Story number 1 for 28 Mar 2000

Topping the news today, Vladimir Putin handily won victory in Russia’s presidential election over the weekend. He’s already considering government changes along with economic reforms for his bankrupt country. Russian Ministries’ Peter Deyneka says a good economy will help the evangelical church. “To this point, 60-70-percent of all of the income that Christians have earned has gone to frankly just stay alive – for food and clothing. Economic stability would allow Christians themselves to participate more in funding the evangelization of their country.” However, Deyneka says there is some concern that religious freedom will be curtailed. “The last four months where Putin has favored the Russian Orthodox Church more will not develop further. In general the Russian people feel that this will be a time of new stability and accelerate the growth of Russia, economical politically, but for Christians, spiritually.”