Hints of a return to the Cold War in Putin's Russia, but warm hearts in Former Soviet Union
by Michael Ireland
June 13, 2007
WHEATON, ILLINOIS (ANS) -- There may have been heated rhetoric between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President George W. Bush prior to the start of Wednesday's G-8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, but there are hearts warming to the Gospel in the Former Soviet Union. "Some international analysts compared the level of tension over the U.S. proposed missile defense shields in Eastern Europe to that of the Cold War era," says Anita Deyneka, President of Russian Ministries, based in Wheaton, Illinois.
Deyneka says: "The Kremlin, rankled by criticism for backsliding on democracy, retaliated to the plan by test-launching a new cruise missile, which Russian leaders claimed could penetrate any missile shield. Putin also threatened to aim some of its missiles at Europe."
Deyneka comments that both Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have downplayed the danger of a new Cold War era developing.
"I personally think a close relationship between Europe and Russia is important," stated Blair. "But it will only be a sustainable relationship if it's based on...shared values."
On Thursday, Putin toned down the rhetoric when he volunteered a Soviet-built radar in Azerbaijan for the missile defense shield site. Bush remarked that Putin's offer was "interesting," Deyneka said.
"Politically, it's unsettling to hear these threats coming out of Russia and to see a clamp down on democracy and religious rights," observes Deyneka, "but there are thousands of young national Christian leaders in Russia, Ukraine and elsewhere in the former Soviet Union who are warming the hearts of their people through compassionate ministries to needy and hurting people and children."
However chilly the relationship between Bush and Putin, hearts are warming to the Good News through a unique program run by Deyneka's ministry.
Russian Ministries' "School Without Walls" program is key to equipping these young national leaders for these ministries and others such as church planting and evangelism, she says.
"There were 2200 students enrolled in 'School Without Walls' during the 2006-2007 academic year, and last month, sixty-five 'School Without Walls' coordinators and other young Christian leaders gathered in Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine, for updated coordinators' training, strategy development and planning," Deyneka said.
She explained: "As these young national Christian leaders are trained, they are then ready to step into leadership in their churches, and step out into their communities and tackle issues such as HIV/AIDS, homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse and street children and orphans head on."
Deyneka concludes: "No matter what political changes might occur in Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union, there is a national force of young leaders who are on the move for Christ. And they are ready to lead the evangelical church in outreach ministries that will transform their nations for Christ."
© 2007 ASSIST News Service, used with permission.
