Mission to Russia International — Organization Profile
Mission to Russia International, also known as MTR International, is a Christian mission organization based in St. Peters, Missouri. The organization exists to make disciples in Russian-speaking nations through church planting and Christian education. Its public ministry focus is multiplying churches among Russian-speaking people and taking the gospel message of forgiveness, love, and salvation to people living in the former Soviet Union.
The organization’s core focus is multiplying churches among Russian-speaking people through church planting, local leadership development, Christian education, and gospel-centered partnerships. MTR International began its church-planting mission with its first church plant in Kostroma, Russia. That congregation has matured and continues to serve its community while raising up men and women for Christian service.
Mission to Russia International serves Russian-speaking communities in the former Soviet Union, with current or associated church work identified in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Abkhazia. Its public church pages identify established churches in Kostroma, Gomel, and Mogilev, along with associate churches in Davydovsky and Gus-Hrustalniy. Current church-planting locations include Minsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Ivanovo, Lutsk, Nesvizh, Krivoy Rog, Sukhum, and a second Lutsk church plant.
The ministry operates through church planting, support for established congregations, missionary partnerships, leadership involvement, and Christian education. Its sister ministry, Light to the World Ministries, supports kingdom work among families in Russia through Light to the World Christian Academy in Kostroma. The academy was established in 1999 to meet the educational and spiritual needs of children in Kostroma, providing Russian primary and secondary education while regularly teaching students the Bible.
A distinctive part of Mission to Russia International’s work is connecting church planting with long-term Christian education and discipleship among Russian-speaking families. Through Light to the World Christian Academy, students receive eleven years of instruction in English and biblical teaching, and many families encounter the gospel through the school. MTR International’s church-planting work also emphasizes existing and emerging congregations that can serve their communities and continue raising up Christian workers.
People can engage with Mission to Russia International by praying, giving, supporting church planting, sponsoring Light to the World Christian Academy students, following ministry updates, or contacting the ministry directly. Supporters can give online, set up recurring donations, text to give, or mail gifts to the St. Peters address. Churches and individuals can also follow MTR International and Light to the World Ministries through their official social channels for updates from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Abkhazia, and the academy in Kostroma.
Key Links
- Website: https://mtrinternational.org/
- MTR International: https://mtrinternational.org/multiply
- Who We Are / Contact: https://mtrinternational.org/who-we-are
- What We Believe: https://mtrinternational.org/what-we-believe
- News: https://mtrinternational.org/news
- Give: https://mtrinternational.org/donate
- Light to the World Ministries: https://www.lttwministries.org/
- Light to the World Christian Academy: https://www.lttwministries.org/academy
- Light to the World Sponsorship: https://www.lttwministries.org/donate
Contact Information
- Email: in**@************ia.org
- Text-to-give phone: 844-979-2135
- Mailing address: MTR International, P.O. Box 755, St. Peters, MO 63376
Socials
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtr_international/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mission2russia
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MTRInt
- Light to the World Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LighttotheWorldMinistries/
- Light to the World Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lttwministries/
Leadership
- Ron Cook — Founder
- Ginny Cook — Founder
- Alexander Lukmanov — Field Director
- Debbie Lauer — Financial Secretary
- Lisa Slager — Administrative Assistant
- Mark Gregor — Board Member
- Alexei Gribov — Board Member
- Shelley Lee — Board Member
- Mike Pabarcus — Board Member
- Philip Perrey — Board Member
- Jason Slager — Board Member
