News & Stories

English Club in Russia Gets Personal

April 6, 2010

By Alan Eggleton, serving in Russia

Barriers to presenting the gospel in Russia are daunting, says Alan Eggleton, who, with his wife, Patricia, serves with The Alliance in St. Petersburg. English Club presents opportunities to build relationships and share one’s faith. Read how an 18-year-old student recently came to Christ through this outreach Alliance workers have developed. 

Julia, 18, is from the city of Angarsk, located in the Siberian region of Irkutsk. She moved to St. Petersburg in summer 2009 to study economics at a local institute and soon heard about our English Club from a friend. Since visiting the club in October, Julia has attended regularly and often brings her friends. 

Club Details, Challenges

English Club is an informal weekly meeting that gives Russians opportunities to practice English in a nonthreatening environment. The English language is a valued commodity for Russians today, and we seek to have excellent clubs, especially in conversational English. Most meetings include vocabulary, games and activities involving English usage, group discussion, and refreshments. 

Lessons are generally nonreligious, and there is a different theme every week. During the discussion time we sometimes ask questions that involve sharing deeper opinions about beliefs or perspectives. Building relationships is the club’s primary purpose.

It is difficult for believers to share their faith with Russians effectively, but Julia hadn’t attended the club long before she understood that we were Christians.

Russian people have been taught that anything that is not Russian Orthodox is suspect and is to be considered a cult. Add to this a variety of cultural and economic factors, including poverty, hopelessness, a 70-year history of communist rule, and even the crazy work schedules that people have. It is within this context that the English Club ministry has been developed. 

Seeds Bear Fruit

In January 2010 our team, including the Friesens (C&MA Canada) and the Masons, led a three-day English Camp. Both mornings, Donnie Mason gave a clear presentation of the gospel to all who chose to attend the devotional time. Every camper attended, including Julia.

The Lord worked through these planted “seeds.” In February 2010, Julia met with a few church members after a worship service. During that discussion, she repented of her sins and gave her life to Christ.

When she was asked recently, “How did English Club influence you to come to know Christ?” Julia replied, “At first I started to go to club to improve my English. And then there were opportunities to visit a youth Bible study, and I met many Christians-none of this would have happened if it weren’t for the English Club.” 

New Life Based on Trust

Once Russians begin attending English Club, a foundation for trust is built. Barriers are removed, and we are able to connect directly with people, like Julia, who would otherwise remain strangers in this incredibly impersonal city.  

Julia continues to attend the club, youth group, and worship services. She is a key contact person for many friends at her university. She is also one of several individuals we’ve had the privilege to lead to the Lord here recently-each has attended our English Camp or Club, our youth Bible study group, and visited our home. 

“I came just for English,” said another young man, recently, who has attended the club. “But I see now that it was God leading me to come. You’ve really showed us what is the most important: faith. I’ve changed a lot; I now see that with God nothing is impossible. I think everyone at club will come to understand this in the end.”

Praise God for these miracles, and pray that God will strengthen and grow these new Christians into faithful followers of Him.  

We also are seeing an increase in regular club attendees. It’s been hard to keep track of all the names. Please pray for the many “casual attendees” to experience the life-change that God wants to give to them. Also, pray that those who have yet to give their hearts to Jesus would do so and find the hope of eternal life. 

Thank you for joining us in prayer.

What You Can Do

“As we see the smiles of people whose lives are changed, the influence we have in bringing hope to the people around us-we know you are joining us in this great work!” says Alan. By donating to Alliance Great Commission ministries, you are helping to bring hope to the lost in Russia and around the world. 

Learn More

Check out our work in Russia.

See the video, “The Russian Harvest” [duration, 3:20 min.], to learn about exciting Alliance ministry efforts to cultivate church partnerships in Russia’s major cities.

“The first big influence to my coming to Christ was when I attended the 6th anniversary celebration of the Alliance Church in St. Petersburg,” said Julia recently. Watch the church’s celebration video, “God in the City,” on YouTube [duration, 4:49 min.].

(Note: Clicking on this link will take you off of the C&MA Web site.)