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Bringing Hope and Transformation to Eurasia Through God's Word

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“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17, ESV Bringing Hope and Transformation to Eurasia through God’s Word JUNE 2016 P.O. BOX 496, WHEATON, IL 60187 | PH: 630.462.1739 | MISSIONEURASIA.ORG 1 Thanks to the generous, faithful contributions of supporters like you, Mission Eurasia has consistently been able to fulfill our commitment to equip Next Generation Christian leaders in Eurasia to share the Word of God in their own nations and communities. Through culturally relevant Christian literature and Scripture pieces in national languages, the gospel message is being shared in compelling and unexpected ways with hurting men, women, and children who desperately need the hope of the good news. We know that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). As Next Generation Christians faithfully proclaim the “word of Christ” to their nations, hearts and minds are being opened to hear the Word and believe through faith. We hope that as you read this report, your faith will be strengthened by the testimonies of lives changed through the reading of God’s Word. Thank you for your support of Mission Eurasia—which is providing life- changing Scripture resources for millions of God’s children in Eurasia and beyond! Spiritual Crisis in Eurasia In the midst of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the spiritual Unreached people groups in Russia’s Far North, Mongolia, the vacuum in Eurasia, and escalating religious persecution in the Northern Caucasus, and other regions of Eurasia need access to region, God’s Word is needed now more than ever. In fact, many God’s truth through Scripture versions in languages and formats people living in Eurasia have never heard the gospel, and many that they can understand. Not only have many of these unreached others are desperately searching for the hope offered only in people never heard the gospel, but they are dominated by forces Christ. hostile to Christianity, including atheism, paganism, superstition, and radical Islam. The war in eastern Ukraine has now displaced more than 2 million people from their homes. About 800,000 of these Furthermore, many believers throughout Eurasia, particularly in refugees or internally displaced people (IDPs) remain in Ukraine, Central Asia, Russia’s Northern Caucasus, and eastern Ukraine, where they are struggling to find work. Since jobs are scarce, most are suffering for their faith and desperately need copies of God’s refugees are unable to obtain food, clothing, and other necessary Word for guidance and comfort. In eastern Ukraine, hundreds goods for their families. Many people also remain trapped in the of pastors are suffering abduction, torture, property confiscation, war zone. In all, 3.1 million people in Ukraine have been affected and even murder at the hands of pro-Russian separatists. Many by the war and are in need not only of humanitarian assistance, pastors are advocating for religious freedom and reconciliation in but of spiritual and emotional support through the Word of God these regions, and they need scriptural resources and training to in order to find hope and peace in the midst of despair. help them do this effectively. In addition to those suffering in Ukraine, many people living In the words of Dr. Michael Cherenkov, Executive throughout Eurasia need the hope that only the Word of God Director for Mission Eurasia Field Ministries: can provide. These include children in orphanages, at-risk youth “Today, Eurasia is gripped by hatred toward the West and struggling with addiction, homeless people, and those confined to western Christianity. Persecution against evangelical Christians is prisons and hospitals. It is in these dark places and circumstances intensifying. The most effective form of ministry is not preaching in that God’s Word shines the brightest. churches, but rather personally witnessing to others and distributing Scripture in appropriate and understandable forms.” P.O. BOX 496, WHEATON, IL 60187 | PH: 630.462.1739 | MISSIONEURASIA.ORG 2 Impact of Scripture Distribution The need is great— and growing. But in the midst of such great challenges, God is faithfully opening hearts and minds to hear His Word and come to saving faith. Through your support of Mission Eurasia, we are bringing God’s Word to those who need it most and equipping the Next Generation of Christian leaders to share the gospel in their own communities. In partnership with Mission Eurasia Field Ministries as well as our School Without Walls (SWW) students and local national churches, we have distributed more than 1.8 million Scripture pieces in 13 different countries in Eurasia and Israel since October 2015. Because we estimate that each Scripture piece is shared with 3–5 people, we believe that 5–9 million people have been impacted by God’s Word during this time. P.O. BOX 496, WHEATON, IL 60187 | PH: 630.462.1739 | MISSIONEURASIA.ORG 3 Scriptures Distributed