The Harbor St. Petersburg » 2009

Sep 25

I decided to share this note from Nadia a graduate of The Harbor. She is currently studying at DTS Missions School in Rostov. It is so awesome to see the hand of our Abba in the lives of our graduates. We covet your prayers.

I love studying at this school. Currently there are five other students and we have become good friends. We have an amazing leaders. We have been serving in different ministries to homeless and at rehab centers. In the future we have many other opportunities to minister to less fortunate ones who have been deprived of the blessings. This is a beginning stage for us and we do not know whole lot and what awaits for us. This morning we had a powerful praise and worship service. We prayed and asked God to show us how He wants to use us. We drew pictures and then explained what it meant to us. The latest two topics that we have been studying are misisons and how to listen God. These topics have touched me deeply.

God is revealing to me something that I have never paid attention to or thought it was not that important. There is a lot of bad stuff and it saddens me down due to that, but I do trust my Heavenly Father. He wants to burn the bad stuff and give me fresh and new stuff. He gives strength and encouragement to me. He helps me to stay on target and make right choices. He is so faithful and I must be faithful back to Him. This school is a blessing to me and I am so excited that I am here right now. I know that this school will help me to become a different person so that I can serve the Lord in a deeper and more powerful way.

Please pray for me. Pray that God would continue to work in me.

Thank you.

Blessings,

Nadia Abramova

Sep 25

Quotes that are worth looking at to help us serve people better

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Dan Craig sent us several over the past few months: It is said that, "A good leader inspires people to have confidence in their leader. A great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves."

It is said, "Until you commit your goals to paper, you have intentions that are seeds without soil."

It is said that, "Wealth is not measured by just what we have, but rather by what we have for which we would not take money."

It is known that, "Temper is the one thing you can't get rid of by losing it."

J. Willard Marriott said, "It's the little things that make the big things possible. Only close attention to the fine details of any operation makes the operation first class."

"A great leader never sets himself above his followers except in carrying responsibilities."

~Jules Ormont"The measure of a truly great man is the courtesy with which he treats lesser men."

"Giving people a little more than they expect is a good way to get back a lot more than you'd expect."

~Robert HalfBill Heller said, "A good friend of mine told me that if our government was in charge of the Sahara Desert, we would run out of sand in short order."

A.W. Tozer said, "It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular. It is why he does it "If I had my life to live over again, I would live it to change the lives of people, because you have not changed anything until you've changed the lives of people. Changing the world requires changing the lives of people."

Charles R. Swindoll, Growing Deep in the Christian LifeRachel Carson warned, "If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder... he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in."

D.L. Moody said, "When a man has no strength, if he leans on God, he becomes powerful."Prosperity belongs to those who learn new things the fastest."

Paul Zane Pilzer"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

Jeff Pinkleton newsletter had these quotes:

Sin takes us places we don't want to go.

Sin keeps us longer than we want to stay.

Sin costs us more than we're willing to pay.

Sep 16

“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” Isa. 48:17 (b)

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Part II

My other meeting in CA was in La Mesa with Bill and Stephanie who have two beautiful Russian children from St. Pete. When I arrived to their house Bill and his daughter Marina came outside to meet me. I was so surprised when Marina ran to me and gave me a big hug. What a joy and sign of trust, which is huge especially because I cannot say that I know her that well. Bill said to me that since her parents trust me, she has learned that she can trust me also. Stephanie prepared a delicious Greek dinner and we had a wonderful fellowship. It gives joy to my heart when I see kids have bonded with their parents. That is very instrumental in becoming a family. Bill and I had a wonderful conversation regarding fundraising because he raises funds for the hospital and hospice in the San Diego area. This was an amazing opportunity for me to grow and soak in Bill’s knowledge and expertise. I am thankful to Bill and Stephanie for a wonderful visit. Please pray for their children John and Marina. Pray for their continuous and stronger bond with their parents.

Rick and Rita our ministry partners who live in Corona, a city southeast of L.A. Rita made a delicioso, an Italian way of saying delicious, Italian dinner and we enjoyed catching up. At a dinner party hosted by this family I met Steve their middle child. Two years ago, Steve was walking with the Lord, but unfortunately, he is no longer walking with the Lord. The parents have been talking to him about God, but he does not want to accept that as the truth. I was able to give some words of encouragement to Rick and Rita through a story, which deeply touched me. It is a story about faith and perseverance how a son was praying for his father everyday for thirty years to accept the Lord. Most people want something to happen instant like McDonald's, but the reality is the opposite. God blesses the humble, obedient, faithful and persevering servants. Please pray for Steve and his parents so that he will return to his Heavenly Father. I think many disconnect with our Father because they have never been able to experience the deep walk with Him, once we do we want more of it. I pray that every person who claims to be a believer will experience a true level of intimacy in their walk with their Heavenly Father.

