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Zelenodolsk, Russia
Mennonite Brethren help air gospel in Russian gun city


Fifty years ago Zelenodolsk on the Volga River in Russia was a secretive city of engineering specialists designing new warships and weapons. Now, though still a weapons and ammunition centre, the city is open to the public and also opening to the message of Christ.

Dmitri Alekseev, 20, (r) grins at the gifts of mikes and mixer donated for his radio ministry by Family Life Network (FLN), presented by his mentor, FLN’s Moscow radio producer, Leonid Sergienko.

Dmitri Alekseev, 20, uses the latest technology in his unique kind of conquest. After coming to God in a Kingdom Ventures camp a few years ago, he set his sights on sharing the gospel via radio in his predominantly Muslim region. But airtime costs were sky high and so he turned his compassion to the local orphanage, volunteering endless hours. His contribution was so remarkable it won the notice of the mayor.

By this time, Dmitri had completed studies at the Christian Radio School in Moscow and dreamed of imitating one of his professors, Leonid Sergienko, Russian radio producer of Family Life Network (FLN), the Mennonite Brethren media ministry based in Winnipeg.

Delbert Enns, executive director of FLN tells the story: “The mayor of Zelenodolsk was so impressed with Dmitri’s volunteer work he offered him free airtime on the local radio station. Dmitri teamed up with other 20-year-olds just graduated from drama school and began producing highly creative Christian programs. At FLN, we decided we want to help these young people. They are so passionately driven by God’s Spirit.”

Russian orphans receive a ping-pong table, still in its box, from Leonid Sergienko (far right), donated through Family Life Network to the orphanage, where fledgling radio producer Dmitri (beside Leonid) volunteers his time.

In April, Enns, joined by Stan, Connie and Jordan Pauls of Morden, Man., met Sergienko in Moscow. Together they visited Dmitri bringing him the latest in radio equipment. They also donated a ping-pong table to the orphanage.

In June Dmitri wrote back, “I’ve set up all the equipment at last and am so happy to create programs on CD. We’re making a new program called ‘Why do we talk this way?’ There are many biblical expressions in our language, but hardly any one knows how they got there. Thank you very much for your help. I had prayed several times for this particular equipment and, it’s amazing, but God answered in every point through you.”

 – Family Life Network

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Last modified October 29, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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