When Peter Androsov and Lee Branum meet together with their friends for discipleship and book studies, they not only cross culture and language barriers. They cross an ocean and two continents.

Until recently, Peter Androsov lived in Russia, just north of the Ukrainian border in Belgorod, which is called the “white city” because of the vast amounts of chalk in the soil. After graduating Moscow Evangelical Christian Seminary, he was asked by Davide Cantarella, superintendent of the Russia North Distirct, to go to Belgorod to begin a new work for the Church of the Nazarene.

As with most new start ministries, resources were in short supply, and Peter was looking for spiritual support for himself and the new believers under his care. Lee Branum, an active layman at Westside Church of the Nazarene in Spokane, had an interest in becoming involved in a Russian ministry.  Through life events and the providence of God’s plan, Lee came in contact with Peter Androsov.

As Lee and Peter corresponded through e-mail and online chats, they shared ways they could partner in ministry.  Peter was excited about refining his English and bringing his congregation into fellowship with other believers through their exchanges.

Lee, who can also speak Russian, was interested in joining the Sunday meetings in Belgorod through the Internet.

Peter had a plan.  He wanted to view Lee’s Sunday School class by Skype – an Internet technology that allows people to make free international video calls through their computers.

“I wasn’t sure about the technology,” Lee told me while shaking his head and laughing,  “I had some basic computer knowledge, but wasn’t sure I could get this done.”

Through Peter’s direction, Lee bought a Web camera, installed Skype, and met with Peter face to face.

Lee brought Peter into his class every Sunday morning via his personal computer and Skype.  At 9:30 a.m. in Spokane, it is 8:30 p.m. in Belgorod.  With Lee in his local church in Spokane, and Peter in his apartment in Belgorod, the Americans and the Russians began sharing their hearts through prayer and discussion. 

The relationship gives Peter and his church members the opportunity to benefit from the fellowship with life-long Christians. At times, the broadcast goes from Spokane to as many as three different apartments in Belgorod.

“Certainly there was and there still is a language barrier,” Peter said. “The majority of our people participating in the video conference do not know English, and they find it difficult even to understand the theme discussed during the class. The good thing is that Lee was able to explain a lot of things in Russian.”

Lee is excited about his involvement in this ministry, especially to extend fellowship to a congregation that is many miles from its nearest Nazarene church in Russia.

“The greatest goal for me was to help Peter and his congregation recognize that the Church of the Nazarene is a global church, to fathom they have a global family committed to helping them,” Lee said.

Recently, Peter has been reassigned to Viazma to serve in another Nazarene church nearly 500 miles away. The Belgorod congregation continues to communicate with Lee and his class, Peter said. He also has maintained his relationship with his former church, and plans soon to bring his current and former churches together via Skype for fellowship.

“The best part of it all is that we can be united in our teaching of the Word of God,” Peter said. “Especially now that the church in Belgorod continues to develop without us, it is important for them to know that they are not alone, that there are people that remember them and pray for them.”

In a world of economic turmoil and political uncertainty, these two committed men have found a way to extend their influence across continents.  In precarious times the global church is compelled to be thoughtful, strategic and creative in its mentoring process.
 
“I think this relationship and the way it developed is wonderful, and I would encourage others to do the same,” Cantarella said. “When there is willingness to support one another, barriers are only a minor detail.
”