MAF’s Director of Learning and Development Mike Snodgrass says, “We feel like we have a really good story to tell about how MAF partners with other mission agencies to share the love of Jesus in really isolated areas around the world.

“We also know and feel that the SOAR! program that we’ve created is unique because of our focus on missions throughout the whole week, not just a part of the VBS. Currently, there’s really no VBS that’s focused entirely on missions and especially not mission aviation.”

MAF serves people in isolated and hard-to-reach areas with the love of Jesus through aviation. They often work with other ministries and non-profits to provide things like emergency aid and medical or teaching services.

(Image courtesy of Mission Aviation Fellowship)

Since they are in the heart of the missions world and work in so many different areas, it was natural for MAF to spearhead a VBS focused on the Great Commission.

With SOAR!, Snodgrass says, “Number one, it’s all about the kids because we know that that’s the focus of any VBS. We want kids to discover who Jesus is and ultimately accept Him as their Lord and Savior.

“We also want to let kids learn about the Great Commission. A lot of kids just don’t know about missions work in general.

“Then the third thing is we’re praying that the Lord will start to plant seeds in the lives of kids and in their hearts to become our future missionary pilots, mechanics, and teachers because there’s always that need that we have at MAF.”

An experienced volunteer from North Carolina helped MAF create the VBS curriculum for SOAR! And MAF’s marketing team brought many of the ideas to life with original music, videos, and materials.

MAF also worked with four churches to refine the program. “They actually piloted the VBS for us and they gave us a lot of valuable feedback that made us make some significant changes in our curriculum…. Through that, we feel like we’ve made even a much better product.”

(Photo courtesy of Mission Aviation Fellowship)

SOAR! is now available for churches and ministries that want to provide a fun and missions-focused VBS experience. Learn more at maf.org/soar.

“That gives them all the information they need. We have a promo video out there that gives them kind of a minute and a half of what the program is all about. They can also order our starter kit from that website. We have sample songs, we have what we call is the flight plan — kind of the overall view of what the program looks like Monday through Friday — and then we also have the daily Scripture verse and what that characteristic of Jesus is each day that we’re teaching the kids,” Snodgrass says.

“Then we also have a hat for Pilot Pete,…the key character in the daily skits where kids discover who Jesus is and about missions. Then the last piece is we also give them a windsock because the windsock is a primary decoration in the main stage set for VBS.”

There is also an inquiry form at the bottom of the website where you can ask questions about the program.

Ultimately, Snodgrass says, “We’re really excited to partner with churches! We feel that kids need to learn a lot more about missions…so that hopefully we can have future missionaries out there.”

Header photo courtesy of Mission Aviation Fellowship.

SOAR uses short-term mission trips to provide orphanages with basic supplies and Bibles in their Baskets of Hope and Stuff A Stocking projects. SOAR is also able to partner with local churches to make sure children are learning God’s Word.

Today is part two of our two-part story about SOAR and their work in Russia. Click here to read part one about the Baskets of Hope project. Join us today as we look into SOAR’s work with the local church and the orphanages.

SOAR Joining with Local Churches

(Photo courtesy of SOAR)

SOAR missionary Becky Dwinnell works with children in Ryazan, Russia to deliver necessary supplies and gifts.

She reports that the local church in Ryazan also works with the orphanage to teach the children about God’s Word.

“We come alongside the church over there and they do follow-ups… they go in once a month… and just see how things are going,” Dwinnell says.

She adds that sometimes churches will host an event similar to a vacation Bible school.

The children SOAR and the local church works with end up in the orphanage for multiple reasons, but each one needs love.

Dwinnell says, “Sometimes the police will say, well, we found this child on the road, they’ll bring them in, sometimes the parents are in jail. It’s a gamut of how the kids got there, some of the kids that we work with over there are special needs… And that’s how we go in, that’s [what] we work with. We come alongside the church and go into these orphanages.”

By partnering with local churches and the orphanages, SOAR can disciple children for life.

Even for the older children, “They remembered us and the impact that it had on them to keep following Jesus.”

Changing Lives and Spreading God’s Word

(Photo courtesy of SOAR)

Each basket given to the children in Russia includes a children’s Bible in Russian. Dwinnell says children get most excited about Bibles, even over candy and toys.

