September 1 Update from David Bess:
An update was received today from Central Church in Ryazan. Pastor Victor reports that they have managed to repair the rafters and roofing for their historic church building. They were able to do it with help from other churches in the Ryazan oblast and deep financial sacrifices of their own congregation. Funds are still greatly needed, however, for interior repairs to the damaged ceiling and the old, heavily worn seats. Please pray for them to have the funds that they need to finish these required repairs for a Russian historic facility, and for any donations made from WVBC churches to be transferred quickly to them.
Original Letter from the Central Baptist Church:
Greetings from the Central Baptist Church in Ryazan! We have a need with which we would like help from our West Virginia Baptist friends. We own our church building, but it is very old. It was built by Lutherans in the 19th century. During the Soviet era, it was taken from the church and became a shop. In the 1990’s it was given back to the Central Baptists. It is an architectural monument, a cultural heritage site for Ryazan. If we don’t keep it in good shape, we will have serious problems with the government. We also want to maintain it so we can have it for future generations. Thanks to answered prayers, we have been able to renovate the floors, but now the condition of the roof and ceiling is a serious problem. They need considerable repairs. We are looking for sponsors to help us. It is too hard to solve the problem by ourselves. Most members of our church are retired and their pensions are too small. The estimated cost for repairs is more than 500 000 rubles ($7,800). Please pray for our need! Thank you for your support! God bless you!
How You Can Help:
Checks should be sent to WVBC, designated for Russia missions, Central Baptist Church. You can also give through your WVBC church and forward it to Russia missions.
Want to Learn More About the Russia Mission Partnership?
Contact us and we will connect you with someone from the partnership team. There are several upcoming trips, as well as numerous opportunities you can partner with them financially and through prayer.
You can also visit their website or follow them on Facebook.
