The city of Volgograd (formerly known as Stalingrad, where the Russians stopped the Nazis) is the center of this largely unreached region of Russia.

• There are several churches led by pastors desiring to see their members trained in evangelism and disciple-making. 
• We will also be working in districts of the Volgograd Region that have no churches, but small groups of Christians in these places are eager to see the church established there. These special believers living in remote areas need to be encouraged, prayed with, and trained. 

Please help me give glory to our Lord Jesus, and see His Kingdom spread in this spiritually hungry part of Russia!

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Friends,

You may have notice me sporting the “I AM SECOND” bracelet over the last year ever since I got back from Russia last summer. I've continued to wear it, mostly to remind myself of that perspective for life, as well as what Gumby’s trying to demonstrate in the picture from last year (below and on the right): ministry, especially evangelical work in Russia, requires that you be flexible. “Semper gumbus” you might say. (Note: “I Am Second” is the North American ministry and movement of the e3 Partners missionary organization and “Я второй!” is the same phrase in Russian.)

God has once again provided an opportunity for me to put that into practice in Russia on another short-term mission team this year, this time to Volgograd, Russia. I’ve spent the last month and a half preparing, organizing, and definitely praying, so now is the time for action! We leave the 29th of October!

Our team of 15 is organized by e3 Partners Ministry and led again by my dear friend who led my last trip too, so I know we’re going to have a great impact for Christ. Together, we will take the Good News of the Gospel to the people of Russia, and partner with a small group of believers in discipleship training. This is a very different trip than I went on last year.

Our team will partner with those local believers to target unreached areas with the Gospel, each day I will be teaming up with several Russian believers. God has blessed me with the ability to speak Russian and heart for the Russian people, and I’m looking forward to again giving that gift back to Him. The nationals we work with are committed to following-up with the people who make professions of faith throughout the week - and are further dedicated to establishing new churches in these areas.

I would like to ask you to prayerfully consider partnering with me on this expedition.  I know God is calling me to go, however this can only happen if others help SEND me.  As it says in Romans 10:13-15: 

• "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.
• But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in him?
• And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about him?
• And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?
• And how will anyone go and tell them without being SENT?
• That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring Good News!"

Would you consider SENDING me? 

1.   First, can you commit to pray for me?  I’d love to report back to you on what God is doing with and through us. We've got a prayer calendar for you to reference as we go through our time of final preparations, travel, work, and returning home. If I get it to you will you print it, post it, and pray it while we’re at work? God can do a great thing there! 

2.   Second, can you give financially to help cover my Expedition? The total cost for this Expedition is $3800, and praise God that He has already provided nearly 3/4 of that! (Unfortunately, most of it is not yet showing on this funding page, so don’t despair! I know God will provide!) Now I’m excited to see what God can do in His time before October 24th.  I was again added to this trip rather late in the game, and this has been a bit of a Gideon-like process for me (Judges 7:1-22). He’s been whittling down my expectations of what I think is necessary in terms of time, so now it’s time to break the clay pots and let out the light!

If you would like to be a part of my sending team, you can contribute directly right here, by clicking on the green 

• “Donate to this Fundraiser” 

...button on the right, or just below.  Timing is urgent, so please do not delay.  If you’d prefer not to contribute directly online, there is an option to pay by check after you click the button. Of course, all gifts are tax deductible and you will receive a receipt from e3 Partners/Pure Charity. If you have questions about any aspect of this Expedition I’d be happy to answer them personally.

Thank you for prayerfully considering my request. I look forward to seeing how the Lord will move as I take this step of faith! Your prayers and financial support will be a great blessing to me, but even more to the many who will hear and respond to the Gospel because you helped SEND me.

Blessings in Christ,
   Eric

elmcmull@nps.edu