Anton and Inna Dmitriev   

Birthday:  May 28 - Anton
                  June 27 – Inna
                  February 20 - Bogdon
                  December - Fedya

Hometown:  Vladimir, Russia

Position:  Anton is Senior Pastor of Tokareva Wesleyan Church and Inna teaches classes at the Bible College.

Family: I have a loving, beautiful wife and two sons.  We hope and plan to made additions to our family. My wife is a great helper and encourager to me, and my sons are a source of great joy and tons of fun.

Hobbies:  We have almost no free time but I like to do things for our home, like put in new bookshelves, etc.  Reading and cross-sticking are rare but I enjoy them. 

Specialty: Anton - Master of Technology,  Inna - English and Bible College Graduate

How did you come to God?   

(Anton)  In the summer of 1993, I was invited to the first youth camp that was held by the Wesleyan Church in Russia.  There, for the first time in my life, I heard a clear presentation of the gospel.  I had no problem believing I was a sinner, and I decided to “try out” this Jesus.  I prayed the sinner’s prayer. This Jesus turned  out to be the true God and I turned out to be saved.  In about a year, I realized God had started fixing one of my biggest problems – I had no friends before coming to Christ because I was so selfish.  Jesus has changed that.  Now I am not so selfish, and I have lots of friends.  I plan to live the rest of my life with Jesus.

How did you get acquainted with the Wesleyan Church?  

(Anton) After the 1993 summer youth camp, where I became a believer, several Bible studies were started by Wesleyan missionaries. In 4 months the first church service was held. I didn’t make it there.   Now I am so sorry that I wasn’t part of this historical event. But I made it to the 2nd or 3rd service and started attending a Bible study group. Ever since then I’ve been a part of the Wesleyan Church. 

What ministries are you involved in?

Anton -  I am the senior pastor at the Tokareva Church.   Inna - I teach at the Bible College.

What is your vision for the future? (Anton)

My dream for my life is to fulfill God’s calling, which I believe right now is to head a godly family, raise godly children, and pastor a godly church (myself, of course, be a godly man).

My dream for the church is that it will be full of believers that are passionate about Jesus and their faith, and who are capable of and responsible in hearing God’s will for their lives, and who are set free and supported by the church in doing His will for them and ministering in whatever ways and areas God calls them to.

My dream for Vladimir is that it would become a Christian city (20% of the population to be evangelical believers, that is approximately 6,000 people). 

What prayer requests do you have?

1. For heavenly health protection for my family, as well as emotional and spiritual protection and well-being.
2. For a team of faithful and committed people to be developed, and for that team to be the leadership team of the church.
3. Pray for the dream of the church and Vladimir.

Elena Davedianova

Birthday:  November 22

Hometown:  Vladimir, Russia 

Free Time:  I love to read and if I have time and don’t decide to catch up on my sleep instead, I read.  

Family: I am married. My husband is Andrey Davedianov. We lead the young adult ministry SVOI together. Andrey teaches world religions and church-state relationships at Vladimir State University. It is  a great opportunity to share the truth of Christianity with the students. We have two daughters: Natalia is 15 months old and Maria is 3 months old.

Position:  I work as a translator at Vladimir Wesleyan church. I also teach at the Bible college. But I am staying home with the kids now. I still try to keep teaching at least one class a semester. Andrey and I teach Church History this semester.

How did you become a Christian?

The story of how I came to God seems short and simple. My friend invited me to church. Pastor was preaching about what Jesus did for us. The words touched my heart and I accepted Jesus the same day. But God has done a lot of wonderful things before this story, He was seeking me and preparing me, and finally in 1991 all the pieces of the puzzle came together. I still am amazed at His timing. He always prepares us and He is never surprised by what happens in our lives.

How did you get acquainted with the Wesleyan Church? 

I had friends in this church and I sometimes  worked at youth camps that were run by the Wesleyan church. When I graduated from the university and was looking for a job, I met the pastor I knew from the youth camp and he suggested that I go to the interview to work as an interpreter. The things he described seemed like what I had been praying for. So I applied and I have been working here since 1996. I started attending this church's services then too.

What ministries are you involved in?

 My husband and I lead the young adult ministry SVOI. We have about 30 students who attend Friday night meetings, small groups and Bible studies. Our goals are: to glorify God, to lead our friends to Jesus, to have fellowship in love and to study the Bible. Every year we have young adult retreats for these students together with teams from Houghton College. We have great plans for this retreat and pray that God shows Himself strong there. 

