How much does it cost to go on a mission trip to Russia?
Our mission trips usually cost approximately $2,500-$3,000 for a
10-13 day trip. This cost includes everything except souvenirs.
Like Ragu, it's in there!
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Am I qualified to go?
If you are a Christian saved
by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and you have accepted Jesus
as your Lord and Savior you are qualified to go? You must also
have been saved for at least a year. And there is one other item.
Please pray about your decision to go to Russia with us, before
committing to the trip, to ensure that God wants you to go. If God
wants you to go we want you to go!
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When is your next trip?
Please read the information in the
Future Mission
Trips Section We always schedule a trip immediately
after Christmas. We are usually home by the time school starts in January.
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Is Four in the Fire Russia Ministries, Inc. associated with any
particular denomination?
Yes and no. I am not attempting to be coy, but we are and we are not.
The ministry itself is purely an undertaking by
Stephanie and Andy Nelms,
with guidance from the Holy Spirit. Four in the Fire Russia
Ministries, Inc. has no official tie to any denomination.
However, Stephanie and I are both Baptists. Kelly and David Hickey
our other two board members attend a Calvary Chapel church, but again there
is no direct tie or relatioship to Calvary Chapel.
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Are you (Stephanie and Andy Nelms) compensated financially in any way
by Four in the Fire Russia Ministries, Inc. or your local church for the
work you do in Russia?
Neither Andy nor Stephanie are compensatd by their church nor are they
compensated financially by Four in the Fire Russia Ministries, Inc. for
the work they do in Russia. At some point in the future if Andy or Stephanie
or both of them are able to do ministry work full-time then
Four in the Fire Russia Ministries would consider compensation.
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Does Four in the Fire Russia Ministries, Inc. make any profit from
the mission trips?
No! Any extra funds remaining at the end of a trip are given to
the pastor with whom we were working to support his ministry or are
used for the next trip.
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What monies are given to the ministries in Russia associated with
the churches with whom you work?
Stephanie and Andy have given a substantial portion of our income
to support Pastor Volodya and his ministry since 1998. In addition,
when we ask friends and family to give money to our ministry,
we include that money with ours as part of the support for Pastor
Volodya's ministry. And our church, Chestnut Mountain Church, has
given money to support the ministry from 2000-2006. Other churches
before that also gave money. We want no glory for this, the glory is
all God's. Besides, we would not have had the money in the first
place, had God not given it to us.
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Who oversee's the ministries in Russia to make sure the funds given
are used for the ministries properly?
Stephanie and I obtain reports from the pastors regarding how the
funds are used and we return to the churches we have worked with
to observe those churches to verify that progress is being made
and funds are not being wasted. Lastly, each pastor to whom we give
support is accountable to God directly for the use of those funds.
If he fails to use the funds properly, he will answer to God in a much
more powerful way than we could ever exact.
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What will I do on a typical mission trip?
You will serve as a leader or helper in a VBS (vacation Bible school).
This means you may tell a Bible story to a small group of children or
you may help keep the children quiet during the telling of the story.
You may act in a skit, or you may lead or help during the arts and crafts
time. You may sing a solo or as a group. You may lead or help during the
games and activities. In other words, you will be able to do anything
you want to do that you would normally find in a VBS. You may also work
in medical clinics when we hold them and possibly work in ESL classes
where there is no prior training required.
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May I visit with people in their homes, or in a hospital or orphanage?
Yes, we can do all of those things.
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What will I see while I am in Russia?
You will see lots and lots of people in desperate need for Jesus
Christ. You will visit Moscow and eat in the largest McDonalds
in the world. You will see Red Square and Lenin's Tomb.
On trips to Alexandrov, Russia you will see
Ivan
the Terrible's castle
and meet withPastor
Anatoli Mikhailovich, an old Russian pastor who was a
Christian pastor during communist times. He will tell you what it
was like to live as a Christian under communism.
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Will Four in the Fire Russia Ministries, Inc. advance me any funds
to help me meet the various deadlines?
In the past we have ocasionally done this, but as of January 2007
we will not. We will not because we have been taken advantage of
in the past. If you miss your funding deadlines we are very sorry,
but we cannot help you. Also please note that we cannot refund any
of your funds, because we are a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.
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What happens if I have paid funds to go on the mission trip and I
can not go?
We cannot give refunds because we are a 501(c)(3) tax exempt
organization. You are strongly encouraged to purchase Trip Health and
Cancellation insurance from a reputable insurer. We list two such
insurers on the Steps to Go to Russia page.