On the Inside

The following is a message we recently received from Chaplain Prison Ministry director, Igor Krutogolov. God continues to open doors for Igor to work with prisoners. If you would like to support Chaplain Prison Ministry, click here. Under This is For, select Igor Krutogolov. Igor is a graduate of SRS' Biblical Theological Seminary.

Igor (left) speaks with administrators of Prison #4, Fornosovo, Leningrad Oblast.

God answered a longtime prayer of mine, I was appointed to the Public Monitoring Committee for the Leningrad Region of Prisons.  In this position I am able to visit prisons and jails and inspect the facilities, food and medical quality.   Then I meet with the prison director and we discuss any deficiencies and how they can be corrected.

In this capacity I am able to make a real difference in the prisoners’ lives both professionally and personally.  I am allowed to have unhindered conversations with the prisoners which is a real blessing and I have an insider position in the prison system.

I have already seen 2 great results—in one, after an inspection of a jail which had several violations I was able to convince the police chief to release a prisoner who was being unlawfully held.  In the second instance, I introduced the prison director to the local prison minister, Pastor Martunichev. Miraculously the prison director agreed to allow  Pastor Martunichev on the supervisory committee for the prison.  This position will give his ministry status at the prison as well as facilitate his ministry there.  God’s hand was obvious.

Pulling Down Strongholds: November Intensive Course Expanding toward Mecca!

Students and teachers at the Fall 2013 Intensive Course, St. Petersburg, Russia

By Evegeny Kruzhkov, Dean of Students for SRS Biblical Theological Seminary

In II Corinthians 10:4, the apostle Paul wrote that "our weapons of warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." In November, we plan to have our regular intensive course at the Biblical Theological Seminary, but with an exciting twist. Three of the men coming are from an Islamic Central Asian country where it is illegal for them to publicly worship Christ, much less attend seminary. 

One of these men, Ridon, will graduate soon and may be one of the first in his closed Muslim country to receive a Master of Divinity! He married a wonderful woman this summer and I was privileged to perform the (illegal) wedding ceremony in his home city. I have recently been invited to teach the book of Revelation in their country. What a privilege.

For this intensive course to happen 3-17 of November, we must begin buying plane tickets. There will be 15 pastors, elders and preachers coming from four countries (Russia, Latvia, Middle 

Asia, Kazakhstan). Among these will be 5 new students from Middle Asia, Moscow, Far East and 

St. Petersburg.

I will teach the book of Romans, and Seminary Director, Oleg Volkov, will teach The 

Structure of the Church and Discipline. Reverend Blake Purcell will teach on missiology, The 

University of World Peace. A special guest will be MTW’s European Director, Ken Matlak from 

Berlin, teaching on Developing Small Groups. Mission to the World (MTW) is the missionary sending agency of the Presbyterian Church in America.

We need to raise $15,000 starting today so that the November intensive course can take place and so Ridon's wife can also come and meet the wives of believers in St. Petersburg. If you would like to give a special gift to make our Fall 2014 Intensive Courses possible, click here to donate online. Next to This is for, select "seminary/general fund", and in the Message, type "November 2014 Intensive Course." If you would like to donate by check, click here for the address. We will keep the website and our Facebook updated on how the Lord provides for this need.

Pray for us to be faithful as the Lord continues to go ahead of us, opening a breach before us ((Micah 2:13), and pulling down mighty strongholds in the world.

Thank you and God bless,

Evegeny Kruzkhkov