I was blessed to visit the Sverdlosk Region of Russia July 6-19, 2010. After ministry in Ekaterinburg (Worship Conference) and Serov (Pastors Conference) I travelled to Asbest to visit the many social outreach ministries of Love of Christ Church. I was greeted by one of the Pastors, Andrei Berdieshev, who oversaw my visit. The efforts there are Gospel-centered and resourceful, in tune to the particular needs of the area.

X The Salvation Drug Rehab Center is situated in the beautiful forest of the surrounding area. I met workers and approximately 50 persons who are presently enrolled in the program (near capacity). They were attentive to the message I brought and many asked questions for some time afterwards. This center is run totally by former addicts who have gone through the center and have stayed to help others. Their resourcefulness is impressive. One fund-raising enterprise is recycling plastic. They buy used plastic cheaply from local businesses and grind it through a special machine that they invented for the purpose. The end product is then sold at a profit to raise funds for the Center. They also have a fully operational saw mill on site. They have bought the rights to log a square in the forest. From this material they mill boards that are either sold to others or used for building projects on site.

With expansion of the program in mind, they are in the process of building another large, two-story dormitory to house new clients. The Center is practically self-sufficient, raising food in a large garden and in hot-houses as well as from animals (5 cows, 10 pigs, several chickens, 7-8 sheep, many rabbits).

The workers expressed deep gratitude for the help received from The Bridge years ago, to which they attribute the center’s survival.

THE SALVATION HALF-WAY HOUSE

Above: Transformation of the old Mission Training Center bought by The Bridge in 2002 to the modern, up-to-date Salvation Half-way House - all renovated by the residents and staff.

The Half-way House is located in the city of Asbest, and re-acclimate those who have graduated from the Drug Rehab program, back into society. This center is housed in the building previously purchased by The Bridge. There, up to 20 people find a safe place where a regimented schedule of work, Bible study, prayer, rest and exercise gets them ready for clean re-entry into society. They attend the Love of Christ Church on Sundays. Vitaly, the overseer of the program, is a graduate of the program and will be married in August. They are preparing a room on site for him and his wife, who will live and continue to minister together there.

I was impressed with the overall condition of the building. The participants seem to be gradually and consistently renovating and improving the facility, including an updated foyer and lobby, offices, dormitories, rooms, hallways, kitchen and dining area, bath and sauna area, and building exterior, with plans for a new sports room in the future. The staff and students work to earn extra money and some of this money goes toward the renovation.

The building also contains a room for the training of the residents of the center, as well as for leaders and workers from other centers in the region. This conference room has a projector and DVD player and is quite modern by Russian standards. My impression, especially after seeing the before- and -after pictures proudly displayed in the lobby, is that they are being very good stewards of the facility. The overall mood was good among the participants and workers.

THE OPPORTUNITY HOUSE

This house offers another outreach of the Asbest church, whereby the participants work with local authorities (police, etc.) to rescue street children. They also give shelter and holistic ministry to mothers and children of those accepted into the rehabilitation program at the Salvation Rehab Center. This ministry includes counseling and life-coaching for mothers in matters of family, health and work. Older and mature ladies from Love of Christ Church work with them. Thirty two families have gone through the program in the past year; ten of them were added to the church.

XXXXXThere is an office on the premises through which networking and raising of funds and resources take place. Local businessmen donate food and supplies. Mothers who stay there, work on the farm of a church member in exchange for food from the farm. The facilities are clean and bright, and the atmosphere is safe and hopeful.

XXXXXMost of the leaders and staff in the rehabilitation ministry are former drug addicts who have successfully gone through the program. They have a heart for ministry; several are candidates to become pastors and planters of new rehab centers in other areas. The Salvation Rehab Center has planted six new centers in the region.

This ministry with all its components, is producing true disciples of Jesus Christ and making a real impact for Kingdom of God in the region. It was an honor to be with these saints and we look forward to working with them in the future.

Most of the leaders and staff in the rehabilitation ministry are former drug addicts who have successfully gone through the program. They have a heart for ministry; several are candidates to become pastors and planters of new rehab centers in other areas. The Salvation Rehab Center has planted six new centers in the region.

LOVE OF CHRIST CHURCH

XXXXXThere was a real connection made between myself and the two Pastors, Alexi and Andrei. Conferences for pastors may be an old wineskin. “Our pastors know everything your pastors in America know... perhaps the important thing is not knowledge, but relationship.” I thought of Paul saying “You may have 10,000 teachers, but you do not have many fathers.”

XXXXXAndrei, who is also Bishop over the local region, has been changing his tactics in the way he works with the 60 or so pastors he oversees in the Sverdlovsk region.

Bishop and Pastor Andrei Berdieshev with wife and two of their three children.

XXXXXHe used to visit the churches on the weekends and preach in the services, eat with the pastor and his wife, and then leave. Now, he visits during the week and spends two or three days talking with the pastor, his wife and his family. He prays for and ministers to specific needs. He knows their children by name. He sees that the true need is fathering and coaching these pastors. One pastor said of such a visit, “I received more than I would have at 50 conferences.”

XXXXXThis caused Andrei and me to talk about creating a “Health check list” for pastors and their churches. This would be an indicator of the “vital signs” and possible points of need to be focused on during such a “fathering visit”. Andrei desires me to continue communicating with him and working with him to move in this direction. I will be contacting him through Skype and an interpreter in the near future. He and Alexi asked if I would return to work with them toward this in the future, which I am inclined to do.

THE YEAR FOR CHRIST

Here is a real opportunity. The goal is to assemble a team of twenty persons and send them to villages in the district over a one-year period. They will preach, do social service, physical work, hand out flyers - anything that they are asked to do to help the local churches expand the Gospel in these villages. The goal is two-fold: 1) every home in the district (and eventually in Russia) will hear the Gospel, and 2) churches will be planted in the villages that do not have a church. This is exciting because it creates a venue for youth (and others) to get a burden for souls that will push them past the lure of materialism. In the early 1990s, it was easy to get people to villages and start churches. Now pastors are not as well off as other professions. The social system is tied to the location of one’s house and work. This makes it difficult to move quickly into another city or region.

xxxxxDuring the Year for Christ, Love of Christ Church will provide food, shelter and transportation to the participants. All they have to think about is spreading the Gospel. The thought is, if they do this for a year, they may develop an ongoing ministry. There will be an opportunity to continue for a second year and hopefully this effort will breed new missionaries and church planters. I believe that this is a worthy place to plant financial seed.

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Do you want to participate in this field?

XXXXOur Russian brothers and sisters who are laboring to reach the Sverdlovsk region for Christ, are looking for partners who can come alongside with them and support them in prayer and with financial support.

XXXXXTo contribute financially, please mark your contribution 8176 Russian Projects, and note the specifics of your gift (i.e. Salvation Rehab Center or Year for Christ Project). There are various ways in which you can give:

1.XXSend your check written to The Bridge International by postal mail to our address:

The Bridge International
13762 State Road 84 , Suite 423
Davie, FL 33325

2.XXContribute via PayPal on this website: Click on the DONATE button above, then follow the directions.

3.XXGive regularly on a monthly basis via automatic Electronic Funds Transfer from you bank account to ours: Click on the DONATE button above and download the EFT form in .pdf format. Fill it in and send it to our address above with a void check from you bankaccount attached.

"The generous man (woman) will be prosperous, and he (she) who waters, will himself be watered". XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXProverbs 11:25

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