* I (Talant) am flying to Chiang Mai, where I will present a paper on Christian and Muslim understandings of human value and dignity and how these understandings can be used for the Great Commission. The audience consists of seminary professors and deans from across Asia. With a humble heart, we pray and desire that the insights from this paper will be useful as they teach their students how to engage Muslims with the gospel message.
*This is not only my ministry and sacrifice. Nina is sacrificing even more than I am. She will be staying here in Almaty with our four kids. Therefore, could you please pray for her and the children? 
*I am entering a very busy season. I will return to Almaty from Chiang Mai on January 30 and am scheduled to preach at our church on February 2.  I will be preaching three times in one day since the church has three services: twice in Russian and once in Kazakh.
*Please pray for wisdom, courage, and protection as Talant continues sharing the gospel in Kazakh and for God to soften the hearts of those who oppose it.