Dr. Phil. If your experience has been anything like mine, then you likely grew up learning to appreciate the importance of maximizing your time. This likely took the form of learning not to waste time and being intentional about managing it. I think it’s safe to say that in the list of non-renewable resources, time is the one that is at the very top of that list.  Richard Wurmbrand (Romanian pastor tortured for his faith in the Soviet Union) tells the tale of a man who was walking along the dark bank of a river at night. He stumbled upon a small bag containing stones. As a distraction he ..read more

Over the years, Alexei and Tatiana have hosted our team in Moscow and they have ministered  together throughout Russia. Through Alexei’s ministry a young man who was in university in Moscow found the Lord and become a disciple of Jesus. He then went back to his home country of Georgia as a youth leader in the church. He had studied medicine, but eventually planted a church in Georgia. Georgia, the country, is located just south of Russian, north of Turkey and Armenia, on the east coast of the Black Sea. It is part of the Caucasus region with a population of nearly 4 million people. After ..read more

For some time we have been writing about our new CLI program. This is our newest training innovation, the MCNet Christian Leadership Institute. It is the culmination of our “Intentional Relationships” series  (Discipling thru Intentional Rel. for young believers,  Mentoring thru Intentional Rel. for young leaders). We have been writing and developing this new material (Coaching thru Intentional Relationships) for several years now. While it incorporates materials we have developed over the last 25 years, it has a unique focus and target group. It is a somewhat more systematic and int ..read more

Planes and Trains. . . by Dr. Phil We usually don’t’ bore you with the details of how the sausages are made, so to speak…. in other words sparing you the travel details as to how we get there, but in order to provide a bit of context for my last trip to Ukraine this edition will be an exception. What used to be a straight flight to Kiev from Amsterdam and then a domestic flight to the eastern Ukrainian city of Zaporozhzia (Zap), has due to the war become a bit more complicated and took three days. Once in Amsterdam, it began with a flight to Krakow, Poland and from there a three hour train rid ..read more

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Earlier this year Deo (MCNet Coach, W. Africa) returned for a ministry trip to his country of birth, the Democratic Rep.  of Congo.  He has had an ongoing ministry there and was able to teach some leadership seminars as well as provide clean water to communities through his partnership with another organization. After his kidney transplant, we are excited to see Deo fulfilling his vision of reaching the people of the DRC. TANZANIA, E. Africa James Kamau continues to serve leaders in Eastern Africa, particularly in Tanzania. He also continues to reac ..read more

     I am beginning to write these reflections as I bounce along my overnight train trip back west through Ukraine to the Polish border. Under the clear blue autumn sky the endless wheat and sunflower fields pass by to the clickity-clack of the train tracks. Though leaving the war zone, I find myself full of mixed emotions.      Max dropped me off at the Zap train station last night and as the train pulled out of the station I could see groups of families bidding each other tearful goodbyes. The train was generally filled with wives, mothers and some chi ..read more

Istanbul is a unique city as it straddles Europe and Asia, separated by the Bosporus Straights. Once the centre of the Byzantine Empire and renamed Constantinople by the ‘Roman Emperor turned Christian’ in the fourth century. Needless to say, lots of layers of history. Istanbul, as the place where Europe and Asia meet, added to the beauty of our multicultural ministry. It was a great time to see the team and hear about the ways God is leading each one in their ministry. I value the encouraging devotions and time for personal prayer. We consider quite important Phil’s efforts to uncover for us ..read more

EURASIA Church Planting in St. Petersburg Valera and Narina have just started a new church plant in St. Petersburg, Russia. They are seeking to reach non-churched Russians and so have are using a more interactive format on Sundays, as well as developing new believers and new leaders using our various materials. Having the church service arranged around tables facilitates relationship building as well as applying the truths of the sermon through discussion during the service. Thank you for your prayers as they provide leadership for this new church plant, and continue to train young leaders in ..read more

I think we all would agree that each one of our life’s journey is specific and unique. Yet I was reading a book lately (Decade by Decade – Life is Surprisingly Predictable, Bobb Biehl) that makes the point that, decade by decade, we generally go through surprisingly similar life stages. For instance, in our twenties we are discovering what we are good at and how to function as adults. Then in our thirties we are starting to focus on our life’s work and defining what “success” is for us. Our focus in our forties typically changes from being successful to wanting to do something of significance ..read more

Over ten years ago we developed materials to help married couples, aptly named, “The First Team.” While the roles in marriage vary from couple to couple, we have seen freedom come to married couples as they understand that they are a team and God wants to work through them as a couple – rather than dominating each other, seeing that mutual submission is a key to a healthy marriage. While the complete seminar is usually a 2-3 day event, our ministry coaches have been innovative and adapted it in various settings. For example, Valera and Narina in Russia are using it as a basis for pre-marital c ..read more