Clt.Russ Adams Ministries

I  N  T  E  R  N  A  T  I  O  N  A  L

~Journal entry in route to Barcelona via Damascus ~ June 4, 2010

I arrived in Damascus on a Monday, a bright beautiful sunny day. Immediately, I went with Pastor Nader to a mountain overlooking this amazing city.  All the while, I was thinking about how this was the first place the apostle Paul preached the Gospel.  Pastor Nader pointed out to me the Street Called Straight, where in the Bible Paul met Ananaias & got his sight back.  I was in awe to be here!   I don’t think I have ever felt the presence of God this strong.  It was like I was wrapped up in the glory.  The people of Syria are        incredible, with no fighting between the Muslims & the Christians like some other Arab countries.  There is an amazing peace here!

The next day we ventured north toward the border of Turkey, not far from where the Antioch-Pisidian church was located.  As we   approached the monastery, little did I know that my life would not be the same. The Monastery of St. James was simply breathtaking.  It was destroyed & rebuilt more than once, the past home of where 120 monks were slain & most of the walls were broken down.  It was named after St. James, a man who was martyred for his faith in Christ by being cut into over 27 pieces.  Mother Agnus, the nun in charge of the monastery, told me of signs & wonders the monks have seen, such as a monk who stood on one leg on top of a pillar & people from the villages would come to hear about the Lord.  She has many stories to share of miracles, signs & wonders as they sought God.

My first encounter with the nuns here was one of overflowing love.  Mother Agnus received us with open arms & had been praying for a Bible school to be started within the walls of the monastery.  Our hearts were immediately knitted together for the Kingdom.  She is born again, spirit-filled & on fire for God.  Her heart of love & quest for God’s will impacted me deeply.  I learned a lot from her life, even though our time was short. My heart was stirred at the possibility of actually starting a Bible school in a 1500 year old monastery.  The nuns had been praying that God would get glory & that many souls would be saved through a training school here… out in the middle of the Syrian dessert.

That night, I slept in a rebuilt tower where the monks lived, named the Tower of David.  Something seemed to be over whelming me about this place.  I felt like I was walking in God’s perfect will & divine destiny.  The next day we had to leave, but we would be coming back later that week.  We went on to meet the precious family of Pastor Nader.  He has pioneered churches in Syria through much persecution & with his life being threatened.  He has a very soft & humble heart before God.  Two meeting places where shut down from the police recently, but most of the persecution is coming from the religious Coptic churches.  There are many risks of being an Arab Christian.

The next day, we drove deep into the mountain, secretly meeting in the homes of some of the believers.  The love of these village people overwhelmed me & my heart was moved deeply to tears.  We visited many homes & prayed with the people.  At every stop there was food & more food & more food.  So, I ate & ate & ate until I could not eat any more.  In Syria it is rude to refuse food, so I was stuffed like our Thanksgiving turkey.  Our prayer meeting was wonderful & late that night we left the village to return to Pastor Nader’s house for a few hours of rest.  Then, we were on the road early in the morning to go back to St. James Monastery.

A secret prayer meeting was awaiting us.  We fervently for prayed & worshipped for hours, then I preached the Word.  This day at the monastery changed my life forever.  There were people from many Arab countries there that day, such as Lebanon, Iraq & Syria.  The anointing was so strong from the love & unity.  Oh how I wish everyone could see the Syria I have seen.  We have the opportunity to start a Bible School in the middle of the Syrian dessert, where a man we met in Damascus told us one does not exist.  I am honored & humbled to be a part of this historical event.  God’s grace be upon this work

“The following is an unforgettable & life changing journal entry written by Russ, after his encounter with Mother Agnus at the Monastery of St. James.  I want to personally thank you for  helping to make what you’re about to read possible!   We give all the glory to God! "                    ~Love, Judi Jo                     

Russ, with Damascus in the background

Monastery of St. James... In Syria, near border of Turkey... Future site of one of the next XploreNations Bible Institutes!