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From Gulag Suffering to Gospel Growth
In the 1930s, thousands of Christians and political prisoners were sent to forced labour camps (the Gulag) in the remotest parts of Russia. Among them was a young mother, Yevstaliya Feodorovna whose only ‘crime’ was being married to a preacher of the Gospel. Her husband was killed, her three young children were put in an orphanage, and she was sent to a camp in Ola (Kolyma region).
After faithfully testifying to the goodness of God – even in the Gulag – for more than 50 years, Yevstaliya had the joy of leading three young women to Christ. These were small beginnings, but since then many in Ola have come to faith in the Lord Jesus. For years, the believers met in a dilapidated wooden hut built by Gulag prisoners, but SGA, together with Bible Mission, helped build a new Hope Centre – dedicated last November – where the church now gathers and reaches out to local children and teenagers.
This was not the only recent building project carried out in Siberia. In Krest Khakut (Yakutia region), a church of just 15 believers is ministering to 11 isolated house churches spread across vast distances. Last December, a new House of Prayer was dedicated to support this far-reaching ministry.
SGA has also assisted the growing fellowship in Neryungri (population 60,000). When their wooden meeting house became unusable four years ago, the church was forced into homes. Now, thanks to Gospel partnership, a new House of Prayer has been completed.
Please pray that the ministry from these buildings will be used by God to bring many to Himself, even in the most challenging of environments.