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Cornerstone Communications
Ukraine
July 01, 2009

Newsletter Contents

1. Greetings
2. VIDEO
3. Teaching for June Raging Storms
4. Text from the Video (for those who would rather read)
5. Closing

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Dear Friends and Family,

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL MY AMERICAN FRIENDS!

Greetings from Cakovec, Croatia! I just finished a 2 month tour of Ukraine, where we saw hundreds and hundreds come to Jesus Christ! We give God all the glory for all He did.

Dniepropetrovsk was certainly a challenge. Although nothing is as difficult as Panama (read the May report) , here we saw pastors speaking negative faith against the show (Comments like: This is impossible with such few churches!, We don't want to work with that pastor!, No one will attend these kinds of shows!, There is no money, and we refuse to give any to help! Etc. I was able to keep the pastors working in unity, but what a challenge! Watch the 5 minute Video Report.

VIDEO MESSAGE

(if the box does not appear, click on the BLUE word that says HERE)

JUNE TEACHING

Raging Storms

When I read Matthew 28:19 — Jesus commanding us to go into all the world, I am always challenged. I have to ask, Go? How? Patiently, He answers, By Faith. This is Gods way for us to live our lives. You see, our eyes were created to keep us from falling down the stairs when we walk, but our lives were not to be led by what we SEE, but rather by faith. Even in the midst of storms, we are to walk by faith.

All around us, we see storms blowing. Storms of finances, storms of unsaved loved ones, storms of scandal, storms of sickness. And in the midst of the storms, Jesus stands calmly in the water, calling out to us, Come. Now, we SAY we would never do this, but many people say, I cannot come to you, Lord! Just LOOK at this storm, and how would I get to you anyway? or Based on the conditions I AM SEEING WITH MY EYES, the answer is no. We want to trust Him, but our faith conflicts with our realization of our circumstances. We want to trust what we SEE. Yet, we later ask, Where was God when I needed Him?

Many people miss the moving of God in their lives not because they are sinning, but because they are tired of doing the things that God wants them to do. Galatians 6:9 says And let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season we will reap, if we faint not. Are you standing for your loved ones to be saved? Do not get weary praying for them! My younger brother, Edward, was the last one of the siblings to come to Jesus Christ. After praying for 20 years for him to be saved, I was tired of believing for his salvation. That was one, long storm.

The Lord, however, has an interesting way of reaching us. His daughter (my niece) , Melissa, had a cancerous tumor behind her right ear when she was 16 years old. She was flown to Dallas to have surgery, and my brother dutifully followed her here, and stayed with me during the ordeal. He was so overcome with emotion. He said, I would do anything to make sure she was fine. I would take the cancer for her, I would die for her, even if she never spoke to me again or stopped me. I said to him, Edward, that is exactly what Jesus did for you, except that He did die for you, even if you have rejected Him as you have.” He thought about it for a moment, and suddenly said, So then what must I do to be saved? I was so shocked, I could not think of what to say! It took me a few moments to get my words and thoughts together! He asked Jesus Christ into His heart that day! And Melissa? She is fine, going to nursing school, and has also been gloriously saved, and is so on fire for God! Do not give up on doing what you know to be right.

Jesus wants to meet your needs, my friend! All it takes is doing things HIS way! If He tells you to get out of the boat, and to walk on the water, just DO IT! If it is the storm of finances, then trust God and do what He says. Tithe. Give out of your need to others around you. If it is the storm of unsaved loved ones, determine a time to sit with them, and share the Gospel with them, and do not stop praying and believing for their salvation. Also, witness to others. If it is the storm of healing, go on a fast for your loved one who is sick. Lay hands on them, and pray. You will be surprised what God can do through you when you meet Him, as you are led by faith! So, take the walk!

VIDEO TEXT

I travelled from Skadovsk to Dniepropetrovsk, an 8 hour trip by train. I was happy to visit Dniepropetrovsk for the first time. Located along the might Dnieper River, it was closed to foreigners during Soviet times, as this is was the where the factories were that made many of the Soviet rockets, as well as the famous Sputnik!

I was met by Pastor Constantin and Alexander, who would be my interpreter. We went right to work and began auditions. We tried to get churches to work together, but it was difficult. I spoke to pastor after pastor, and the Lord gave me favor, and I was able to get 7 churches to work together. Thank You, Lord, that's a real miracle!

I was preaching in several services encouraging the people to work together for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Meanwhile, we began rehearsals, and as I had a huge amount of people to choose from, we had an excellent cast! I also had one of my actors from Kirov, Russia come to visit, Dima Shishkin.

We were able to get the church in Skadovsk to allow us to rent their sets, so we didn't have so much to build. The Lord also gave us a beautiful hall, the Deka Maschino-stroitelay, one of the oldest and finest halls in the city.

We moved in to the theatre, and we began putting up the decorations. We had some good workers, so everything went up slowly, but professionally. We had our final rehearsals, and I gave notes to the actors to make sure they were ready for the performances. I had a television interview that allowed me to promote the production, and increase the show's attendance.

Finally, it was time for the show, and sure enough, the hall was filled! We prayed, and we began! The actors were great, and the show was beautiful. We had hundreds receive the Lord, and afterwards, I encourage the audience to reach out to their families and friends. The next night, we filled the hall, and we had another succcessful production, and again we had hundreds saved, and again I encouraged the audience.

Our third show was the biggest and best! We video-taped the show, and again, hundreds were saved! The Lord was hearing our prayer as we saw a tremendous miracle. God was good to bless our efforts. We finally took cast pictures, and the actors were so excited for all that the Lord had done through them. I'm grateful to Pastor Constantin, but I'm expecially grateful to my interpreter, Alexander, for his hard work to coordinate everything.

It was finally time for me to leave for Kiev. I hugged everyone goodbye, and Dima and I took an overnight train to Kiev, and were met by dear friends, Oles Gusenitsa and his wife, Ira. I had a chance to meet several pastors for a production for 2010, and I also had a chance to meet Maxim Maximov, the director for CNL, one of the largest Christian television stations in all of Europe. I also met many other friends: Valery and Galina Gromov, Denis & Oksana, Ruslan Kuharchuk, and others. I'm grateful to my hosts and dear friends, Egor and Luda Egorov for their hospitality.

I finally went to the airport, and said goodbye to everyone, and flew on to Budapest, Hungary, and onward to Zagreb, Croatia where I was met by dear friend, Vlado Hoblaj.

Hvala!

That is Croatian for Thank you! Thank you for you love and your prayers for Dniepropetrovsk, and the Lord answered them! We saw many miracles along the way, and I am grateful to the Lord for His help to make this one of the most beautiful shows yet. The Lord HONORS unity, and when His children work together, you can be sure that He will bless their efforts. Now, please pray for miracles for Croatia. We have a lot of work, and therefore a lot of challenges to overcome before we open The Hiding Place in Sisak. We are believing for many people to come to Jesus Christ. Will you agree in prayer with us? Hvala, and God bless you!

For the Kingdom,
Richard Montez