Fortier was inspired to go on a mission trip last year after hearing a dynamic sermon about missions at his church, The First Baptist Church Centerville (FBCC).

"Right after the service I went up to the pastor and said, ‘I want to be a missionary, can I? He asked me, "Do you want to go to Russia in November? ' After I recovered from shock, I said "Sure.'"

Missioner Daryl Blackburn was the last person to come on board for the mission trip. He hadn't signed up, but God was preparing his heart.

"Shortly before the mission trip to Russia, I was driving to Atlanta and listening to a Bible program on the radio. The speaker said, ‘When God calls you to do something, don't question it; just do it.' Soon after my hearing that message, Pastor Grantham called me and said, ‘Daryl, one of the people going on the mission trip can't go– would you be interested? '

Fortier and Blackburn traveled to Russia last November 1-10, with three others from FBCC, including Dr. Allen Hughes, Senior Pastor of FBCC, Associate Pastor David Grantham and David Shipman.

The team flew to Eketerinburg, Russia, a city of 2 million people, where the Southern Baptist Mission Board for the region is located. From there, the team was joined by an interpreter and traveled on to Kemensk-Uralskiy, a town of 180, 000, and their destination for the mission work.

"Through Bob Hartman International Ministries, FBCC has been paired with a small Baptist church in Kemensk with about 30 members. We've taken on a supportive role with the struggling church that has been there for about 7 years," Fortier said.

"Up until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the people lived under Communist rule and atheism. Since the official church in Russia is the Russian Orthodox Church, many people view the Protestant churches as being a cult. We had been told that the Russian people had heard a lot of lies about Christians. Our mission was to go to help the small church reach out into the community, so people there could see what Christians are really like. Our first task was to meet with the city officials to offer our services in whatever small way in which we could help them," Fortier said.

"We were told by the Southern Baptist missionaries to expect resistance from the government, but as things turned out, God opened doors for us. Our first meeting with the Director of Social Services for the city went very well. She was excited about us wanting to get involved and help, and she called in the Mayor's press secretary to meet us. The mood soured when the press secretary entered the room. She was not friendly and asked our pastor, ‘What experience do you have working with Russian people? ' When he answered that he had worked in Moldova before, you could see the softening in her face. As it turns out, her parents were from Moldova, and that connection made all the difference. She was willing to give us a chance to help spread good will. Plans were set up for us to speak to students and administrators at two universities as well as to visit a children's hospital," Fortier added.

The team's first stop the next morning was The Institute for International Relations, where students are trained to be English interpreters. The students had a lot of questions for the missioners about American politics and the educational system.

"The incredible thing about the stop was that the local TV station was there and interviewed Brother Joseph, the Pastor of the Baptist church in Kemensk. It was an answer to prayer that the people in the community saw the Baptist pastor on TV," Fortier said.

"At our next stop, a children's hospital, we mistakenly parked in the chief of staff's parking spot. After he drove in and we moved our car, he gave us a guided tour of the hospital. We had been told not to expect to see much, but God opened the doors. The children stay at the hospitals until space opens up for them in the orphanages. Many parents cannot afford to keep their children and give them up," Fortier said.

In the group's last appointment, they met with administrators at a college for students studying to be English teachers in the Russian school system. The mission team presented the administrators with Russian Bibles. The team also had other gifts to give away– Georgia peanuts and handmade bookmarks. The women's ministry at FBCC had made the bookmarks using pressed maple leaves from trees on the church grounds. On the back, the ladies had written in Russian, "We love you and we're praying for you."

More highlights from the trip included snow and a worship experience in a Baptist church in Eketeringburg.

"When we went in that building, it was like visiting a first century church. Even though we didn't speak the same language, we felt the same bond with Christ. That feeling united us," Fortier said.

"I grew up in the Cold War era. The Soviets were always our enemies. What I see now are tens of millions of people who have no light. I view them as brothers, and I have a real concern for them," Blackburn said.

"I feel like God has called me to Russia through the outreach of FBCC. When I left Russia in November, I just wanted to stay and help spread the Word. Now, I'm diving into the Russian language and looking forward to going back in April. Like the Parable of the Talents in the Bible, God has entrusted our church with a large talent for our partner church in Russia, and we need to use it," Fortier said.