tripscommitmenthomevisionpeoplegiving Homepage

Relational Bridges International

Jesus Christ intentionally built relationships with people who were totally unlike Him. He was and is the only bridge between Holy God and sinful mankind. It is written that the Word became flesh and made His home among us. People could hear Him, see Him, and examine His life at close range. He was touchable, accessible. (I John 1:1-2) The Lord Jesus said, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." (John 20:21) Jesus also said that He only did what He saw the Father doing and only said what He heard the Father saying (John 5:17,19; 12:49-50). He has sent His followers to live the same way in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Vision

mission

goals

future

We are called by God to follow Jesus, build friendships, bridge cultures, and change lives. Relational Bridges International (RBI) is the ministry means of doing what we see the Father doing in reaching Russian people, children, orphans and old-age pensioners with the living Gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe that to follow the Lord Jesus, our lives have to be lived just as on purpose as His was. We must intentionally build relationships with people who do not know Him so that our lives become "bridges" over which He can walk to redeem them and bring them home at last.
To train, mobilize and deploy teams of volunteers into summer youth camps in Russia to do friendship-evangelism.To train, mobilize and deploy teams of volunteers into orphanages in Russia in the winter to do friendship-evangelism.To bring in or purchase needed humanitarian aid for children in summer camps and orphanages.To conduct medical mission outreach (dental, pediatric, etc.) in the regions where we have established bases of ministry.
To purchase an available camp in the region northwest of St. Petersburg and utilize it as a resource center for the area camping associations, a place for orphans and transitioning orphans in the summer and winter, and a place for Church retreats and conferences.To develop Russian leadership for the regions where we have personal invitations to bring in teams of volunteers e.g., St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Black Sea region, Moscow, and Siberia and other countries in Russia.
trips
No Frame

summer

Summer

summer

click here for photo gallery

When teams of people from abroad come to work with the children of Russia, it is imperative for those with the responsibility of caring for the children to know clearly what is going to be offered by the Russian Ministry Program. Since August 1994, Mark has been bringing close to 3,000 volunteers to Russia (adults, young adults, teenagers) who come at their own expense to work, share and build friendships with the children. We will be able to send teams during the months of June, July and August to the summer camps. We train and mobilize short-term mission teams to spend two weeks in the former Communist Pioneer Youth Camps in the St. Petersburg region. Over the past decade, thousands of lives have been touched by the power of the Gospel and it is shared and lived out by our volunteer teams. God has opened many doors and opportunities through this camp ministry.Hundreds of orphans attend these camps each summer. We are committed to providing clothing and medical and school supplies they so desperately need. We dedicate our time to building relationships with the children and orphanage workers and sharing the love of our Savior with them all.

Winter

winter

click here for photo gallery

The teams of volunteers that come in the winter will work in the children's homes. There are over 20 orphanages and baby homes that have opened their doors to us in the St. Petersburg region. While we are there, we are able to share our loves with the children. Often times, we are also able to reconnect with those orphans we shared God's love with in the summer months.Our desire is that each team spends 3-4 days in different orphanages so that several homes have significant coverage. During these visits, we have the opportunity to spend time with the children in their everyday environment. We strive to build relationships with the children, provide much needed supplies and humanitarian aid, and present the gospel of our Lord.

Elderly

photo gallery coming soon

elderly

In October, teams of volunteers who have a heart for the elderly go with us to share the Gospel with Russia's forgotten older folks. Life is very bleak for them. Not only have their families abandoned them, but their pensions do not come close to covering their basic needs. As we listen to their stories and share our lives in return, we show them the love of Jesus. We also provide ongoing humanitarian assistance to these precious ones.Understanding the deep needs of the elderly pensioners in the St. Petersburg region will bring teams to share in converstaion and in fellowship. We wish to develop friendships and build bridges of friendship between Russian and American adults. This has the capability to strengthen the hearts of both nations. Our teams will bring in board games and other activities that can be enjoyed in the day-facilities group settings. We also strive to bring in other resources such as winter coats and boots. Our hope is that our teams will also be able to provide medical aid as well.

winter

elderly

Summer Pictures

summer camp and baby homes
A recent study acknowledged that over 650,000 children pass through the Russian orpanage system each year. The older a child is, the less likely they will ever be adopted. It is estimated only 5% of the children over the age of 5 will be adopted. Most children that leave the orphanage between the ages of 16 and 18 become homless, criminals, or commit suicide.

