Syria is a major lynchpin in international dynamics across the Middle East and Eurasia. With this dramatic power shift, everything you thought you knew about the Middle East is about to change.

Samuel with Redemptive Stories says, “What has happened is a shocking course of events that’s…been worked towards by the rebels since 2011/2012; maybe even before then, really. It’s been tried many times over the history of the Assad regime.”

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (left) and former Iranian President Seyyed Ibrahim Raisi (right), May 8, 2022. (Wikimedia Commons)

The sudden overturn in the Syrian war was made possible by the weakening of Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah, all of which were propping up Assad’s government.

Samuel says, “[The rebels] attacked shortly after the ceasefire in Lebanon, and there was no stopping them really. Once they got moving, the Assad army — due to lack of funding [and] lack of resources — just really ended up in many cases throwing down their arms and fleeing because they knew this was a fight that was not worth fighting any longer.

“Currently, the situation in Syria is that the majority of the Assad-controlled cities — so places like Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Latakia, Damascus, and Tartus — are now all under control of the rebels.”

Assad and his family are now exiled in Moscow where they have been granted asylum by the Russian government.

Samuel explains, “The transition of government so far has been fairly subdued and smooth. There has been a lot of looting currently in places like Damascus and others where just the sheer volume of people and the lack of police presence — now that the regime has fallen — has allowed for in the midst of this chaos. But places like Aleppo and others have remained fairly stable even after the rebels have taken over.”

Meanwhile, Israeli forces are advancing into southern Syria. Israel stated it has destroyed suspected chemical weapons depots in Syria to prevent them from being used by the rebels.

(Ahill34, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Amidst the radical changes, Syrian Christians and minorities are asking, ‘Does this trade one type of oppression for another?’

“There is still significant fear as to what this might mean for them,” says Samuel. “The rebels have direct ties and connections historically to Al Qaeda. You might call them ISIS adjacent. So that reality is very concerning for the future of Syria.”

Redemptive Stories invites you to join them in meaningful prayer as God is doing something significant in the Middle East.

“Those that care about this region are taking a day of fasting and praying on December 11…on behalf of Syria. We’re also praying for protection for displaced families and vulnerable communities, that God’s peace and stability might reign in Syria.”

Pray also for Syrians seeking hope to ultimately find Jesus.

Header photo of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city. (Photo courtesy of Dan/Flickr: https://flic.kr/p/4r8vQp)

Gunmen turned the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow into a slaughterhouse on Friday evening, killing at least 137 people and wounding 182.

As news of the attack spread through the country, church leaders’ “response was to pray for the families, to reach them with the comfort that only God can provide, and to be resolute in advancing the Gospel,” Slavic Gospel Association’s Eric Mock says.

“Most of the people I’ve talked to were reminded of the fragility of life and the need to be walking ever faithful one moment at a time before the Lord.”

Crocus City Hall attack memorial in Kazan.
(Wikimedia Commons)

The Islamic State branch in Afghanistan, or ISIS-K, claimed the attack. Both American and French intelligence agencies confirm that the statement is true. France increased its national security level to the highest level on Sunday.

“We live in a changing world, where it seems that the value of a single life has fallen dramatically, and there’s no greater need than now for the Gospel; no greater need for the churches to rise up and extend the message of hope in the middle of the chaos,” Mock says.

SGA serves evangelical churches in Russia through missionary pastor sponsorship, biblical, church-based training, and children’s ministry. More about that here.

Pray believers will seize every opportunity to make Christ known.

“Pray for the churches in Russia [to] be bold and faithful and that they will continue to hold forth the Gospel. Pray for peace in people’s hearts in the middle of an increasingly warring world,” Mock requests.

Header image depicts Russian Crocus City Hall amphitheater interiors, a day after the terrorist attack on 22 March 2024. (Wikimedia Commons)

A few buildings in Moscow had minor damage and some residents were evacuated from their homes.

The drone attacks on Moscow stand in stark contrast to the reality of attacks Ukrainians face every day since the Russian invasion last year.

Eric Mock with Slavic Gospel Association recently visited ministry partners in Ukraine. He says, “One of the ladies told me, ‘I have two lives. I have the life that I lived before the invasion with thoughts of retirement and thoughts of grandchildren and thoughts of the life that I lived in free Ukraine. Now I have the life that I live after the war. It’s an unknown life…. I just try to get through one day at a time and it’s a new context.’

