Children from Soviet Countries
SOWING SEEDS OF FAITH IN THE YOUNG
For the last 25 years, the governments of many former Soviet countries have been attempting to deal with the changing social and economic landscape of the family. Many children living in countries such as Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus must deal with broken families, substance abuse and neglectful situations. In Kiev. Ukraine, more than 50,000 children live on the streets. Poor economic conditions and the erosion of the family leave little hope for many of these children.
For those same 25 years, Trans World Radio has been broadcasting a message of love and hope to the spiritually impoverished people of and a the former USSR. At a time when missionaries were forbidden to carry the Word of God across the boundaries of the Iron Curtain, TWR was using the airwaves to bypass the restrictions of Communist governments. And thanks to one woman’s dedication, the children of past and present generations can hear about God’s love.
Susanna Tielmann began producing a children’s programme for TWR’s Russian Ministries department in 1981. For the first three years of the broadcasts, Susanna received absolutely no response from listeners. “It was like getting into the studio, sitting in this little room, and talking to four walls that were listening to you, just imagining that there were these kids who were listening,” she remembers.
Finally, letters and children’s drawings started to arrive. Last year, the Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian Ministries (RUBM) department received more than 2,000 letters from children. TWR was able to roughly calculate how many listeners were connected, and also received some beautiful artwork for their offices! One family even sent in their young son s very first drawing!
TWR’S partner ministries in these countries have now taken over the production of programmes for children. They know the importance of reaching children at a young age. As Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it”.
Praise the Lord that He is moving so effectively through this ministry to bring change into people’s lives, whether we receive letters from these listeners or not. Please pray for the programme producers, and for the young listeners who as so eager to learn more about a relationship with Jesus.
Taken from Listening World TWR
Barnabas Ministries UK 