The gift of these Bibles changes not only the children’s lives but the lives of the caretakers as well.

“One time we had a caretaker come up and say can we have Bible on because we want to read the Bible,” Dwinnell says.

This caretaker requested a child’s Bible since the adult Bible was too hard to understand. By providing Bibles that children can understand, SOAR is also opening up God’s Word to the community.

“They cherish those Bibles over there,” Dwinnell says.

If you want to support SOAR, you can get involved with their Stuff a Stocking project to provide Christmas gifts to orphans and other disadvantaged children.

Click here to donate. You can also get involved with next years’ Baskets of Hope Easter project as well. Click here to connect with Becky Dwinnell.

Finally, pray for these children as they receive these supplies and learn about God’s Word. Pray for the church in Russia so they may continue to help others hear God’s Word.

Header photo courtesy of SOAR.

Today begins part one of a two-part story about Baskets of Hope and SOAR’s work in Russia. Join us tomorrow as we look into SOAR’s work in Russia with orphanages and the local Church.

The Gift of God’s Word

(Photo courtesy of SOAR)

SOAR’s outreach ministry, Baskets of Hope, provides toys, winter gear, hygiene supplies, and school essentials to Russian children who don’t have access to these resources. This year, SOAR missionary Becky Dwinnell brought over backpacks filled with these resources for children in Ryazan, Russia.

Along with the supplies, every basket has a Bible in Russian.

Dwinnell says this Bible is what the children get most excited about from their basket. “They don’t go for the school supplies. The first thing[s] they look for are their Bibles. Each child gets a Bible in the Russian language, and it’s so cool just to see their eyes light up when they get these baskets and are looking for their Bibles,” Dwinnell adds.

These supplies are truly gifts because it is rare for these children to receive new items.

“It’s just like getting a birthday present — you always want to get something new,” Dwinnell says.

These items are all bought in Russia, so the children are familiar with the toys and excited to receive them.

The Need for Supplies

Poverty in Russia remains high. Approximately one-third of the population can’t afford to buy new shoes. This makes it even more difficult for orphans and other disadvantaged children.

(Photo courtesy of SOAR)

SOAR continues to step into places of poverty to help Russian children with both daily supplies and God’s Word.

Dwinnell says SOAR visited a transition home on their last trip for those who have aged out of the orphanages. She got the chance to connect with teens they had visited in previous years.

After talking with the teens, Dwinnell says, “They remembered us and the impact that it had on them to keep following Jesus.”

She adds, “They cherish those Bibles over there.”

If you want to help these children, donate to SOAR here.

Pray for these children as they receive these Bibles and supplies. Pray that they would learn about God’s Word.

Dwinnell says, “Pray for the caretakers. It’s a rough… job that they have. Pray for the caretakers and pray for the children as they receive their Bibles.”

The next project SOAR is working on is Stuff a Stocking, a program to get more supplies to these children in January. Click here to learn more.

Join us tomorrow to learn more about SOAR’s work as they partner with the local churches in Russia!

Header photo courtesy of SOAR.

In Russia, Christmas celebrations begin on January 7 instead of December 25. As described here, the date is different because the Russian Orthodox Church uses the Julian instead of the Gregorian calendar.

SOAR International’s Becky Dwinnell spoke to Mission Network News before she and a small team left to begin their “Stuff-A-Stocking” outreach.

“It’s just so exciting that we still have the privilege and the awesome opportunity to go into Russia.”

Stuff-A-Stocking 2019

(Photo courtesy of SOAR International via Facebook)

This annual distribution and outreach trip is part of SOAR International’s “Stuff-A-Stocking” ministry. First, believers sign up to sponsor a stocking. Each one “costs” $40, and sponsors can include a letter to be translated into Russian and delivered to a child with the stocking.

In Russia, SOAR uses sponsorship money to purchase a small Bible, hygiene items, winter supplies, and small gifts. On its website, SOAR explains that purchasing items in-country is far more cost-effective than buying them in the U.S. and trying to ship them overseas.

After arriving in Russia, SOAR’s short-term missions team works with their local church partners to stuff supplies and letters into hundreds of stockings. Then, the team and church leaders depart to distribute said stockings to orphans and needy children. This year, they had approximately 200 stockings to deliver.

