Pray for Russia

From Swan Lake to the works of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, Russia has shaped both classical performing arts and world literature. As the largest country on Earth, the Russian Federation covers over 6.6 million square miles and includes eleven time zones. Its vast landscape features deserts and tundras, remote villages and cityscapes painted with colorful, domed palaces and cathedrals. Over 100 different languages are spoken across more than 190 ethnic groups, who preserve unique traditions. Tatars maintain their Turkic roots through their distinctive cuisine and Islamic beliefs, while Chechens live in clan-like communities and perform traditional dances like the Lezginka. Russia was the backbone of the USSR for more than 70 years, and is ruled today by one of the world’s most powerful leaders, Vladimir Putin.

With the memories of Communist rule still fresh and the scars of oppression still healing, Russians continue to search for a future amid the lingering shadows of the Soviet Union. Today, Russia is a source, destination, and transit route for human trafficking. Millions, especially those in rural communities, live in poverty and tens of thousands of children are orphans. Narcotic and opioid use contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS through shared needles. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has deeply impacted the nation. Thousands of Russians have left the nation in opposition, while those who stay await the return of family members at war. The government has increased its defense spending, and inflation levels have risen, contributing to hardships for low-income communities.

While a majority of Russians are Orthodox, 25 percent identify as atheist or non-religious. Though the nation has a long history with the Christian Church, believers suffered immense persecution under the former Communist regime that destroyed many churches. Today, church attendance has risen, but persecution is on the rise again. Non-Russian Orthodox churches, such as evangelical Protestant congregations, have been denied registration and are viewed with suspicion. The Yarovaya laws passed in 2016 restrict and regulate missionary activity. More Bible teachers are desperately needed to provide sound doctrine despite these barriers. Only God, manifested through the Body of Christ, can bring the hope and deliverance this nation seeks.