Thursday, January 29, 2009

Easter in Istanbul, April 9-12

EASTER IN ISTANBUL

EASTER in Istanbul

Welcome to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ with

the Greater Grace Church in Istanbul .

We will start on Thursday night, April 9, with a rap.

On Friday , April 10, we will have a Classical Concert and

on Saturday the opening of “Escaping Day” Art Exbibition.

Sunday we will wake up early and worship Jesus gazing

the sunrise over the Bosphorus straits.

Sunday will be full of Bible messages and worship and

Fellowship. Evangelism will be a daily option.

Those who will be going on the Seven Churches of Revelation

Tour will leave on Sunday evening and return back to Istanbul

on the following Thursday, April 16.

Sign up by sending the following information

by March 15, 2009 to pmsirvio@yahoo.com



Name and Surname
Country of Citizenship
Arrival information
Departure information
Alternative number 1,2 or 3


The price of the air-fare to and from Istanbul from your own country

and the visa expenses are not included in any of these alternatives.

Sporty Alternative 1

Madras on the floor

Thursday to Sunday = 3x10= 30 EUR , total /person



Normal Alternative 2

Hotel accomodation in a double-room with breakfast

Thursday to Sunday = 3x40 = 120 EUR, total / person



Normal with the seven churches Alternative 3

Hotel accomodation in a double-room with breakfast

Thursday to Sunday = 120 EUR

Seven Churches of Revelation Tour = 350 EUR total 470 EUR / person

Single room extra 20 euros/night

Flight extra Istanbul – Izmir - Istanbul (in stead of bus) = 200 EUR



Welcome!

Monday, January 26, 2009

yesterday's sunset was beautiful

fast growth

Fast growth is not healthy.
It’s a deception.
This is one of the reasons for the global financial mess.
The illusion of easy, fast productivity followed by
personal prosperity is a trap.
“Do not overwork to be rich;
Because of your own understanding, cease!
Will you set your eyes on that which is not?
For riches certainly make themselves wings;
They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”
Proverbs 23:4-5
Jesus spoke about fruit that will last in John 15:16
Yes, it’s strongly connected with endurance,
patience, waiting and trusting.
There is a promise in Galatians 6:9 that we shall reap
if we don’t grow weary in well doing.
Maybe we will see the results of our right choices
in a couple of days, maybe in thirty years
or maybe only in heaven.
I cannot think of a better place than heaven for reaping.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

endless fixing

"no"

We cannot underestimate the spiritual element in our lives.
Everything relates to that.
In the fast spinning world we naturally end up spinning
around with the rest of the creation. Things happen even
without our initiative and planning.
Without doing anything besides being a person you are
included in all kinds of activities and mysterious projects,
your name is filling the endlessly hungry mailing lists.
I believe that one of the true indicators of our value is our
ability to say “no”.
You have to protect your life from all kinds of temptations
and so called opportunities that continuously lust after your
signature.
I remember opening a bank account in Turkey.
The staff was very helpful and patient.
We went through half a kilo of papers full of small print
paragraphs that even the worker didn’t consider worth
reading. Paper after paper was stamped and the process was
every so often interrupted by me singing my name here and there.
I signed at least twenty times and I understood that with my
refusal to sign the process would be immediately stopped.
My signature kept those papers flying.
This is a clear example of God’s greatest gift to man,
the free will. Even the unbelieving world has to honor that.
With that we navigate our lives through the jungles of
temptations, dangers and opportunities.
With man’s decision even his eternal destiny will be
executed.
Every time when man says “no” God’s integrity is manifested.

