Missions Art

After twenty years of mission work in many of the most volatile areas of the world, I have photographed many interesting people and places. Now, through the incredible talents of free lance artist Connie Beecher, several photos have been recreated as art and are available in print form. Each matted 8 X 10 print is hand signed and comes with its own unique story suitable for framing. Proceeds from the sale of these prints will further help support the fulfillment of the Great Commission and my ministry.

 David LeCompte  

“Christmas in Hell”

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 Grozny – Chechnya 2001 

Of all the times our group distributed food and humanitarian aid to the thousands of refugees in Chechnya, one particular moment stands out more than any other. It was January, 2001, on Eastern Orthodox Christmas Day. Our humanitarian truck convoy had arrived in Grozny, the bombed-out capital of Chechnya. For hours, desperate and hungry women had waited in the bitter sub-zero cold to receive a special Christmas package of children’s boots, baby clothes and a package of food sent by Christians from America. It would be “Christmas in Hell” today.

Packed together like sardines they waited, freezing, anticipating something of value and worth. Pressed behind barbed wire and metal barricades, they huddled near open fires. Like a dark scene out of a concentration camp in Aucshwitz, the women, young and old, mothers and grandmothers all needed love and care. The horrors of war had raped and ripped any decency from their lives.

To these women, simple acts of kindness meant so much. Today, they would experience the birth of hope with a pair of boots, a sweater, and a bag of food…acts if compassion in Jesus name.

“The Elder”

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Village of Gikalo, Chechnya 2003

Leaning on his cane, he spoke simple words. He said, “I am Chechen, I am a Muslim. I have lived a long time. I have lived through famines, wars and the deportation of 1945. Now I am old and my days are short. I have seen and heard many people in my time claiming to be Christians. Today is the first day I have ever met one face to face. You may continue to help our people, young man, we need this message you bring.”

In the nine years that I worked in Chechnya, I made friendships with many centurions like this elder. In Islamic tradition, the elderly people were respected and honored, especially the older men. Stately and full of years, they were the fabric that all Chechen society rested on. In many ways, their mountainous lifestyle and culture were the same as the Biblical character Abraham. I found it very easy to relate God’s plan of salvation with them. Without a doubt, the ancient men of Chechnya will always hold a place in my heart.  

“The Widow”

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The Bible says that a man’s religion is true if he cares for widows and orphans. There were many widows and orphans in Chechnya during the war between Russia and Chechnya’s freedom fighters - 1994-2006…thousands of them. On April 1, 2000, my friend and I entered the city of Grozny under the haunting shroud of fog and smoke. Traveling along crater pocked Leninsky Prospect, the main street of the city, we happened upon a pitiful old woman sitting in front of the bombed out remains of what used to be the Russian Orthodox church in Grozny. In a scene so typical of war, she sat motionless and traumatized; lost and disoriented, in an evil environment of war that showed no mercy to the weak. It was to help those like her we were called…agents of mercy…ambassadors of hope to the widows and orphans. In the nine years our group worked among the widows and orphans of Chechnya, God allowed us to share His hope with thousands like “The Widow”.