Photo via renner.org

Moscow Good News Church plans to expand outreach to the elderly

Recently the Moscow Good News Church held six Christmas concerts for the elderly in the city through its “Golden-Age” outreach (Zolotoi Vek) directed by Maxim Myasnikov, reports the Moscow Good News Church press centre. The concerts were held twice a day over a three-day period at the MGNC facility, where approximately 1,900 people gathered to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Christmas season, which culminates with the official celebration of Christmas in that part of the world on January 7.

The Golden-Age outreach began through MGNC six years ago when Rick Renner and a team of staff and volunteers hosted the first Golden Stars event. There, elderly pensioners -- many of whom had been government workers during the days of communist rule -- were blessed with vitamins and a bag full of basic necessities that most couldn’t afford. Then they were treated to a concert featuring professional performers familiar to these pensioners from their younger days. It was a rare treat, indeed, for this forgotten generation, and that first outreach was a remarkable success. Two subsequent Golden Stars outreaches have been held since that time -- and more than 23,000 elderly Russian souls were ministered to at these three major events.

Over the years, many of these seniors have become born again, and this highly successful outreach has blossomed into a regular Monday-night service format, in which Maxim ministers to 400-500 attendees each week. Concerts are still held -- twice each month -- and approximately 30-40 elderly people respond each time an altar call is given.

Maxim commented regarding the Christmas concerts that he approached the head of the Veterans’ Union in Moscow -- through which approximately 12,000 pensioners network with one another. Before he could make his request, the woman welcomed him warmly, as if she’d known him for some time. Soon afterward, she said to him concerning the Golden-Agers ministry, “We really like what you’re doing over there.”

The woman continued, “I really enjoy your lectures.” It just so happened that the head of the Veterans’ Union had been attending the Golden-Agers meetings herself! (Max explained to us at RENNER Ministries in Tulsa that since most of these pensioners had never been inside a church in their lives, calling his sermons “lectures” was perfectly normal.)

Also amazing was the fact that of the 1,900 seniors who attended the Christmas concerts this year, approximately 40 percent of them were first-time guests! This is good news because the Christmas concerts provide the opportunity to formally invite large numbers of seniors to the Monday-night meetings, where they can enjoy more concerts and hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“We -- Pastor Rick and I, along with the staff -- have definite plans to expand this invaluable outreach,” Max stated. Using concerts as the “door” through which these elderly Russians are ministered to and eventually begin to open their hearts, the ministry at MGNC hopes to see countless more of these seniors give their hearts to Jesus and receive eternal salvation.

RENNER Ministries values and appreciates the friends and partners God has called to help support this outreach to those who are in their golden years. It’s your prayers and financial gifts that enable us to teach, strengthen, and rescue souls from this people group as well as precious souls of every age, race, and walk of life in the former Soviet Union. From the bottom of our hearts, we say thank you!

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TAGS: Russia Moscow Good News Church “Golden-Age” outreach Rick Renner RENNER Ministries outreach to the elderly Christmas concerts

[01/20/2011]

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