SOAR International Ministries, an Alaska-based organisation dedicated to missions and outreach in Russia, has partnered with local Russian churches during the Sochi Winter Olympic Games, to spread the gospel to tourists and communities converging on the event.
The ministry sent 40 volunteers to Russia to establish a number of ‘fun zone’ hospitality centres in local church buildings. They will also go out into parks and other public venues to invite others to partake in their activities.
‘The team will assist the local church in introducing the community to Christ and who they are in him,’ said Greg Mangione of SOAR. ‘They’ll do that through gospel magic shows, somebody making balloon animals and face paintings, and… a variety of activities and entertainment. The primary goal is to reach out to the people. We pray it’ll be a beginning of a long-term relationship with the local churches.’
