“We stepped through the doorway into a world
so completely different from our own that
it was almost incomprehensible.”
Ministering love and hope in the city of Kirov, Russia, Rick Gage and 20 GO TELL team volunteers were recently used of God to lead 460 precious Russian people to Christ while ministering aid to thousands.
Rick and the team reached out to the Russian people through meetings they conducted in churches, in a coliseum, and at the University of Kirov. They conducted evangelistic rallies; visited orphanages where they gave away shoes, meat, and dairy products to 1,500 orphans; distributed 1,800 pounds of aid including medical supplies; and gave away 2000 Bibles and Christian books in the Russian language.
Of utmost importance to Rick Gage was providing assistance to their host church to begin a half-way house for orphans who are put out on the streets when they turn fifteen years old. About 80 percent of them now end up committing suicide or living in prostitution or drugs.
For the last six years, Gage’s overseas teams have blanketed the city of Bryansk, Russia, with the gospel and aid. “We saw literally thousands of Russians come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior there,” says Rick Gage. “Others are following up on our work and have taken up the mantle there. God made it clear we were to move to another unreached area.”
Kirov is a city of 600,000 people with only four small protestant churches. It is an area desperate for the gospel message and ripe for harvest. Located 700 miles northeast of Moscow near Siberia, it is a city which is bitterly cold and has much snow.
The team’s efforts were not without sacrifice. “You truly had to be sold out to the Lord to go on this trip,” commented team leader, Bob Thompson, who has been leading the Gage overseas ministry teams for ten years now. “We had a twelve-hour plane ride, followed by a fourteen-hour train trip, and then a four-hour bus ride each time we visited one of seven orphanages where we were privileged to minister.”
The team was made up of individuals from six different states and included eight teenagers. They unanimously agreed that the hardships they suffered were totally insignificant compared to the blessings they received. While ministering love and aid to thousands, the group came away feeling they had received far more than they had given.
Kenny Stokes reminisced, “Everyone should experience life outside the United States. Our children are so sheltered and oblivious to the poverty in the world. And it isn’t just about poverty in Russia. They don’t see hope for tomorrow. No matter what happens in America, we still believe tomorrow will be better. The people of Russia don’t have that hope. But Jesus brought many in Kirov hope as we helped heal their physical and spiritual suffering. And a tremendous blessing was the heart change in our own team members as they came in contact with the Russian people and the tears began to flow.”
Amber Prince stated, “This trip was the best thing that has ever happened to me. The impact on my life is indescribable in words. There was some music playing at one of the orphanages, and I started dancing with a little girl. I don’t think she’d ever had that much attention in her life. Her face changed as it lit up, and when she hugged me she wouldn’t let me go. Americans take everything for granted, especially the love they get from family and friends.”
The youngest member of the team, fifteen-year-old Kirstin Anthony, was challenged to overseas missions involvement at a GO TELL Summer Youth Camp where she committed her life to full-time Christian service. “God spoke to me at GO TELL Camp,” says Kirstin, “I really wanted to share Jesus in Russia. When I got home from camp, I talked to my family about going to Russia. I was so excited when they said I could go!
“God really worked in my life in Russia. It hurt my heart to leave the children in the orphanages, but I know God is keeping an eye on them. Giving each of them a sticker, some candy, a balloon, a hug and a smile, and telling them Jesus loves them meant all the world to them. Twenty Americans led 460 Russian people to Christ—that’s 23 each! I wonder what the world would be like if everyone cared for others that much.”
The team took to heart the biblical principle that to whom much is given, much shall be required. Three church members from Oak Grove Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, invested much. “God worked miracles on and before this trip,” said Mary Martin. “We were able to raise $3,000 and our church, Oak Grove Baptist, gave us $10,000 to give to the orphanages. Some of the orphanages we visited were a six-hour bus ride away. The conditions there were so bad. I couldn’t imagine using one of their bathrooms. Their beds were made of plywood, with the mattress being a folded blanket. Although they were as hard as a rock, the children were thankful for them.
“The Russian people are stoic, with no smiles, as if they have no hope. But we were able to witness for Jesus and offer them hope. At the orphanages we sang, gave testimonies, and shared the gospel bracelet. We gave each child a New Testament, a book of Christian athletes in Russia, a toy, a balloon, and lots of stickers. They were so excited and crowded around us for our autographs.
“We visited one of the four churches in Kirov that was started by a pastor who sold his apartment to start the church. Life for those of us who went on this mission can never be the same. God has placed a burden on our hearts for the orphans that will not go away.”
Rebecca Dempsey ministered in Russia with Rick’s 2001 GO TELL Team. Since that time she had been very ill, and although she wanted to return to Russia, she was afraid of her failing health. This year Rebecca stepped out in faith and made the physically-challenging trip. Upon her return, her doctors were so amazed at her improvement that they told her if a mission trip could improve her health so much, they wanted her to go keep on going.
Rebecca says, “The hours are long, but the rewards of going on a mission trip are unbelievable. To me, the moment I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, I committed to the Great Commission. A mission trip is a chance of a lifetime to really see miracles in action. My heart will forever be with the Russian people.”
“The Spirit of God is moving in Russia, a land greatly in need of hope!” says Rick. “It has been amazing to see Russian men, women, and children giving their lives to the Lord. Those who go on a trip with us are forever changed as they share their faith and experience the power of God in a foreign land.”
Rick Gage has witnessed more than 250,000 decisions for Christ through his many evangelistic outreaches in America and abroad. Rick Gage GO TELL Ministries include crusades, summer youth camps, schools assemblies, church revivals, overseas mission trips, and the GO TELL Academy.
“Everywhere I go people are personally embracing the Gospel message,” says Rick. “It is hope for the individual, for society, and for the world. Saturating our communities across America and the world with the gospel must be done at all costs. It takes, time, money, and involvement to reach lost people. But it will be eternally worth it one day.”
You, too, can experience a life-changing crusade to Russia with Rick Gage. For more information about Rick Gage GO TELL Ministries, please call 1-866-I-GO-TELL; email at info@gotellministries.com or visit his website at www.gotellministries.com.
