People Come, People Go

(the good-bye party for Chris and Liz)

One of the constants in our ministry is that people come and people go. Our dear leaders and friends, Chris and Liz Lawson, left Moscow this past month. After 10 years of faithful service in Moscow God has led the Lawsons toward a new field of ministry. They will serve with Cru’s Boston Metro team beginning in the winter of 2013. They leave a legacy of innovation, faith and sincerity that will be sorely missed by all who knew and labored with them. While we are sad to see them go we are excited for them and the new adventures that lay ahead.

Two weeks after Chris and Liz (and their two children and 8 suitcases) boarded a plane US-bound, Zach, our
new STINTer, disembarked for a year long stint here. Zach is a recent graduate from the University of Minnesota who studied Russian language and culture. He is a welcomed and much-prayed for addition to our team. He is also a brave soul: he’s the first and only STINTer Russia has had since 2009.

We welcomed him with a big dinner, followed by a big breakfast then a big bike ride around the city and then an even bigger dinner that night. We are excited for the unique gifts and capabilities that Zach has and is already bringing to our ministry. We know that the Lord has called just the right people to join our team at this particular time in Moscow's student ministry history, we eagerly await God's work in and around us - for such a time as this!

-David Coats