“When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.”
2 Timothy 4:13
The apostle Paul was very near the end of his life when he wrote 2 Timothy. He knew that he would soon be in heaven, and he was putting things in order for his own departure from this earth. Yet he asks Timothy to bring his books when he comes. Charles Spurgeon offered this perspective on how Paul valued books:
“He is inspired, and yet he wants books! He has been preaching at least for thirty years, and yet he wants books! He had seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He had had a wider experience than most men, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard things which it was unlawful for a man to utter, yet he wants books! He had written the major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books!”
Paul—his Cloak and His Books, A Sermon (No. 542), Delivered November 29th, 1863, by C. H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington.
Books instruct by preserving information so the reader can go over it again and again. Books enable the reader to learn at his own pace. Books teach where no human teacher is present. Books bring truth even in an environment hostile to that truth. Books can be shared and passed on to others so that the preserved teaching continues to have influence.
Progress
Our ministry partners in Minsk, Belarus have begun translation on The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, by D.A. Carson. This short book should be finished in November. We hope to begin translation of the next project as soon as this one is finished. We still need considerable support to complete the second book (Love in Hard Places, by Carson) and would appreciate your prayers in this regard.
A Deadline
In October 2016, Don Carson will be leading three major conferences for Russian speaking people, one in Ukraine and two in Russia. We have been invited to offer our books at these conferences and will include our two current Carson works plus two additional Carson titles if funds come available. These conferences present tremendous opportunities to provide helpful resources to Ukrainian and Russian Christians. Translating and publishing four new titles in time for these conferences will require approximately $20,000 over the next ten months. Please pray for God’s provision, and consider supporting this effort, either by giving a one-time gift, or by committing to monthly support. Even gifts of $25, $50, or $100 per month are very helpful as many donors pull together to meet these needs.
How You Can Help
Pray for the ministry of Grace to Russia.
Share the financial load of providing books to Russian-speaking people.
Inform other missions-minded believers about these opportunities.
Host an event.
To Host an Event
If you’d like to host an event in your church or home for presenting the Grace to Russia ministry, please contact Dave Stephenson to discuss details. You can email davestephenson@gracetorussia.com.
You can support Grace to Russia by sending your contribution to:
Grace to Russia
P.O. Box 5256
Canton, GA 30114
Or by using PayPal at gracetorussia.com
Grace to Russia is a ministry of Grace Bible Church
http://gracebc.info
Dave Stephenson, Pastor
770-355-8724
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