Only God could have done it. When SGA’s Eric Mock visited Pastor Gennady Abramov’s church in Khabarovsk, he learned that officials of the Russian government had turned to this congregation to help young people reform their lives!

Pastor Gennady had been working with the ministry leaders and the youth of his church in preparing their Christmas outreach. Before it began, Gennady received from the local government, saying they wanted 100 “troubled” youth to attend the Christmas program at the church!

In fact, these officials had prepared their own information card about the Christmas program at Gennady’s church, and worked hard themselves to get the kids to come! This is an overt work of God.  In the face of government pressure on churches to suppress evangelism and outreach in Russia, the request by government to take on more kids at a Christmas outreach is astounding!

There was one problem: no gifts.

Gennady happily said yes to the government request. But he had no idea how he was going to buy more gifts. He prayed, and that night a call came from SGA’s Moscow Regional Ministry Center. SGA was sending Immanuel’s Child stars, Bibles and funds! And through Immanuel’s Child, SGA was able to serve a church that was reaching kids with the Gospel—young people sent to them by unbelieving leaders.