Don't Allow this Church to Shut Down!
Located in the midst of twelve story apartment buildings, the Light of Christ Church has been a lighthouse to Russia for eleven years.
Facing the loss of their meeting place, they need at least $60,000 to purchase another. With an average Russian wage of $50 a week, this price is impossible for them. They need your help to purchase a new meeting place.
Below is a breif history of the Light of Christ Church and a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
Please use the "Make a Donation" button at the bottom to give a tax deductible donation (or you can send it by postal mail to MCII. MCII's address is in the FAQ below). 100% of all donations made through this webpage will go for the purchase of their meeting place.
MCII is non-profit and volunteer run.
History
In 1993 Rev. Ray Geide moved his family to St. Petersburg, Russia and started one of the first mission churches in Russia. Instead of taking people from the Russian churches, he went to a residential area that had no churches, won unchurched people, sinners, alcoholics, and drug dealers to Christ, got them established in church, and taught them the Bible.
In 1999 they purchased a metal building to meet in, but within a year and a half the police came and kicked them out sealing the door shut. A corrupt city official selling out to the mafia had made false accusations against them.
For nine months they met outside or in member’s apartments until they could find an apartment to rent. Because it was not on the first floor, it was not a legal church meeting place and so they could not publish their address. This didn’t keep them from witnessing and inviting people to church, but it did prevent them from using mass forms of evangelism.
In 2001 the Geides moved back to the US leaving Russians in charge. They have done a great job at leading the church.
In September of 2004 their landlord informed them that he was going to sell the apartment. With apartment rent being twice as much as they are paying and rarely available, they would like to purchase an apartment. There are plenty of first floor apartments for sell, but they start at $60,000. Please help this church continue their witness in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q. What's to keep the corrupt city official from shutting down the next meeting place that they purchase?
- A. This is why they want to buy an apartment. The corrupt city official does not have jurisdiction over apartments. Apartments also have far less restrictions and complications and yet are legal meeting places for churches. Because of this, many churches in St. Petersburg now meet in purchased apartments.
- Q. Isn’t $60,000 expensive for an apartment in Russia?
- A. For Russia it is very expensive, but for St. Petersburg it is cheap. In the past five years the price of an apartment has tripled.
- Q. Why not just rent?
- A. The price of apartments is so high, landlords prefer to sell than to rent, so apartments for rent have become impossible to find. The high price of apartments has also driven up the cost of rent, making it too expensive for them to rent.
- Q. Who is this church accountable to?
- A. This church is overseen by the mission organization, Mission Churches International Inc (MCII).
- Q. Where do we send donations?
- A. Use the "e;Make a Donationquot; button below or send a check or money order to MCII, P.O. Box 354, Ellsworth, KS 67439-0354.
If you have any questions, call Ray at (620) 824-6096.