“She says, ‘Before, it was a quiet night’s rest. Now, it’s air raid sirens and explosions every night.’”

(Photo courtesy of Slavic Gospel Association)

To try and introduce a sense of normalcy, SGA is hosting Gospel-based Summer Bible Camps in safe areas of Ukraine for kids. These are the same children who have to hide or run when the air raid sirens go off, and who live in fear of a rocket hitting their home or school.

Mock says, “You cannot imagine how much it means to these kids to have a week or two away in the countryside to hear about the hope they have in Jesus.”

You can support SGA’s Summer Bible Camps here! It just costs $41 for one child to attend Summer Bible Camp and hear the Gospel.

Ultimately, the message from the Ukrainian Church is a spiritual lesson they have learned and want use to challenge others.

Mock says, “As the people in Ukraine will tell you, they thought they had a different life and in a moment, it all radically changed. So don’t put off till tomorrow getting right with God through faith in Christ. It must be done today.”

Header photo courtesy of Michael Parulava/Unsplash.

Kurt Rovenstine says, “Our goal was to distribute Bibles along the China-Russia border on the Russian side to Chinese who did business in China. We hoped that some scripture might find its way into those folks’ homes within China.”

Complications

Then, Russia invaded Ukraine. Distribution in other parts of Russia became impossible. Bibles for China’s main contact in Russia fled to avoid conscription into the invasion force. Rovenstine says, “We were holding on to the hope that we could go and complete the project as it was designed. But we recently decided that the best course of action is not to keep Bibles in a warehouse. That doesn’t make any sense.”

So instead, they released the Bibles to Chinese churches around the Moscow area for use in training and evangelism.

Bibles for China hasn’t given up on the original idea. They still want to send Bibles to Chinese nationals living abroad. Rovenstine says, “That’s one of the things that in our future we’re considering: little projects in countries around the world where there are these large populations of Chinese, and giving them Bibles.”

“The intention is they go back into China, leave their Bible with family and friends, and come back to receive another one.”

Ask God to give Bibles for China wisdom as they plan these projects. Pray these Bibles would strengthen Chinese churches.

God continues to work, despite not everything going to plan, Rovenstine says. “I often think as Americans, we put together a plan that in our mind is flawless. And all of a sudden, we hit a hiccup along the way. We can forget that God can work amid any scenario.”

The header photo shows Moscow at night. (Photo courtesy of Эдуард Ризванов from Pixabay)

What about sharing the Gospel with 25 million people?

That’s exactly what a group of pastors in Russia is trying to do. They’re on a bold mission called “25 in 24” — to reach 25 million people across Central Russia in 24 months with the eternal hope of Christ.

(Photo courtesy of World Missionary Press)

Central Russia is actually the nation’s westernmost district and includes the capital, Moscow. The word “central” refers more to the district’s historical and political influence in the country. Which makes it a great area for Gospel outreach.

Helen Williams with World Missionary Press says, “To do that, they need a lot of literature. So they looked around at what they are currently using…and they’ve asked World Missionary Press to provide a great amount of [literature].

“The first one they chose was the Bible Study on John. So we’ve been working on getting it. It’s got a unique cover for distribution in Russia and it’s a little smaller. It’s been edited a bit so that it’s easier for them to use.”

This project is significant for WMP. The ministry hasn’t been able to send biblical material into Russia for several years. Closed doors and red tape made shipping Gospel literature there incredibly difficult.

But since they linked arms with this group of local Russian pastors, God has opened doors. The pastors took care of completing government papers and getting necessary approvals to import WMP literature. Now, the first shipment has already been approved!

There are roughly 39 million people in Central Russia. If this group of pastors completes their goal, over half of the people in this district will be exposed to God’s redemptive message of salvation.

Williams says she recently received an email from their contact in the pastors group. “He said that the ministry is growing so fast, ‘doors for preaching the Gospel are more open than ever in our country.’ I don’t know how long it will last. So right now, they’re giving out about a million booklets a month. And we need the resources to get more and more. He says, ‘Print as many of them as you can.’

(Image courtesy of World Missionary Press)

“They have about 350 churches involved throughout Central Russia that are going to be involved in this. So we are working diligently to get material into their hands.”

