In 1993, Dr.Bill Becknell, an American surgeon, was called to serve both the physical and spiritual needs of the Russian people. Agape’s medical and spiritual mission is based on four simple words: Going where no one else wants to go, Helping those no one else wants to help, Sharing God’s Word with everyone who will listen, and Teaching others to do the same. Dr. Bill, as he is known, and the medical center he established, Medical Center Agape, have helped hundreds of thousands of Russians. Agape serves the overlooked in the barren and forgotten areas of Siberia, the homeless and elderly in Moscow, and the large number of poor immigrants in Moscow. Medical Center Agape strives to serve the neglected who would otherwise have no access to medical care. Teams make annual trips to Siberia to provide medical care and to share the Gospel with these people. Some of these expeditions have led to the formation of churches in those areas.

Agape’s other venture is its farm, established to provide a home for Russian orphans who have aged out of the orphanages and have few resources or skills for living on their own. They provide a home for these young people and train them so they can secure jobs. It also has become a retreat center for church groups and other organizations, as well as a home for the staff, some of whom work the farm to grow crops to sell. This provides both employment for the farm workers and income to help toward expenses.