Into Russia

By Leon Duell

Background

The end of World War I led to the communist seizure of power and formation of the Soviet Union. The brutal rule of Josef Stalin (1924-53) strengthened Russian dominance at a cost of millions of lives. The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the following decades until Mikhail Gorbachev introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in attempts to modernize communism. His initiatives inadvertently released forces that-by December 1991-disbanded the USSR into 15 independent republics. Since then, Russia has struggled to build a democratic political system and market economy to replace communism's social, political, and economic controls.

Facts about the country

The world's sixth-most populous nation with over 146 million people
Ethnic groups: Russian 81.5%, Attar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, other 11.7%
Religions: Russian Orthodox, Islam, other
Languages: mostly Russian

ABWE Involvement

On October 14, 2000, a survey team composed of Central & Eastern Europe's regional director, Duane Early, Board member Ron Berrus, and missionaries Dr. Nik, Jerry Patrick, and Leon Duell met in Moscow. They flew 750 miles east to the Ural Mountain region to consider the feasibility of ABWE entering that area. The team concentrated on the Perm oblast.

The Perm Oblast

Russia is divided into governmental and geographical regions called oblasts.
The Perm Oblast is about the size of Pennsylvania, or one-tenth of Ontario
Its three million people are mainly ethnic Russians. Nearly 5% percent of the population are descendants of Mongol hordes who swept through Russia 1,000 years ago.
This primarily farming area also has rich oil, mineral, and timber resources.
Many foreign companies such as Boeing and Coca-Cola(r) have formed joint ventures with Russian companies.

The City of Perm

Perm was founded under the rule of Tsar Peter the Great in the early 1700's. Today, it is home to over one million people (one-third of the oblast's population).
Perm has several universities as well as Russian ballet and opera houses that have operated for centuries.
The city sponsors sports leagues for youth and professional sports.
Numerous department stores display an array of goods, while restaurants offer good meals at reasonable prices.
The heads of both the Commercial Foreign Relations Department and the Center for Support of Non-Profit Organizations offered assistance, and are open to joint humanitarian projects and/or economic development with ABWE personnel.

Russian Baptist Churches

In the Perm Oblast, 25 Baptist churches exist (one church for every 120,000 people).
The group of churches has a vision for church planting throughout the oblast. They expressed a need for ABWE to help in the following areas:
1. leadership training, church planting, evangelism,
2. teaching English, sports outreach, ministries of compassion, and evangelistic summer camps,
3. economic development to help believers who have been praying that God would deliver them from their poverty so they can fund their own ministries.

Why enter Russia now?

Politically, the time seems right. President Putin is instituting reforms that have renewed foreign interest in Russia.
Personnel is available. For nine years, God has been leading Leon and Donna Duell, who have served in Ukraine since 1994, toward ministry in Russia. Others have also expressed interest in working in Russia,
Practical support is available from the ABWE team and the Christian Ministries Institute in Ukraine

Why the Perm Oblast?

Perm is strategically located on the Trans Siberian Railroad. Scores of smaller cities within a day's travel are virtually unevangelized.
Local officials are actively seeking help to meet the overwhelming social problems they have neither the solutions nor the resources to meet.
The potential for self-supporting works is greater in this region because of a higher average income and openness to economic development.
There is potential for partnering with Ukrainian churches and with Hungarian Baptists to send national workers to this region.

What type of missionaries are needed for Russia?

Teachers, church planters/mentors, medical personnel, counselors, entrepreneurs, ESL workers, youth, camping, and children's specialists
Those who are willing to work as a team and willing to sacrifice comfort for the sake of the gospel.
They must be able to withstand a northern climate and endure winter darkness.
They must be willing to invest most of their first term to learning a difficult language.
They must be hospitable, relational, and patient in order to reach Russians.

On February 13, 2001, the ABWE Board voted to add Russia to the roster of countries where ABWE missionaries serve. Our prayer now is that the Lord will provide personnel to reach the people of Perm.