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Cornerstone Communications
Crimea
August 12, 2007

NEWSLETTER CONTENTS

1. Greeting
2. VIDEO
3. Thanks!
4. Teaching for August-"Through the Eyes of God"
5. Text for Video
6. Close

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Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings from Sevastopol, Crimea! We just finished a wonderful production in Perm, Russia, and now I’m on to Zagreb, Croatia…. Again!

“Wait, wasn’t he just there?” I can hear you asking yourself. Yes, you’re right, I was there! I’m actually supposed to be in Rzeszow, Poland, but after working with them for 18 months preparing for our musical, they cancelled just TWO weeks before I arrived! Talk about a “case of cold feet!”

My friend, Vlado Hoblaj in Croatia, always one to find the “silver lining in every cloud” said, “Great! You can come here and do TWO shows!” So, I’m on my way back to Croatia where we believe the Lord will bless our efforts for His Kingdom.

Here is the latest video for August. If you’re interested, you can also read the text used in the video below. Enjoy!

VIDEO MESSAGE

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

By now, I’m sure you’ve noticed that I never ask for funds. I trust the Lord to speak to people. Well, I just wanted to take a minute and thank all of you who support Cornerstone. It is such a blessing to see HOW FAITHFUL YOU ARE! Wow! Thank you for your consistent giving, which enables me to travel and to present productions that bring literally thousands upon thousands of souls into the Kingdom each year. May God return back to you 100-fold of all you give to me, my ministry, and ultimately, to the Lord.

And here is the teaching for the month of August. I pray that you are blessed by it. Enjoy.

Through the Eyes of God

How you see things has a very obvious impact on how you live your life. How you perceive things will determine your future. It affects you now. How you spend your time, how you spend your social life, how you spend your money.

I remember a simple, but profound story. A grocer was busy shelving food items when a gruff, older man came charging through the door, in a hurry, and with little patience for the slower pace of life in this sleepy little town. As he paid for his things, he asked the grocer, “Tell me about this town. I hope the people here are nicer than the ones I left behind in the last town I lived in. They were a sorry lot.” The grocer sadly replied, “Sir, I’m sorry to say that the people here are just as bad as in your last town.” “Yeah, just my luck,” the man grumbled as he grabbed his things and bolted out the door.

A few months passed, and the grocer was busy counting change. A young man and his young family came in and were buying everything in sight! They were obviously enjoying their spending spree, as they laughed and teased each other. Finally, upon checkout, the young man asks the grocer, “Tell me, sir, about the people in this town. My family and I were just transferred here because of my job, and we are really going to miss the kind people of our last town. Are the people here as wonderful as the friendly people in my last town?” The grocer smiled and said, “Sir, you’re going to be blessed living here. The people here are the nicest you could ever hope to meet.”

The message is obvious. There weren’t two different towns. There were two different perspectives on one place. My question to you: How do you picture life? “Life is what you make it.” As trivial as that may sound, there is more to ponder in that phrase than we give credit to.

If you view life as something that builds your kingdom, then your values will be:

• You acquiring things
• You enhancing your image
• You promoting your name.

What excites our Father? What blesses Jesus? What do we see the Holy Spirit doing? If we will imagine ways daily of how to bless our Lord, then we will see a drastic paradigm shift in our way of thinking! Seeing through the eyes of God and helping God accomplish what’s on His Heart will bring us a colorful explosion of limitless possibilities in leading an exciting life! I have a secret! It’s this: When you bless God by helping Him accomplish what He wants and by focusing on how to glorify Him, then He makes YOU come out looking GREAT!

Our focus is only on Jesus, and not on ourselves. Best of all, then:

• HE provides
• He makes you come out looking great
• He exalts you.

VIDEO TEXT

Video Intro (ad lib)

Somehow, does this all just seem a little too familiar? I sometimes feel like I’m living in in a Déjà vu, where I could swear I just did the same thing earlier.

In this case, I did! You’ll recall that I was in Kirov, Russia in June. Well, because my cast is from here and because they’ll be the ones traveling to Perm, I was back! And again, I was asked to preach my first Sunday in Kirov. It was a blessing to be back so soon.

I’m usually not just at work on the present shows, but I spend long hours preparing upcoming countries for their productions, so that when I arrive, they’re ready for me.

We didn’t waste much time. I was using all of the old actors from last month, plus a batch of new actors to present a bigger version of “The Judgment Seat”

The actors were excited about the success of the last show and the 400 souls that came to Christ, so they couldn’t wait to get started. We would become a travel company, and go minister in Perm with this production, so everyone was joyful and full of energy. So we were off to a good start.

Because the show would actually be in Perm, I found myself going back and forth between the two cities. Here I’m waiting in the train lobby for our train.

I met Pastor Edward from Noviy Zavyed, or New Covenant Church in Perm, and was asked to preach and present myself to the church. I found the people receptive and excited to me and to my ministry.

Immediately afterwards, I went back to Kirov. Remember that Perm is 8 hours away by train! So, it wasn’t an easy commute!

And this is the inside of a train sleeping compartment, called a Kupe. There are 4 people in a tight area, but it’s comfortable and you can make some fast friends quickly.

