Is That Wise? GL OBAL P ARTNERS


by JIM WIENS “Is that wise?” Someone asked me this not long ago as


I described the ministry of two Russian missionary cou- ples, Pavel and Lilly, and Yuri and Elena. They serve at the Kamyshin Holistic Center located in Kamyshin, Russia—a city of 120,000, about three hours from Volgograd, Russia. This center is the fruit of the 2019 FEBC convention project. In addition to counseling many adults during the week, these Russian missionary couples welcome about 30 at-risk children from ages six to 16 years old every Friday afternoon. The children are cleaned up, fed, treated for ailments, and given lodging so they have the opportunity to learn more about life and the Bible the following day. The missionary couples and many volunteers help the chil- dren with their school lessons, play games with them, and show them the love of Christ. Some of the teenagers lodge until Saturday to receive more training and to help in the Sunday School. Two mothers volunteer to help cook meals. Teams from churches in other cities travel to volunteer their time conducting lessons; they also bring food and supplies. These volunteers return home praising God for what he is doing.


summer they can be outside, but when the weather turns cold it will become very difficult. Avant Ministries is seek- ing to raise funds to buy a building nearby that will enable our missionaries to host 50–60 children and provide temporary housing to women and children at risk. It will cost $50,000 to buy the building, $20,000 to put a new roof on it, and $25,000 to make it ready to use. Until then, the team makes the best use of what they have been given.


The grace of God is also being poured out in other But is it wise during a pandemic to cram so many


people into such a small space? The Kamysin Holistic Center is less than 500 square feet. Well, from the world’s point of view it may not be wise, but I believe it is loving. The living conditions of many of these children are very dismal. Often, they do not have adequate food nor clean clothes as their parents escape into a world of alcohol and drugs. Some of the children do not see their parents for days. Still others live with relatives since their parents are in prison. Certainly, few have any opportunity to do any online classes.


But the grace of God is being poured out. In July alone


two children gave their lives to Christ. These and many other children are praying for their parents and others. That month two new families with a total of nine chil- dren came to Kamyshin Holistic Center for help. With the Lord’s help, the missionary team will serve them all. In


Last year the local churches banded together to buy a house for our missionaries, Serge and Nadezhda, who


places around the Volgograd region. Seven years ago, the churches began praying the Lord would raise up 150 mis- sionaries to be trained and sent out to spread the Gospel. Right now, the Lord has raised up 30, as we are finishing training our sixth group of missionaries. Besides praying for these missionaries daily, I teach in the Missionary Training School. I have visited them to serve and encour- age them. The missionary training school has been 100% locally funded during the last five years. Like most pastors in Russia, nearly all of the missionaries are bi-vocational. Most of their support comes from local churches, with a total of 1200 members.


FELLOWSHIP FOCUS, OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2021 12


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