WASHINGTON ? The General Board of Discipleship has awarded Grace Russian UMC and the Russia Initiative a grant of $5,000 for its proposed 'Good News Ministry,' the board reported. The Revs. Victoria and Alex Karakcheyev lead the 200 people who attend worship and other ministries that meet at Foundry UMC in Washington. The grant is 'to bring more Russian-speaking immigrants into the community of faith in order to help them know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior,' Alex Karakcheyev said in the proposal. There are about 65,000 Russian-speaking immigrants living in the Washington metropolitan area. About 95 percent are unchurched because of no previous faith experience in their home country during the Communist years. Grace Russian UMC offers worship in Russian, Bible study classes and Sunday school for children. The church's Russian Church Children's Center recently opened a new campus in northern Virginia with 25-30 children attending. | 
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