Vision for the future:

I would like for more people to experience the love of God. Because when we know that God loves us, it gives us strength to love others. 

Prayer requests.

Please pray for our family:

For the salvation of unsaved relatives
For God to give us more patience, love, wisdom and joy with our daughters

For our ministry:

That God would give us helpers
That God would give encouragement and strength to those who are weary
That God would help us see the potential leaders among the students and teach them

 

Katya Komarova 

Birthday:  November 5th

Hometown:  Vladimir, Russia

Hobbies:  I like to swim, to study foreign languages, to talk to God in prayer and fellowship with people.

Specialty:  I am an interpreter (English – Russian) and a teacher of English and German by profession.

Position:  Language Teacher/Interpreter

Family:   I am not married and have no children. I have a 21-year-old sister who is a third year student at the University. She studies management and economics. My mother died in August of 1999 in a car accident. My dad died in August of 2005 of a heart-attack and alcohol addiction, which he had developed after mom’s death. Dad accepted Christ as his Savior and Lord shortly before his sudden death.

How did you come to God?

I met American Christians in a youth camp in the summer of 1996. I had finished my third year of the University and worked as an interpreter at that camp. I liked to attend the Wesleyan church in Vladimir for two years afterwards, mainly because I enjoyed the fellowship with Americans and liked to learn more about the Bible. I firmly believed then that I was a true Christian. I got married after I had finished the University in the summer of 1998. Painful divorce followed a few months of marriage, which brought me to the Bible College. Early spring of 1999, already as a student of the Bible College, I realized that I had never before repented of my sins and had never truly given my whole life to the Lord.

How did you get acquainted with the Wesleyan Church?

I was baptized and became a member of the Wesleyan Church a year after my repentance of sins. After I finished the first year of the Bible College, I was hired as an interpreter at the Bible College and the Wesleyan mission in Vladimir, Russia. Right now I also teach Russian to our American missionaries.

What ministries are you involved in?

I co-lead a small group. It is geared to help believers in our church grow in Christ and become leaders of new small groups and also to help unbelievers come to Christ. I coordinate all adult small groups in our church and help small group leaders become more effective in their ministry.          

What is your vision for the future? 

I would like to be a missionary in Germany. I have been officially appointed by our church to serve as a missionary in Munich, Germany. I hope to get to Germany within the next school year of 2006-2007, or the beginning of the following school year 2007-2008. I would like to help the German church grow through building relationships with the people in Germany and the ministry of small groups. I would also like to study Biblical languages and later teach in a Bible School in Vladimir, Russia, or in Germany, or in any other part of the world.          

What prayer requests do you have?

• My sister Ira: salvation and spiritual growth, God’s care for her.

• Logistics for Germany: finding a teaching position and/or a student position in Munich, locating an apartment, procuring a visa. I need people in Germany who would help me with these needs.

• Funding to cover expenses.

• The ministry of small groups in Vladimir, Russia: commitment and growth for small group leaders.

Zoya Tkachuk 

Date of Birth: November 5

Hometown:  Vladimir, Russia

What do you like to do when you have free time?

To help people brings me the greatest pleasure in my life. When I have some free time, I give it to people, and also I raise daughters and a grandson.

Tell us about your family.

My family is a gift of God. God gave me two sons and three daughters (the oldest daughter passed away in 2003). I have a husband, loving children and two grandchildren. I treasure and keep this gift, I thank God for the opportunity to give my love to my beloved ones.

Your Vocation: A cook.

Describe how you came to God.

My life is a path, and it is not either easy or direct. When I walked along my path, I often stumbled or fell down, I was hurt, but I got up and walked further, I continued to fall down and get up. Then a moment came when I was hurt really badly and I did not want to get up, I had no strength and no desire to walk my way. There was someone else who walked my path, who helped me to get up and walk further. Now I continue to walk this way, but I am not all by myself, Jesus is walking with me and lights up my way.

How did you get acquainted with the Wesleyan Church?

There was a moment in my life when I gave up, my feet refused to walk my way, there was no hope and future. I was in despair because I did not know what to do. God looked down upon me and let a ray of His hope shine upon me – it was a good friend of mine who brought me to this church.

What ministries are you involved in?

I lead a ladies’ group. It is a group of encouragement and prayer. I also go weekly to an orphanage for babies, prepare the communion every month for church, and serve on the Tokareva Church Board.

What is your vision of the future?

