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.

One of the most serious concerns in the former Soviet Union is the ever-increasing rate of HIV/AIDS.

•Ukraine has one of the fastest-growing rates of HIV infection in the world.

•Moldova—one of the poorest countries in Europe—not only has the highest rate of human trafficking in Europe, but also may soon equal or exceed Ukraine’s HIV-infection rate.

With this sobering backdrop, Samaritan’s Purse, Russian Ministries and its national ministry partner, the Association for Spiritual Renewal (ASR_ hosted a “Prescription for Hope” conference at Russian Ministries’ national ministry center in Irpen, Ukraine.

Through its “Prescription for Hope” project, Samaritan’s Purse has developed materials to help equip and mobilize the church worldwide to respond to the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Prior to the June 3-6 conference, ASR translated and developed the “Prescription for Hope” materials to use in the cultural context of the former Soviet Union.

During the conference, the 130 participants heard from more than 15 different speakers from six countries on every aspect of HIV/AIDS—from basic medical information, to the problems of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS, to its effects on children. Conference participants also discovered what they, as individuals and the church as a whole, can do about HIV/AIDS.

Between lectures and testimonies, group discussions and other interactive times, these national Christian leaders had opportunities for fellowship and to encourage each other to grasp the enormity of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the former Soviet Union and its relevance to the church.

Those who attended the conference not only were equipped to share their newly gained knowledge with others through similar HIV/AIDS lectures and conferences, but also discovered how to support people living with HIV/AIDS—and to show them the hope that is in Jesus.

Oleg, a young Next Generation Christian leader from Ruza, Russia, had struggled with how he would react if a person who was HIV-positive came to his church. “What would we do with him? I thought I probably wouldn’t be able to touch him, but God did a miracle—attending this conference really opened my eyes. I realized that they are people in need of God, and I won’t be infect with  HIV by touching them, and they especially need our support.”

As the conference came to a close, each participant received copies of all of the conference materials, including lecture outlines, storyboards and a flip chart with basic information on HIV/AIDS. All of the material was also made available in electronic form.

“After this conference, I have a great desire to hold a similar conference in Central Asia,” remarked a ministry leader from Uzbekistan, underscoring a strategic aspect of the conference: to equip participants to use the materials to teach others about HIV/AIDS in churches, schools, camps and other venues, and to organize similar workshops in their communities.

Yurii came from Brest, Belarus, planning to discuss other important ministry matters, but left with, in his own words “. . . a huge desire to do HIV/AIDS prevention work. A big thanks to Samaritan’s Purse for their generosity and sacrifice, which have long disappeared in other places.”

Edward, who has been HIV-positive for five years, praised the conference for its depth. “These were not empty platitudes of people or organizations that work for selfish motives. Evident at this conference were care, pain and worry, which come from the truth—from the heart of God. And all of our conclusions sought God’s truth and love, with hope and reliance on Him and His Word.”