FOREIGN MISSIONS:  RUSSIA

    In June, 1992, Charles Cochran, Slats Slaten, Tony Williams, George Tucker and Tom Matherley went to Ukhta, Russia to teach about God and the Church. It was a joyful and wonderful experience to open the word of God to people who did not know the blessings and beauty of serving God.
    Tom’s translator told him about a small town about 20 miles west of Ukhta. George and Tom went to ask the city manager for permission to bring a campaign to Sosnogorsk and was given permission. Mike Underwood was on the same campaign when he met George and Tom and expressed the desire to be in missions full time. He was hired by East Ridge that summer.
    In October 1992, Tom and Mike left for Sosnogorsk. A few days later Janine and their three small children along with Tucker Williams joined them. When Tom and Tucker left Sosnogorsk, the Underwoods were all alone in a very different world. The winter of 1992 was very difficult for the Underwoods. Their great faith and etermination saw them through.
    A group went in April of 1993 and several were converted and added to their small but growing group of Christians.
Thank you East Ridge for the help and confidence you placed in me during the sixteen years of my work.
    “Go into all the world and preach the gospel,” is our charge. It is not easy. It requires much faith, work, and money. Every trip, every prayer, every tear is truly worth the effort. Those who have already died in the Lord and those who have fellow Christians to lean on in difficult times have found joy they never knew existed.
    One of the works in the school for training Russian preachers in Syktyvkar. This school is so very important.  Russian
preachers need to be taught and trained to understand the work of the church so they do not lead the church astray. We are
so happy Charlie and Roy have been involved in the preacher school because it is very important to the future of the church
in Russia.  Please pray for and support all of our mission fields and workers.