How God Builds His Church: A Testimony from Moscow

It has been 15 years since 17 people began a new church in Moscow, Russia with faith and prayer. Since then, we have seen amazing fruits of God’s work. The Lord has blessed the local church with remarkable growth, resulting in hundreds of saved individuals, growing ministries, overflowing children’s camps, and youth groups.

There have no doubt been challenges, but the church continues to grow. Sunday meetings have become so numerous that we had to organize two services. And we continue to plant more churches in Moscow and other places.

These years have been a testimony to how God acts, saves souls, and expands His Kingdom. And yet, the most amazing thing remains the realization that the best that the Lord has prepared for His children is yet to come. It is my hope that through this testimony you will gain a glimpse of what God is doing in Russia, grow inspired to see where he is at work in your hometown, and dream alongside the global church about what He will do next.

Leadership and Evangelism: The Future of Awakening

Of course, the core of everything that happens in our church is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is both the motive, the goal, and the driving force of all ministries. God reveals His glory by saving and transforming people’s lives. Every day reminds us that the main mission is to glorify Christ and carry His Good News to everyone.

We know that in order to build God’s Kingdom, we must equip our members to tell people about it—and nobody is too young to participate! Young professionals, teenagers, and students play active parts in evangelism and attract more and more people to come and see what the story of Jesus and the salvation he offers is all about.

If you’re looking for a tangible step to start driving your congregants to do the same, try facilitating times of prayer for unsaved friends and family members. These have become an important part of every gathering for us. In fact, people are so compelled to pray for the salvation of their loved ones that we had to limit this time to 10 minutes to ensure we could conduct the entire service!

Also at the heart of our ministry is the preparation of new leaders. Today, the community has 86 small group leaders and 15 church interns. Regular trips out of town with the families of leaders help strengthen relationships and foster spiritual growth.

Focusing on training and mentorship is an investment in the future spiritual awakening not only in your city but throughout your entire country. This is not a role to consider lightly as a pastor—these people are the pillars of the future awakening that the Lord is preparing for your home! The work of identifying and raising up leaders can be time intensive, but it remains an important task.

Evangelical Ecosystem: Cooperation for the Kingdom

Both the need and demand for theological training in our environment are huge. This tells us the Lord wants to expand the gospel in our city—but also gives us a considerable task!

Several years ago, the Moscow Evangelical Ecosystem was created as a union of several congregations for joint ministry and church planting. Within this initiative, a variety of projects are conducted, from missionary rafting trips to educational programs like the Bible Academy.

Recently, about 1,000 people, eager to spread the gospel and start new churches, gathered at a special ecosystem meeting, and a new church plant is already planned for the East of Moscow next year, led by two pastors.

We are also thankful to be part of what is called the Ekklesia Ministry, which helps other congregations become spiritually healthy. Annual pastor conferences, gathering around 1,000 pastors from across the country, have become a platform for mutual aid, mentorship, and biblical teaching.

If this all sounds daunting or impossible to achieve, don’t worry. Look for the ways God is gathering His people in your community already. See which groups or organizations are devoted to the same mission as yours and see if they’re willing to partner. The more we collaborate, the more momentum we gather together. Pray that God would reveal these opportunities to partner.

engaging with culture and Transforming Lives

Lastly, we want to be open and searching for ways to engage with our culture at large. For example, after a pastor sat down to have a conversation with an Orthodox priest, the video was viewed by over a million people. One Orthodox catechist even began to attend our church, came to faith, and was baptized.

On the same day, my youngest daughter was baptized, as well as Ivan, a promising Russian powerlifter, and Lia, a talented young chemist. These stories remind us that God’s love and power reach vastly diverse people, regardless of their past or professional background. What are some ways you can engage with the various demographics outside of your church building?

Dear friends, this account is just a small part of what God is doing in Moscow and throughout Russia. We see how the Lord saves, guides, and sends people into the work to glorify His Name.

Please pray for the continued development of this church, for its leaders, for the purchase of our own building, and for new missionary projects. And let us know how we may be praying for your churches across the globe. May the Lord continue to use His church for His glory.