2. The “Bethany” Church was founded in Moscow in 1992
after the evangelization campaign by Billy Graham. In
the 90-ies in Russia there was a spiritual revival and
people started looking for new values. During that time
in Russia there appeared many Protestant churches.
The beginning
3. Before 2000 the “Bethany” church grew on the wave of
that spiritual awakening when people still came to big
evangelization meetings. By the beginning of 2000 in
the church there were about 40 people, 40% of which
were elderly sisters, long time believers, making the
main body of a newly established church.
Before 2000
4. In 2000 pastor Alexander Zanin (having been a pastor since 1998) started
the inductive Bible study in the Biblical Institute «Precept Ministries» and
began to teach the church the Word of God. Since that time the church has
begun to grow spiritually. Before that there was no Bible study group in the
church.
In 2004 the pastor left his job in the world and the “Bethany” church began
to pay him a salary.
In 2005 in the “Bethany” church a Sunday school for adults started its work.
In Russian churches as a rule Sunday schools are organized only for children
whose parents attend the church. In the majority of churches there are no
Sunday schools for adults. In the “Bethany” church we started studying the
Bible by courses of the Euro-Asian Bible Institute by inductive methods
«Precept Ministries». In 2005 in the church there were only 2 teachers who
could teach the Bible and 60 members of the church.
The story
5. At this present time in the “Bethany” church we have:
95 members and more than 100 people coming to
meetings;
18 teachers of the inductive Bible study;
In the church there are 10 Bible study groups which attend
75 people;
5 home Bible study groups (14 people);
Members of our church lead 5 Bible study groups in other
churches with 44 participants in attendance;
Members of our church lead Bible study groups with
unbelievers with attending 35 people.
Now time
6. Every month we hold yard games
to which we invite teens who live
in the district where the church is
situated.
During games we try to speak not
only about sports but also about
spiritual matters and invite them
into the Teens’ Club in our church
which we hold also once a month.
Besides we organized a Rugby
sport-team that is managed by a
professional coach. We invite
unbelieving teens to that team.
We also organize coaching in
secondary schools. There is an
obligatory condition — after
every coaching they have to study
the Bible.
Evangelization Through Sport
7. It is held once a month. We
invite to the Clun the teens
from yard games, from the
Rugby-Club, and the church
teens bring their unbelieving
friends there. There we speak
much about spiritual themes
based on the Bible.
Teens’ Club
8. It’s a part of our program in
the work with unbelieving
teens. In the camp there are
elements of extreme —
rafting on catamarans and
rope course. In each camp that
our church organizes we have
inductive Bible study during 2
or 3 hours a day with
unbelieving teens.
The “Extreme” Camp
9. Every week we have a Bible study group where church teens
come as well as the children who repented in camps.
Bible Study Groups with Teens
10. We organized a Club for unbelieving youth and students.
During our meetings we discuss spiritual topics.
Communication goes in English. In our church there are a few
people who have a good knowledge of English.
English Club
11. We invite people who
participated in the English
Club and their friends to
come to the English Camp.
In the camp we study
English using the textbook
«English for a new life» with
the texts that are based on
Gospel of John. We also
have inductive Bible study
lessons.
English Camp
12. Missionary and Social Ministry
In 2010 we started our ministry in a boarding-school in the town of Pochinok in
Smolensk region in 400 km from Moscow. Not far from the boarding-school
there is a Baptists church where there are only 15 people mostly of elderly age.
We decided to help that church grow through our ministry to the boarding-
school.
In that missionary team there are 16 people. The team visits Pochinok once a
month on week-ends. We have a worship service in the church and an inductive
Bible study group for 2 days. We help the church organize evangelization
events in the town, children’s playgrounds and town-camps; we also help to run
children’s Sunday school.
In the boarding-school for children who lag behind in their development we
alongside with different games have an inductive Bible study group with
children textbooks. In summer we start a camp there where we also study the
Bible. Besides we take children from the boarding-school to our church camps.
During our ministry in the boarding-school 10 children have repented. All of
them attend the church in Pochinok on Sundays.
Missionary and Social Ministry
13. 3 times a year on the days of
Christian holidays we hold
thematic evenings where
members of our church can
invite their bosses and
unbelieving friends. In the
center of each meeting
there is a preaching of the
Word of God.
Evenings for Unbelieving Friends
14. Our church organized a Family Club where young people are being
prepared for the marital life and unbelieving married couples are
invited.
Ministry for Married Couples
15. 1. During all the time of our existence we rent a building. Before 2009 we rented
a hall only for Sunday services. By the end of 2009 up to now we rent a
building of 250 square meters full time. The pastor of the church has been on
full time ministry since 2004.
Monthly running costs for rent, maintenance and pastor’s salary are 7,200
euro.
These costs are extremely heavy for the church. We practically don’t have
money for ministries. For effective development of the church we need
financial assistance by 3,000 every month.
2. English Camp. Common costs for the Camp come to 25,000 euro. The majority
of that cost will be compensated with the money paid for the vouchers. But
we have to have 7,500 euro for partial payment (50%) for members of the
team and children from poor families and the boarding-school and for the
fulfillment of the program part of the camp.
3. The Extreme Camp. Common costs for the camp come up to 15,000 euro. We
need 4,600 euro for the same purposes as in the English Camp, as well as for
the purchase of the additional tourist equipment: tents, plates and dishes,
climbing equipment, sleeping-bags, etc.
4. The Boarding-school Camp. We need 2,000 euro for partial payment for team
members, for program part of the camp and for presents for children.
Our Needs
