Training - Our Media School
Missions Conferences in Russia
The IRR/TV led annual missions conference in Moscow
is the main event attended by several thousand Russian
pastors, evangelists, church workers. Benefits: renewed
vision, new skills, resources, partnerships.
Regional Media Missions Conferences
IRR/TV has held a regional missions conferences
in Central Asia, the Caucasus region, Southwestern Russia,
Northwestern Russia, Siberia, Russian Far East. Congregations
from over 100 cities sent 900 delegates to learn the
use of media in evangelism.
School of Broadcast
In recent years almost 100 missionaries have graduated
from IRR/TV’s Missions School in Moscow. Many
now minister in their home cities.
Ministry Partnerships
IRR/TV has co-ventured with Campus Crusade For Christ
and the Russian office of the Billy Graham Evangelistic
Association in training nationals for ministry. In 2001
IRR/TV participated in a national BGEA conference on
evangelism in Moscow. Over 1000 evangelists attended.
Central Asia
In October, 2002 IRR/TV with ACB Russia established
a regional Christian Radio and Television Association
in Central Asia.
The Central Asian region is comprised of five nations:
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
Their combined population is 58 million. Since the collapse
of communism Islam has made strong inroads throughout
the region.
One reason for the strong Islamic revival is the regions
neighbors. Directly to the south of Central Asia lie
Iran, Afghanistan and the Arab nations.
Eighty mission workers from Kazakhstan, Kirgistan, Tajikistan
and Russia as well as from the Caucasus gathered in
the Kazakh city of Almaty for the first media missions
conference. A ten strong IRR/TV team challenged, inspired
and taught the delegates about media mission work for
three days.
Forgotten Territory
The reception was amazing. We had never seen such a
thirst for knowledge as here. This was IRR/TV’s
fifth regional conference but the first in this area.
IRR/TV has hosted conferences in Habarovsk in the Russian
Far East, Novosibirsk in Siberia, Vladikavkaz in the
Caucasus and Voronez in southern Russia. The Central
Asian nations are a forgotten people. The attention
of the Church in the West is elsewhere.
Large Congregations
During the Soviet era the largest congregations were
found in Central Asia. There are even several large
8000 member congregations in Uzbekistan. Kirgistan and
Kazakhstan also have 2000-3000 person congregations.
Many of these are Russian. Fortunately, one congregation
has 1000 ethnic Kirgistanis while another counts 700.
High Level Training
In addition to the regional conference IRR/TV arranged
for Edward McDougal, from Regent University in the United
States, to stay on and teach the ABCs of TV work to
the eager delegates.
“I have never seen such open and enthusiastic
people,” said McDougal.
Once known for the Silk Road, Central Asia is now the
road for drugs between the east and the west. Many of
its inhabitants have been bound by the chains of alcohol.
In general, one can say that these people are searching
for God. They are open. For the time being only a vocal
minority are radical Muslims. This situation is changing
fast.
Race Against Time
The harvest in the Central Asian mission field is great.
Many other Christian’s have also noticed this.
The Gospel was the main topic during the missions conference.
While we gathered countless wide-body airliners were
arriving and departing to destinations in the most fanatic
Islamic nations.
These planes were not transporting tourists but Iranian
and Saudi Arabian trade delegations and Islamic clergy.
Funds from Turkey finance newly built skyscrapers. The
largest outdoor gatherings are Islamic religious services.
The spiritual storm clouds are gathering over Central
Asia.
Persecution and Freedom
In contrast, Turkmenistan is a closed country. No delegates
were allowed to attend the conference in Kazakhstan.
All Christian activity is banned. Evangelical congregations
have been shut down and active Christians are oppressed.
A certain Christian from a neighboring country went
to visit a brother in Christ in Turkmenistan. Within
moments of entering a prayer room the police arrived
to check on the guest. The neighbors of Christians have
also been intimidated into becoming informants.
The most common allegation against Christians is that
of heroin trafficking. The police point to a bag of
drugs in a safe and says that it is evidence against
the accused. If the accused cooperates the bag stays
in the safe. If cooperation fails the bag is used as
evidence and the accused is sentenced to years in prison.
Pray for Turkmenistan
In the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashabad, stands a gilded
golden statue 12 yards (12 meters) tall on top of a
70 yard pedestal of the President with his face towards
the sun. The statue was designed to turn and follow
the sun all day.
Christians gather in groups of three and four. The meetings
are spontaneous. A short phone call the night before
the meeting announces which bus stop to meet at. If
there are strangers at the bus stop the meeting is postponed.
Media missions work is not primarily about using “equipment”
but reaching people. This is our focus. This is what
Jesus taught us and this is IRR/TV’s task. To
guide the people of Central Asia to harvest more of
their countrymen for the Kingdom of God.
