??????! (Hello there!)

Welcome to the Sharps4RussianRecovery website!  This website allows you to get to know us, our mission & ministry better, & keeps you updated on what's going on in our Russian adventure! 

Below you can discover more about our mission, the enormous recovery needs in Russia, & read Alexei's story of unfolding hope under the 'Getting Personal' section.     

Our site allows you to find out more 'About Us' & our pioneering 'recovery missionary' work in Russia.  Find out about our 'work in the trenches' with Russia's population devastated by drugs, alcohol & addiction.  Read our Travel Journals, view our trip Photos & in each web pages' 'Getting Personal' section meet the Russian friends we are serving - whom have quickly captured our hearts!  

There is also a page that lists our 'Prayer Requests' & Russian recovery needs, as well as an on-line 'HELP * GIVE * HOPE' Donations page that allows for secure giving on-line.  Enjoy discovering the numerous other features of our website.

We will continue to update our site on a regular basis. So bookmark us & check back frequently to learn of our progress, read about those you are helping, see how God has answered prayers & most of all, watch the Lord at work as we reach out to our Russian brothers & sisters & HELP * GIVE * HOPE!    You can also check out Alida's blog which is updated nearly every day for her descriptions & perspectives of our lives!  www.blackpurlsknitpickings.blogspot.com  If you click over to her blog, be sure to return to this website, www.Sharps4RussianRecovery.com !

Together, we can make a difference - one person at a time.

 

 

     

             

?? ??????????? ??? ???????, (God bless you,)
Pastor Tom, Alida, Nathan & Spencer Sharp - 'recovery missionaries'

 

Our Mission:   

Our purpose is to work with the Russian people to help find Christ-centered solutions to the epidemic substance abuse problems.  We desire to train pastors & church leaders to extend Christ's grace, truth & love to those impacted by drugs & alcohol, & find peace & hope for the very first time.  After 3 trips to Russia, we've observed that many of the Russian people are very spiritually hungry & desire to live without the chaos of chemicals.  Since the fall of communism, the door to  HELP * GIVE * HOPE  to our Russian brothers & sisters is open; yet it may not stay open indefinately.

Why Russia?

Primarily because of the overwhelming need.  There are so many resources in the States.  In Russia the need is HUGE & the help is nearly non-existent.  For instance...

        

* The average age that children begin to use drugs & alcohol in Russia is 11 years old.* Russia has an estimated 4,000,000 heroin addicts.

 

     

A heroin needle on the sidewalk outside our apartment.

 

* Russia's official alcoholism rate is 40% for men; 18% for women. The unofficial rate is about 75%!  

      

* Russians consume more alcohol per person than any other people group on earth!

* 85% of Russian men given post-mortem autopsies showed lethal alcohol levels!

   

* The city of Krasnodar (pop. 1 million+) had 30,000 vehicular deaths in 2003; 85% of these were alcohol related fatalities!

* Drugs & alcohol, combined with abortion as the primary form of birth control, have left more than 20% of Russian couples infertile. 

 

 * Problems such as physical, emotional & sexual abuse often accompanies substance abuse, as does domestic violence; child neglect; employment problems; depression & various mental health & medical concerns. 

* The life expectancy for a Russian man is only 55; for a Russian woman it's 62!

* And a major factor is that after years of having Christianity 'outlawed' by communism, the Russian people are dying of thirst for the truth about Jesus Christ, the Living Water!  Russians are more spiritually thirsty & ready to hear about connecting personally with God today than they've ever been before.     

NOW is the time to HELP * GIVE * HOPE!

We really do appreciate your interest & support...we need you as our partner.  Your prayers & financial help offer HOPE to those who hurt the most.  YOU can become a supporter & ?????? * ???? * ???????  to the hopeless.  To find out how easy it is for you to help, click on the HELP * GIVE * HOPE Donations page!  Thank you. 

Or send your check to East-West Ministries International, PO Box 701560, Dallas, TX 75370-1560.  Account #9231.  East-West's phone is 214) 265-8300. 

 

"Getting Personal..."

 Meet our friend, Alexei.  Pastor Tom met him in Krasnodar at the Biblical Leadership Training Center during his first Russian trip in June '03.  Alexei had completed 3 of 4 years of training, & had a strong desire to work with fellow alcoholics & addicts.  Alexei had begun to stop the "20 years of nightmares" that had haunted most of his life.  God had intervened, helped Alexei get clean & sober, & now Alexei wanted to give back to his countrymen some of the peace & serenity that God had miraculously given him!

 Alexei & BLTC co-Director Tim Watson sat down with Tom, co-teacher Alan M of Boston, Mass., & Artyom our interpretor.  They wanted to 'pick the brains' of Tom & Alan, & find out all they could about Christian recovery, the 12 Steps, rehabilitation for addicts & alcoholics, plus the Christian recovery work that Alan & Pastor Tom were doing on separate coasts of the US.  Alexei shared with Tim, Tom & Alan parts of his personal recovery journey that he had never shared with anyone before!  The men seized the opportunity to not only share the ups & downs of their own journeys, but also to pray for Alexei, for the BLTC & each other!  Indeed it was a time of close ministry & healing.  This had a profound impact on Alexei as he & Tom had many similarities to their journeys.

  Tom promised to return to Russia to see Alexei again; however this is easily promised by Americans & rarely takes place.  Many people gave to help Pastor Tom return to Russia in Oct '03 to train counselors how to work with addicts, alcoholics & their families.  Alexei was one of the students in this training & was in disbelief that Tom had returned.  More bonding took place between the two men.  Alexei sat in the front row, took copious notes, & also tape recorded the lectures & teachings - soaking up every word & syllable.

  Alexei had his picture taken & presented it to Tom with these words written in English on the back: "Dear Brother Tom, who made my life rich and whole.  With love, Alexei"  This is just one reason why the Sharp's moved to Russia!

That was then...this is now.


    Today Alexei is a graduate of the BLTC, a 4 year seminary that trains Russian nationals how to plant churches in their own communities.  Alexei has helped direct the Rehab Center in Axtirka, (Ar-tear-ka) a nearby village. 

    

He's also been working with various churches to help them understand the importance of developing recovery ministries in their churches!  Additionally, Alexei has been traveling throughout Russia & teaching many of the Christian recovery principles he learned from Tom's teachings.  Alexei is training others to do what he's done; who in turn can teach others!  The process of 'multiplication of ministry' is already in effect because people like YOU cared & were willing to HELP * GIVE * HOPE!  

Now click on 'About Us'.

 

"And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?  My only hope is in you."  Psalm 39:7 (NLT)