The Russian Federation is the largest nation in the world, with more than 76% of the area of the former USSR. To go by train from Moscow to Vladistok in the Far East requires two weeks. Because of its size, the nation has every type of climate except for the distinctly tropical. Russia was a nation in economic and political turmoil, and has remained so throughout the decade of the 90s. Russia is the largest nation in the Commonwealth of Independent States. The other 10 nations include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

Tim and Jane Olson started several home missions churches before joining the faculty of Apostolic Bible Institute in 1993. While at ABI, they were responsible for coordinating the training of educational missionaries to the former Soviet Union. During a 1995 missions trip to Belarus/Russia, he felt God calling him to Russia. The Olson's received their appointment as missionaries to Russia in September 1996 and arrived in St. Petersburg in October 1998.

Since arriving on the field, Tim and Jane have operated a Bible school with as many as 130 students and taught Sunday School and Family Life Seminars around the former Soviet Union. In October 2000, they started a new church in St. Petersburg. God has also opened opportunities for them to preach the gospel in Finland. Monthly services have been started in the capital city of Helsinki with other contacts developing in other parts of the country.