Russia (MNN) — Young Russian believers are learning how to share their faith with people from a Muslim background.
Situated in Russia's third-largest city, a Discipleship Center supported by Operation Mobilization is training, equipping, and motivating young Christians to take part in the Great Commission. A joint project with the Evangelical Baptist Union of the Novosibirsk Oblast, the center helps students discover their gifts and learn how to use them effectively.
As part of the discipleship course, students must organize three events: a children's vacation Bible school, a weekend conference for teenagers, and a missions conference. They also travel to towns and villages each month to serve in local fellowships.
After a recent lesson, discipleship students took their faith to the streets.
"Before we set out, a few felt brave, but most of them set out with doubts and fears," said OM's *Amir, who taught the course.
Both men and women come from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to work in the city of Novosibirsk. Students and teachers entered two markets where many of them work. They split into two teams and began striking up conversations with the Central Asian personnel.
Along with handing out books, discipleship students shared about Christ. After the outreach, students were "amazed" that God used them to serve the workers from Central Asia, Amir reports.
"What is the importance of carrying out the command of Christ? It is obedience to the Lord and love to those who are otherwise lost," he says. "God gave the students love and compassion for these people, and they brought the Word of God to them.
"Jesus gave the students joy and contentment that day."
In addition to training Russian Christians through the Discipleship Center, the OM Russia team works on several projects: children's ministry, drug and HIV/AIDS prevention, outreach to orphans and disadvantaged children, and Central Asian fellowship ministry. You can support their efforts here.
Pray that those who heard the Gospel from discipleship students would seek to know God more.
