Russian volunteer Roma Goncharenko reaches his city for Christ.
As a young man in Ukraine, Roma Goncharenko learned how to tell others about Christ from a ministry team in a different city. The Campus Crusade for Christ staff team coached Roma over the phone in ministry philosophy, training him to reach students even though he never attended university himself.
In 2006, after marrying his wife, Alena, Roma moved with her to Alena’s hometown: Vladimir, Russia. “I was thinking about how I could serve God in this new setting,” remembers Roma. “I already felt God calling me to students in Ukraine; now I want to do the same in Russia.”
Instead of joining the staff of Campus Crusade, as originally planned, Roma (above, with Alena) felt that God gave him an opportunity to reach students through his local church. Roma became the assistant pastor on one condition: a portion of his time would be dedicated to ministry at the local university. The church agreed.
“I still have a desire to get training and be on [Campus Crusade] staff for the experience,” says Roma, “but I would want to bring that experience back to the church to help others benefit from the training.” Distance ministry teams want the same thing for Roma and others across Russia.
Chris Knutzen, an American staff member serving long term in Moscow, coaches Roma and the team. “It’s their team,” says Chris. “We are there just to help resource and mobilize them.”
Every Thursday, the team goes to the university dorm to meet students, inviting them to a biweekly café outreach. After one café event, Roma and Alena spoke with Yura, a third-year engineering student, about his need for a Savior. Roma met Yura through Twitter, a social media tool, and invited him to the café.
Though Yura was not ready to trust Christ that day, he continues to stay involved with the ministry. “He is open and warm to Christians,” Roma says, “He is thinking a lot about it.”
Although there are many more Russian students who need to hear, volunteers like Roma are making great strides to reach them.
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