I got out of the taxi after aheartbreaking conversation withthe driver, who was a war veteran.This young man, hardened by war,broke down when I asked if I couldpray for him. “No one has ever of-fered me this in my 28 years,” hesaid. “And I need it, I need it,” hekept repeating. It was the night thatUkraine was celebrating the 1029thanniversary of Russia and Ukraineaccepting Christianity. I decided towalk down Khreshatyk, the mainstreet of Kiev.

The name of this street comes fromthe word baptism, and it was in theDnipro River that the first Chris-tians were baptized. Suddenly, Iheard screams and a group of abouta hundred young people with bot-tles and rocks began running to-wards me; they were chased bypolice who were shooting into theair.

This firsthand experience is a mi-crocosm of Ukraine: rich history,struggles for a better future, pain,and hunger for a living faith.

Very recently, we opened a new,fifth FM station in Ukraine, andhope to establish a couple more in2018.

This is only one part of our devel-opment strategy. Applying lessonslearned from our ministry in Rus-sia where one broadcaster alonehad 1.2 million online listeners lastmonth, we are planning to intro-duce a new strategic initiative, in-creasing our efforts in onlinebroadcasting.

Our goal is to “touch” half of thepopulation of Ukraine in the next12 years, and have a full, meaning-ful, Christ-centered conversationwith 5 million Ukrainians.

These are ambitious goals and weare praying fervently aboutthem. To successfully reach them,we need the following: a passion-ate team, a functional technicalbase, and adequate space.

Our team is focused and excitedabout changing Ukraine for Christ.

At this point we have all the equip-ment needed, thanks to your re-sponse to the Kiev BroadcastCenter campaign. This includes notonly the equipment for the studioin Kiev, but also communicationlines that connect all our studiosand stations. Thank you! This is ahuge accomplishment that preparesus for the next stage.

Over, please...

FEBC Russian MinistriesUPDATE2017-3 Russia - Ukraine - Central Asia

Kiev Media Evangelism CenterBy Victor P. Akhterov

The vast majority of Ukrainianchildren were never

introduced to the Gospel. We must fill the gap.

The staue of Vladimir the Great, who baptized Kievan Rus’in these waters, reminds of a great historical event. Today, the

people Ukraine need to discover who Jesus is.

Our goal is to have a series of deep conversa-tions about Jesus with 5 million Ukrainians.

Kiev Media Evangelism CenterContinued from page 1.

However, the space that we are cur-rently renting is limited – we havetwo little rooms on a second floor ofa building that is in a remote area,measuring only 320 sq. ft. From thebeginning, this was only a temporaryarrangement.

During the past two years we havebeen monitoring the market, as wellas the general economic and politicalsituation in Ukraine, consulting withlocal Christian leaders and the lead-ers of FEBC-International, and aftermuch prayer, we decided to seeksupport to purchase a building forFEBC-Ukraine in Kiev.

We believe that the next few monthswill be the best time to buy ourown building in Kiev.

Here are a few reasons.

1. We need more space to achieveour goals in Ukraine. This meansthat we should have three studios:broadcast, recording, and onlinebroadcast studios, as well as workingspace for broadcasters and tech personnel. Small space is hinderingthe work as we attempt to use newtechnologies.

2. We will need a larger space if thesituation in Russia becomes more re-strictive; we are already monitoringopportunities to broadcast to Russiafrom Ukraine. Several ministriesserving Russia have already relo-cated to Ukraine.

3. We need enough space to becomea center for Christian evangelisticactivity in Kiev. We are constantlyinviting leaders from the evangelicalcommunity to empower them toshare the Gospel with their country-men. We also invite government offi-cials and influential people ofUkraine to our office, as we invest inpromoting the evangelical church, tobe seen as a positive force inUkraine’s society.

4. Economic conditions are perfectfor buying. The prices have beencoming down approximately 10% ayear for the past three years, and itseems like prices are slowly startingto pick up.

5. Politically, Ukraine is muchsafer than Russia. Thousands ofproperties are purchased in Kievevery year, so it is seen as a safespace in the entire region.

We don’t have a big foundationbacking us, nor do we have a gener-ous sponsor. We are approaching thiscarefully, and in total dependence onthe Lord to provide the needed re-sources. We trust that He will pro-vide.

If you’d like to help us build FEBC’sKiev Media Evangelism Center,please support us with your prayersand, if God leads you, please con-tribute towards this goal.

Dr. Victor Akhterovis the director of

FEBC Russia & Ukraine

The number of suicides amongUkrainian teens grew sharply

in the past three years. Weneed to tell this generation

about God’s love.

There are millions of people living in Ukrainian cities who have in-expensive high-speed Internet access. We must do all we can to

reach them.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE

We need to raise $65,000before the end of the year tomake the first steps in purchasing the building.

Please prayerfully consider participating in this project.

