CEE Story From The Mission Field
Razorbacks in Russia
March 25, 2008
“Wooooo Pig Sooiee!”
This is not a phrase often heard in the streets and kiosks of Russia, but in Rusty and Lori Hart’s flat it can be heard fairly often. Though they keep their hog headdress in the closet when guests come over, they are proud of their roots and excited to get their fellow Hog fans involved in the work they are doing in Russia. From November of last year alone, they have hosted five groups from different churches in Arkansas, all hoping to connect with target cities and partner to bring the Gospel to the Russian people.
On April 21-22 Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) leadership will be hosting a Summit in Sherwood, AR to identify churches and individuals who want to partner with teams throughout CEE. Rusty and Lori are excited about more Arkansans joining the work.
Already at the Trough
Ken Wheatley, volunteer missions coordinator at First Baptist Church Hot Springs, has recently taken on a new title—strategy leader for Russia. Their church has a 5-year partnership with Rusty in the city of Alapaevsk and Ken is coordinating the ministry and volunteer trips.
“We have been to Rusty's field 5 times and have 3 trips planned this year,” Ken said. “By the end of 2008, 90 of our members will personally know what God is doing Russia.”
Ken calls his church’s involvement with the people of Alapaevsk a “ministry of presence” which consists of helping with community needs, raising awareness that God is present among them and sowing many seeds on hard soil. He is excited about the Summit taking place nearby.
“I am looking forward to the conference and will do my best to encourage others to come and be involved,” he said. “I have fallen in love with helping Russia.”
Ken’s church is not the only one investing in the Hart’s ministry, the Summit Church in North Little Rock is also partnering with them in the city of Krasnoufimsk. A volunteer team will arrive later this month--this will be Summit's third trip to this city. In the past they have organized ESL camps and conducted a medical ministry, including teaching seminars at the medical school, working with patients at a psychiatric hospital and ministering to residents in a home for invalids. The purpose of their trip this week is to concentrate on building relationships with the people.
This past November Rusty and Lori hosted a group from their alma mater, Ouachita Baptist University, that also worked in the city of Krasnoufimsk. The students were able to visit with several different groups of people during the day and in the evenings their professor led a Marriage and Family Conference.
That same month, a volunteer group representing two Arkansas churches—FBC, DeQueen and FBC, Horatio came to explore the possibility of partnering with a pastor in the city of Kamishlov.
“They had a wonderful time praying with this pastor and seeking God's will for their partnership,” Rusty said. “They are currently making plans for future work in that city.”
A second exploratory group came in January, from FBC, Stuttgart. They are interested in partnering with a small Baptist church (8 members) located in the city of Irbeet. They spent a lot of time with the pastor, praying and planning for possible future work in the city.
In February, a group of Arkansas pastors went to work with the Harts. They led church leadership conferences in various cities throughout Rusty’s area.
“The Russian church members received some great encouragement and steps were made toward establishing more partnerships between Arkansas and Russian churches,” Rusty said.
These supporting churches are helping Rusty and Lori accomplish their goal in the Sverdlovskaya Oblast (state) of Russia
Hog Call
Rusty and Lori have a vision of seeing stateside churches partner with the 47 cities in their oblast—most of which have no existing evangelical churches. Out of the five million residents, a mere 1800 are believers, comprising only 48 churches in the entire state. The partnerships are intended to do two basic things—see the city come to Christ and plant a network of churches that can engage, disciple, and mobilize these new believers.
However, though there is great enthusiasm for Americans in Sverdlovskaya Oblast, it is not the same for American churches, and the Orthodox Church can be a formidable foe to the Gospel being spread. Therefore, the Harts work hard to initiate a relationship with each individual city government.
“This is crucial to our work,” Rusty said, “If city leaders are favorable about a partnership, they will officially give us opportunity to minister in orphanages, schools, hospitals, day cares, nursing homes, and other venues.”
This is where the volunteer churches are needed.
“If we can get these partnerships going, life here really can change,” Lori said. “The partnerships allow us to take the Gospel message to people who have never heard and have had no opportunity to know God in a personal way.”
The upcoming Summit is a great way to get word out about the needs in Sverdlovskaya Oblast as well as needs in other parts of CEE. The Harts are excited about the possibility of more churches partnering with them to reach the lost.
“Our heart’s desire is that these cities have a vibrant love for God and growing and active churches,” Rusty said.
To help the Harts fulfill this desire, attend the Arkansas Summit April 21-22.
To find out more about the Hart’s ministry, visit their webpage.