Times of wanderings
1.3. Times of wanderings.
First, as it has already been told, gathered in school №1. But not for long it was necessary to use hospitality this school. City administration, having learnt about "strange beginners", has forbidden to rent school assembly hall. So the first tests have begun.
After a while it was possible to conclude the contract and to gather in club of furniture factory. Much longer time was possible to take advantage of hospitality of this enterprise. About one year the church has existed under a club roof. By the way, it was the most long time interval on which we managed to be late on one place. In November, 1993 to us have forbidden to gather in club. Having gathered once again, the church, has seen the lock on a door. The period when it was necessary to gather on apartments has come. On Wednesday (Bible study) and Friday (prayful meeting) passed at Vladimir Butrin. The Sunday meeting passed at Ljubov Loskutov. December and January gathered at Olga Ljamin. In January Lyudmila Hrustalov, the teacher of initial classes, accepted Jesus and has offered for carrying out of Sunday meetings the class. In this place it was possible to exist from the end of January till 1th May, 1994. Before this day Lyudmila have caused, have talked and have forbidden to gather.
This day there was Easter — a blest holiday on which the considerable quantity of people has come. About twenty persons repented. This time there was no place to go, it was necessary to gather at steps of a front entrance of the same school.
Analysis of a word and prayful meeting on - the former were spent on apartment. This period which has lasted till September, was time of evangelism for inhabitants of surrounding houses. In September it was possible to find a place at factory "Zhilstroy", but all for one month. All these wanderings were promoted actively by orthodox priest Leonty. Every time, speaking with workers of a city administration and with chiefs of the enterprises, he in every way tried to explain that enormous harm for a society which proceeds from "this organisation". Absence of a constant place for carrying out of meetings, constant moving, were serious test for many people who visiting church and have left it in the absence of a constant place. How many repentances were first, how many the joyful persons executed by hope of a new life of hearts. And all it is left, forgotten, postponed on then. The parable is necessarily recollected the sower: “Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away” (Mat. 13, 5-6). So, having been late in "Zhilstroy" all for one month, the church has been compelled to gather again on apartments. In October of 1994 year Sunday meetings passed in apartment Galina Solov’ov. On Wednesdays and Fridays, still, at Vladimir Butrin. Since November on prayful meetings on Fridays were gathered at Lyudmila Hrustalov. Since December of 1994 year till May of 1995 year gathered at Tatyana Grabants. In March of 1995 year we have bought apartment about 5,37, Kurchatov st. Two months has left on repair, and the church could enter into own premise. But it has appeared that this place also did not become a place of rest for church though hopes of it were great. The matter is that for the neighbour which apartment was near to ours, we have appeared are very unpleasant. Repeatedly she showed the feelings to us, we will start, has collected signatures against us from all entrance, and has addressed to city authorities. After that the police officer repeatedly came and tried to settle a situation, but the neighbour was irreconcilable. As a result to us have forbidden to gather in March of 1996 year. And again where?... On apartment of Lydia Philobok, who came to Udomlya from Mozdok. Have simultaneously made decision on necessity to get the private house. In April the house has been found, and after repair the church began to gather in the house about street Prigorodnaya, 22. Already it was possible to speak about rest. With this house we could do that we will want and to gather when we will want. In process of growth of church the small house should be reconstructed some times. At first have cleaned internal partitions, the furnace — became much more spacious. But also it soon it has appeared insufficiently therefore in the summer of 1999, having called to the aid Ukrainians, have laid out on perimeter a wall a white brick, having increased thereby the church area twice and have expanded accordingly a roof. After that, having put in order an expanded part, have cleaned a partition. By this moment in church was about 64 believers, the place already sufficed all quite, including for the visitors coming for holidays.