I was raised in an atheistic familywhere any consideration of God wasseen as an expression of weaknessand lack of education. We were sobrainwashed that I only believed inthings I could see. In my childhood, Ieven had dreams of helping peoplefight evil and propagate Commu-nism. While growing up, I learnedthat life is more complicated, and theentire idea of Communism is naiveand unrealistic.

During my university studies, I oftenthought about the meaning of life. Isearched in every direction possible.Being a Kazakh, I had to look toIslam as well. I was sure that some-where I would find some answers tomany of my questions.

Finally, I met some followers ofJesus. They possessed a deep level ofindescribable joy. Basically, I endedup listening more and more to themand became convinced about thetruth in Jesus. I accepted Jesus as mySavior and Lord and felt newly born.I could sense Jesus accepting me andtelling me that He is the One I waslooking for and the life I needed.

I became quite an active follower ofJesus, sharing the Good News with

others around me. I knew that Jesyswas the answer to people’s problems. As followers of Jesus, the challengeis to explain how He is the solutionto all problems, not the promises ofpoliticians who have no real answersto life. It is our responsibility to serveJesus by helping others.

A couple of years ago I met RudiWiens and his team here in Almaty.Their vision to impact Kazakh soci-ety with the Christ-centered messageof salvation and life via radio becamevery close to my heart.

Besides my present participation inthe leadership of FEBC Kazakhstan,I now also do a weekly talk-showcalled “Almaty in My Heart.” Ofcourse, we talk a lot about the prob-lems in our society, trying to findgodly answers to many questions. I

am trying to reach out to listenerswho do have some opportunity to in-fluence and impact society.

Recently, I had a businessman asguest on my talk show. We talkedabout the challenges of being suc-cessful at business.

How to make living is a big issue onthe minds of most people, thus itended up to be a very useful broad-cast. Of course, our prayer is thatwithin all those talks we can intro-duce the Good News of true salvationand life in Christ.

Christ to the Kazakh People by MediaRuslan Zhakupov

It is our responsibilityto serve Jesus by helping others.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE

We need $500 per month,$6,000 per year to produceand air Ruslan’s weekly talk-

show called “Almaty in my heart.”

Ruslan and Ainur are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year.They feel blessed by God with their three children:

Aizhan, Arslan and Alikhan.

“My people need Jesus.” Ruslan in Almaty studio.

LISTENER RESPONSESWe received more than 52,000 responses this summer.

People ask for prayer, young people are seeking advice onhow to move forward in life and wondering about themeaning of life, and many are asking why they should con-tinue living. Most responses come in the form of text mes-sages. Many people are calling, sharing their pain andseeking council. Please pray for thousands of people inneed of finding Jesus.

GRADUAL LOSS OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTYDozens of evangelical Christians were fined for shar-

ing the Gospel online and many Christian camps wereclosed. Numerous Christian organizations were inspectedby district attorneys and the police; FEBC was amongthem, again. We are still continuing to bring the GoodNews to millions of Russian people. Please pray for free-dom, while limited, to continue through the critical 2018election year.

SIBERIAN OUTREACHPlease pray for thousands of listeners living in Siberia.

We are reaching them through several FM stations and spe-cial online projects. Pray that many throughout the vastlands of Siberia would be able to find salvation in Jesus.

PRAYING FOR NEW STATION INPOKROVSK CITY

The Ukrainian city that was named the City of the RedArmy was recently re-named to the City of [God’s] Cover-ing. The vast majority of the people who live there do nothave a personal relationship with God. There is a possibil-ity that FEBC-Ukraine will receive permission to build anFM station in that city. Please pray that this possibility willbecome a reality.

LEADERSHIP TEAMPlease pray for the leadership team in Russia, Ukraine,

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. While we serve different au-diences, we pull resources together wherever possible tomake sure we are doing all we can to reach the maximumnumber of people who live in different countries of the for-mer Soviet Union. Please pray for wisdom in decision-making, as well as our families and health.

FEBC Russian Ministries Update is a quarterly newsletter published by FEBC Russian Ministries, Box 1, La Mirada, CA90637 • (562) 947-4651 e-mail: russia@febc.org • russia.febc.org

Photos used in FEBC RM Update are not always of actual listeners for purposes of privacy and security.

In Canada: FEBCanada, 3200-8888 Odlin Crescent, Richmond,B.C. V6X 3Z8 - make cheques payable to FEBCanadaIn Australia: FEBC, P. O. Box 183, Caringbah NSW 1495In New Zealand: VoF, P. O. Box 620, Masterton, NZ 5915In UK: Feba, Ivy Arch Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 8BXIn South Africa: FEBA radio, P. O. Box 26270, Gezina 0031In Russia: Radio Teos, P. O. Box 110, St. Petersburg 190000

Please make checks payable to:

FEBC Russian Ministries #680Far East Broadcasting Co. is a non-profit ministry and a member of Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability.

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