On that note, I want to stress the importance of deep relationship with our earthly father as well. Many families in this world have fathers that are “somewhat” connected to their children. Somewhat, is not enough. Josh McDowell once shared a story when I went to his apologetics conference in MO. He was in AZ speaking at a larger university to an audience of a few thousand students. Josh was warned about six punks who visited the campus of this university and gave a hard time to anyone who preached the gospel. Sure enough, during his presentation they showed up. Josh paused for a second, slightly shifted his body so he could face them and went on with his presentation. At the end these guys came and asked if they could hug him. Josh was shocked, but he said yes. As he was hugging them he was whispering in their ear, “I love you.” They began to weep so he asked them why they were weeping. The answer they gave him was wrapped around the relationship they had with their own fathers. “Our fathers have never been there for us, never hugged us, or said I love you.”

As an orphan, I have never been able to experience the love of an earthly father. There was no father who could embrace me into his arms when I was lonely. When I became a Christian the Lord became that Father to me and He has given me some men in my life who have been able to give me something that I have never had. There will always be that empty spot in my heart until I will become a father to my own children. I realize that it will be another chapter of inner healing in my heart and life as I will be a father who will dearly love and always embrace my children. My challenge to you who are fathers-- if you have never hugged, kissed, or embraced your son or daughter then do it now. They are waiting for you to do that. The more you become active in the family, the better your family will become. It will be complete just as our Heavenly Father has intended.

My final dinner event in CA was with the Board of Detskiy Dom Partners that is affiliated with Nightlight Christian Adoption Agency. Nightlight has started a Board with members who are passionate and committed to make the difference in the lives of orphans who did not get adopted. Nightlight has been operating in Russia for the past sixteen years or so. Many children were adopted through this agency and every Board member has an adopted child. It was an honor to be part of this dinner, share more about The Harbor, and connect with three adopted children who were present at the dinner. One of the adoptive young adult was from my orphanage #51, but she has been in the states for over ten years now. Another young adult was from a different orphanage in St. Pete, but what I love about her is passion for Russia and desire to go back and do something for other orphans. I actually talked to her about becoming our ambassador in the states and help us raise the awareness. She is finishing her studies and looking for a job in the states. However, her heart is open and we ask for you to pray about her part in this ministry. Please pray for Liana and her becoming the ambassador of The Harbor.

How can you help?

If you love what the Lord is doing in the lives of The Harbor residents and graduates please help us to raise the awareness about our ministry among your friends, relatives, colleagues, and churches.

This past month has been a busy one trying to find new ministry partners. Due to financial struggles around the world, raising funds has been even more challenging. A friend of mine in Russia told me, “Alex, if you want to make God laugh, then show Him the list of your future plans.” If you have asked me fifteen years ago would I have ever been involved in the ministry to orphans or raise funds for an organization that helps “graduate” orphans well, my answer would have been no. The Lord truly does have a sense of humor. “The man makes his plans, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Pr. 16:9) My future plans include going back to Russia in April for about four and a half months. I realize that it is not super effective to raise funds in the states in the summer. Due to summer vacations and/or time off from work it makes more sense for me to be in Russia ministering to orphans. I love being in Russia especially when I can experience the joy of transformation in the lives of our residents and graduates, discipling these orphans who are spiritually hungry, and connecting on a deeper level. Daily I surrender the ministry to our heavenly Father because it is His ministry and not mine/ ours. I ask for peace through the tough times, because I know that He will provide just like He has for the past eight years.

We need more partners that will commit to partner with us by investing $50 or $100 per month to help maintain our residential and non residential program that is reaching over 80 orphans and 17 Christian national staff.

To financially partner with The Harbor please make tax deductible gift out to CRM (Account #9970) or you can make online donation by visiting: <www.crmleaders.org/support> Make sure to choose The Harbor as your ministry of support. If sending a check please send check to:

Church Resource Ministries
1240 N. Lakeview Ave. Suite 120
Anaheim, CA 92807

Blessings, The Harbor & Alex

Sep 16

Defending the oppressed and fatherless

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A friend of mine sent me this article tonight. After reading this article it broke my heart. Orphans once again have become the victims of this dark and sinful world. There are 143 million orphans around the world who desperately need us. If not us than who else will help them and become the voice of the voiceless.

