Covenant News

Michigan Covenanters Pursue Ministry in Russia

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI (March 18, 2001) - The idea of traveling to Russia during the winter seems a chilling thought, but a host of Covenanters were warmed by the results of a recent short-term mission experience.

A total of 17 people, most from Faith Covenant Church and nearby Dearborn Covenant Church, traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia, for two weeks as part of Operation Carelift, an organization sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ. It was the third winter Faith Covenant has sent people to that region. Last year, 10 people went to Belarus and Ukraine under Campus Crusade's Josh McDowell Ministry.

"In my experience, the people from Russia and Eastern Europe are a very warm-hearted people," said Doris Toll, the catalyst for Faith Covenant's involvement. "And it seems like they have an ability to make friends quickly. Even after two weeks you've made lifetime friends."

For nine years this specialized ministry has sponsored trips to Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, ministering to orphanages, children's hospitals and boarding schools. Besides providing food and medicine to institutions, the groups share the gospel with people and provide teddy bears to the children.

The gospel story is told through the use of a "gospel bead bracelet", with each colored bead representing part of the gospel story. Each child is given a bracelet and every bear handed out has a gospel bead necklace and an explanation of what the necklace means.

"This trip allows me to share my love and Jesus' love with Russian children, a group that I have come to love and care deeply about," Toll said. "Spending time in children's hospitals is very meaningful to me . . . even if we're there for just two or three hours, we're giving them a lot of love they need. It's very easy to become attached to these kids."

In 1994, Marvin and Doris Toll went to St. Petersburg, Russia, a city of some six million people, with The Commission Project, a work coordinated by 80 Christian organizations. Toll said the Russian Ministry of Education invited a large number of volunteers over a five-year period to help teach morals and ethics in the classroom. The Tolls spent 15 months in Russia and grew to love the country.

When the Tolls returned to Faith Covenant, they got involved in the church's mission efforts. Eventually Doris (who had worked as a social worker until her first trip to Russia) learned that a ministry organization was sponsoring a trip to Russia and she spoke to her church about partnering with the group. Four others volunteered to accompany Doris in 1999, and momentum for the project has picked up steadily.

Financial contributions come from the Faith Covenant Church mission commission and individuals. During the past two years, the congregation has collected teddy bears, with children providing much of the impetus. The mission trips have proved to be a positive experience for both the church and those who have traveled to Eastern Europe.

"Having our people participate in these trips has opened their eyes to what God is doing around the world and has increased our whole church's interest in missions," said Faith Covenant senior pastor Ken Larson.

"Every year we have more people going and we have a dream of getting a busload from the church to go," Toll said. "Already people are asking if there will be a trip next year. And the idea of an adult ministry mission trip is becoming more of a ministry for us. People are stepping out of their comfort zone - it's been exciting to see adults get involved in short-term ministry."

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