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Moscow, Russia
MB broadcaster prompts use of Christian radio in Siberia


After Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a monastery and recalled that his country was traditionally known as “Saint Russia”, he was quoted by the Russian press as saying, “The country is bestowed with a special role as guardian of Christianity.” Strange words from a former KGB officer.

Not so strange is the role that Leonid Sergienko of Moscow is carving out in the name of faith. Sergienko is producer of the Russian radio program for Family Life Network, the MB media ministry based in Winnipeg.

At the TV/Radio Conference in Khabarovsk, along with many others, these two pastors, Vasily and Evgeniy from Bolshoi Kamen in Far East Siberia, caught a vision to broadcast Christian programs in their own communities.

Sergienko, who also is chairman of Russia’s Association of Christian TV/Radio Producers, organizes radio and television conferences in various parts of Russia. In October, he led a first-ever conference in Siberia.

“Most churches in Siberia are very conservative,” says Sergienko. “Many church people don’t have a TV in their homes. Our TV/Radio Conference was a first in the city of Novosibirsk.”

Fifty leaders from various Siberian cities attended the conference that taught them how they could improve their TV and radio ministries. When they learned about the ministry of FLN, they asked for the agency’s programs for their own use.

Sergienko and other broadcasters also visited Khabarovsk, 6000 km and seven time zones east of Moscow, located on the narrow strip of land between China and Japan. So remote is the city that mail takes months to arrive from Moscow, complicating delivery of radio programs.

Pastors from neighbouring Mongolia and a delegation from China also attended the conference.

“I feel so blessed to be part of FLN’s ministry in extending God’s kingdom,” says Sergienko. “Pastors on the borders of these hard-to-reach countries are catching the vision of broadcasting across borders in their local languages.”

 – Dorothy Siebert, for Family Life Network

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Last modified November 30, 2001.

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