Russia Mission

Samara Russia

In April of 1993, Ray Renner and Gary King, a minister with Apostolic Team Ministries from Celina, Ohio, traveled to Moscow, Russia, to attend a minister's conference designed to link American ministers and churches with Russian ministers. On the last day of the conference, they met Yuri Nikolaiovich Lyashevsky. He had been praying for someone to come and help him plant a church in his hometown of Samara, the third largest city in Russia. Ray and Gary went with Yuri on a train to Samara and met with a small group of believers meeting in the home of Yuri and his wife, Nina.

In December 1993, Johnny Cawthon and Ray Renner went together to minister to the new church which was planted through an outreach crusade in September, 1993. After many trips, Johnny known in Russia as Ivan Ivanovich (John son of John), has become the leader in ReNET (Regional Network of Equipping Teams) responsible for overseeing ReNET trips to help the church grow, train leaders and plant new churches. The Good News Church of God of Samara, Russia is currently seeking to regain their building. A new church has been launched in the Uprovlencheski District of Samara. The current pastor is Oleg Dudnik and wife Lida. The new church is called Sharon Church.