Russia (MNN) — Terrorism has struck a blow in Moscow, Russia. Two female suicide bombers believed to be from the Northern Caucuses killed at least 38 people during Monday's morning subway commute.
The first explosion tore through the carriage of a train at central Lubyanka station at around eight o'clock as they stood waiting for commuters to board. The second explosion, six stops away at Park Kultury, came at 0838 (0438 GMT). It hit the back of the train as people were getting on board.
Paul Tokarchouk, director of the Association for Spiritual Renewal, the in-country affiliate of Russian Ministries in Moscow, expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims.
"We need to pray for peace in the hearts of the many people touched by this bombing," Tokarchouk said. "We also need to pray for wisdom for our authorities. And finally, we need to bring the hope we have in God to the people around us."
Tokarchouk, speaking from Moscow, says none of their workers were near any of the explosions. "Some people were late getting to the office because they couldn't get to work on the subway. They had to take some other transportation."
Russian Ministries has an office in Moscow. Tokarchouk says they also have work in the Caucuses, where next generation church leaders are taking the message of peace to the area. "Whether it's in orphanages, or schools, or in Northern Caucuses, we have very good access to the local universities. The students were talking about moral values based on Scripture."
Tokarchouk expects security to increase in the region, making traveling in and out of the Caucuses more difficult, but not impossible.
Ministry leaders believe these women who set off the blast were brainwashed in Islamic camps. Tokarchouk says that's why Christian summer camps are important. "[We need] to bring the child, the teenager, to the camp so they would hear the Gospel."
One of these summer camps takes place in Grozny, the capital of war-torn Chechnya, which is where many of the terrorists come from. Also, Russian Ministries' training program, School Without Walls, has a program in Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, in the region.
Recently 13 young people from South Ossetia, Georgia and Dagestan were baptized in Vladikavkaz. These young Christians represent a new generation of young people, who would rather follow Jesus and proclaim His peace than follow the trail of violence that has destroyed the lives of thousands of people in the Northern Caucasus.
Summer camp training is currently underway for Next Generation leaders, which will help change hearts of young people in this Muslim region of Russia. $50 can sponsor a child at camp.
