Excessive heat in both Russia and Ukraine along with Russia’s wildfires didn’t stop veteran Moody Radio broadcaster Greg Wheatley from discovering the hope in these countries’ young Next Generation Christian leaders.

Read an interview by U.K. journalist Peter Wooding with Greg as he traveled this summer.

When you support School Without Walls, it’s more than an academic exercise. It’s support of a generation of godly, young national Christian leaders, who are ready to pick up the baton of faithfulness from the previous generation, and confront the realities of a changing society.

Even in the high-risk regions of the former Soviet Union, School Without Walls students are reaching out to the needy as the helping hands of Jesus.

School Without Walls students from Kabardino-Balkaria are no strangers to the violence that rocks their Northern Caucasus region.

In early spring, police killed a rebel leader in a shoot out on the streets of the capital city of Nalchik.

In July, School Without Walls students went to Makhachkala, Dagestan to hold an evangelistic summer camp for children in the community. A week after the students returned home, a pastor of one of Makhachkala’s largest evangelical churches was gunned down.

But, according to a recent report from Sergey, the School Without Walls coordinator in Kabardino-Balkaria, none of this has slowed down the students’ outreach and ministries in this region.

We have School Without Walls programs in Prokhladny and Nalchik. The School Without Walls students from Prokhladny regularly visit an orphanage, where they sing, tell the children about Christ and play soccer, volleyball, checkers, chess and other games with them. The students have also connected with the youth of the orphanage. Some of the children regularly read the Bible and pray. The students are accepted and liked by the children. Vadim, one of our School Without Walls students, has become friends with one boy. Vadim watches out for him, and recently bought him a new soccer uniform. The two of them now play soccer together, both wearing their new uniforms.

When the students drive up to the orphanage, one can often hear the joyful cry, “The Baptists have arrived!” and everyone runs out to meet the students.

School Without Walls students from Nalchik decided to take on missions work in the city of Tyrnyauz. For two years now, a small group of 12 believers has had no church leadership or support. These young leaders travel there to help out with Sunday morning services, encourage the believers and help them share the good news of Jesus in the community. This ministry is just beginning, but we have plans to develop it and reach many Balkars, who need Jesus.

Interested in supporting a School Without Walls student? Find out more here.

This ministry post is based on a report from the national Ukrainian staff of Russian Ministries’ in-country affiliate, the Association for Spiritual Renewal, just outside of Kiev in Irpen, Ukraine.

The Association for Spiritual Renewal (ASR) is thanking God for His work at the first international School Without Walls festival, which ran from June 17-20 along the Azov Sea in Ukraine.

The festival attracted 520 young Next Generation Christian leaders from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the U.S. and India. The festival’s theme-”Time to Live, Time to Serve”-was designed to motivate a younger generation of Christians to pursue ministry and wholeheartedly serve God.

At the four-day festival, people from a variety of evangelical churches as well as different cultures learned and worshiped together as Christ’s body.

“It was wonderful to hear how God, through His church, is doing great things in different countries! I hope that a new day will dawn in each of our countries,” observed Andrei, a musician from Zaporozhye, Ukraine.

The packed festival schedule featured general sessions with expert speakers such as Russian Ministries’ Senior Vice-President Sergey Rakhuba, Michael Cherenkov and Yuri Sipko, and testimonies, project and ministry presentations and workshops. The worship team for Irpen Bible Church led worship each morning and evening, and two Christian music groups, Near Heaven and New Day, performed late night concerts.

Workshops covered relevant topics such as the use of media in the church, sports evangelism, short-term missions and extreme youth camps.

“I gained many ideas for ministry and spreading the gospel. The festival encouraged me, and now I want to serve God with new energy and inspiration. This was a time of encouragement, and I hope there are more festivals like this,” shared Svetlana from Belarus.

Evening sessions focused on different themes each night. The first night focused on an Evening of Praise, the second night was an Evening of Discovery and the closing program was an Evening of Commitment.

During the Evening of Praise, these young leaders were encouraged to worship God in simplicity and freedom, without boundaries. During the Evening of Discovery, speakers from different countries and regions talked about their ministries, and shared some of the problems and difficulties as well as the blessings they encounter as they follow Christ.

Special speakers from Central Asia shared how difficult it is today to follow Christ in their countries. They told about the persecution they face not only from authorities, but also from their families. “Thank you School Without Walls. Thank you, that you love our churches, pray for us and support us. I believe that Ukraine is a blessed country, that the Lord is using in our time to serve others,” shared a participant from Central Asia.