All of WMP’s biblical literature resources are free. Williams says, “It’s all Scripture, it’s reliable, and that frees up limited funds for them to help with this campaign — the setting up of distribution and gas money and whatever is needed to just get the work going.”

You can support this shipment of Gospel literature to Russia! Click here to give to WMP and select the “Scriptures for Russia” fund.

One shipment of a 40-foot container costs around $80,000. A $250 donation will provide 2,736 copies of WMP’s abridged Russian Bible Study on John to Central Russia.

Pray for the pastors and churches awaiting this literature shipment to be spiritually encouraged as they spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Ask God to soften the hearts and open the eyes of millions across Central Russia to the Gospel!

Learn more about WMP here.

Header photo courtesy of Michael Parulava via Unsplash.

This fourth wave of new infections and deaths began in late September. Rates rose daily last month, and some say the actual numbers far exceed government statistics.

The surge is not hindering Gospel work. Helen Williams of World Missionary Press says believers press on toward a 2023 goal. “We have had continuous communication with them,” Williams says.

“There’s been no indication that things have to come to a halt.”

Although their contacts have not mentioned any problems, she continues, it may not be accurate for every believer in the network. “There [are] lots of churches; it (the network) covers a large area, so it may depend on the individuals,” Williams says.

Reaching Russia for Christ

Earlier this year, church partners described their ambitious plans and sought help from WMP. More about that here. “A group of pastors committed themselves to reach 25 million people in the central Russia area, which includes Moscow, in the next 24 months,” Williams says.

“[Our contact has] about 350 churches involved in this (mission) across that region. They looked through the literature and [requested] our Bible study on John as an initial piece, and they will also be using our new booklet Who Do You Say I Am?”

Today, everything waits on the Lord’s timing. COVID-19 restrictions in Russia and the global supply chain backup could stop WMP’s delivery from reaching believers. However, church partners have the green light to bring Scripture booklets into the country.

A girl in the Moscow subway
(Photo courtesy of Myznik Egor/Unsplash)

“They have been very diligent in the logistics and the permissions that they need. We are currently getting ready to print the Bible study on John,” Williams says.

“As soon as we get this printed, it can go on a container, and it can get into Russia.”

World Missionary Press does not sell any of its Scriptural materials to believers around the world. Help cover the costs of printing and distribution here.

Because of WMP’s economy of operation (high-speed equipment printing on rolls of paper, “missionary” wages, and the work of hundreds of volunteers), each donated dollar provides the equivalent of 25 topical Scripture booklets.

Most importantly, pray. Use prompts listed alongside this article to guide your intercession.

“As the Word goes out, [pray] that people will understand God loves them, and there is salvation and a Savior available. Those are critical issues that only the Lord can do,” Williams says.

“I know the Lord is going to do a great work in Russia.”

Header image depicts a Russian ambulance. (Photo courtesy of SLON V KASHE/Unsplash)

Russia has become a new hotspot for COVID-19 cases. The country now has the second most confirmed infections after the United States, with actual numbers suspected to be quite higher.

Through SGA, you can support people in Soviet Russia and the former Soviet Union. (Photo courtesy of SGA on Facebook)

Russia has sent a lot of mixed messages about COVID-19, first declaring control over the virus before asking for help as case numbers rise. At the same time, Russia lifted many of its work restrictions over a week ago. Eric Mock of Slavic Gospel Association says, “The evidence on the ground is that people are suffering economically and through the health issues. And the hospitals are overwhelmed.”

Mock says most of the news about Russia has been filtered through the lens of Moscow and other large cities in the western part of the country. “Outside Moscow, there were already regions where people lived in pretty difficult conditions. Healthcare is not quite as good as it is in Moscow. People were already in the middle of a difficult life, much more difficult than we have here. And so what we’re trying to do is help the Churches help these families that are suffering even more.”

How to help

You can support these churches through SGA’s Christ Over COVID program. Mock says, “We’re seeing churches step up and reach out to people in a pretty profound way. So pray for these churches. Pray that hearts would be open to the Gospel. Above all, pray that God would be glorified in this time.”

