Russia’s church moblizes for community outreach.

Russia (MNN)–Russia continues her struggle to throw off the weight of oppression, but the grip of substance abuse insures slow recovery.

Russian Ministries’ Sergey Rakhuba, speaking from Moscow, says because of the problems, children suffer the most. It’s a clarion call to the church. “Among children, because of drugs, the death rate increased 42-times. We’re trying to mobilize national community to become more active, to go out, to reach those kids especially over Christmastime, with the Gospel of Christ.”

Rakhuba is mobilizing a summit where he’s showing believers one tool for outreach. “About 120 people, representing different national organizations, denominations, will come together for a consultation in order to learn how to use this wonderful project, that known ‘Operation Christmas Child’, those shoeboxes that millions of American families are packing.”

Operation Christmas Child sends a message of hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and Christian literature.

This program provides an opportunity for individuals of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on missions project that reaches out to suffering children while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas– Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift.

In 2002, teams collected over 6 million shoe boxes worldwide and distributed them to children in about 95 countries.