During the Evening of Commitment, speakers declared that the Next Generation of young Christians is a powerful tool for spreading God’s Word throughout the world.

National evangelist Andrey Bondarenko challenged participants to renew their commitment to ministry to God and to a dying world. More than 70 young people renewed their commitments to follow Jesus, and leaders laid hands on them and blessed them in their choice to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

Khristos voskres! Voistinu voskres!

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

This ancient Russian Orthodox Easter greeting takes on its true meaning as Next Generation Christians across the former Soviet Union bring Resurrection hope and new life to at-risk children through a variety of Easter outreach events in places like a nearly forgotten orphanage in Pology, Ukraine.

All 40 children at the small orphanage are either from the streets or troubled families. But this orphanage is only a temporary stop for these children, who will soon move to a permanent orphanage or return to their families.

These lost and drifting children—and thousands of others like them all across the former Soviet Union—are trapped in a system that can’t offer them the security they need now or the hope they need for the future.

Tatyana, a young Next Generation Christian, recalls her visit to the orphanage last spring. “After our play about the Resurrection, we distributed the gifts, and the children’s joy was never-ending. They showed us their gifts and asked us to come more often and stay longer. We would like to participate in events like this more often, and bigger and better.”

This spring, God has given Russian Ministries an opportunity for “bigger and better” Easter evangelistic events that will reach even more children and young people in more countries of the former Soviet Union.

Local School Without Walls ministry teams of Next Generation Christians plan to distribute 10,000 Gift of Life boxes. Each Gift of Life box has Easter candy, toys, clothing and a copy of My First Bible, or other age-appropriate Bible or Scripture books geared for children. In addition, ministry teams plan to distribute 5,000 Gospels of Mark to students at higher educational institutions along with a specially designed insert that will explain the resurrection of Christ. Local outreach teams estimate that the impact will double to 30,000 as each child/student who receives the gift/Christian literature is expected to share it with one other person.

The gift boxes are distributed to children who live in

•orphanages or even on the streets,

•shelters,

•and families with great material need.

This year’s Gift of Life outreach will be coordinated through the Christian Youth Center in Ukraine through which young potential leaders will work to mobilize their churches, participate in the outreach program as well as in follow-up programs and events.

Russian Ministries is grateful to God to see that, as a result of its efforts to train the Next Generation through School Without Walls, these young Christians are now creating innovative ways to bring hope to these hurting children.

Support the gift of Life outreach this Easter, and help young Next Generation Christians in the former Soviet Union give the gift of eternal life and Resurrection hope to needy children and young people for whom Jesus came.

Khristos voskres! Voistinu voskres!

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

download the itinerary now

From August 3-15, 2010, journey through history on the magnificent Dnieper River in Ukraine.

Join Anita Deyneka, president of Russian Ministries, and Sergey Rakhuba, senior vice-president, for an unforgettable journey on the Black Sea and along the beautiful, peaceful Dnieper River.

During this 12-day educational and inspirational river trip, you will enjoy a full sight-seeing tour of the historic cities of Odessa (on the Black Sea), Yalta and Sevastopol (in the Crimea), as well as Kherson, Zaporozhye—Sergey Rakhuba’s hometown and the ancient cradle of the Cossacks and later the Mennonites), Kremenchug and Kiev.

You’ll not only explore these unique historic and cultural sites, but also see the work of Russian Ministries in action through a variety of ministry outreaches, visiting churches and meeting with evangelical workers and leaders.

As a native of Ukraine, Rakhuba will provide you with unique, personal insights about the places you’ll visit and introduce you to the strategic ministries that are done with the support of Russian Ministries. A special highlight of the trip will be a visit to Russian Ministries’ new training center and headquarters in Kiev, where you’ll meet with our national team and see firsthand what God is doing to expand His kingdom in Ukraine.

Accommodations are aboard an elegant ship built specifically for river travel. Staterooms are spacious and comfortable, each with an outside river view.

Anita Deyneka and Sergey Rakhuba would be delighted to have you and your family members join us for this first-ever Russian Ministries’ river journey in Ukraine that is sure to be an enjoyable and unforgettable experience. Please let us know of your interest at your earliest convenience, and we hope to see you next summer in Ukraine.

