Reaching Siberia with the Good News of Jesus –
Canadians know a lot about what it means to live in a climate that can sometimes be very cold. But Siberians merely laugh at what we have to endure. They will insist that they are the ones who truly know the coldest of cold weather. While writing this article I checked the current temperature at one city in Siberia (Dzalinda) and read the startling number: Minus 47 degrees! Seeing that, I don’t think I will ever disagree that Siberians are the real authorities on dealing with the cold. Thankfully, the times I have been to Siberia were in the summertime. It was still chilly at times, but nothing like 47º below zero. However, I did discover in Siberia a ministry that is truly hot with a passion for lost people and a fiery enthusiasm to spread the good news of life and hope in Jesus.
EHC/Canada has been privileged for many years to support EHC partners who work in a variety of outposts in the vast field of Siberia, an area so large that it spans 11 time zones! They deal with challenges that would strike fear in the average heart, yet they keep pressing on against formidable obstacles and opposition. Their reports are an inspiring example of frontline missions in the 21st century. Below are several excerpts from the most recent dispatches…
A Police Chief Confesses
In the village of Dooshelan there is but one house of prayer. A former chief of the police recently converted there. He shared his testimony with us, saying that he has witnessed great crimes and sins and he is now convinced that no one but Jesus can give the real way out and true hope for our society. Turning to God in prayer he confessed Jesus Christ as only the way of salvation. Praise be to God!
Delivered by God and Helped by Strangers
One of our teams of evangelists has been working for two years in Transbaikalia taking the Gospel to villages there. They send this report: “On a trip to village of Charagoon our team faced great difficulties. Our car broke down in a remote, solitary place when a couple of Buryat figures suddenly appeared and helped to repair the vehicle. With their help and much prayer we were able to cross over snowy mountain ranges that other cars couldn’t manage. After a journey of 200 kilometres through severe weather we reached the village of Charagoon and delivered the Good News to many people who received salvation and deliverance by the power of God.”
A Witch is Freed
In a place called Charagoon one day we met one girl who told us she was a witch in the third generation (of her genealogical line). She wanted to be free, but she didn’t know how to stop that curse. After we finished the conversation with her she accepted Jesus into her heart! We prayed for her and the family. We left the address of where the meetings for local Christians are. She joyfully agreed to come and attend the meeting. Praise be to God!
An Opening for the Gospel
As a result of my own observations I came to conclusion that for Russians and for the Buryat religion is nothing but a tradition leading to nowhere. But when a calamity comes over them the people understand clearly they need a real, living Savior. On a visit to one Buryat family we asked: “What do your beliefs mean to you?” A disappointment was heard in their answers. They had suffered tragedy, the loss of a son, and great dismay because they felt they had honestly observed all the Buddhist traditions. After our conversation with them, a hope appeared in their hearts, a hope upon the Saviour Christ and hope for receiving eternal life. They gave us gifts and let us go in peace, willing to continue to develop further relationship with us.
The Queen of Shanchai Meets the King of Kings 
Again and again I see that Jesus didn’t come for the righteous ones, but for the sinners in order to save them. The chief of administration for the village of Telemba asked us to come and visit an area of the village where a couple of families dwelling there had been a very bad influence. We were also informed that one woman, a Buryat, was a main figure in the evil (many called her “the queen of Shanchai”). She was a scandalous, impertinent and constantly drunk person. While we were preaching in one of the houses of that village we had led the host to the point of making a decision of repentance. As we prayed, two women entered the house, and one of them was “the queen of Shanchai”! They listened to us attentively, then both of those ladies came to us trembling, ready to repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. We experienced a great joy, seeing with our own eyes that Jesus loves to save even the worst of sinners!
Open Doors, Open Hearts
As we arrived in one village of Transbaikalia land we began to look for a place to spend a night. It was an urgent need so we prayed and sought. We decided to spend the night in a public house and sleep on the floor there. After our decision we went out to testify and preach across all the village, visiting every home by home. We were amazed at the reception because it honestly wasn’t what we expected since over half the population there are Buryat. Eight of the first ten persons received Jesus as their Savior. We were so overwhelmed that we forgot about where we would sleep that night. At that moment one of our team members was told that an old woman wanted to welcome us into her home! For two weeks we labored in that village and spent the nights in that blessed sister’s apartment where we were well fed and warmed. Praise be to God for he is the Provider for everything!
I could continue with many more remarkable testimonies from our brothers and sisters in Siberia. May these few reports that I’ve shared motivate us to pray for much spiritual fruit in one of the world’s most spiritually desperate regions. Thank God for all he is doing to bring the warmth of his truth to a cold land!
– Denys Blackmore