Eastern Europe / Russia Ministries
by William Saxton
IN A SPEECH soon after World War II, Sir Winston Churchill stated that it was as if an iron curtain had come down when the communist government of the Soviet Union marked off its borders by overrunning small helpless countries. For the next several decades that term became the symbol of oppression and control over millions of people.
Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, we have been ministering in numerous ways in several of these countries. Our early leaders never dreamed that FEA/HIM would establish a Christian center that has reached thousands of people with literature and humanitarian aid or assisted a body of believers to construct their own church.
You may ask “What is this passion for souls you speak of?” Words are too feeble to adequately define it, but you cannot miss the definition as you observe first-hand the response of our missionaries in following God’s call to the ends of the earth. Our vision is to continue developing ministries in this area of the world.
PURPOSE FOR EXISTENCE: The purpose of FEA/HIM in Eastern Europe and Russia has been, since the Iron Curtain came down in December of 1991, to distribute Christian literature and the Scriptures. There has always been the vision of Christian Centers as a place for believers to be nurtured and prepared for Christian service.
MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of HIM in Eastern Europe/Russia is to evangelize the lost and assist believers to become spiritual leaders in their churches and communities. We will endeavour to train and disciple those who come to Christ through unconditional love and with dedicated service unto our Lord.
VISION STATEMENT: Reaching the former Communist countries with the Gospel
GOALS FOR THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS
- Establish Christian Centers
- Provide leadership training classes
- Begin youth Bible studies
- Prepare discipleship material for the youth ministries
STRATEGIC KINDS OF MINISTRY: Ministry to orphans, correspondence lessons for children and prisoners, teaching English as a means of evangelizing, distributing literature and Scripture, church planting, and children and youth summer camps.
GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS OF MINISTRY: Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Finland; develop a ministry in Hungary.
