Eric Mock checking in again from Far East Russia. We were blessed to be able to assist Pastor Benjamin Livtsenyuk and his church in Christmas outreach to children in his area. This church is located in a more impoverished area of Khabarovsk, and ministry there is difficult to say the least. But God has raised up a ministry team from ‘the least of these.”

The entire program was led and conducted by the youth in his church. I remember that there were very few youth in his church a few years ago, but God has blessed this church under his shepherding. The youth sang, performed a skit about the Christmas story, and taught about 30 children and their parents who had come. And then, a young man of 10 years of age stepped to the pulpit to preach! I had tears in my eyes as this young boy preached and challenged the kids there—and the parents. This is exactly what our Youth IN Ministry program is all about—youth being the future and the present of ministry in the church.

It was a joy to see the impact these kids had. And as part of Immanuel’s Child, the children who had come received the gift of prayer from the many who signed stars, the gift of God’s Word, a gift of warm items and candy and more importantly, they were offered the gift of grace in Christ Jesus. God be praised!