It is hard to believe that Straight Ahead Ministries (SAM) has been operating for over 20 years now. We have seen it serve initially in the (Triple Cities) of New York, then serve internationally in Russia. When we look at all that God has brought us through and to, and all the opportunities SAM has had for sharing the Gospel and serving, we are truly humbled. And the Lord's providence continues. The goal of any foreign mission is to be able to hand off stewardship of God's work to the nationals so that the work that they developed together may continue after the missionaries move on.
It is with great honor that Straight Ahead Ministries can announce to its donors that effective January 1, 2010, Straight Ahead Ministries has transferred sole stewardship of "New Books" bookstore ministry to Katya Gildebrand.
For the past 8 years, the bookstore has been like a bike with training wheels. SAM provided the initial inventory, fixtures, computers, supplies, and other start-up costs, but now is the right time to turn "New Books" over to Katya; the right time for the "training wheels" to come off the store so that this ministry can ride on its own!
For the last 15 years Katya has been working with Frank and Lora as the Russian director of SAM and has been instrumental in the development of the bookstore ministry. She is as anxious as are we to see it continue to be a source of Christian literature in Volgograd. Considering Katya's desire to continue the ministry and our confidence that there is no one better qualified or prepared than she, we proceeded carefully over the last few months to insure a proper transition. Although Katya is in full charge and now makes all decisions regarding the bookstore, Frank and Lora and SAM will continue to provide space for the store free of charge at the store's present location in the ministry center as long as we are in Russia and own the center building. And we are always there to lend a helping hand if needed. Obviously this is a big step for everyone. But we think that not only it is the right step but it is being taken at the right time. This has been a carefully thought-out process and we believe it to be with God's direction and blessing. Please rejoice with us !!!
As one of our board members, Rev. Andy Kerr, says, "it is a time for celebrating the successes of SAM's ministry; ministries that from the start where intended to be turned over to Russians. That is what has happened. God is leading at this time, and He is doing so through circumstances....."
Among those circumstances is the rescinding of SAM's registration in Russia by the Russian government. This has had no immediate affect on our operations but does put us in a vulnerable position and does put limits on our activities. In addition to losing our registration, we also are finding that the services that SAM has provided in the past in partnership with local Russian churches can now be more aptly done by those churches themselves (which is a good thing!). SAM also has been experiencing continually tighter finances over the past few years. We are concerned that if we have to make additional transition decisions in a crisis mode, so to speak, there would hardship on ministry and on those we serve with. So as of Jan 1 the bookstore operation, as well as Katya, are now independent of Straight Ahead Ministries (SAM). In recognizing her contributions to SAM and to help her make the financial adjustment, SAM was able to give Katya a six-month severance payment.
We feel that it is important that we keep you all abreast of how we are strategically pursuing our mission "to expand the borders of the Kingdom of God." We are not afraid of transition. It has always been a particular strength of SAM's to be willing to respond to God's leading in deliberate and bold manners.
Lora and Frank and SAM will certainly continue with the mission "to expand the borders of the Kingdom of God" in Russia until called elsewhere.
We will be grateful for your continued support as we journey together on the road to glory.
