A Holy Nudge

“That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight”

- Jesus (The Message - Matthew 13:11)

“Do you have a couple minutes to answer some questions for us?” Asked the two Americans to the Russian student. “Yes, I suppose.” He replied in accent-free English. “We have some pictures here that help people tell their stories, could you tell us yours?” they asked. “Sure” he said. Thus began the spiritual nudging of one of the millions of students in Moscow.

For the past two weeks the Moscow Metro Team has been overseeing two simultaneous summer projects - one from the US consisting of 13 students and two staff, and the other designed specifically for Russian college students which we are calling the “Shalom Project”. We have prayed together, studied the Bible together and this week are stepping out in faith to share the Gospel with others.

The US summer project has been visiting college campuses, befriending students and then engaging them with the Gospel. Some students have responded in the typically cold manner reserved for stressed out and busy Muscovite students. Yet the majority of those that we have talked to have responded with enthusiastic curiosity. Some have even begun to be “nudged” toward a relationship with God.

The “Shalom Project” is also experiencing some nudging. Usually students head to the Black Sea for their own summer project, but this year we decided to try something different and host a city project. Jeremiah 29:7 was our inspiration for this. In it God tells the Israelites to seek the prosperity (the Shalom) of Babylon, the city to which they have been sent in exile. For in the city’s shalom, they would find their shalom. We are encouraging - we are nudging - the students involved in our movements to join us in seeking the peace, the prosperity, the shalom of Moscow. We are taking four weeks to intentionally pray, share our faith, serve the poor and worship in the city.

So far we have had about 10 people participate and are hoping that more will join us in the coming weeks. The US project has joined us these past two weeks and they have brought a tangible energy and enthusiasm to our evenings.

The stories of God’s people, Russian and American alike, are weaving together and influencing others to come closer and closer to him. Take for example the student who was asked to share his story with the two Americans. Last week at a picnic we hosted he told me that two weeks ago he would have considered himself to be an Atheist. Now he says he believes in God, he’s just not sure who God is. Step by step, nudge by nudge Jesus is being proclaimed and people are coming closer to him.

Thank you for joining us in this great story. We, like you, are excited to see what’s on the following page.

David Coats

Moscow Focus

Pray With Us!

 Your prayers are the most practical and powerful way you can help us. Please pray with us for the following.

US and Russian students praying for Moscow

Student Leaders

We thank God for the incredible leaders he has given us these past several years. God has used a number of wonderful and courageous students to lead movements at their universities. It is with bittersweet pride that we congratulate these students as they defend their dissertations and graduate from college this month. Almost all of our student leaders are graduating this summer and moving on to the next stage of life. We are excited for them and grateful for their service. This also means that we need to raise up new student leaders to take the baton and lead the charge for the next several years. Pray that God would lead us to those students and that they would be excited about the idea of leading a movement and reaching their peers.