Russia (MNN) — A
government report indicated Russia has more than one million street children,
and one crime in four involves underage youths.
Poverty, drug and alcohol abuse are rampant among Russia's
youth. But rather than despair, there's
hope. Eric Mock with Slavic Gospel Association says he recently returned from the Union
of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (UECB) national youth conference in Russia
that could represent a turn in the tide.
"750 youth leaders were gathered together talking about how they
were seeing God at work."
Mock says they're seeing that rather than waiting until
they're older, youth are mobilizing in a way only they can. "They are
ready to serve today. We had young men–as young as 11-years-old up to 22-years-of-age that showed up to learn how to preach the Word of God–the arms
and legs of the local church."
SGA's role is to come alongside and help. Mock says the time is right for change. "God is raising up this young generation
to be the future pastors and missionaries who will be a part of the church body in
the days ahead. If we are not active in equipping the youth of today with the
Word of God and with zeal, this generation will enter into a time in which
godlessness will prevail."
Past conferences offered seminars that covered prayer
ministry, personal evangelism, creative evangelism, outreach work in public
schools, purity and holiness, coordinating youth ministry and working with
rehabilitation ministries, among others.
Keep interceding for these youth leaders, asking God to
anoint their labors to reach Russia's young men and women for
Christ. Click here if you want to support this effort.
