summer_russia_82503

Posted: 8/22/03

Dallas Baptist University student Micah Blalock (with guitar) leads Russian orphans and American volunteers in worship during a summer camp session for orphans.At right, DBU student Andrew Briscoe poses with a new friend, Vova, a Russian orphan boy.

Texas students travel to Russia with love

DALLAS–Andrew Briscoe, a graduate student at Dallas Baptist University, has devoted much of his life to learning in the classroom. But after a month-long summer missionary internship working in the orphanages of St. Petersburg, Russia, he is quick to tell listeners that education also takes place on the hard surface of the mission field.

DBU students Leslie Whitlock and Danny Krumbholz provide recreational fun for an orphan

Briscoe and eight other DBU students joined students from six other colleges, including Baylor University, to work as summer missionaries, or interns, through Buckner Orphan Care International. The team provided a Christian witness–and love –to children living in Russian orphanages and orphanage hospitals through summer camp programming, Vacation Bible Schools, personal attention and support of shorter-term volunteers.

For Briscoe, the internship was a learning experience in missions involvement. “I wanted to be a part of this trip so I would have a greater understanding of missions. The entire month was an incredible learning period and the spiritual growth we experienced was amazing,” he said.

DBU senior Jared Ambra felt an equal impact from his summer internship experience.

Describing many of the people he saw as having “a look of hopelessness on their faces,” he explained that “the first week was not easy at all. The children are really friendly, but orphanage life takes a toll. It's truly a test of your ability to trust that the Lord can take hopeless situations and turn them around.”

The interns ministered in a situation that calls for a strong Christian witness, explained Mike Douris, vice president for Buckner Orphan Care International, noting that interns and other volunteers often must adjust to seeing children living without love or hope.

In St. Petersburg, Russia, Baylor University student Justin Henry of Longview cradles an infant in an orphanage hospital. This was Henry's second year to serve in summer missions through Buckner Orphan Care International.

DBU student Lana Jones receives help transporting a craft station.

“These students were providing the love of Christ to children who have perhaps never been told they are loved and have never been exposed to the message that Christ can save. In addition, they live in some of the poorest conditions imaginable,” he said. “I can't begin to voice how crucial a part these students had in spreading the gospel and its message to these little ones. The interns provide the children a long-term, consistent message that they are loved.”

Echoing Douris' thoughts, Ambra said that those they worked with “need to know the hope that Christ can bring to their lives. Russia is definitely a country in need of the gospel.”

DBU President Gary Cook emphasized that the interns are an example of how missions partnerships among Baptists can work. He noted that while DBU and Baylor students provided the volunteer efforts and Buckner provided the organization, programming structure and contacts in Russia, a third partner, Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, provided funding for the internships.

Briscoe hopes the service he and fellow students gave will affect the future of Russia on a national scale.

“Perhaps the hope of this nation will be found in its children,” he said. “The orphans we met were so eager to be loved and accepted, and we were able to share with them the love of Christ, a love that will never leave or abandon them.”