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!

With the 2010 Winter Olympics underway in Vancouver, Next Generation Christian leaders in Ukraine are wasting no time in planning outreach and evangelistic events for the world’s second largest soccer championship games, the Poland and Ukraine Euro 2012 soccer championships.

In the fall, leaders in ministry, missions and the media met for the second time as part of the Global Euro 1.2.3. project. This meeting took place at Russian Ministries’ ministry and training center in Irpen, Ukraine, just outside of Kiev.

The purpose of Global Euro 1.2.3. is to mobilize national local churches and Christian organizations for evangelism, to train leaders who can clearly share God’s Word, and to raise up a new generation of young Christian leaders who will have a gospel influence on all aspects of life and society.

“The main reason for the project is to use the European soccer championships as a chance for evangelism,” declared Sergey Moskovka, coordinator of Global Euro 1.2.3. “In 2012, all of Ukraine will be talking about this event. Why shouldn’t Christians use it for evangelism?”

Moskovka also pointed out that sports ministries are just starting to catch on in churches  in Ukraine. From Moskovka’s perspective, a few of the more progressive churches in large cities are involved in sports ministry. “The church leadership needs to know what to do and how to reach people for Christ through something as simple as soccer. Christians must come out of their churches and work in society,” emphasized Moskovka.

Global Euro 1.2.3. was initiated by the International Sports Coalition, which has experience in organizing outreach at major sporting events. Other partner organizations include the Association for Spiritual Renewal (Russian Ministries’ in-country affiliate), Athletes in Action, House of Treasures and Our Heritage.

Outreach events could include showing soccer games on large screen TVs, Christian athletes sharing their testimonies, running different sports competitions and more. These organizations are exploring strategic ways the churches in Ukraine can share the gospel during Euro 2012.

“This project gives every young Christian an opportunity to testify openly about his or her faith in Jesus Christ,” said Roman Rakhuba, a representative of the Association for Spiritual.

Stefan Reshko, head of the disciplinary committee of the Soccer Federation of Ukraine, agrees. “Euro 2012 will give all Christians the opportunity to share the message of Christ’s love with people who do not know Him. There will be delegates from various countries there, and the attention of our nation will be turned to this event.”

Ultimately, Global Euro 1.2.3. is a call to unite Christian organizations, the media, and churches in proclaiming the hope of Jesus to a lost society. It’s also a strategic opportunity for Christians to serve both athletes and fans, who will travel from other countries and cities to the soccer championships.

Anna Stepanchuk reported on Global 1.2.3. from Russian Ministries’ ministry center in Irpen, Ukraine.

Viktor Yanukovych emerged as the victor in Ukraine’s presidential run-off election. Once considered the “villain” of the 2004 Orange Revolution, Yanukovych defeated current Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who tentatively conceded the election.

While there might not be dancing in Red Square over Yanukovych’s victory, the Kremlin is likely pleased that this pro-Russia, pro-Moscow leader is now in power in Ukraine.

Many voters became disillusioned when leaders of the Orange Revolution failed to deliver on their promises and began fighting among themselves. It’s generally concluded that Yanukovych’s victory was an indictment of this lack of unity as well as the country’s poor economy.

Even as Ukraine appears to be moving back under Russia’s influence, young Next Generation Christians are moving forward as they are trained and equipped through School Without Walls and other leadership training to reach a hurting society for Jesus.

• This past Christmas, School Without Walls students and graduates and national evangelical churches participated in Project Hope: the Great Gift Exchange, and close to 10,000 orphans, street children and other at-risk children received Christmas gifts that included children’s Bibles, and heard the good news of Jesus’ birth.

• Next Generation Christian leaders have formed action groups to help and support the Christian community in confronting the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine.

• Evangelistic sports ministries open doors to share the gospel with young people who would never darken the door of a church.

• And, in just a few weeks, young Next Generation Christians will mobilize their churches to participate in the Gift of Life-evangelistic Easter outreach events to orphans, street children and other at-risk children in needy families.

In spite of any political or economic changes, Russian Ministries remains committed to equipping the Next Generation of Christian leaders to push forward with the gospel and advance God’s kingdom in Ukraine and the rest of the former Soviet Union.