in 2015–16 101 Favorite Bible Stories David—was designed to reflect the local culture. Our SWW In partnership with Christian Aid Ministries, we designed this students in Israel distributed these pieces through various ministry book especially for at-risk children in Belarus, Georgia, and initiatives to Russian-speaking immigrants in their nation. Kyrgyzstan. We distributed copies of this strategic Scripture piece during our Gift of Hope Christmas program in these nations, as Evangelistic Calendars well as through outreach efforts in local hospitals, orphanages, and In partnership with Pioneer Bible Translators, we designed these schools. special calendars to help the nomadic Khanty and Nenets people of Russia’s Far North learn about the gospel in a way that is culturally Bibles for Ukraine appropriate and relevant. Each day on the calendar includes a In partnership with Samaritan’s Purse, we created two Bible different Scripture passage to encourage the incorporation of God’s versions, one in the Russian language and one in the Ukrainian Word into daily life. We distributed these unique pieces during our language. These Bibles were specially designed to be culturally various outreach efforts to the Khanty and Nenets people in Arctic appropriate and relevant to the people of Ukraine. We brought Siberia. these strategic pieces to IDPs, people trapped in the war zone in eastern Ukraine, and Ukrainian soldiers serving on the front Finding the Light in the Darkness of Night lines of the conflict. We also distributed them during our religious This book—written by one of our national staff, Viktor freedom and reconciliation seminars for local pastors in Central Kuzmenko—includes stories of how children can find hope in Asia, Russia, and Ukraine. Christ, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. We included copies of this special book in many of our Gifts of Hope for children Bible Storybooks in need and young people affected by the ongoing conflict in These specially designed Bible storybooks help children learn Ukraine. about the gospel in a way that they can easily understand. They also include many attractive, colorful pictures and illustrations. We Gospel of Luke distributed these Bible storybooks to children in need throughout Because the Gospel of Luke is the most popular gospel among Eurasia through our Gift of Hope Christmas outreach so that they the Ukrainian people, we designed a special version in both the could experience the true joy of the season. Russian and Ukrainian languages in partnership with ShareWord Global (formerly The Gideons International in Canada). We also Discover Messiah New Testament designed a Ukrainian-themed cover so that they would be received This special New Testament version was designed specifically more openly. We brought copies of the Gospel of Luke to refugees, for Russian-speaking immigrants in Israel, many of whom are people in the war zone, soldiers, and many other suffering people struggling to adapt to their new environment. It includes several in Ukraine. We also distributed these pieces to refugees who fled to personal testimonies, and the cover—which includes a Star of Russia following the start of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Through all of these efforts, Mission Eurasia is committed to bringing holistic help and support to hurting people in Ukraine so that they can experience renewed hope and, ultimately, place their trust in Christ for eternal salvation. P.O. BOX 496, WHEATON, IL 60187 | PH: 630.462.1739 | MISSIONEURASIA.ORG 4 Scriptures Distributed in 2015–16 The Greatest Stories of Hope Noah’s Ark Magazine We designed this Scripture piece specifically for at-risk children by This strategic magazine is designed to provide children with including important stories from Jesus’ life that would introduce entertaining stories and activities, while also introducing them to them to the gospel in an age-appropriate way. We brought copies of Christ and the gospel. We distribute eight monthly issues of Noah’s The Greatest Stories of Hope to hurting children in many different Ark magazine every year. During the past year, we included them in countries through “I Care,” summer Bible camps, and Gift of Hope. our Gifts of Hope for children during the Christmas season, and we also distributed them during summer Bible camps. Hope Magazine In partnership with OneHope, we created this strategic Scripture The Path to Victory piece to provide encouragement for the hurting people of Ukraine, In partnership with OneHope, we developed this special sports as well as impoverished children and youth in the nations of magazine to appeal to young athletes. It includes Scripture passages Belarus and Moldova. The Psalms and personal testimonies and personal testimonies from professional athletes to help young included in this piece, as well as its overall design, were all selected people learn about the true victory offered only through Christ to share how God brings hope and healing to those who are in the gospel.
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