We are currently providing support for three men who are laboring in church planting efforts in the Yaroslavl Region of Russia.

• Alex Volkov is involved in a church plant work in Gavrilov/yam.
   
• Evgene Kulikov is laboring in Yaroslavl.
   
• Sergei Evstegneev is working to plant a church in Pereslavl.

All of these men expressed the need for further training in particular areas relating to local church ministry and missions.  On our visit to Russia in April 2004, a decision was made by the elders to begin preparation to go back to Yaroslavl to begin a 4-to-5 year training schedule at the Yaroslavl Baptist Church with the leaders of the church along with a few other church leaders from nearby regions. 

Our specific purpose is twofold.  First, it is our desire to help in further establishing the local church in Yaroslavl through Bible training in specific areas relating to church leadership and church practice.  Second, as a part of that establishing process, it is our desire to see the Yaroslavl church begin to follow the Antioch pattern established in the book of Acts.  It is our desire that the Yaroslavl Baptist church will become a center for planting and establishing many other local churches throughout the Yaroslavl Region and other regions nearby. 

This is an awesome opportunity to impact not only the Yaroslavl Baptist Church, but many other local churches both now and for many years in the future.  God has sovereignly opened up this opportunity and we desire to follow His leading as we seek to obey the Great Commission given to us as a local church.

Scroll down to see pictures detailing our mission in Russia.

Yaroslavl is located several hours Northeast of Moscow.
 

A typical view of the Russian countryside on the train ride from Moscow to Yaroslavl.
 

The Yaroslavl Baptist Church building was built through the gifts of churches in America and is in daily use in ministry opportunities.
 

Yuri Poltavets is the regional pastor overseeing the churches in the entire Yaroslavl region.
 

Sergei Zayakin is the pastor of the Yaroslavl Baptist Church.
 

Alex Volkov with his wife and three children are working in the city of Gavrilov/yam.
 

Evgene lives in Yaroslavl with his wife and three children.  Evgene is an assistant in the Yaroslavl Baptist church, overseeing the youth ministry as well as outreach ministries in the city.
 

Sergei Evstigneev is married with three children and labors in a church plant work in Pereslavl.  He is involved in the work of evangelism through youth outreach ministries and work in local orphanages.
 

On our last trip to Yaroslavl in April 2004, we met with the leadership of the church and our three church planters and heard updates of the work that was going on.
 

God continues to give us an open door to reach out to the Yaroslavl region.