As described on SOAR’s Facebook page, U.S. and Russian believers began their outreach on January 15 in St. Petersburg. They brought stockings and joy to hundreds of children in orphanages throughout the city. At one home, 120 disabled children received the team with excitement. Four days later, the team traveled to Ryazan for the second “leg” of their journey.

At each stocking distribution, kids see the compassion and love of Jesus on display through SOAR team members. Most importantly, they learn about Christ’s gift of salvation.

“I guess that would be one of my prayer requests…that not only would we have safety and health and all of that, but the children’s eyes and ears would be opened to the Lord.”

(Photo courtesy of SOAR International via Facebook)

Between handing out stockings, sharing God’s message of hope, and playing with oft-ignored children, the SOAR team shared the adventure with friends and family through Facebook. A few days ago, someone on the team posted:

We wish you were here to see all the joyful expressions on each face of these precious orphans as we share Christ’s love, stockings with Bibles and the true Gospel message with them!! A very special day! Keep praying for safety as we are driving long distances on snowy/icy roads.

As the team begins their long journey home, pray for safety. Pray each child who heard the Gospel will understand their need for salvation, and will turn to Christ.

Header image by Luke Southern on Unsplash.

SOAR is a ministry based in Alaska that serves Russia. For Christmas, SOAR runs its Stuff-A-Stocking outreach to bring the true meaning of the holiday season to Russian orphans—Jesus Christ and the Gospel.

Stuff-A-Stocking

There are 55,000 registered orphans in Russia. Hundreds of thousands of these orphans are considered “social orphans,” meaning one or both of their parents are alive, but they are unable to care for them. Richard Page of SOAR says that some kids wind up in an orphanage, but most live on the streets. A tangible expression of Christ’s love makes a world of difference, and that’s where SOAR’s Stuff-A-Stocking program comes in.

(Photo courtesy of SOAR International)

Stuff-A-Stocking is centered around the Russian Christmas, celebrated on January 7th. SOAR is currently raising funds to sponsor stockings. A stocking costs $40 and includes a Bible for a child. Letters written by donors are also included in the stockings. These letters are put on a special form which includes the Gospel in Russian on the back.

“We do all the shopping and assembly in Russia. The churches get involved in a big way with that. They were able to customize the stockings to fit a particular orphanage or even particular children, depending on the situation,” Page says.

During Christmas, SOAR teams travel to Russia and help stuff and deliver the stockings. The team hosts a program at orphanages where the kids can play games and hear the Gospel message.

Russia’s Orphans

This week while many people may be decorating trees and purchasing gifts for loved ones, Russian orphans have their minds on one thing: survival.

“Many of these kids have experienced things in their young lives that we hope to never see. Many of these kids have been abused…they’ve watched one of their parents attack the other one or kill the other one. They’re around drugs and all sorts of crime,” Page explains.

Once in the system, these kids are left to themselves without much to lift their spirits.

“They see very little hope. One of the orphanages that we went into, there was a sign over the door – that these kids see every day – that said, ‘This home is for children who are not normal and will never be able to live in normal society’,” Page says.

Stuff-A-Stocking is a tangible way to show Christ’s love to these kids. The Gospel message is about bringing the hope of Jesus to situations where no hope exists. It’s about a redemptive relationship with God because of the sacrifice of the cross. Stuff-A-Stocking has become a door for this message to penetrate hearts.

Impact From Stocking Program

(Photo courtesy of SOAR International)

Some kids have been in the system long enough that they have been recipients of Stuff-A-Stocking multiple times. Stuff-A-Stocking has been running for the last 14 years. Today, SOAR encounters kids served in those first years. Now, some are adults who were impacted by the program. Page says it’s “really special to see how…these kids have grown”.

Plus, Stuff-A-Stocking has developed a positive reputation in communities. Despite the laws restricting religious activity in the country, SOAR has even visited police-run orphanages.

“Last year we had a special distribution. They didn’t tell us ahead of time, they just said it was another police orphanage. But when we got there it was actually a police headquarters and we were able to share the Gospel with the children of the police themselves. So, we’re seeing God open doors in amazing ways with this project that we never thought we would,” Page recalls.

