people in Ufa and Bashkortostan in Russia. It is no small task and we want your support!
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Saturday, January 15, 2011
Visit to Uchali
11:36 AM | Posted by
TeamUfa
The following comes from Chris on his visit to Uchali a few weeks ago.
Uchali is about 400 kilometers (a 5-hour drive) east-southeast of Ufa on the eastern side of the Ural Mountains. The population is approximately 40,000, predominantly Bashkir. There are approximately 200 known evangelical believers in Uchali, a small city with lots of manufacturing and refining work.
Andrei Dzuba, an Ufa believer, church starter, and former pastor, made the trip with me to Uchali to worship with the believers and encourage them. On the return to Ufa, we saw the beauty of God’s creation displayed in the snowy mountains and ruggedness of the glistening terrain.
A hilltop view of the city
The Baptist church we visited there has existed for a few years now, after believer Nadir Davletkildin and his family moved there from Ishimbai (two hours due south of Ufa) upon Nadir’s completion of a missional training program in Ufa about five years ago. An evangelical church from southern California has sent construction teams to assist with building a multi-purpose facility in Uchali during the past few years. Nadir’s family lives on the 2nd floor of the building, while the church body meets on the first floor. Several rooms are still unfinished, though the worship meeting room is fully functional, including a central heating-ac system. Andrei and I stayed the night in Nadir’s living room and two of the female believers joined us and Nadir’s family for lunch following morning worship on Sunday. Afterwards, Nadir gave us a short tour of the city.
Chris and Nadir
The church building
Andrei preaching during the service
Chris preaching
The church appears to be struggling because of various reasons. We need to pray for Nadir and his leadership as pastor of the church. We need to pray for several of the Uchali believers who have apparently been offended by other believers and are not active in the Baptist church. Having a nice facility is not a guarantee of success and effectiveness as a church body or missionality. There needs to be healing and accountability in the church body and a restoration of Jesus as the central figure and focus of His church. We need to pray that current Baptist leadership will be supportive and helpful to Nadir and the small fellowship of believers in Uchali. The church has great potential that is not being realized.
Chris with Nadir, his family, and some ladies from the church
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! New Year is the biggest holiday in Russia and in keeping with that, we were excited to welcome in 2011 with the rest of the city. Here are a few pictures from the evening.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19
We're excited here about what God will do this year! Please consider committing to pray for this city in 2011. Pray for the people here and pray about how you could be involved. We would love to see you here in Ufa!
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