Russia (MNN) –It was two years ago today that Chechen terrorists stormed school number one in Beslan, Russia. The two day siege and later explosions in the northern Caucasus left more than 300 people dead, half of them children. 35 children from the local evangelical churches never returned to Sunday School.
However, through the tears and pain, Russian Ministries’ Paul Tokarchuk says the church has been mobilized. “They really took advantage to share the Gospel with the local society door to door, visit them, and invite them to the church facilities, to help especially unbelievers deal with their grief.”
According to Tokarchuk one-on-one ministry was just the beginning of their outreach. He says, “We also started to work with the youth. This is one of the new projects in Beslan, to reach out to the young generation. And also (we are) establishing new churches in the city of Beslan.”
There are more than 40 ethnic groups in the region. Tokarchuk says the goal is to see locals turn to Christ and equip them to reach the Muslim community. “Especially in Ingushetia, Chechnya and then go to Dagestan as well. And we, praise God, we have very good connections and are building relationships with those groups.”
While funding is important, the most important need is young, energetic, effective leaders to do the work. Tokarchuk says their Schools without Walls training program is helping with this process. “They are coming more and more, week after week. We hope little by little they will grow into good leaders and good effective ministers.”
