Mission Russia International is a church planting ministry actively operating in Russia and the former Soviet Union since 1995.  The ministry operates out of Moscow and is mainly supported by South African churches and individuals from various countries.  Mission Russia's overseer is Hugo van Niekerk, who lives in Moscow with his wife Rika and their three children.  Today the Mission Russia Team consists of more than 20 South African missionaries, operating in different regions of Russia.

Today less than 1% of the Russian population are evangelical Christians.  Statistics confirm the spiritual condition of the nation:  2 out of every 3 marriages end in divorce.  Two million orphans in Russia and more than 300,000 street children in Moscow testify of a nation in desperate need of the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

After 1,000 years of institutional religion and 70 years of Communism, Russia is at the crossroads in its history.  Now is the time to see the church in Russia established, shining forth the light of the gospel to this great nation's 142 million people living in more than 30,000 cities, towns and villages.

The need in Moscow, the capital of Russia, is overwhelming.  Today more than 14 million people, including up to 3 million Muslims from Central Asia, are living in one of the most extreme, fast-paced cities in the world.  With only 3 churches bigger than 1,000 members and possibly 30 churches bigger than 100 members there is a most urgent need for planting a city-transforming church that will bring in multitudes of people.

The ultimate answer to any problem in the world is the church of Jesus Christ.  Strong, healthy churches in Moscow and across Russia and the former Soviet Union will bring transformation of communities and release heaven's resources to save and heal a hurt and wounded nation. That is why our focus for 10 years has been church planting and caring for existing churches.

We have seen the blessing of God on church planting in Russia and former Soviet Union nations, always working with local churches in those regions.  In 2005 though,  we entered into a new phase of church planting, with the birth of the Moscow church and Church Planting Centre, called the Union of Christians Church.

The Moscow church and Church Planting Centre (Union of Christians Church) will serve as a launching pad for the birthing of a new church planting movement across Russia, former Soviet Union nations and any nation in the world where Russians are found.  We are calling Christians in South Africa and all over the world to stand with us in seeing a movement released that will eventually multiply into thousands of churches across the face of Russia and abroad.

May God bless you tremendously as you stand with us in faith to see the kingdom of God come in Russia and the former Soviet Union, and to see His will be done there as it is in heaven (Mat. 6:10).

Please see our FAQ section for more information.