Thanks to the internet, youth discipleship program can spread across Russia
By Josie Oldenburg —
A youth discipleship program brought to Russia by a SEND worker more than two decades ago is spreading across that vast land.
The youth department of the Russia Baptist Union has partnered with Tree of Eternal Life Association (TELA), which has been running HiBA clubs in Russia for 25 years, to make the ministry available to all of its churches as a means of discipling their youth.
“When I heard about the Baptist Union’s decision, I was happy and scared,” said SEND worker Rick, who helped to start HiBA in Russia. “There is joy in thinking about the outcome — Russia’s youth becoming disciples of Jesus. But, I also realize the seriousness of equipping leaders to be disciplers, and to provide a quality tool for helping them do this. It’s a very big responsibility because Russia is a very big country with many church youth leaders looking to us for help.”
When HiBA began in Russia in 1993, Tambov was established as its base, and within six years it had spread into two neighboring provinces. Back then, there was no internet, poor phone service and inconvenient travel, which limited how far HiBA could expand.
Today there are web sites, webinars, Skype, blogs, smart phones, online chat platforms, and a variety of other tools available for maintaining regular contact with churches and training their leaders from 3,000 miles away.
Rick has seen firsthand how God has used HiBA, which stands for High School Born-Againers, to change young people’s lives. For example: “I think of one girl who was a Sunday church kid but lacked a relationship with Jesus as her Lord. While attending a HiBA group, she became a follower of Jesus. Her leader challenged each group member to invite an unsaved friend to camp, and she brought her friend from school. Her friend became a Christian, and she became her discipler. Now they both love the Lord and are very active serving others through their church.”
Much work has been done to launch HiBA nationally: reviewing and revising materials for the weekly discipleship meetings; publishing “how to” instructions for running camps and youth conferences; and providing leadership training resources. A t
raining seminar in February introduced the program to youth leaders from all across Russia.
Rick describes HiBA as “basic small group discipleship,” including singing, fellowship, prayer, encouraging one another, praying for another part of the world or an unreached people group, and a biblical lesson on Christian living. HiBA emphasizes having a daily quiet time with God, memorizing scripture, and being a witness to others.
“This is a wonderful new day for TELA in its mission to evangelize and disciple Russia’s youth, and it’s a great investment in Russia’s future,” Rick said. “As young people become the Lord’s disciples, they will grow into influential adults in their workplaces and leaders in their churches. Some will become missionaries, taking the gospel to unreached people in Russia and in other part of the world. I feel very humble to think that God has given us this opportunity at a time like this.”
Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
Learn about the spiritual harmony in Vietnam & how missionaries engage with college students. Join us in sharing the gospel!
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!
