As you know from reading the papers, life in Russia and the former USSR is facing a bleak future. Thankfully, despite the downward spiral of difficulties and challenges, there are some bright spots in the dark nights of Russian life.
Here are some of the clouds. The crisis in Russia is deepening with life expectancy dropping at an alarming rate. Male life expectancy has dropped one whole year from 60 to 59. Alcoholism, family abuse and environmental destruction are increasingly taking their toll.
It is estimated that some 75% of all adult males are alcoholics. The Russian team has established a recovery ministry among churches to bring hope in Christ to the hopeless and destitute.
Over the past fifteen years, our friends have trained several hundred leaders in pastoral counseling and formed numerous recovery groups in churches around the former USSR. Let's face it, there is no hope for the Russian people or for peace to break out between Russia and the USA. The situation is hopeless unless unless God breaks in to their world and into our world. The space between us cannot be filled with arms, money and oil.
If it were not for the Non Governmental Christian Organizations outside Russia the situation would be hopeless. They put millions of dollars and millions of volunteer hours into helping the Russian people get better and stronger.
Keep praying for our friends and colleagues because God is on the move. Send your tax deductible donations to:
Sweeten Life Systems
Attn: Galina
P.O. Box 498455
Cincinnati, 45249
Go to www.liferoute.ru for more information.
1 comment:
Hi Gary,
Thanks for the update. I will definitely keep our "comrades" (I always think "Russia" when I hear that term...does it have Russian origins?)in my heart and prayers. Wow...what a challenge living amidst such change and fluctuations!
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