The Weatherford Democrat
By Danie M. Huffman
When the youth group at Friendship Baptist Church went to camp in June, it agreed to take Jesus across the ocean. They could not think of a better place to visit than Bryansk, Russia.
“The group was impressed during a worship service to go on this trip,” Justin Alllision, the group’s youth pastor said.
The group’s only obstacle to making the trip a reality was money. So, the teens decided to hold fundraisers and work to pay for their trip.
“We took steps toward getting the money to go,” he said. “They held a fish fry, a karaoke night and several garage sales. They raised about $10,000 from the fundraisers and got about $2000 from individual donations.”
After successfully raising the funds, Lacee Stone, Jenni Burks, Andrew Bryant, and Benjamin Bryant were off on their adventure.
The hit Russia’s ground running.
Allison accompanied them on the trip, with Mechelle Bryant, Andrew and Benjamin’s mother.
A total of 29, including 13 others from around the country through GO TELL Ministries went to Russia.
Allison said the group met with six interpreters, who accompanied them through a public school, a few retirement homes, and several orphanages.
A Russian skit team from the city of Kirov performed for children to provide visionary tools to remember the Gospel by.
They passed out witnessing bracelets with beads of black, red, white, blue, green, and yellow. Each colored bead represents a Biblical truth in sharing the Gospel.
“We got to put the bracelets on the kids’ hands,” Allison said. “The thing that stands out the most was watching Andrew put on a presentation for children with the bracelets.”
“It’s not something that would happen in the United States – a school asking Americans to come in and tell the children about their religion and way of life. For that to happen in the U.S. would be extremely unheard of and controversial. But it happened in Russia.”
Benjamin Bryant said he learned he couldn’t be a “back-row Baptist.”
“You have to get out and talk to people so they can know you, so they can respond to you better,” he said.
The teens put on a show for children, sang songs, passed out stickers, and made animal shapes out of balloons.
“They went crazy over the balloons and stickers,” Benjamin said. “They like them a lot. We taught them who God is and what He’s done for them… about dying on the cross for their sins.”
Bryant said about 250 people accepted God and came to know Christ as their Savior from the teens’ action in Russia.
“I’m extremely proud of [the teens],” Alllison said. “I was very impressed with how they acted and ministered to the Russian people. They passed out invitations to an evangelism rally on the streets.”
Allison added the group was excited about speaking to people on the streets.
“It wasn’t a chore for them,” he said. “They chose willingly to do it.”
Benjamin said he believes the group changed some of the Russians’ opinions of Americans.
“I imagine before we came their opinion wasn’t too kind [of Americans] due to the Cold War,” he said. “By the time we left, they were inviting us back. We received a warm reception from most Russians.”
Benjamin said the best part of the trip was visiting the orphanages and putting on the show.
“I just had a wonderful time,” Andrew Byrant said. “It’s a trip I’ll never forget. It amazes me how the kids in Russia are just like the kids in America. They act the exact same, only they speak a different language.”
Mechelle Bryant said the students presented the plan of salvation with power bands.
She said the most memorable thing for her was visiting the orphanages, and she is doing research on becoming a liaison between the orphaned children and possible United States adoptive parents.
“Visiting the orphanages was heart wrenching and heartwarming,” she said. “Most had never seen an American before. It touched my heart so much to see [the children in the orphanages]. They really need homes and someone to love them. The need is so great. I want to know what we can do over here to help.”
Sunday, the group presented a slide show at Friendship Baptist Church, to show the congregation what they learned and accomplished in Russia. Each teen took turns speaking of the trip, their experiences, the people they met and God’s work accomplished through their actions.
An e-mail from Bob Thompson, the GO TELL Ministries mission leader, to the individual group leaders stated the works done on their mission.
While in Bryansk, Russia, the e-mail stated, the group helped distribute 1,000 pounds of food, clothing, and medical supplies.
More than $10,000 raised through GO TELL Ministries was donated to orphanages and churches. The group spoke to three churches, handed out approximately 800 Bibles and tracts, passed out more than 1,000 witness bracelets, and spoke to about 1,100 people in orphanages and hospitals.
