Friends,

In March of last year, I was contacted by a missionary named Robert (Bobby) McDonald (Click here for more of his story). For the last 13 years he has been making yearly trips to Russia for weeks (sometimes months) at a time working closely with the Far East Baptist Mission Board in Siberia which consists of 52 churches, a prison ministry, a Christian school, orphanages, and Bible summer camps. His main work now is supporting the translation and printing of Christian literature.

Bro. Bobby McDonald had discovered the Forgotten Podcast and became convinced that these stories could connect to the hearts of the people of Russia. I corrected and edited eight episodes of the Forgotten Podcast that were mainly salvation stories. Bobby sent them to a translator friend of his in Russia, Vasily Dmitrievsky, so that he could produce a Russian Manuscript of these episodes. Bobby immediately threw himself into fundraising to support Vasily in the time consuming effort of translation and to print a couple thousand copies for distribution in Russia. In a matter of months all the work was done and Bobby was off to Russia. The photos below were taken during Bobby’s 2018 visit to Russia.

Recently, Vasily sent me some stories of how God is using the Forgotten booklets in Russia:

“One Forgotten booklet found its way to a rehab center in Orel. Nine men read the stories. First, each man read the stories independently. It touched their hearts so much, that they decided to read them together, reflecting on God’s providence, provision and price He paid for their sins. Reading this booklet had a transformation effect on them and helped them to surrender to God’s will, and to completely stop using alcohol and drugs.”

“Another story is from Siberia. Pastor Alexander took several Forgotten booklets to a distant village where he had a small group of believers. These booklets were such an encouragement for local brothers and sisters, that they decided to tell these stories to other people in the village, As the result a new Bible study group was formed becasue people wanted to learn more about God from the Bible.”

Anton (23-year-old future pastor) wrote:
I’ve just finished to read the Forgotten! I was blessed to reading it! A few years ago, I read first biography in my life. Since that book I had special attitude to stories about Christians from past and I was happy to get books from you! After these stories I was convinced how it’s important to have “cloud of witnesses”, who can encourage us to live for the Glory of Christ now. I would like to share some thoughts which I keep in mind after these stories:
– Word of God can change lives and have an impact on society;
– God can connect completely unfamiliar people to reach the small tribe in the jungle;
– God’s grace can reach people how even walked far away from God;
– Three first stories from second book encouraged me pray about my friend, classmate…because one day God can save them but it can take years!
I’m so happy that these books are available in Russian now! I hope that you’ll print more stories!

Bro. Bobby and Pastor Boris with Forgotten Booklets

Bro. Bobby is making preparation for another trip this summer to Siberia and far east Russia. As I have spoken with him I have found his excitement over this year’s trip contagious. He will be making his usual stops in Siberia bringing desperately needed humanitarian aid to the Khabarouck Christian School (the last remaining Christian school in Russia) and the Children’s Cancer Center. He will be working with a Drug Rehab center to reach addicts with the gospel as well as Christian literature. He will also be assisting in finding a replacement for Pastor Boris in the Prison Fellowship ministry. Bro. Boris (pictured left) was a converted Soviet KGB officer who had been working for the last 15 years to share the gospel with thousands in the prison system in Siberia. His absence will be sorely missed. Bro. Bobby is going to try to find a faithful minister to continue this vital ministry.

But the most exciting part of his trip will be to the Island of Sakhalin and the Islands of Kuril. Sakhalin Island of the far eastern coast of Russia, just north of Japan in the Pacific Ocean. It is about a 1000 miles long and has a population of close to a half a million people. There are only 5 Christian churches on the island. Bro. Bobby will be working with Pastor Alex (pictured below with Bro. Bobby) who oversees these churches on the island to help with repairs, to preach and evangelize the island. Then it is off to the islands of Kuril. This is a chain of 56 islands off the coast of Sakhalin with a population of approximately 25,000 people made up indigenous tribes called the Nivkhs, Ainy, and Oroch, as well as white Russin people. From what is known, there is not one true gospel witness among these islands. The Russian Orthodox Church (a works based religion), Islam and  various shaman-type pagan worship are the only known religion on the islands. These islands are a closed to tourism and evangelism. Bro. Bobby has gained special permission to visit the island through his ties to humanitarian aid. He will be quietly looking for Christians already there and opportunities to share the gospel.

Just like last year, Bro. Bobby wants to print and hand out as many Forgotten booklets as he can. He feels that these stories have a way of making in-roads for the gospel as well as challenging the Christian believers that are there to be faithful to Jesus Christ no matter what. We have selected out 8 more Forgotten episodes to be translated and printed in two booklets. One of the booklets will feature God’s providence with the accounts of  Kiyoshi “Uncle John” Watanabe, Ira Sanky and the Confederate Soldier, John Craig and the Black Dog, and John Harper. The second will focus on Christian martyrs with the episodes of Watchman Nee, Marinus of Caesarea, The Godly Woman of Chipping Sodbury and Margret Wilson.

Needless to say this is an expensive missionary endeavor. Bobby is a business man and self-funds as much as he can, but he also seeks out churches and individuals who are willing to join him in his missionary efforts. Bro. Bobby does his missionary work through a 501(c)3 non-profit organization called The Word Ministries of Russia (EIN # 20-4138101). I have included a PDF of his latest ministry update letter. You can find out more on The Word Ministries of Russia website: www.thewordministriesofrussia.com

Bro. Bobby is very passionate about seeing this project through to completion. As far as publishing Forgotten is concerned, we are just getting started so very little has been raised for the translation and printing of booklets containing Forgotten episode transcripts. Our goal is to print another 3000 booklets, 2000 of the newest episodes (translation and printing) and 1000 of the first episodes that we made last year (printing only).

That is why I am reaching out to you, as well as several other individuals and churches, asking you to invest in this project to reach out to the far-flung unreached people of Russia.

Time is of the essence. Bro. Bobby is leaving for Russia in July, and he wants to have these booklets printed and shipped to his destination for immediate distribution. If you would like to invest in this gospel endeavor you can do two things:

1) Pray. Pray for souls to be saved, and saints to be strengthened in Russia.
2) Financially partner with us by sending your gift to:
Make checks payable to:
Word Ministries of Russia
89 Hanes Mill Road
St. Matthews, South Carolina 29135

Thanks in advance for your support of this project!

Ronnie Brown