Field Staff

Elizabeth Hulley — Russia

In October, 2004, Elizabeth Hulley became our first full time field worker.  Elizabeth, a college graduate majoring in Russian Studies, has ministered in a summer camp near St. Petersburg for many years.  During her college years she participated in a discipleship training program, where she eventually became a student leader.   Her unique preparation in terms of training, Russian language proficiency, and experience in camp ministry make her ideally suited to work in Russia. You can read her excellent blog here.

From Elizabeth:  Although St. Petersburg has a growing body of believers and many Christian resources available, young believers emerging from a summertime encounter with Christ can have a hard time continuing in their growth.  Obstacles include a non-believing family, lack of knowledge about resources available to them, as well as a lack of fellowship and encouragement from other believers.

I am excited to be St. Petersburg, reconnecting with summer camp friends through additional discipleship and evangelistic relationships.

John and Karen Bull — Russia

John and Karen and their four children (Katie, Melissa, Mark and Matthew) felt the Lord speak to them about moving to Russia in 2006.  After much prayer and seeking His ways, they were directed over to St. Petersburg for a short term mission trip to work with a family home for graduated orphans.   As the Lord continued to work in their hearts, they started making strides in moving over to officially work with the family home.  The Bulls have a fun blog here.

They arrived in September of 2008 and since then have been involved with MIR, Road of Life, orphan dormitory work, Child in Danger Shelter and several orphanages.  John studies at a local Russian language program and Karen home schools the two boys while the girls are in a local Christian school,  and she is also studying Russian.

Their work has several aspects:  assisting with other missionaries and supporting them, working in dormitories teaching life skills and English to graduate orphans, serving in marriage ministries in a local church, and continuing to learn the Russian language, all while seeking direction from the Lord in what He calls them to do.   God has been faithful in opening doors, establishing relationships and providing opportunities for ministry in the past and He will certainly continue.

From the Bulls:  We firmly believe and stand on Ephesians 2:10 –

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Christina Melton — Montenegro

Christina first visited Montenegro in May of 2009.  While on that trip, she told the Lord throughout the trip that if He needed someone there, she would love to be that person.  On the plane on the way back to the US after that trip, she felt strongly that He said He was giving her a window to be that person, and that things would move quickly.  And things did move quickly: in July of 2009, she returned for six weeks and committed to being a part of Stoneworks.  Christina moved to Montenegro in October 2009 for a three-year commitment; she is working with the teen ministry and the worship team in the local church.  You can read her blog here.

From Christina:  My goal is simply to be obedient to the Lord and wholly submitted to Him, and to do so with joy, and all this within the context of community.   I cannot see how such a life would not bear fruit.   I only hope that I can live up to Galatians 2:20 –

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Katya Plusnina — Russia

Katya visits children in orphanages where she builds relationships with the girls as she teaches them English.   She has worked as an interpreter with several mission teams and is very happy to be able to continue building relationships with the children she met through that work.

She currently is employed at our Russian partner MIR, working as the Registration Officer.   Originally from the Kirovsky Region near the Ural Mountains, she is a member of the Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church.