MIR and Stoneworks

Russia, Estonia, Montenegro and Beyond

In November of 2000, Mike was sent by the board of Mission Global Outreach to help establish and direct a Russian charity.  MIR was founded as the result of the work of several gifted and dedicated people.

Overseeing MIR was Mike’s primary role in Russia for eight years.  Olga and Mike met when she was hired to work as an interpreter and secretary for MIR.

MIR means both Peace and World, and it is an anagram for Mercy and Joy.  MIR was established to help others do what they are called to do in Russia.

Masha Oshkina was appointed as the MIR Executive Director in September 2008 and Mike stepped away from the day-to-day oversight of MIR, though he continued serving on the MIR board. MIR closed operations in May 2017 after many fruitful years of service.

Mike currently volunteers as the Executive Director of Stoneworks International, a mission organization that serves in several countries from the Arctic to the Adriatic. See our Ministry Map for info about where and how we serve.

Stoneworks is so named based on 1 Peter 2:5 — ‘You also like living stones are being built into a spiritual household.’  We believe that God establishes relationships and our responsibility is to honor what He is doing in our relationships.   For more information about Stoneworks visit StoneworksInternational.com.

Mike and Olga have their home in Saint Petersburg, Russia with their daughter Valerie.  Olga home schools Valerie and is also involved in other areas of ministry as an interpreter, translator and team administrator.