To Siberia With Love
“But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5
In the past few months, our Russian missionaries and chaplains have reported great fruit in their ministry. These men are ex-prisoners from their youth but have faithfully served the Lord for many years.
Chaplain Igor enthusiastically shares the gospel in Russian prisons. His recent report is edited for clarity but his heart is to reach the most vulnerable with the love of Christ. These are faithful men who “endure hardship and do the work of an evangelist” (as Paul told Timothy)
Igor Reports from the Urals
Peace be upon you, dear brothers and sisters! Thank you for your prayers and support.
I have driven more kilometers these last months of March and April than I would usually do for a whole year. By the grace of God, we traveled through almost the entire Perm region preaching the Gospel. There are many obstacles due to COVID-19 right now, but we do our best and follow all precautions. The Lord kept us safe in His hands. We visited cities and villages in the Perm territory and handed out more than 10,000 New Testaments. After more than 4,000 kilometers over difficult roads, there have been many great testimonies of God’s love!
March and April were filled with 22 prison visits. It is not easy to get to prisons now in connection with COVID-19, however, the Lord went before us. Condemned men show much interest in the gospel. They have many questions. Pray that the Lord would give us strength and wisdom as we sow the Word of God.
We spent Easter at a boys youth prison and some accepted the Good News of salvation. We preached about the death and resurrection of Jesus.
“Sponsoring chaplains like Igor to Siberia means you partner with them to bring the gospel to the far corners of the earth.
Thousands of prisoners, orphans, and the poor are reached with God’s love because they have sponsors.”
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Yuri and Nadia Free To Share the Gospel
In recent years we visited a special regime prison in the far north of the Perm Territory. This is for hardened criminals. One of the convicts there listened to our words and began to think about his life without God. His name is Yuri and today he is our brother by faith in Jesus Christ. His life has changed. His sentence was finished, he was released, and then God gave him a wife!
Her name is Nadia and she has also been in prison several times. Yuri shared his faith with her and now she is our sister in Christ Jesus. Yuri and Nadia live in a village and attend the New Testament Church. Now we are working together to spread the gospel and distribute New Testaments. In May, we hope to make a mission trip together to the far north region and share the gospel there. I praise the Lord for them!
Prisoners Need Help Upon Their Release
We also work with people who are released from prisons. We accept them into our House of Mercy and serve them in word and deed. Thank you for your prayers for our ministry to prisons and evangelism. Please help us to grow as today we still have this possibility.
We hope to take our youngest son Ilya, who is in poor health, to the sea this summer with the family. We hope the sun and sea improve his condition. Our church team is also planning a summer camp to evangelize young people. We need and appreciate your prayers and financial help with these things!