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Slavic people had been forced to
endure for almost 80 years. As a result, the countries of the former
Soviet Union have been left with the enormous task of rebuilding
the character and structure of their nations.
Rebuilding a nation is not easy. While the structure of government
was rapidly formed and implemented, the course of character development
within the nation is slowly determined. The people are 'hungry'
for the satisfaction of their souls left void by the numbing, anti-God
thinking of Marxist-Leninist philosophy. This has provided a window
of opportunity for introducing their souls to the only eternally
satisfying hope and encouragement found in the message of Jesus
Christ.
The
Work of EII
The ministry of Encouragement International
(EII) is focused on equipping Slavic men and women to take the message
of salvation through Jesus (in the form of the Gospel) throughout
their nation. This is possible because of the unique opening of
relations with the "west' left by the fall of the former Soviet
Union.
Hal Hays, President of EII, regularly
travels to Slavic countries to assist in the equipping of pastors
and church leaders. Amid the struggle to establish Bible teaching
churches, the Slavic people are confronted by many cults and false
religions that have invaded the former Soviet Union to take advantage
of the country's weakened spiritual condition. EII assists in the
equipping of Slavic pastors and church leaders by providing training
and instruction they will need as they face the challenges of false
religions, and other spiritual crises common to all mankind.
EI's
Threefold Approach
EII assists the Russian Church in
3 major tasks:
1. Equip
Training pastors and church leaders who are equipped for
ministry:
· Through specialized training
in cooperation with a number of Slavic Bible Colleges
· Through financial assistance to pastors and students.
· Through the encouragement of humanitarian aid, personal contact
and the provision of much needed necessities of life for the neediest
students and pastors.
2. Evangelize
Assisting churches to evangelize a spiritually hungry people.
· The Slavic people are hungry and eager to hear the Word of God.
EII works with pastors in their Gospel outreach with the people.
3. Empower
Provision of needed resources empower.
· There are a multitude of financial needs in Russia. Churches need
money for securing a place to meet and worship, pastors need money
for support as well as purchasing helpful Bible study materials,
seminary students need financial assistance for their educational
training. EII seeks to meet these legitimate needs and is personally
involved with those who are receiving this assistance.
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