For more information, please call Sarah at Russian Ministries, 630-462-1739, or email her at: sarah@russian-ministries.org.

The best way to evaluate Russian Ministries’ School Without Walls program is not with tests or grades, but by the practical ministry results that take place in the regions and communities where School Without Walls programs exist—and where students and graduates live and work and worship.

Highlights from the School Without Walls Annual Report include:

•For the 2008-09 academic year, 1,813 students were enrolled in 62 School Without Walls (SWW) locations in 49 regions throughout Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Uzbekistan and Karakalpakstan.
•Of the 812 SWW students who graduated in the spring of 2009, an estimated 77%-80% are planning to continue active ministry outreach in their communities.
•There were 248 local churches directly involved in the educational process of SWW students.
•During the academic year, 372 national teachers, committed to non-formal education, passed on their knowledge, ministry skills and experience to the students.

Another exciting development in the SWW program has been its expansion into Central Asia, where human rights abuses are commonplace—especially in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

In Uzbekistan, the SWW program must be conducted underground because of the widespread persecution of Christians. The flexibility and informality of SWW make it an ideal vehicle for equipping young Uzbek believers for ministry in a hostile environment.

The annual report gives a more detailed report of SWW in Central Asia.

Dorin, a School Without Walls graduate, sums up the effectiveness of this program: “In all the churches in our region, everyone is talking about School Without Walls. At first I didn’t understand what they were talking about. But after going through the SWW program, I had a desire to teach at SWW. It is my dream to start a SWW in my home village and to teach the youth to get involved in actual ministry that will help our church to expand its influence in our community. I have already talked to my pastor about it, and I believe that my dream will soon come true.”

Download the complete School Without Walls 2008-2009 Annual Report.

To make a secure online gift to School Without Walls, click here.

This report is from Russian Ministries’ Senior Vice-President Sergey Rakhuba.

I just returned from Vladikavkaz in the Northern Caucasus, where I traveled with a group of Russian Ministries’ partners and donors.

We had the privilege to participate in a glorious event in that turbulent region: the dedication of a newly completed church, which also will serve as a ministry center in to the entire region.

But while sightseeing, we were startled by the number of heavy army equipment such as tanks, staff carriers and other armored vehicles we saw. Sadly, for the local residents, these vehicles are a common sight after the war in South Ossetia, the terrorist attack in Beslan and the rising unrest in Ingushetia.

During our time in this volatile area, it was great to realize that a group of highly dedicated Christian leaders have committed their lives and resources to expanding God’s kingdom throughout this turbulent area.

These Next Generation leaders bring hope to needy orphans and abandoned children in orphanages, thousands of war refugees in South Ossetia and to the young generation who attend schools and universities and are open to learn about biblical values.

Our ministry center in Vladikavkaz is an outpost for Christian ministry today, reaching out to Ingushetia, Chechnya, South Ossetia and other areas with the gospel of Christ.

Monday morning, as I watched the news, I learned about another assassination attempt in this volatile region. I immediately thought of all of our dedicated workers there, knowing that this event would have significant implications for weeks and possibly months to come.

This summer violence erupted in the largely Muslim region of Ingushetia. A small region in the Northern Caucasus, Ingushetia struggles with both poverty and violence.

This latest assassination attempt was directed at Yunus-Bek Yeukurov–the leader of Ingushetia, who was appointed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in October.

Human rights activists and opposition politicians told news agencies that Ingushetia–which neighbors Chechnya–is “now in a state of civil war.” Conflict between Russian troops and Muslim fighters has escalated throughout the year.

It’s in the midst of this turbulence that Russian Ministries’ young Next Generation Christian leaders from the ministry center in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia are sharing gospel hope and peace.

Throughout the year, School Without Walls students from Vladikavkaz have been involved in humanitarian projects in Ingushetia, including distributing Backpacks of Blessing. These projects are part of the students’ practical ministry training.

As a result of these humanitarian aid projects, small-group Bible studies are being organized in homes in Ingushetia. These small groups will eventually form the basis of church plants in this Muslim dominated region.

Pray for the peace of God to visit this region and turn the hearts of the people toward Him.

Pray for young Next Generation Christians from Vladikavkaz who travel to Ingushetia to share the gospel and to encourage believers there.

Pray that God will protect believers in Ingushetia and help them bring peace and reconciliation to their region.

Visit our giving page to make a secure line gift to our Next Generation Ministries.

