Recently, Christian outreach to the people of the former Soviet Union is in high gear. In particular a number of massive programmes are organised for the children in Russian regions.

A new National Network for children-at-risk will be launched on 26 June 2004, initiated by the Russian Ministries/Association for Spiritual Renewal. It aims at uniting all the national organisations involved in children-at-risk ministries to come and share their views and experience. 200 people representing about 40 different national organisations and churches cross-denominationally are expected to participate in this conference.

As international organisations will also be invited to the conference, it is beneficial for the local development of ministries as they can provide training regarding network building, expansion, and information sharing. Not only the connection between the national ministries can be reinforced, the international networking between Russian local ministries and worldwide organisations will be expanded. This is vital for Russia as mission resources is quite limited in the nation.

Meanwhile, Operation Carelift, a subsidiary ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ International, spearheads the preparations in sending hundreds of U.S. mission volunteers for humanitarian aid to children in need. Operation Carelift volunteers will spend two weeks touring Russia and the surrounding republics this summer to deliver services in orphanages, boarding schools, hospitals and youth prisons. The project is carried out in both winter and summer.

Among all the initiatives, special missions for street children are highlighted by children ministries. According to Operation Carelift president Duane Zook, there is a tremendous need to show compassion and to share the love of Christ with the people in the Former Soviet Union because of its history of turmoil.

Zook says, "In Belarus, we've been asked, by not only the churches but some political and government officials I've met with as well, to come in and minister needy families and children in institutions like orphanages in the area that was affected by that horrible Chernobyl accident 18 years ago."

"We believe that this is the right time to mobilise and unite many organisations whose passion is to help the most disadvantaged group of people in the former Soviet Union today: millions of orphans and homeless children. We believe that this issue could be more efficiently addressed through the mobilisation of church leaders and leaders of nationally based organisations that are reaching out to children independently and through their local churches," Serghey Rakhuba, Vice President, Russian Ministries in Wheaton, Illinois shares a similar vision in the role of Christian ministries in helping the children in Russia.

“Could you please hug me?” These were the last words from a ten-year-old boy to his counsellor when he departed for his orphanage after joining an activity of Russian Ministries.

Operation Carelift president Duane Zook commented that there is a great openness to the gospel among the people of the former Soviet Union. The Children mission in Russian has been greatly encouraged by the extremely successful children’s outreach project “Operation Christmas Child” last Christmas by the Russian Ministries. 100,000 children or more were reached providing them gift packages of food, clothing, toys, gospel literature, and personal hygiene items.

This year, the campaign will return again with the active support of Russian Ministries and many other organisations, planning to distribute 400,000 Christmas gifts (shoeboxes) nationwide in Russia along with the children’s book, 'The Greatest Gift of all' which tells the wonderful story of Jesus Christ who gives hope to the disadvantaged.