My life is not easy. The loss of my daughter (July 2003), my mom (2004) and my brother (December 2005) did not harden my heart. My prayers to God became more sincere. I know that God is my fortress and my refuge, I rely upon Him only. I want all people to believe in God as the Savior of the whole world.

My Prayer Requests

- for the church
- for a pastor
- for my family and my relatives
- for my ministry
- for the ministry of my daughters who serve small children
- for my husband so that he would come to God
- for a wise understanding of the trials that I face in my life  

Tonya Markova

Date of Birth: May 28

Hometown: Vladimir

Position:  Head Interpreter

Hobbies: I like to do many things – knitting, reading books, playing computer games, watching TV, listening to music, cooking, taking care of the plants and many more, so I do what I feel like doing at this or that moment.

Family: I am single and live with my parents – mom and dad. They and my brother who is married and lives separately are my family.

Specialty: An interpreter

Describe how you came to God.

I worked in the Russian-American Christian youth camps as an interpreter in 1994. There I heard about Christ and His love and forgiveness. For the first time in my life I understood that I had not asked for His forgiveness, so I did and accepted Him into my heart.

How did you get acquainted with the Wesleyan Church?

As the Wesleyan Church organized the camps, I was invited there after the camps. I came there, repented at the very first service where David Thompson preached and became a member of the Wesleyan Church.

What ministry are you involved with now?

Not long ago I was a worship team leader, but right now because of my mom’s disease I do not have any ministry so far.

What is your vision of the future?

I pray for my mom’s healing so that I could come back to the worship team and serve God there. I would like to get married and have my own family and raise children.

Prayer Request

- for my family and my relatives

- for the healing of my mom

- for the strength so that I can stand firm on God’s promises

Elena Tikhonova

Birthday: December 12

Hometown: Vladimir 

Position:  Account for Wesleyan Church

Hobbies: Crafts (knitting, embroidery) 

Family:  My family is my husband Vladimir and my son Vladik (11 years old)

Describe how you came to God.

In 1994 my aunt gave me several books about God and the Bible. I read them and gave my life to Jesus; then she invited me to church “Seven Day Adventist” but I did not like it there. Soon I found a protestant church where I went with great pleasure.

 How did you become acquanted with the Wesleyan Church?

My family and I transferred to the Wesleyan Church. I knew about the Wesleyan Church a long time ago because I was there several times for joint seminars. I studied a semester in the Bible College also.  I knew a lot of believers who went to this Church. When I had to choose the church, I had no doubts.  

What is your ministry right now?

I lead a Bible Study home group and on Sundays I help with the nursery. 

What is your vision of the future?

For my life: to live separately from my parents and to have more children.

For my ministry: I do not know exactly but to serve God with my husband and my children.

My Prayer Requests

- a two-room apartment to live separately from my parents

- a child

Nastya Yashonava

Birthday:  December 18

Hometown:  Vladimir, Russia

Position:  2005 Bible School Graduate, Youth Director for Tokareva Wesleyan Church

Family: There are five people in my family.  I live with my father, his second wife, my sister, and step-brother.  My sister is 18 years old.  She is a hairstylist.  My step-brother is 14.  He studies in the 8th grade and loves to play on the computer.

Hobbies: I like to draw, work in the garden, and go skiing.

Specialty: School psychologist

How did you come to God?

In 1996 my family moved from Siberia to Vladimir. That new year, without friends or acquaintances, I felt very alone. Therefore when our relatives invited us to go to church, I agreed with joy.  At church I realized that God loved me and wanted to be my friend.  I asked God to forgive my sins and change my life. And now we have been friends for 8 years.  And I know for sure that in happy times and sad times, he will be with me.   

How did you get acquainted with the Wesleyan Church? 

My cousin invited my mother, my sister and I to her wedding, which took place in the church.  Later, she invited us to the Sunday service.  It was boring for me and I decided not to go back.  Several months later, someone invited us again to the opening of the new building (which we use now).  After this I continued to go back.  At first I went back just to have something to do, but soon I became a Christian.

What ministries are you involved in?

I serve as the leader of the youth ministry at the Tokareva Wesleyan Church.   I also am part of the missionary prayer meetings.

What is your vision for the future?

My heart's desire is to serve as a missionary.  I believe that one day God will send me where he wants me to go.

What prayer requests do you have?

• The will of God for my life now that I have finished the Bible College. I need to find work now.
• That God will open the door for me to serve as a missionary – provide place, finances, etc.
• For spiritual growth in my relationship with Christ.