The Russian church still needs time before it starts to send its own foreign missionaries. But so far, missionaries are sent only in our own country. Yuri Apatov, executive secretary of the Evangelical Baptist Union's Eurasian Federation, says the missionary movement in Russia relocates church leaders within the country and from former Soviet countries into Siberia and the Far East. Some have relocated up to 750 miles to start new churches. Social outreach ACCR's Nikitin observes that an untapped opportunity for Russian evangelicals lies in pairing social ministry and gospel outreach.
Prisoners sleep in shifts.
Some have asphyxiated in their cells because of extremely poor air quality. ACCR and Sergei Morozov, head of the prison ministry and pastor of the Galilee Church in the city of Kommunar, have teamed up to provide 1,000 speakerphones in the Crosses, allowing daily communication with inmates. Kommunar's mayor, S.S. Chernikov, was so impressed with these efforts that he offered an agreement with one Kommunar church for its input into all community activities. Related Elsewhere Visit the Moscow Christian Evangelical Seminary homepage. Read more about the Bible Society in Russia .