Ufa – Over 800,000 people reached!
Predominately Islamic by religion
Ufa is located on the western slope of the Ural
Mountains in Russia with a population of 1,2
million. There are 15 Evangelical Churches in
the city with a combined membership of about
3,000 adherents. All churches in the city partnered
in this historic undertaking.
1 million of the city's residents were targeted
with the simple message "God gives you the power
to change!" All available media were harnessed
to simultaeously proclaim this message over
a one month period. Thousands called the campaign
hotline for counselling. Many made a life changing
decision for Christ.
Churches Unite Behind a Vision
The Ural Mountains serve as a continental divide separating
European Russia from the Russian Far East. The legendary
land of Siberia begins on the eastern slope of the Ural
mountain range extending to the Pacific Ocean. The city
of Ufa is situated on the western slope of the Urals
in the heart of Russia.
Ufa is one of the least Christianized cities in all
of Russia today. The first Christians came to Ufa approximately
one hundred years ago.
Only fifteen years ago one Christian congregation with
one hundred members was to be found in Ufa. Today there
are fifteen congregations with only one church building
in their possession.
As One Man, One Heart
When the strategy for the month-long media blitz presented
to the pastors they rose to the challenge as one man
with one heart. They were determined to reach their
city for Jesus like never before. In an unprecedented
move a joint pastoral committee was formed to supervise
the execution of the outreach. A special executive task
force was also elected to tackle each challenge with
greater impact and efficiency. Praise God for this united
effort!
Power Evangelism
Six task groups were formed to give the each of the
selected media products a distinctively domestic flavor.
The challenge is to reach 80% of the people in the area
by "power evangelism". Power evangelism means
every person in Ufa will repeatedly see and hear the
Gospel over a one month period in various ways simultaneously
- TV, radio, print, billboards, other ads. The message:
“ God gives the power to change”. It is
for everyone to experience personally.
Potent Media
The most potent media for communicating the Gospel to
a population of 1.1 million people in Ufa during the
campaign is local television. For one month people will
be able to watch and hear moving stories of how God’s
power changed lives. As the programs air viewers will
be able to call in to the TV studio and ask questions.
Giant Billboards
While planning for Mission Ufa it was assumed that not
everybody would watch TV, listen to the radio or have
an Internet connection. Therefore the message will be
communicated through local newspapers, on giant billboards,
in buses and other systems of public transport.
Mission Ufa will climax in a series of public meetings
to which those who watched TV, listened to radio programs
and read newspaper ads and articles will be invited.
A Multitude of Counselors
Hundreds of church members will be trained to disciple
and pray with new believers to secure their newly found
faith in God. Campus Crusade for Christ Canada will
oversee discipleship training.
A large team of people will be needed to answer incoming
calls from ads and television programs as well as to
process names addresses, book orders, and manage the
Mission Ufa website.
The outreach is the first of its kind on such a level
in UFA. Nothing has come close to the intensity of this
mission. The outreach requires funds – most of
it must come from the west.
The “Power to Change” book is the main piece
of literature that will be distributed during this campaign.
It is designed so that every church member can hand
it out to friends and neighbors. The book contains ten
of the most dramatic testimonies of God’s grace
in Ufa. At present 50,000 copies of the book need to
be printed.
Unforgettable - Regina's Testimony
Regina’s testimony was particularly touching.
At the age of two her parents deserted her. She was
transferred from one orphanage to another. Upon completing
her studies she was given a room in communal housing
that was home to one of Ufa’s worst gangs. For
them sexual abuse, drugs, stealing were the norm.
Without a job, Regina ended up on the streets where
she was recruited for the notorious Shakshinskaya Mafia.
One day because of a minor offense she was beaten and
was to be gang raped. In despair she cried out for help.
Miraculously, a special anti-terror unit of the Ufa
police called “OMON”, raided the apartment
where she was held and saved her from the hands of her
tormentors.
Soon afterwards, God led Olga, a believer into Regina’s
life. Even though Olga had two of her own children and
a husband she took Regina in to live with them. Olga
talked to her about the Lord. Regina accepted Christ
and her life was transformed. By God’s grace she
had experienced the power to change. Please pray that
many others would share Regina's experience as a result
of the upcoming campaign.
