Russia
With a landmass of about 6.5 million square miles and reaching around the globe from the borders of Ukraine to the tip of Alaska, Russia remains the largest country in the world by over 2.5 million square miles. Its vastness brings diversity not only in geography, but in cultures as well. The Southern Baptist Mission Board has identified 126 separate people groups. Each of these ethnic groups has their own culture and their own specific needs for Christ’s guidance in their lives.
One thing all of these groups have in common is a history of 75 years under Communist rule, which imposed conformity and atheism. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, many reforms have been put in place in an attempt to reverse the negative effects left by communism. Unfortunately, the standard of living took a considerable dive throughout most of the 1990’s, from which it is just beginning to recover. The post-Soviet world of Russia has succumbed to other evils such as corruption and high drug and alcohol abuse. In fact, the population of Russia is seeing a disturbing decline as an effect of poverty, drug abuse, disease, abortions and emigration.
Along with social and economic reforms, legislation on religion has experienced considerable fluctuation over the years. The Russian constitution grants freedom and equality to all religious groups. Recent actions, however, have created an alliance between the government and the Russian Orthodox Church, which has led to provisions that greatly restrict non-traditional religions in the country. Baptist churches have experienced persecution ranging from restrictions on building churches to threats and acts of violence. Despite these hindrances, the Word of God continues to move through the people, bringing many to a saving knowledge of Christ and planting numerous churches throughout urban centers and villages alike.
To help put the vastness of Russia into perspective for building a strategy to reach every heart in Russia with the Gospel, missionaries have identified three primary focal points for ministry: mega-minor-major. There are 14 mega-cities with over 1 million inhabitants including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Volgograd, Ekaterinburg, Ufa and Novosibirsk. There are scores of minor people groups including Deaf, Jewish, Buryat, Tuvin, Altai, Udmurt and the Small People Groups of the North. Millions more without the good news of Christ live in the 150 major cities that have populations between 100,000-900,000 people. Ministries are being developed to reach all three of these focal points.
Do you feel God leading you to join us in reaching one of the mega-minor-major unreached groups in Russia? If so, please contact us at hope4cee@pobox.com.