back

Winter Pictures

wintertrip13.jpg

7404160-R1-E006.jpg

wintertrip15.jpg

wintertrip6.jpg

wintertrip5.jpg

wintertrip3.jpg

wintertrip16.jpg

wintertrip18.jpg

7404170-R2-E017.jpg

wintertrip9.jpg

7404170-R2-E002.jpg

wintertrip.jpg

7404160-R1-E013.jpg

wintertrip14.jpg

7404160-R1-E016.jpg

wintertrip11.jpg

wintertrip12.jpg

wintertrip17.jpg

wintertrip10.jpg

wintertrip8.jpg

wintertrip7.jpg

wintertrip4.jpg

7404150-R1-E007.jpg

wintertrip1.jpg

7404160-R1-E009.jpg

wintertrip2.jpg

Winter 2006.jpg

7404160-R1-E004.jpg

winter trips to orphanages
A recent study acknowledged that over 650,000 children pass through the Russian orpanage system each year. The older a child is, the less likely they will ever be adopted. It is estimated only 5% of the children over the age of 5 will be adopted. Most children that leave the orphanage between the ages of 16 and 18 become homless, criminals, or commit suicide.

back

Commitment

Commitment to Russia

cultural exchange
Our work in Russia covers many different areas. While our primary objective as a foundation dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus Christ, we know we have much to learn from those we interact with as well. We also recongnize that physical needs should have priority as well. This is why we focus on understanding the culture and heritage of Russia before we leave. Our goals include medical and dental aid for the orphanages as well as
looking at what thechildren need for school supplies, play things and games, and clothing. Our commitment is to serve the whole individual; physical, emotional, and spiritual. Relational ministry is based on forming honest relationships and sharing your life with those you minister to. We have a love for the children and adults we have already met and those we will meet along the journey.

christian heritage

medical and dental

humanitarian

Cultural Exchange At RBI, we provide cross-cultural training for the teams of volunteers who work with the children at the orphanages and with the elderly. We seek to offer cultural exchanges with the Camp and Home Directors through the sharing of language, music, games, crafts, conversations, stories, and family history. In turn, our teams will experience the same by learning about the culture and heritage of the Russian men, women, and children through their music, language, stories, and forms of art.

Cultural Exchange
This aspect of our ministry is very important to us. The lives of everyone involved should be enriched by these experiences and help to develop a broader world-view. We hope to impact those we serve, but we also hope that our lives and outlooks are changed by each trip.

back

Russian Culture.jpg

Christian Heritage

Christian Heritage
We believe that childhood is the ideal time for building strong moral and ethical character in a person. Team members are willing to take the time to truly listen to the questons of fhe children and talk about their spiritual and ethical concerns that will help them make wise decisions both in childhood and as an adult. We affirm that Jesus is able to transform the life of anyone who trusts in Him.
We will never force any religious decision on any person. Our teams do not represent any sect. All team members are true Christians that believe the biblical, historical, orthodox Gospel and faith that the church has always taught. Our teams will focus on building real friendships and sharing how faith in God makes a difference in their personal lives.
Knowing that Russia has a rich and deeply spiritual Christian heritage, we are commited or offering ourselves to help build bridges of friendship that will reinforce this. The heritage that God gave to Russia over a thousand years ago is very important to us. We have the deepest respect for the Russian Orthodox Church and the spiritual heritage of the nation.

back

Russian Icons.jpg

Medical and Dental

Medical and Dental
We are committed to trying to bring medical personnel both in the summer and in the winter. Their purpose is to work as colleagues with the doctors in the summer camps and at the orphanages. Our medical volunteers are dedicated to working with the orphans, disabled children, and others in need. We will cooperate with the government in St. Petersburg to bring in these volunteer medical specialists to share new techniques and the use of new medicines with their Russian colleagues.
Mark has been mobilizing teams of certified licensed dentists from the United States to come to the Zelenogorsk area of Russia since the summer of 1998. Our teams are available for "Dental Education Days" as well as for any requested general examinations and cleanings for the children. All our dentists give their time and skills free of charge, simply giving out of love for the children.

back

Dentists Group 2.jpg

Humanitarian Aid

Humanitarian Aid and School Supplies
We also do our best to provide school supplies during the school year to the orphanages. We always have the goal of taking over clothing items and other needed goods for the orphanages we visit. Various types of sporting equipment is also appreciated by the orphanages and camps. Soccer balls, basketballs, and volleyballs for instance can be taken over and inflated there. Other play items such as jump ropes and sidewalk chalk are well liked by the children as well.
Our teams are also committed to bringing in extra supplies. Medical supplies that are needed include Tylenol, antibacterial and antifungal creams, cough medicine, vitamins, antibiotics, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. Because of the range of ages of the children, both adult and child strengths are needed. These items are given to the Camp Directors and Orphanage Directors to distribute to the children.

back

Crafts.png

People

Mark

Reverend S. Mark Browne
under construction...