Get Involved

Will you care for the orphan this Christmas? Get your church, school, or Bible study group involved with Stuff-A-Stocking. For $40 you can provide a stocking and a Bible for a child in Russia.

Also, take time to write a letter, which will be translated, to a child living in a Russian orphanage. Remind these kids they are not forgotten by the Church or God.

Be a part of Stuff-A-Stocking here!

“They’re so excited when they hear the SOAR team is coming,” shares Richard Page, Executive Director of SOAR International Ministries.

“We’re seeing God open doors in amazing ways with this project that we never thought we would.”

Christmas opportunities

SOAR began its “Stuff-A-Stocking” project in 2002 following a request from its Russian church partners. They wanted “to have a Christmas project that could share Christ’s love in a tangible way with orphans and children in needy families,” Page explains.

“The really unique thing about this project is it actually is a door opener…for many of the churches to have ongoing ministry in the orphanages.”

Through the Stuff-A-Stocking project, orphans receive Christmas stockings full of snacks, essential hygiene items, and a Bible. For some kids, it’s the first and only Christmas gift they’ve ever received. (Photo courtesy of SOAR International Ministries) 

Through the Stuff-A-Stocking project, orphans receive Christmas stockings full of snacks, essential hygiene items, and a Bible. For some kids, it’s the first and only Christmas gift they’ve ever received.

Not only does this outreach bless the children involved, it softens the hearts of orphanage leaders.

“Because [the churches] came in as part of this project and the administrators saw that they were not a threat and that they were good people,” Page details, “they’ve invited them to come back on an ongoing basis.

“The [Stuff-A-Stocking] project has really opened a lot of ministry for the local churches, and that’s part of what we really want to do.”

As explained on its website, SOAR is a U.S.-based ministry that seeks to support the work of the Russian evangelical Church. This support work takes many different forms, from outreach projects like Stuff-A-Stocking to humanitarian aid distributions.

Each effort fulfills SOAR’s stated mission: To fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to the people of Russia and Abkhazia by coming alongside of, encouraging, and equipping Russian believers to reach their own people for Christ.

Want to stuff a stocking?

According to Page, the ministry hopes to deliver 2,500 stockings this Christmas season. “The project is centered around the Russian Christmas, which takes place January 7th,” he explains, which means they’re running out of time to get sponsors for all the stockings.

Click here to donate on SOAR’s website, and then select “Stockings & Bibles” from the drop-down list. It costs $40 to fill a stocking with snacks, essential hygiene items, a winter hat and gloves, and a Bible.

Learn more about the Stuff-A-Stocking project here.

“Pray for the project, because it is a really effective tool for the local churches there in Russia. It’s an encouragement to them to be able to partner in a project like this.”

Header courtesy of SOAR International Ministries.

She says, “We headed off to Russia on the 8^th which was Russia’s Orthodox Easter when they were celebrating.”

The goal of this trip was to distribute “Baskets of Hope” to children in orphanages. Ever year, these baskets are filled with necessities, small gifts, treats, and a Bible. Along with the baskets, the children receive a letter from the person who sponsored the basket.

The team was hoping to be able to hold a camp within one of the orphanages as well, but they learned just before they arrived that they would not be able to. However, Mangione says, “We were still able to go and visit the orphanage and do a distribution and ended up doing a small camp at the church there in Ryazan.”

(Photo and header photo courtesy of SOAR International)

At the orphanages, the team was also able to share the Gospel through a puppet show. This time around, the puppet show centered on Jesus as the Good Shepherd who pursues even just one of His lost sheep until they are found.

After this presentation, the church team asked the kids a series of follow-up questions.

“The kids have an opportunity to answer what the story was about, what it means for us, how it relates to Jesus.”

Mangione says it’s fun to be able to see the kids taking in what they are hearing. But the children weren’t the only ones exposed to the Gospel message. Typically, the orphanage directors also get to hear. And this time, there was another special visitor sitting in:

“It was actually pretty amazing, the first distribution we went to, there was actually an Orthodox priest at the orphanage. And he ended staying and watching the presentation which was pretty cool. Sometimes the Orthodox priests don’t often stay around to participate in anything that the Baptist Evangelical will put together in Russia. And he did, and got along with us wonderfully and was incredibly kind. So that was very wonderful to see the Lord work in that.”

