Russian "colony" at Rockwood Baptist Church.

Rockwood church is comparably small - there are only 345 active members including 45 Russian immigrants.

"Russian-speaking people have been attending our church for a little over 8 years," said Jerry Hickson, a founder and great supporter of the Russian group. "Some of this group moved to other areas and other people have come to the US and have started to attend. About one-third of our group has been with us for 6 or 7 years." said Jerry.

The Russian group meets separately for Bible studies and worship.

Last Easter about 40 Russians attended Holiday services. The leaders of the Rockwood Church know that not all Russians believe in God. Many of them have roots in the Russian Orthodox Church. Many of them are not Russians: some of them are Armenians, Ukrainians, and others. The church's main purpose is to bring all of them to God.

Jerry Hickson did a lot for Russian immigrants in the past 8 years. It can be enough even if he would "retire" from this charitable project. He earned great gratitude not only from people whom he helped, but from the entire Russian speaking community.

Jerry started helping Russian immigrants 8 years ago when a Russian-speaking family moved into an apartment across the hall from his daughter's at Independence Avenue and Maple. They had lived in USA for 3 months and were still sleeping on the floor and had no furniture.

Jerry talked to people at Don Bosco and found that the mentioned "Russian" family (actually they were Armenian refugees) did not have help because Don Bosco did not have enough funds to help them. So, Jerry and his family started helping them with furniture and started helping them to learn English, using Russian-English dictionary and hand signs. After about 6 mouths Jerry helped them to learn to drive a car. At this time another family moved in, and Jerry and his family started to help them, too. But many families arrived, and Jerry started to help them through his church, Rockwood Baptist. "We don't make any requirement that people that come to our church and who need help would come to worship services," said Jerry. "The church would help anyway. If they would go to an American Church or Russian Orthodox Church in Kansas City, Kansas, or would not go to church at all, our church would help them anyway."

"At first it was difficult to help people because they did not understand that someone will help them without requiring something in return," Jerry added.

When refugees come, Jerry first helps them buy food. After this, he checks what furniture items they need: tables, chairs, beds, and other household items.

Most refugees have nothing except their clothes in their luggage when they come. Jerry and his wife ask people in their church and other churches for help with furniture and other physical items, but they also try to encourage refugees spiritually and make friends, teach them about life in the USA, solve their problems, teach English, and help with transportation to go to the church, if they want to. Probably half of the Russian speaking families don't come to the Rockwood church--never have, never will--but Jerry still will do the same things for them which he does for people who come to the church.

Jerry helped five (5) families with problems regarding the death of members of their families. Jerry and his friends visited families with someone who had dying almost each day. And it was sometimes during a period of a few months, trying to encourage them and help them, and do whatever they could.

Jerry never dictates to people what they should do. He just advises them what to do, and it is their choice what they do in some particular situations. It doesn't matter if people don't accept the advice.

Pastor David Cook is the spiritual leader of the Russian group. In the past, he lived in St. Petersburg, Russia (formerly Leningrad) for three years, and served as an English language teacher there. He is in his early 30's. He has a theological education and speaks Russian not perfectly, but very well. His sermons are clear and simple and serve the needs of both Russian beginners in religion and more advanced members of the group, who have stayed with Rockwood for many years. During this year's Easter service, Pastor David gave a short sermon, after which members of the Russian group prayed and sang hymns. A reception followed the service. Pastor David is a member of our Russian-American Club, and rarely misses our meetings.

Rockwood Baptist Church

Jerry and Ruth Hickson

Pastor David Cook in service

"Russians" are praying