Reaching Volgograd for Christ

At the end of April, we hosted three showings of the “Jesus Film” at a local movie theatre in Spartanovka, in conjunction with the Easter weekend. This was by far the largest evangelistic outreach we have attempted in Spartanovka. Leading up to event, over 21,000 leaflets were distributed through the mail, inviting people to the film and promising them a coupon for a free Bible. Also, posters were hung all over Spartanovka, and invitations were handed out on the street corner near the movie theatre. We were overwhelmed with the response. We did not expect very many people for the first showing (Friday, mid-day. It was the only time the theatre was available for rent.) But there were 50-60 people there, despite the inconvenient time. Then, there were increasingly more viewers at the other two showings. All told, 300 people saw this film, which is taken entirely from the Gospel of Luke. Praise the Lord that 300 Russian people heard a clear and relevant presentation of the Gospel, many perhaps for the first time. Many of these people also indicated that they would like to receive a Bible. This project was facilitated in cooperation with Andrei, the pastor of a local church. Also involved was Alexei (the Russian missionary we’ve been working with) and 15-20 young people from two different churches. Spartanovka is a micro-district of the city of Volgograd, but is home to a host of people. (I have heard conflicting reports about the population of this segment. Some say 80,000. Some say as much as 100,000.) Our ultimate goal is that a new church will be born in this largely un-reached area.