(Photo courtesy of SOAR International)

After the presentation, there’s time for games and then, finally, the baskets are handed out to each child.

Overall, the SOAR team was able to do three distributions. Because of how schedules worked out, their church partners completed a few more distributions this last Saturday.

“In between the distributions, we were able to do a small camp for the kids at church. It’s always fun to do a camp for the kids at church, as well. Yes, the kids have been exposed to Scripture. Every once in a while, we get a child who is a friend of a friend who doesn’t know God at all and doesn’t know Christ. And so, it’s a really fun opportunity to get to reach out and share the Gospel.”

The two-day camp SOAR helped their church partner run included Bible learning, English lessons, games, and crafts. Among the children were familiar faces and those they’ve never seen before.

Following up the Easter Trip with Prayer

Easter provides a unique openness to ministry. Mangione explains, “One interesting thing is that Easter is acknowledged by everybody in Russia. It is the biggest religious holiday in Russia. So, obviously they believe Jesus was alive, existed—they just don’t all have a personal relationship with Him.”

(Photo courtesy of SOAR International)

So much so is Easter a part of Russian tradition that many children in the orphanage would respond to “Christ is risen” with “He is risen indeed.” The same is true for the rest of society.

Mangione says it is beautiful to hear these words in Russian. But because it’s such a cultural thing, it should also cause us to be praying:

“Christs name is being proclaimed in Russia, and may we not stop our prayers. May we increase them.”

that that truth would sink deeply into the hearts of the people of Russia, within the children, within the orphanage worker’s hearts.”

Overall, the Gospel was presented in letters, Bibles, and the puppet show. And, the church SOAR works with visits these orphanages on a regular basis throughout the year.

“Be praying for these follow-up visits, that during that time, the kids can ask questions—but that you would pray for our Russia partners, that they would be given the words to say, the wisdom, and that they know how to answer these questions– know how to direct them to Christ. And that these kids would come to a saving knowledge of Christ.”

If you’d like to support some of the projects SOAR does throughout the year in Russia and beyond, click here.

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.

Joanna Mangione of SOAR says, “We’re looking for churches who are willing to promote the project within their church. And then, of course, individuals and churches who would be willing to sponsor the baskets as well.”

These baskets (or gift bags) are filled with gifts for children in Russia and include a Bible. When the baskets are distributed, the Gospel is shared through a short presentation.

In this way, the project is very similar to their “Stuff a Stocking” project. It’s targeted towards children in need who don’t often receive such gifts of kindness. However, this distribution takes place on a much more significant holiday in Russian Culture. Mangione says that Easter, which in the Orthodox calendar takes place on April 8, is the biggest religious holiday.

“Easter is already acknowledged as a religious holiday where Christmas isn’t always acknowledged in that way. It is—but it’s not nearly as big of a deal. Easter is. And so, their mindset is already on Christ. You’ll hear even some non-Christians say the phrases in Russian: ‘He is risen. He is risen, indeed.’

(Photo courtesy of SOAR International).

“It’s very religious and because of that, we love the opportunity to distribute gifts during this time because their hearts are kind of already a little prepped.”

There’s just a couple of months left to get everything together. Sponsoring a basket alone is $35. To provide a Bible, it costs $5. These baskets also provide a chance for you to write a letter to a child in need and let them know they are loved.

If you’d like to sponsor a Bible, a basket, or both, click here.

Bringing a smile to their faces

Mangione says these thoughtful Easter baskets serve a couple of purposes:

“One of our first instincts is to bring a smile to their face because a lot of these kids don’t have a whole lot of joy. They don’t have a whole lot of hope for the future. So, obviously, that is our initial instinct is to bring that joy, and then to direct them to acknowledging– that joy comes from the Lord. And, this love and these gifts, they’re ultimately from the Lord.”

Secondly, she says of the children they serve, “They’re the next generation. They’re the ones who, once they’re graduated and leave the orphanage, they’re going to meet more people. And if we can share the Gospel and give the hope of the Gospel to kids when they’re still young or when they’re in the home and give them a hope for the future, that they can go out then and say, ‘I have hope.’”

Given the dismal situation many orphans have come out of, the mention of hope will no doubt draw more questions from people.

