DECEMBER 09 - UPDATE

PRAYER LETTER HIGHLIGHTS – December 2009

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS from cold and rainy Albania, we pray God is blessing each of you in your places of service. As this year comes to a close we are thankful for all God has done here in Albania. "Let us come before His presence with thanks -giving…" Ps 95:2. The prayers of God’s people have been evident over the past several months as we have faced many challenges and difficulties in the ministry here. Thank you for praying!

SAFE ARRIVAL! After much prayer and a long and stressful trip down from Slovakia the Brenenstuhl’s finally arrived October 22.
When they walked into their new house they were greeted by an infestation of roaches and mice. After several days of fumigation and cleaning with no success we decided it was best for them to move. Within days we were able to find a very nice place just minutes from the city center, main bus line and only a 10-minute walk to our house and church. They are doing well! ►Please pray for them as they learn the language and adjust to the culture.

NEW LIFE - news! prayer! praise!

*Please pray for the needed funds for the upcoming balloon payment, this is due at the end of December. If you can help we would greatly appreciate it.
*News! In a recent break-in at the camp, vandals got away with a number of small items causing damage to several windows and doors. Due to this incident and a few others we will need to install security bars around all first floor windows. The estimated cost of this project is around $900.00.
*Praise! Decisions made during recent camps and church services.

*Praise! The Saturday children’s Bible club is going great. Through this ministry we are able to reach the families of these children.

We were blessed to have a good number of young people for the New Life youth activity. Please pray for these young people that they will grow in the Lord.

News! We had a great turnout for our all church Christmas fellowship. The room was packed with our regular attendees as well as a number of visitors. We had a wonderful time of singing Christmas carols as well as a lot of really good food and games.

FURLOUGH 2010 – We are currently scheduling meetings for our 2010 furlough, if you would like for us to come and report to your church please contact us soon, dates are filling up, thank you!
Albania for Christ,

NOTE: for family news and current pictures please click on the following blog @ www.drustfamilyblog.blogspot.com

SPIRITUAL OPPRESSION

Spiritual Oppression is not something we like to talk about, however it is a reality. It is often magnified to a much greater degree on the mission field. Missionaries, pastors, and evangelists are on the front lines facing this oppression, not just here, but everywhere. Many times in our prayer letters and updates you only hear about the good things that are happening, but it is evident to us every day the spiritual battle that we are in here in Albania. Pagan religion, superstition and materialism are the "rule" and not the exception. Latest statistics show that the Albanian Christian population is shrinking, churches are closing. Why? Because of the lack of leadership, because there is little to no proper training available, in simple terms, there are not enough missionaries. I once heard someone say; "no one really cares about Albania". But that is simply not true, God cares! We care! That is why we are here, why we have stayed for going on 8 years now.

This past year has been one of the most difficult years in ministry. We have felt the attack of Satan on our lives and ministry. It has been said that you know when you are doing something right when everything seems to be going wrong. Our church ministry has been met with great opposition. I am reminded of what Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 "…and upon this rock will I build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The church, God’s church, will go on. We may be a little smaller than we were a few years ago, but we are going forward. Some personal difficulties that have taken place in our family with God’s help have been overcome. Old friends, that were not really our friends to begin with, they have been replaced with wonderful loving friends. Church members that left with a mean and wicked heart have been replaced with faithful people that truly have a desire to serve God without the attitude "of what’s in it for me". So yes, spiritual oppression is all around us, but we must fight it. The Apostle Paul said we must gird our selves with the armor of truth and righteousness. Our God is greater than any oppression, problem, discouragement we will ever face and that my friends is the true victory over spiritual oppression.

Welcome to new life albania!

In this blog we will attempt to post information, prayer requests and pictures purtaining to New Life Ministries which is the parent ministry of New Life Baptist Church, Priske Baptist Church and the Priske Christian Camp in the country of Albania. We welcome your viewing and your comments. Thank you and may God bless you!