The Church in rural Russia is helping vulnerable people and embodying the reign of Christ on earth. (Photo courtesy of Сергей Горбачев from Pixabay)

Mock encourages Christians to get involved with SGA’s daily prayer guide, which is available by email for free. “Every single morning, we’re taking these stories and we’re writing a devotional to go along with that. Our staff is putting that together to encourage people and to give them insight into what we’re hoping that they’ll pray for.”

Mock says this time will go down in the history books. “We just realized this is an amazing time. “This is a historical time and a great opportunity for the Gospel. We’re asking people not only to get involved in praying but to give to this program so that we can provide food for these churches.”

A largely empty street in Moscow during the COVID-19 lockdowns. (Photo courtesy of Анна Иларионова from Pixabay)

Every year, SOAR International takes advantage of the cultural recognition of this holiday to share the Gospel story. They work alongside local churches to minister to children in orphanages or those who come from difficult backgrounds.

This year, SOAR is aiming to collect enough sponsors for 2,500 “Baskets of Hope.” These baskets are not your traditional Easter baskets filled with chocolate bunnies and eggs—although there may be some snacks. Like their name says, the baskets are given out with intent to give hope.

Joanna Mangione of SOAR explains how this Easter-focused project comes together from sponsorship to distribution:

(Photo courtesy of SOAR International).

“An individual will sponsor it. We will process that sponsorship here, recording it. And then, from there, then the financial support is sent to the churches overseas. The churches then go shopping for everything that’s required to be inside of the baskets. So, hygiene items and school supplies—maybe some socks, gloves, hat, some toys, some snacks, anything they are in need of specifically.”

Each basket (or bag when a basket is not available) is stuffed with the items specifically needed in each area, a letter from the church or sponsor, and a Bible.

A team from SOAR will be meeting up with churches in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Ryazan to help with the final preparations and the distribution of the Baskets of Hope.

“And once they get to the orphanage, the kids come into the room, they do a presentation, usually a puppet show which is usually a story of Christ. So for Easter, it’s probably surrounding the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And then there is a short time of question and answer.”

Since a lot of these kids have been visited by the churches before, there is usually a quiz time to refresh on what they’ve learned in the past. Then, there will be a game, and finally, the baskets are distributed.

A Bible is given to every child who either does not have one or is older and needs one better suited for their reading and comprehension level. If they’ve gotten a Bible before and it still suits their age-level, the church will instead give them a supplemental book—a devotional or book that will help them engage in deeper study of the Bible.

“That’s how we’ve been balancing it so they don’t just have a stack of Bibles, but that they’re getting additional truths that they can read alongside the Bible to help them understand it that much better,” Mangione explains.

Along with the Gospel presentation, the Bible, and the games, there’s another way these children might hear about Jesus through the Baskets of Hope. It’s through the letters from sponsors like you. These letters, Mangione reminds us, are held precious by the children. It helps them know they are loved and cared for. And, on the back, it includes the Gospel message.

(Photo courtesy SOAR International via Facebook)

If you’d like to sponsor a stocking, please consider writing a letter, too. You can email SOAR with your letter and they will make sure to send the letter along to the child. You can find their email and contact information, here.

March 31^st is the final day to sponsor a basket for this year.

To sponsor a basket, Bible, or both, click here.

And either way, please pray.

“Our prayer is that this would be more than just some gifts to make them happy—that they would really take to heart the story of the Gospel on the backside of their letter—that when they hear the puppet show, that when they interact with us, that they’re going to see more than just a good time. That they are going to see and feel the love of God.”

Also, pray for the orphanage directors who will also be exposed to the Gospel during this time. Ask God to prepare their hearts for this message.

(Photo by SOAR International)

Russia (MNN) — The Christmas season isn’t quite over yet, at least not in Russia. The traditional Christmas in Russia takes place tomorrow, January 7.

SOAR International will be there to distribute stockings to orphans and at-risk children. If you missed the news about Stuff a Stocking, read up about it here and plan for next year. It’s an opportunity to provide children with necessities and the very necessary message of Jesus Christ.

The SOAR team is about to land in Moscow and begin distribution with their ministry partners in Russia.

One of their main partners who will host them during this trip addresses a wide range of needs in a region southeast of Moscow.

Greg Mangione of SOAR International says, “Along with visiting all the orphanages and ministering to them in their area, they also have a transition home where they have graduates from the orphanage come through.”