“Our hope is that this project is merely a pebble that will turn into a ripple effect throughout the country,” Mangione says.

Looking ahead into 2018

There are more ways you can walk alongside SOAR in ministry this year. First of all, you can pray for them.

(Photo courtesy of SOAR International).

One of the biggest prayer requests they have right now is that God would lead the right people to join their team in Alaska. They are a small team and could use some extra hands for the day-to-day tasks.

You can also pray that God would give them wisdom and guidance as they prepare for projects like “Baskets of Hope.”

You can also help financially. Again, if you’d like to sponsor a basket, click here. The deadline for sponsorship this year is March 31. You can also check out other projects to support here. If you’d like to contribute to the general fund or support a SOAR worker, click here.

Finally, you can serve with SOAR in a couple of ways.

“If you feel called to mission work in Alaska and Russia, please reach out to us. We’d love to talk to us about opportunities. So that’s our biggest request as that does affect our day-to-day with a smaller team.”

And if you enjoy sewing, consider stepping up now to help SOAR prepare for their Christmas ministry.  “You can start sewing now. So, one stocking a week or a month, and by the time you hit Christmas, we’ll be set to go with a whole bunch of stockings that we can definitely use once we’re over there.”

For any further questions contact the SOAR team here.

“We are incredibly blessed and encouraged by how much God has kind of lifted us up, even as a small team, and allowed us to do so much.”

Joanna Mangione of SOAR spoke to us about their recent trip to Russia for Stuff a Stocking. The team arrived in Ryazan just hours before the new year.

“We rung in the year with the church there. Actually, the tradition is that the church prays that last hour into midnight. So we got to do that with the church.”

That week, the team helped their church contact in Ryazan run a day camp for children in the church and the local community.

(Photo and header photo courtesy of SOAR International)

“It was a three-day long camp program that we did alongside the church [with] crafts and games and Bible stories and Bible lessons and English lessons. And it was basically a whole day program for the kids for three days in honor of the Christmas season.”

Over the next few days, they began distributing the stockings. These stockings contain necessities like gloves and shampoo, as well as toys and a Bible. In total, the team was able to distribute the gifts to four different children’s homes and a bedridden home in Ryazan. On January 7^th, they celebrated Christmas with the church according to the Orthodox calendar.

After Ryazan, they were off to St. Petersburg.

A surprise in St. Petersburg

Mangione says, “The church there is doing some amazing work with rehabilitating men and women. And we’ve known them for quite some time– have been doing this project with them for many, many years, and just last summer helped them with their summer camp. So it was really fun to get to see them again.”

Here, they participated in eight distributions. Many of these locations were children’s homes and transition homes, but Mangione says their outreach is growing beyond that.

“We went to even a few detention centers. We went to a sports school for kids who are brought into that opportunity. And then, we were incredibly surprised to get to actually get to do a small distribution inside a police station which even surprised our Russian brothers and sisters.

“We arrived and initially, we were under the impression it was a detention center. And when we arrived we realized it was the police station and we would be doing the distribution and the Gospel presentation for the children of policemen.”

Mangione says they were quite surprised and a little wary. But because they had been invited in, they went on with the distribution.

“It was actually a wonderful time. It was a couple of families who came into a room that they set aside and we were able to present the Gospel. We gave them their gifts, handed out Bibles. Both the parents and the children were there.”

(Photo courtesy of SOAR International)

The team praises God for his protection during this unexpected visit.

As it turns out, the policewoman who invited them to this particular distribution has been making a way for Stuff a Stocking to grow in this area.

“She loves the project so much that she has been the one to help open the doors into some of these transit homes and detention centers that we might, just on our own, might not have gotten into without her influence and invitation, and paving the way there for us.”

And so, Mangione says, “God definitely worked this January and is working in Russia and through that policewoman. We are so blessed that we got the opportunity to work with the church together in getting to bring gifts and getting to bring the Bible, and getting to bring the Gospel to the kids, and the adults for that matter, that we got to meet while there.”

It’s never a bad time to give to the Stuff A Stocking project, or to start sewing stockings for next year. For more information, click here.

Also, stay tuned for a look at SOAR International’s next project, Baskets of Hope. This project centers around Easter, the largest religious holiday in Russia.