Russia Ministry Network

Russia's One Factory Towns Struggle to Survive

YASNOGORSK, RUSSIA – Three decades ago, the Yasnogorsk Machine-Building Factory stamped out thousands of pounds of steel and iron into parts for wagons, pumps and locomotives for Russia's mining industry. Now two-thirds of its stamping and welding machines have been shut down. The old Soviet-era equipment is rusting, and fewer than 280 employees clock in every day — from a peak of 7,000. The factory that kept this town alive since the days of the czar is on its last breath, the victim of a global recession that has shaken Russia to the core. Yasnogorsk is one of about 500 communities across Russia built around a single company, whose very existence hangs by a delicate thread. The challenges such "monocities" face are compounded by the legacy of the Soviet era, as well as deep-rooted Russian traditions that make it hard to start over somewhere else. (complete story)

 Statistics on drug-addicts, alcoholics and AIDS in Russia

According to the Interfax news agency, during the last 10 years the number of drug-addicts in Russia grew in 12 times. Drug addiction is becoming younger.

Tatyana Dmitrieva, a member of Russian Academy of Medical Science, said in March of 2003 that during last 10 years the number of adults addicts grew in 8 times while the number of addicted kids and young adults grew in 18 times. Drug-addiction among children grew in 24,3 times. Official number of drug-addicts in Russia – less then 300 000, but Dmitrieva reported that the real number is at least 10 times more.  Alcoholism is another terrible evil. Nationwide about 50 000 people per year die because of alcohol abuse. During the last 50 year alcoholism killed more people than died in Russia during terrible 5 years of the World War II. According to CNN, 30% of male adults and 15% of females are alcoholics…Statistics on prostitution (which is closely connected to drugs) is also terrible. For example, in our city the prostitutes outnumber Eveangelical Christians at 3 to 1 ratio… May 21 — Russia's top government AIDS expert offered a harrowing assessment of the disease's spread today, saying that at least a half-million Russians now carry the H.I.V. virus and that the true number could range as high as 1.5 million, or more than 1 percent of the overall population, which is about 145 million.More ominous still, he said, foreign experts now say the total number of people infected could surpass seven million — 1 in every 25 Russians — in as few as five years.


The report, by Vadim V. Pokrovsky of the Russian Center for AIDS Prevention and Treatment, buttressed earlier warnings by global AIDS experts that the number of H.I.V. infections in Russia is in danger of rising out of control, with severe consequences for the country's demographics and labor force.
This looks like a nation-wide disaster, yet God has all the power over the enemy.
A.B.

The Russian Church of Evangelical Christians is deeply concerned about the situation in our country. We have been persistently praying for God’s grace and mercy for Russia, for the wisdom and protection for our President and Government as well as for all Russian authorities (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We believe that the Lord Jesus will bless Russia and it will become not only one of the leaders of world’s economy and politics, but also one of the leaders of the Great Revival on our planet!

Statistics on religion in Russia



Polling 1600 people in 84 cities of 28 regions of Russia the Agency of Regional Political Research in person interviews asked 2 questions: "Which religion do you confess?" and "How often do you attend religious services?"

70% professed to be Orthodox
4% professed to be Muslim
2% said "other"
23% said "no religion"
1% refused to answer

More men than women, as well as those older than 45, considered themselves atheists. Percentage of atheists increases as the educational level increases.
The second question was only addressed to those who consider themselves believers.

Only 3% attend services weekly
6% attend once per month
31% said they attend "several times a year"
11% go to church only on Christmas and Easter
15% attend less than once per year
34% "had difficulty" answering

In general men attend less often than women. As the educational level increases so does the rate of those who only attend on Christmas and Easter. 

AG.org News & Information

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    Dick Gruber, Valley Forge professor and former Children's Ministries consultant for the Assemblies of God, was recognized as one of the top 20 influencers in children's ministry in the September/October issue of Children's Ministry Magazine.

  • Three-time AG college president passes

    Klaude Kendrick, who served as president of three different Assemblies of God institutions of higher education, passed away Saturday. He was 93.