Monday, January 19, 2009

GRACE FACE-Ulan

GRACE FACE / Ulan Djumanaev

name: Ulan Djumanaev
church: Greater Grace Church in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
profession: Program Manager
lately encouraged by: the fact that God knew me always, watched me always, patiently waited for me to accept His grace.
mission vision:To grow spiritually, to become more like Jesus and learn to serve
people the way he did.
special prayer request:That God would give me wisdom in raising my children.
special thanks to: My brother in the Lord, Martin, who nurtured me in my early
years in the Lord.
special greetings to:all my brothers and sisters of GG in every part of the world
e-mail:cornelius_u@hotmail.com

tapestry of daily life

availability

Availability is one of our best abilities, but it remains
worthless without the adequate knowledge and trained
skills. On the other hand I don’t think that the lack of
education and skills is the problem with Christian
churches today.
With the innumerable amount of Bible teaching, prayers,
conferences and financial resources the church could
in a couple of days reach the whole world with the Gospel.
Why isn’t it happening? Is it happening?
I believe that any believer who dares to cross the border of
commonly accepted availability will soon discover that
the church is reaching the world and he is right in the midst
of it.
Speaking endlessly about the “coming revival” doesn’t hit
so well home with people who know the message inside-out
but don’t want to let it move them even once.
Yes, availability is the key.
Why should we continue loosing all our best people to the world,
working long hours with an extreme dedication when the
Lord’s field is empty?
Availability means practical obedience.
P.Schaller said in Saint Petersburg, “If we are not afraid
of people, failure or success we can be used by God”.
Do I dare to ask him, ”What could be another way for you
to use me? I am available.”

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

GRACE FACE- Julian

GRACE FACE / P.Julian Timofte

name: Julian Timofte
church: Greater Grace Church in Moldova
profession: Pastor
lately encouraged by: the truth that I'm holy because I was chosen and seperated for God before the world was created. It's a privilege for us to be God's holy vessels.
mission vision:I have a vision to be a better tool in God's hand.
I want people to become disciples who are being formed into the image of Christ.
special prayer request:Please, pray for me and my wife to have a child.
Pray also for new team-members and Bible School students for this spring in Moldova.
special thanks to: Pastor Schaller for his messages and his walk with the Lord. I want to thank all those who are praying and supporting us faitfully.
special greetings to:Mamma Lea, Elina, P.Artur in Samarkand,P.Pamir in Almaty,Anar and Ainura, Niyazi and Irada
e-mail and telephone:tajulianhu@yahoo.com
telephone +37369751001

Monday, January 12, 2009

search me

powerful prayer

It’s a powerful prayer. Among all the endless lists of needs
and wishes this prayer seems so different.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24
King David is not asking for more power, things nor
the head of his enemies. He is actually asking for a better
relationship with the Lord.
He is asking for more convictions.
General, commonly accepted faith doesn’t satisfy him.
Isn’t this what Paul says in Ephesians 5:15
about ”walking circumspectly”?
He encourages believers to be even more exact in following.
It is a desire to keep one’s communion with the Lord uninterrupted.
Even the slightest issue of disagreement with God
hurts our relationship with him and hinders our ministry.
This is not legalism. This is living Christianity.
Are you looking for a change in your uninspiring life?
Ask him to search you and following becomes interesting.

Friday, January 9, 2009

GRACE FACE- Lea

GRACE FACE / Lea Salminiemi

name: Lea Salminiemi
church: Greater Grace Church in Helsinki
profession: nurse, small business owner
lately encouraged by: The Lord looks into people's heart.The thief on the cross simply said,"Lord", and got saved.It seems to me that he had been listening to Jesus before. He knew the power of Jesus.
We should be so careful with people.
We don't know where they are at. God knows.Sometimes it looks like the Deity of
Christ can be understood only through suffering.
mission vision:My work is a vision from God.I believe that my clients are sent by God.He always leads me to meet people's spiritual needs.
special prayer request:for guidance and wisdom as I need to make some changes in
my work in order to manage the ministry.
special thanks to: I daily thank God for our ministry being a hiding-place for me.
special greetings to:P. Julian and Natella now visiting Istanbul.Thank you for the fellowship we shared during our mission in Italy.
e-mail and telephone: cell +358 400 746089