When refugees pour into your city or you’re stopped endlessly at police checkpoints en route to an evangelistic summer camp, you quickly learn to dispense with the “extras” and focus on what it really means to serve Jesus.

That’s a lesson young Next Generation students at the School Without Walls program in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia have learned from experience. In this region of the Northern Caucasus, students hold summer evangelistic camps in Grozny, Chechnya for Muslim children, present programs and events at an orphanage for children with disabilities and venture into the public schools to talk to students about drugs, AIDS, abortion and family issues.

Twice a month, School Without Walls teachers travel to Tskhinvali, South Ossetia (which was devastated in last summer’s Georgian-Russian conflict) to teach at the School Without Walls program there.

“For people to sacrificially and successfully serve the Lord, it wasn’t necessary to complicate our School Without Walls program with the deep theological disciplines,” explains Gennady Terkun, Russian Ministries’ national ministry director for the Northern Caucasus. “But it is essential to equip young people with the knowledge they need to have a practical Christian life and ministry.”

Terkun points out that each year, School Without Walls is expanding. “We are reaching new parts of our society, and getting young people involved in ministry—and that is expanding the kingdom of God.”

One region where School Without Walls has taken root is in Dagestan, a republic that borders Chechnya. Patimat (who asked not to be picture due to security reasons) is a School Without Walls student who lives in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan. She is a Kumyk, which is a Muslim people group.

Patimat’s life was orderly and smooth—until her husband died. Suddenly she had more questions than answers: What should I do? How can I live? Where is God?

“Eventually, God calmed my soul,” Patimat shares, but she still faced an uncertain future.

When she heard that a School Without Walls program was starting at her church, she decided to help out in the kitchen, cooking for the students.

Curious about what the students were learning, Patimat would stand outside the classroom door and listen in, sometimes entering the class for short periods of time. “I enjoyed it,” Patimat recalls, “and I received answers to many of my questions, and now I attend School Without Walls as a student, not a cook.”

As the students studied children’s ministry, Patimat felt God’s leading to begin a children’s Sunday school class at the church. “I shared this with my friend Sabina, and we both began to pray and talk with our pastor and other church members.”

Today, Patimat and Sabina teach God’s Word and His great love to children from both Christian and Muslim families. “School Without Walls inspired me to begin this ministry, and now I have found my calling,” says an enthusiastic Patimat.

Read more about the positive effect of School Without Walls.

School Without Walls provides local Next Generation Christians in a growing number of communities with keys to reaching out as new leaders.

As the Kremlin and its current occupants strive to restore Russia’s national pride and international prestige, Russian Ministries knows that the answers for Russian’s future are not in the hands of the Kremlin, but in the hands of thoroughly equipped young Next Generation Christian leaders who boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus today, and who are the future leaders of the church and society.

Out of nearly 2,200 students enrolled in School Without Walls, the following numbers of students participated in these ministries:

• Summer evangelistic camps for children and youth: 550 (During the summer of 2007, 6,276 children and youth were reached through our evangelistic summer camp program.)
• Children’s ministries such as Sunday schools and orphan outreach through local orphanages: 320
• Muslim outreach in Muslim-dominated areas of Uzbekistan, Karakalpakstan and the Northern Caucasus: 150
• Preaching and pastoral assistance ministries: 150
• Church-planting ministries (either developing a plan for church-planting or assisting the church-planter of a newly planted church): 35
• Starting and leading small Bible study groups: 145
• Social evangelism including HIV/AIDS and drug prevention, ministry in rehab centers and outreach in orphanages, etc: 130
• Increased personal evangelism at work, school and in the community: 120
• Outreach through Christian youth clubs: 110
• Music ministry such as worship, outreach concerts, evangelistic rallies: 80
• Organize youth groups and serve as youth leaders in newly planted or existing churches: 65
• Evangelistic puppet ministries (through either starting new teams or serving on existing teams): 40
• Women’s ministries, including initiating and leading women’s ministries in their churches or starting ministries to women in crisis in the community: 35
• Prayer groups (either formed or participated in): 25
• Prison ministry: 15
• Total SWW student ministry involvement in 2007-2008: 1,970
• Not involved in ministry yet: 210
• Number of students applying to Christian universities and colleges in Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus: 121

School Without Walls has been equipping the Next Generation of Christian leaders for ministry since 2004.

School Without Walls Year-End Report

Click here for a CBN video of School Without Walls.