A recent visit to the Russian mission field made us appreciate the Apostle’s word of encouragement in 1 Corinthians 15…Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.  God’s kingdom is coming and our work is bearing fruit in western Siberia.

We were blessed to be part of the Easter (4/19/2009) celebration at the congregations in Iskitim and Akademgoradok.  In spacious facilities we listened as worshippers joined their voices to sing I Know that my Redeemer Lives and other familiar Easter tunes. Pastor Wolfgramm preached the Easter Gospel.  Combined attendance at the two services was about 250 souls.  At the close of the service in Iskitim, Deaconess Lena assembled the children of the congregation at the front.  She led them in an Easter presentation of song and Scripture.  The ministry among the children of Russia is an especially blessed aspect of our work there.  Laymen of the Akadem congregation—Vladimir (Akadem church president) and Sasha (national church president)—read the Scripture lessons.  Such lay involvement is heartening and holds promise of Russians assuming more responsibility for the work in the future.  Just a couple decades ago, such an open and free proclamation of the Gospel was unthinkable.  The Lord is good, and his kingdom is coming. What a blessing to be part of his work!

Later in the week, we visited the Christian Information Center in Berdsk. There Deaconess Irina explained her service in God’s kingdom.  The CIC is located in an office building among many other businesses. The door is open to let inquisitive souls browse through a wide variety of WELS literature translated into Russian including selections of the People’s Bible.  Irina spends her days there ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about her hope in Christ.  We asked Irina what the greatest challenges were in spreading the Gospel of Christ in Russia.  She spoke of the law-oriented Russian Orthodox Church with its empty traditions, which has a stranglehold on the people of her country.  “The simple Gospel,” she said, “sounds so strange to the people….the people speak only of ‘church’ and know nothing of ‘Jesus’.”  This challenge is exactly why it is so important that we be in Russia with the simple Gospel of Jesus that gives life

Our visit also included time in Novosibirsk, a thriving city of 1.5 million who need the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We have another torch of Gospel light there—St. Paul Lutheran Church and her Russian Pastor Igor.  Pastor Igor’s voice goes out to a potential audience of over ½ million people via a radio broadcast.  Our LWMS supports this special phase of the ministry with an annual grant, and it is bearing fruit.  Once recently, Pastor Igor asked his audience to call and let him know if they appreciate the Gospel message.  “The phone rang non-stop for two or three days,” says Igor.  He added, “Hello from the Russian Christians! Let us pray for each other!”  This we will gladly do!  God’s kingdom is coming.  What a blessing to be a part of the work! (www.luteranin.ru).

On another day we were blessed to see Christ and his kingdom coming to the children of a small mining village about an hour’s drive from Iskitim.  Evgenny, who is a prominent layman from our church in Iskitim, had secured permission for a deaconess to teach Bible stories to the children in the public school there.  Twice a month Deaconess Lena and her helper Julia teach a Bible lesson to the children in the school.  In talking with the children, they said, “First, we liked the Bible time because of the craft and snack; but now we want to hear about Jesus.”

On the second Sunday and final full day in the mission field of Siberia, we worshipped with the St. Paul congregation in Novosibirsk.  We were continuously impressed with the leadership, teaching, and preaching of Pastor Igor.  Our process of preparing the national Christians for fulltime ministry has certainly been effective and well worth the effort and cost.  Hearing and watching Pastor Igor made us agree with his comment.  “The church will remain,” he said, “even if the present members are out of the picture.”  The WELS has not only brought the Gospel to Russia, but is also planting it in such a way that it can be sustained without our presence…one day…with God’s blessing.

The Russian mission field certainly has its special challenges. The Russian Orthodox Church has succeeded in branding as a sect/cult anything other than itself.  In the minds of many Russians, our Gospel efforts are synonymous with the less desirable elements of religious work.  The people also hold the remnants of Communist distrust.  The poverty of the people makes thoughts of total ecclesiastical autonomy a lofty goal. Capitalism has improved living conditions somewhat, but materialism is already making people spend money on bread that does not satisfy.  The Russian mission field also has its special blessings.  The truth is still the truth, and it is winning souls. The angels in heaven are rejoicing as, one-by-one, souls are won for Christ.  We have a firm footing in the area, ample property and space from which to go out with the Gospel.  We have capable and eager Russian workers—both called and laypeople—ready to talk with their own people about the hope they have in Christ. There is no lack of souls to win. God’s kingdom is coming in Russia.

Jim Hoff