Fulfilling the Great Commission

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."Matthew 28:18-20

Our church was planted with help of Global Missions Fellowship in 1992. It is interesting but no missionary stepped on the territory of our town since it is a closed city. People themselves went to Penza to talk to the missionaries about spiritual matters and many of them trusted their life to Christ.

Since our church was planted with help of missionaries it became mission minded from the first days of its foundation. Vasily Dmitrievsky and his wife Lena became involved into mission work with Global Missions Fellowship since 1993 as the National Coordinators. Every year they help in preparations of all short-term GMF campaigns to Russia and they also go on most of them. What a blessing it is to share Jesus with many people of Russia! Vasily and Lena have 3-year old son Elijah and God has blessed them with daughter Maria on February 8th, 1999. Praise the Lord!

Our church sent past summer a team of 4 young people for a short-term mission trip to Saransk, 100 miles north of Penza, to help in the evangelistic work to our sister church - Hope Bible Church of Saransk. That work really helped to the youth to see how God works and they got built up in their faith!

Starting with September 1998 our church began to send monthly a team of missionaries to Nikolsk, a town of 120,000 in Penza region, 80 miles NE of Penza. This team, led by missionary Nikoly Agapov, helps to a local Baptist church with Sunday church services, Bible Study groups and evangelism. There is a good vision on starting youth ministry and children's ministry in Nikolsk Baptist church. What a privilege is to be a part of what God is going there (and here!) Please, pray for reaching many people of Russia for Christ. Russia needs the Savior Jesus Christ! "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost" Matthew 18:11

Last Revised:
July 7, 1999