Like other cities in Russia, there are lots of Orthodox churches, and we found that there is a lot of opposition to Protestant churches, as the Orthodox refers to them as “sects”.

But more disturbing is that there are more and more mosques popping up in Russia. Please pray that the Lord will intervene in Russia.

Back in Kirov, we worked on costumes for the actors, and started getting them ready for the show, which would be here in no time.

The actors wasted no time, and had begun to learn their many, many lines, as they would only have one week of actual rehearsals to learn everything.

For me, it was back to Perm, as we worked on the sets!

I was able to share with the church, and get them excited and motivated to bring their lost friends to the show, but in jeans? I had no choice! Someone’s got to get the work done! We were hard at work, and there was no time to change! Oh well, the joys of a missionary!

And now, like a ping pong ball, it’s back to Kirov! We were given a great room for rehearsals by Pastor Ludmilla, and now even the use of a great performance hall for run throughs. Russia has some beautiful halls, and they are plentiful, because Russians love the arts.

We were almost ready, and I was having the actors polish their lines. We have to look professional, never mind that many of them have never been on stage!

I gave some last minute notes the night before they left for Perm. I paid attention to the details that distinguish the difference between a good show and a great show. After all, we’re not doing this for people, but for the Lord.

The last thing, and equally as important, I teach the actors how to present themselves. Even in the way they bow, it’s important that this too is staged and choreographed. We don’t leave anything to chance.

Now having arrived in Perm, we saw the theatre, and it was beautiful! It is the official theatre for the city, and it is stunning. I was in awe that we would use such a beautiful facility.

Just take a look at this theatre from the inside. I am so amazed again and again as the Lord provides some of the most beautiful halls in the world for HIS shows. After all, we are doing these shows for Him.

We had sent the workers two days ahead to complete the stage, so that when we arrived everything would be ready, right? Well, look at this stage when I arrived! And people wonder where I get my grey hair!

We went right to work, and spent time building and putting the sets together until 2 am, as we would open the show the very next night!

My actors arrived the morning of the show from Kirov, and were all dressed alike in t-shirts we had made. They were so excited for all that the Lord would do. The actors are like my children, and so I love spending time with them. We spent time in prayer preparing for the show.

Here Pastor Ludmilla from Kirov, Pastor Edward from Perm and I encourage the cast during meal time.

We opened the show, and it was beautiful. The sets were amazing, and the audience was spellbound. The Holy Spirit was already at work touching the hearts of the people.

We had packed the auditorium not only on the floor, but on the first, second, and yes, even the THIRD balconies!

After the show, the pastor took the stage, and we saw hundreds respond to the Lord. I am always so in awe of how the Lord can move on a heart. Thank you, Lord, for all those that heard the message of the Gospel, through our simple production.

After the first show, I was interviewed for a newspaper in Perm doing a report on the success of the show. It’s great advertising for the following performances, so I’m happy, if not exhausted, to do it.

Video-Actors Speak

On the following nights, we had more performances, and the shows got better each night. The actors grew in their confidence, and the results were seen on stage.

After the show, I came out after the curtain call for my customary bow, but more than anything, I’m there to encourage everyone to trust Jesus and to deepen their relationship with Him.

I was interview by a video team who was videoing the performances for television, and want some background information on the show. I’m quick to give the actors the credit, and God the glory. I’m simply the vessel that just happens to be available.

It had been a wonderful time in Perm, and I was sad to say goodbye, but I have a feeling in my spirit that I will be back. Thank You, Lord, for this great opportunity.

Well, it was back to Kirov, for this my 4th and final Sunday. I had just finished our final performance, and after the show Saturday night caught an 11 p.m. train back to Kirov and arrived at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday morning!

I preached at the 10 a.m. church service at Pastor Ludmilla’s church, and even though I was exhausted, the Holy Spirit moved, and 400 responded to the altar call. Praise the Lord. However, I know this church now, so I had the pastors AND the church leaders ready to pray for everyone, because I was tired. Still, I personally prayed for people for more than 45 minutes! I love the opportunity to pray for the needs of people in any country, but especially the precious saints of Russia.

After the long day on Sunday, I was finally able to go home at night and rest a bit before packing, and YES, getting on another train headed for Moscow! I said goodbye to my friends in Kirov at 10 p.m. Sunday night.

Oleg and I arrived in Moscow, caught the Metro, the Russian name for the subway, to a station near the airport, and took the bus to the airport, where we boarded and flew on to Kiev, Ukraine. I’ll miss my time in Russia and all my new friends in Kirov and Perm.

I immediately got on ANOTHER train and left for Sevastopol, Crimea. The Orthodox priests are everywhere, even on the trains, selling candles to passengers for safe travels.

Video Outro (ad lib)

Blagoslavit Vas Bog!

That’s Russian for “God Bless You!” My friend, it is such a blessing to be able to serve the Lord and YOU among the nations of the world. Please keep me in prayer that I will be effective and fruitful for His Kingdom. And, did you know I pray for you, too? I do. If you need any specific prayer, please don’t hesitate to write and let me know how I can lift you up before the Lord. God bless you!

For the Kingdom,
Richard Montez