| Today I offer you the story of pastor Vladimir – a key member of our team, who serves as a course facilitator and a voice of wisdom to our team. He is pictured above with his family, which includes the three orphan girls that he and Natasha adopted. Beyond his own congregation, he heads an association of churches. His maturity and wide-reaching influence are precisely what we need to propel the power of relational transformation to the world. And yes, that’s snow at those baptisms! |
| Church conflicts For over two decades as a pastor, I was tormented by conflict within my church. As a natural peacemaker, I watched helplessly as disagreements, like a painful rift between two devoted women leading our Sunday school program, created an atmosphere of war. I spent a year and a half trying to reconcile them, only to end up as their common enemy. These situations felt like impossible, dead-end puzzles, and my failure to create peace, not only there, but even in my own family, left me feeling defeated. A New Foundation God used my dissatisfaction to lead me to Novo Mission and the “Real Talk” course, which delivered a profound and humbling revelation. I had always considered myself a good listener, but I discovered I was only hearing superficially. The course and its follow-up material transformed my heart, freeing me from the fear of conflict. I learned that there are no true dead ends with God, only opportunities to listen deeper, understand a person, and find a path forward together. This new foundation has reshaped even my closest relationships. My wife and I now operate on a different level; we can discuss any topic, no matter how tough, and we are helping our children understand their own relational dynamics. The depth of closeness we’ve found by communicating at the level of the heart is incredible. At church, the change is also tangible. The overall level of conflict has drastically reduced, and the greatest victory is seeing members themselves become peacemakers, equipped to resolve their own disputes without my intervention. What sets Novo apart is that it’s not another church growth methodology; it’s a change of heart. Other programs offer systems for management, but Novo cultivates a culture where people learn to truly hear God and one another. This creates living, self-correcting communities. I was astounded when the Novo team itself modeled this by not just tolerating my questioning, but actively seeking it, listening deeply, and making me feel valued. That experience showed me this was the real deal, not just a course. My New Vision to Reach Churches I now see this as the key to authentic evangelism. People today are hungry for genuine relationships, and when a visitor comes to a church where people truly know how to hear one another, something powerful happens. They are not just strangers; they instantly feel valued. This kind of culture makes the gospel tangible, allowing them to hear and see their need for Christ – who hears them best of all. It’s practical love in action, and I believe it is the answer to the modern world’s deepest search for connection, turning our churches into beacons of true relationship. My dream is to see this culture of honor spread through our churches, making practical love and genuine relationships the norm. I believe this is God’s plan for revitalizing Christianity. My calling is to be a detonator—to ignite this passion in others who will then carry it forward. I see God’s hand in every breakthrough, and I am convinced that this is the world-changing work I was created for: building His Kingdom by teaching His people to truly listen. |
| Vladimir is one of many pastors, and their churches, who have been impacted by learning what love in action for a congregation can look like to another level. Now he is starting plans to train, coach, and empower other pastors to change the culture of their congregations. |
orphan dreams 