Lindsey

Lindsey Self
I began my journey with RBI back in 2004. A high school friend of mine was excited about going on a summer trip with Mark, and she wanted me to come as a leader. I denied her request for months thinking, There is no way I am going to Russia! Unbeknownst to me, she continued planning the trip for me. Finally in March of that year, I had a change of heart and told her I was going to go with her. She laughed at me and said, Oh I know! I had no idea at that point where this journey to St. Petersburg would really take me.That summer was life changing for me. I know many people say that about mission trips, but it is unarguably true. There is no way to truly describe the ways in which a trip like this impacts your life. The kids are so hungry for love that it is easy to devote yourself to them. Mark gave us good advice that trip about spending time with the kids and resting ourselves. He said that the love and grace of our Father pours out of us with out us even realizing. All we have to give comes from what we allow God to give us. The kids hang on us and play with us and look to us for connections they are missing in their lives. Most dont realize what connection they are truly missing, and God uses us to give them a taste of his unending love. For us though, this is exhausting. It was crucial for us to come back together as a team and recharge in a sense with quiet times, devotions, worship, and prayer time.I was, as they say, hooked from this point on. The following winter I went over to St. Petersburg again and had the opportunity to visit the orphanages we had spent two weeks connecting with in the summer. The need is staggering. My heart broke even more for these innocent lives that are so controlled by their circumstances. To have the opportunity to serve them is humbling. What was more astounding was how so many wanted to serve us. We were met with programs and performances of dance and song from those orphanages that had the means. Others just met us with undeniable smiles and warmth.In the summer of 2006, I was able to assist Mark in leading a team of college students who wanted to spend more time in the camp. I spent five weeks in Camp Druznik that summer. I saw the lives of young Russians change in all my trips there. I was called on to lead a bible study during afternoon quiet times for some of the girls. Their thirst for knowledge and for the love of the Father was amazing. They had never realized what they were missing before that. They were full of questions and curiosity with out shame or embarrassment of what they didnt understand. I look back now and wonder why its not as easy for me to have that same honesty when I need guidance.My purpose in all these stories is to show what I have learned over the last seven years. My faith is still a journey that is constantly changing. This spring, God and I had a very enlightening conversation. In a moment of desperate calling out to Him for answers, he very surely answered me. My goal in that conversation was guidance in how to fully seek Him. After months or maybe even years really of waiting for answers, I cried out in frustration. Lord where the heck else am I supposed to be seeking you? What more do you want me to do? I have never received an answer as clearly as I did in my car that morning at 6:30 AM. Ideas that had never entered my mind before began flooding in. The overflow was staggering to say the least. Here I was a Special Education teacher who was pretty much set with her job. It was challenging, but in the end I loved my kiddos. I had never even considered mission work in the realm of possibilities for me. But as we have been told so often, Gods dreams for our lives are so much more than we can imagine ourselves. This was how I knew this came from my Father speaking inspiration into my life rather than my own grasping for straws. I sought our wise council from multiple strong sound Christian friends with the same answer each time. Say yes!.Mark has a dream for Relational Bridges International that I believe the Lord has sparked in me. There are so many children in Russia that are in need. They have definite physical needs yes, but there is a great spiritual need as well. Together, I believe that Mark and I can expand RBI into a ministry that reaches even more. At times over the last few months, the ideas for our future that God has given me have been overwhelming. I have also obeyed in quitting my position teaching. This was a difficult decision for me, because I had so grown to love my students. But even through this heart-wrenching goodbye, I was confident in my Lord. As I begin to work with RBI, I am in need of support. I covet your faithful prayers of intercession for our foundation and for our hearts. I pray we stay faithful the vision the Lord has for our work.

Staff

Board and Support Staff
FOUNDER: Rev. S. Mark Browne--Richmond, VASTAFFLindsey Self--Atlanta, GABOARD OF ADVICE:Bill Jolly--New Canaan, CT Carol Wolff--Easton, CTSharon Bottomley--New Canaan, CTWarren Joblin--Weston, CTRUSSIAN Support STAFF:Julia Zavarzin--St. Petersburg, Russia

Mark

Lindsey

Staff

Giving

Giving

Check

Mail a Check
All checks should be made out to:Christ Church Anglican (memoed RBI)Relational Bridges InternationalP.O. Box 613Midlothian, VA 23113

Online

Online Giving
You may also make electronic donations to the foundation. We use PayPal to process all online gifts. Email Lindsey to be notified when online giving is up and running.

Products

Products
Products for purchase will be available at a later date. Please check back for items to be purchased in support of RBI.

If you would like to support Relational Bridges International, there are three options for you to scroll through to the right. At this time we are able to accept checks and donations made through our PayPal account linked from this site. Please check back with us in the future for items to purchase in support of our foundation. We appreciate all gifts, and all donations will be given a tax receipt.