This article is a great example why we as a body of Christ need to use our talents and spiritual gifts to defend the rights of those who have been deprived of everything in this world and care for the poor, needy, homeless, orphans and widows.

Galations 6:2 says, "Carry each other's burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Does your heart aches for the things that matter to God?

Psalm 10:17-18 says, "You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more."

Speak out and defend the truth. Orphans need you today more than ever.

Pa. man gets 8 years for sex with Russian orphans

By MARYCLAIRE DALE, Associated Press Writer Maryclaire Dale, Associated Press Writer – Wed Sep 16, 7:28 pm ET

PHILADELPHIA – A wealthy Russian-American car exporter was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday for procuring girls from a Russian orphanage to have sex with them.
Andrew Mogilyansky, 39, of suburban Philadelphia raped one girl on her 14th birthday and a 13-year-old in her first sexual encounter, the victims said in letters to the court.

The original indictment accuses Mogilyansky of helping finance and run an online child-sex ring aimed at rich international customers. An $8 million civil lawsuit that made the same allegations has been settled. However, he pleaded guilty only to being a customer of the now-defunct "Berenika" ring.

"I still feel his repugnant breath. I hate him," one of the victims, now 18, wrote in a statement read in court.

Friends from Mogilyansky days at Columbia University testified Wednesday, describing him as brilliant and generous, and his wife called him a loving husband and father. A defense psychotherapist concluded he is not a sexual predator.

But the victims wrote that he left them pained, depressed and unable to trust men since the assaults in 2003 and 2004. Mogilyansky was accused of getting the girls from an orphanage on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, then assaulting them at an apartment in the Russian city.

Mogilyansky received the top of the 78- to 97-month sentencing range negotiated as part of his plea to four "sex tourism" counts.

U.S. District Judge Mary A. McLaughlin decried "this business of going abroad to have sex with young girls." She found the defendant's accomplishments impressive but called his crimes "grave."

"To take young teenagers from that orphanage to an apartment and have sex with them is a grave criminal act," McLaughlin said.

Mogilyansky had lived in Richboro northeast of Philadelphia with his wife and their three toddlers until his bail was revoked following his December arrest.

"It wasn't until after I was arrested that I looked myself in the mirror and said, 'How could I have done this?'" Mogilyansky told the judge. "This isn't me."

Prosecutors previously estimated his wealth at $5 million to $10 million, and said he earned $750,000 a year as the owner of several businesses, including IFEX Global in Bensalem, the car exporting company.

But defense lawyer Jack McMahon scoffed at suggestions his client remains a millionaire, and prosecutors did not challenge his request for a low fine of $12,500.

Mogilyansky must also pay each victim $5,000 restitution, register as a sex offender after his release and serve 15 years of federal probation.

More than 50 "sex tourism" cases have been brought in the U.S. under the 2003 Protect Act, which aims to prosecute Americans who travel overseas to have sex with children.

The criminal case stems from a related 2006 trial in Russia that spawned several convictions, one of which brought a defendant a 10-year sentence.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090916/ap_on_re_us/us_sex_tourism

Sep 12

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seek Him” ~La 3:25

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Part I

About three weeks ago I met with Jennifer who has started Into the Field organization: <www.intothefield.org> to talk about how two nonprofit organizations can network and partner. Network and partnership is very crucial and I wish it would be practiced more regularly. It is a constant struggle for organizations to unite as a body of Christ and partner with one another. We can do so much more in unity. It takes a community to save a child. The goal of Into the Field is to network and connect different organizations and help them to become this body of Christ. I met with another organization Doma: <www.domaconnection.org>. This organization ministers to orphans in Ukraine and Russia. It is so awesome to meet with people who share your heart and passion. Many contacts and connections were exchanged. God is so good when He brings brothers and sisters together under one roof and for one cause.

In Southern California I always stay with my family Rich and Sue in Riverside. My family has become very passionate for the ministry in addition to their passion for healthy and nutritious eating: <www.suegregg.com>. Since food is my family’s forte, one of the passions we have is serving dinner or dessert events. Every event has anywhere from ten to fifteen people thus making it a very intimate and personal time to share our heart. This is a great way to raise awareness about the ministry and fellowship with one another. In six days, I participated in five events and it was amazing. I want to express my deepest gratitude to my family Rich and Sue for everything that they have done for The Harbor and me personally.

