Overview of Ivanovo

History

The history ot Russia is often a story of a people who have a will to survive but not necessarily to thrive. Suffering is a considerable aspect of their history and life, and is a significant aspect of Russian Christianity. Russians have only known war, revolution, totalitarianism, and suffering.

The first soviet (council) was gathered and established in the city of Ivanovo. As a result, the nation changed from a Monarchy to a Soviet (communistic) government. Ivanovo was chosen because of its openness to revolution. It is a city of the working class that deeply desired change. Little has changed for Ivanovo in the past century in regards to this. We believe that God desires to do something revolutionary among the people of Ivanovo.

Population

The Ivanovo Oblast is a smaller oblast of 1.5 million people and surrounded by five larger oblasts. The Administrative city of Ivanovo has a population of about 500,000 people with a large population of students. With six universities and another seven institutes and several colleges in Ivanovo, the city ranks number one in students per capita (in cities of over 100,000 people).

Geography

Ivanovo is an Oblast (region) approximately ¼ the size of the state of Georgia and is located in central European Russia 290 kilometers northeast of Moscow. Ivanovo was the result of two cities that were joined together. The cities retained their names-Ivanovo and Voznesensk (the ascension). In the early 20th century, under communism, the name was reduced to Ivavovo.

Economy

The textile industry has been and still is the primary industry of the city with a very small percentage of agriculture. Ivanovo produces 400 million meters of clothes per year. Ivanovo is also home to two crane factories, one of which is the largest crane factory in Russia. The textile industry is a low income industry and therefore the Oblast is 68th out of 100 Oblasts for wages per month per worker. Therefore, lifestyles are simple. Most own their apartment due to the fall of communism, but less than half own a vehicle.

Therefore, we must be careful not to attempt anything that requires a great deal of money and technology. This can not easily be reproduced. Events where multiple teams and partnerships are involved is the best way to use capital in stragegic needs and applications (i.e. projects and events that are catylistic in nature and do not need to be reproduced). Furthermore, with very limited financial means, Churches must seek leadership that is not dependant upon funding. Pastors and even missionaries need to be bivocational. While it may be tempting to help with political or financial issues, our greatest responsibility and focus must be to bring the message of a kingdom that cannot fail and of a King that calls us into a revolutionary relationship with Himself.

Homes are generally small. Livingrooms double as the second bedroom in many apartments. Groups need to remain small - no more than 8 to 12 adults. Within the University, students have places to gather, but living spaces are even smaller. In using a cell church model, important questions of large group need to be resolved.

Spirituality

The rule of Communism significantly changed the belief structure of the people. It systematically replaced religious holidays with governmental holidays. It did an effective job of turning people away from God and toward naturalism/materialism. The vast majority still live by a materialistc/naturlist world-view. People kept there heads down and if they were evangelical Christians, learned practical lessons regarding keeping quiet. However, with the fall of communism, a door was opened and a hunger for spiritual knowledge was expressed.

In the Ivanovo Oblast there are 18 different religions (or sects). The primary religion is Russian Orthodoxy but this is poorly represented by the people. On Easter of 2003 only 2500 people attended an Orthodox church in the Ivanovo Oblast - less than ½ of 1% of the population.

Christians represent an extremely small fraction of the population- less than .08%. Approximately 860 are professed Christians, of this, 190 are Baptists, and perhaps 750 are true believers. In the Ivanovo Oblast, there are 2 Baptist churches with buildings and another 7 small group (churches), a Methodist church and about 5 Charismatic churches. There is also a Seventh day Adventist church. There are 280 houses of worship with 208 of them Russian Orthodox. This number represents all forms of religion and faiths from Baptist to Islamic. There is one evangelical church to every 50,000 persons, and 1 person in 2,000 is a follower of Christ.

The work is great and the task of reaching this Oblast is a God sized job. It will take a vision and a plan that is equal to His calling to go and make disciples of Ivanovo.