Thank you for sending Blake Purcell to visit our church; Reformation Church OPC, Castle Rock, Colorado. Following his sermon in the summer of 2010 we visited with Blake at reception meal put on by one of elders. The opportunity to speak with Blake and to hear about the important work of the St. Petersburg seminary for Russian speaking countries in Europe and Asia, lead to us pray about a get to know you trip to St. Petersburg, Russia and Karaganda, Kazakhstan where one of your current seminary students serves as a pastor. The work that God has done through Blake and his family in Russia since 1992 was inspirational for us and the Holy Spirit moved our hearts to seek a way to serve these precious brothers in Christ.   Starting a church, seminary and support ministry for various reformed churches that stretches 9 times zones in various countries which comprised the former Soviet Union is an amazing work of God. We enjoyed our opportunity to visit St. Petersburg to meet the church leadership, part of the seminary staff and preach a few messages. Carl Bobb and Scott Davidson were accompanied by their daughters Annina and Tali.   We enjoyed wonderful hospitality in both St. Petersburg and Karaganda. The gracious invitations for meals and fellowship provided us with excellent insight into the challenges of reformed Christians living in the former soviet union. The richness of generations of faithful believers in Europe and North America is obviously missing in these cultures.   We were treated to several opportunities to share the word of God encouraging our brothers and sisters as well as opportunities to share in specific conversations about the challenges these dear believers face in a godless culture.  We look forward to further supporting these people through prayers and means as God provides. Please continue to send Blake out to tell more churches about the work of Slavic Reformation Society. We truly experienced what Paul wrote to the Roman church.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. Romans 1:8-12