I drove to Thousand Oaks and Calabasas where I stayed with families who have adopted Russian orphans and now wish to invest into the lives of orphans who did not get a chance to be adopted. This is a very powerful way to minister to the least of these. In Thousand Oaks I stayed with a family who has adopted two older girls Dasha and Sima. I was amazed at how well they were doing, especially language wise. They are not young and the older you are the harder it is to learn the language. Of course, they have some challenges, but God is definitely at work. I love to connect with families that have former orphan children because I love to talk to these kids and see what their passion is and/or what they would like to do in the future. I truly believe the Lord can raise a new generation of radical and passionate leaders among former orphans who will minister to other orphans. It is so important to give back especially because the Word of God teaches and commands us to care for orphans and widows (James 1:27). Who can understand other orphans better than a former orphan himself? Their stories, like every orphan, is very sad and heartbreaking, yet amazing to see the light, gradual healing, and restoration because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their life. Both girls have given their life to God and are still growing and learning how to trust and walk with their Heavenly Father on daily basis. I talked to them about inner healing and forgiveness because I believe that is a step number one for every follower of Christ in order to become effective in ministering to the lost and forgotten souls. However, do not wait to become perfect because there is no such thing on this earth. Please pray for Dasha and Sima. I am grateful to Kenny and Wendy for hosting the dessert event.

While in Calabasas I met with the entire community of families who have adopted former orphans from Russia and Belorussia. I visited a family that has two boys from a St. Pete orphanage; Sergei and Jason. We had a wonderful fellowship talking about life, goal, future, faith and inner healing/forgiveness. I feel that not much is said and done about it and I want orphans and believers in general to be healed from their past pain. Please as you pray remember Sergei and Jason in your prayers.

I had a wonderful time with my friend Gary and Sue and their two boys. Gary and Sue are ministry partners and adoptive parents. Max their youngest, has been struggling in the states due to his rough past. Max rarely opens up, but when we met for the first time he granted me the gift of his trust. I have been giving him words of encouragement and guiding him to make right choices. I also have been doing the same for his parents. Max has two other brothers in Russia, Gosha and Arthur. I have mentioned them both in my previous notes and updates. Gosha has graduated from the orphanage about three years ago. Currently he is studying at a trade school to become an auto mechanic which is his passion. Arthur was supposed to leave the orphanage this summer because he was accepted into a trade school in St. Pete. He is a bit younger than usual to be leaving the state system, but I guess the orphanage had enough of him. Anton called me this summer and asked me if The Harbor would be willing to take Arthur in because his trade school does not have a dormitory. I told him absolutely and he needed to call me. He did and I asked him to call Luba our Director. Well, two days ago Luba wrote me and said that the state did not let Arthur into The Harbor because he is too young. I have a suspicion that the state might not have let him leave the orphanage period. Anyway please pray for Arthur as he stays in the orphanage and Lord willing he can come to us next school year.

In talking with Tanya a dinner guest, we realized that we know the same people. Her brother is a pastor in Twin Cities at a church that used to meet in the Mall of America. I have spoken a few times however, it has been a long time since I have been to that church. So now we have reconnected and it is amazing to see how God puts puzzles pieces back into one giant picture that is so beautiful. I am able to see time after time the Lord’s mighty hand at work orchestrating many details and changing many lives. I am grateful to Gary and Sue for hosting the dinner event.

How can you help?

If you love what the Lord is doing in the lives of The Harbor residents and graduates please help us to raise the awareness about our ministry among your friends, relatives, colleagues, and churches. I appreciate every single one of you who has become our prayer intercessor. I am grateful for every financial partner who has invested into the lives of orphans. I am grateful that you have stepped up and believed that your life can make a difference in the lives of others, especially those who have been deprived from the blessings of God. Come and join the cause by making investments into the kingdom of God and store into eternal treasures.

Church Resource Ministries
1240 N. Lakeview Ave. Suite 120
Anaheim, CA 92807

Thank you!

Blessings, The Harbor & Alex

Sep 08

Needs list-September 2009

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0909_harbor_needs_list_pdf

Sep 08

Quarterly Newsletter-August 2009

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0908_harbor_update_pdf

Sep 08