The home provides important guidance to children who have aged out of an orphanage. Mangione says, “At any given time, they probably have 8-12 16-18-year-olds that they’re working with, to help them reintegrate into society, mentoring them, discipling them, helping them get training.”

Some things the home needs to stay in operation are beds, kitchen equipment, and food.

We’ve all gone through stages where we don’t know what to do next with our life. Often, all we need is a little encouragement and a nudge to make good decisions, and someone to guide us away from bad ones. It’s the very same for these orphans as they leave the orphanages.

“The statistics for children, especially those that have been in the orphanage system in Russia, are pretty bleak,” says Mangione. “And so it’s encouraging to us to see and to partner with churches that are trying to address the needs of at-risk children and children in the orphanage system in Russia–trying to turn those statistics around.”

He continues, “Transition Homes, for instance, are doing just that. Their statistics are 180 degrees opposite. The kids are accepting the Lord and becoming disciples, believers, building families, getting good jobs.”

SOAR hopes to be an encouragement and support while they stay with this ministry.

Still seeing God’s hand in Sochi

During the second half of the trip, a small group from SOAR will travel to Sochi. Last February during the Winter Olympics, SOAR established relationships with several churches in the area. When they visited them this past August, SOAR was pleased to hear that their enthusiasm to reach the community was still intact and encouraged. Their passion for building relationships with children and families nearby was obvious.

One church connects with their community by letting children play on their trampoline. Simple activities like this keep children from getting into trouble on the streets and provide an opportunity to teach them about Jesus.

This trampoline is now unusable. Can you help them get a new one? (Photo courtesy of SOAR International via Facebook)

However, this trampoline has been damaged beyond repair, and they are in need of a new one. The church would also like to purchase an Xbox.  want to bring kids from the community into a healthy, nurturing environment.

Mangione says it’s encouraging to see the children’s parents allow their kids to hang out at the church–a place where they are loved and accepted.

He says, “The broader consequences of this ministry are that more than just these kids, but those that are working with these kids–providing them homes, whether it’s their parents or other family members–are seeing that the church is reaching out to these kids and loving them. That is a pretty big testimony in and of itself.”

If you would like to contribute to provide any of the items listed above, there is still time for them to be purchased in Russia while the SOAR team is there on the ground.

You can view their Christmas catalog here and see the items mentioned under “Donate towards Ministry Partner Needs!” Or click here and designate a monetary gift for any of the projects you feel called to help with.

Mangione asks for prayer for safety and effective, encouraging ministry. Please pray that God would meet the needs of SOAR and their partners.

Kids learn Bible stories through a craft project. (Image courtesy SOAR)

SOAR International Ministries shared the Gospel with around 45 kids this summer at week-long camps. SOAR’s Greg Mangione says they saw the love of Christ transform Russia’s orphans, even in such a short span of time.

“To see their attitudes improve; see them go from frowning and not really wanting to be there to being excited and happy to be there…it’s really neat to see,” says Mangione.

“In the end, I’m happy to report that we had at least 15 children that came to accept the Lord in their lives.”

At SOAR’s summer camps, the truth of God’s Word is taught and demonstrated through Bible lessons, drama, devotions, music, counseling, and the witness of SOAR ministry team members.

“We had an excellent group of Russians and Americans come together to work with [the kids],” Mangione says.

And, it wasn’t just the kids who found hope in Christ this summer.

“One of the teachers that accompanied the children from the orphanages also made a step to accept the Lord,” shares Mangione.

She almost didn’t make it to the camp, he adds. If it weren’t for the encouragement and persistence of Christian friends, this young lady wouldn’t have accompanied the children to SOAR’s summer camp.

“It’ll be pretty interesting, pretty neat when she returns and can share with her Christian friends that she did in fact make a step toward salvation,” Mangione says.

When the camps conclude, each child receives a Bible and SOAR counselors encourage them to keep reading the Word of God daily. Now, SOAR’s friends in Russia are doing what they can to boost discipleship efforts. They’re trying to get local churches involved too.

Help their financial efforts go further here.

“We were really encouraged,” says Mangione. “We saw, very clearly, the Lord work through that time.”

Pray each new believer grows deeper in their knowledge of Jesus Christ. Pray for successful discipleship courses to begin.