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Fresno, Calif.
Ministry challenges in Russia


Churches near Omsk, Russia, are preparing for two annual evangelistic festivals, which have attracted 5,000 people each in the past. During these events, the churches have experienced a great openness to the gospel. Last summer, over 200 people from the region also travelled in teams from village to village, sharing the gospel through week-long tent meetings; 700 children – many from non-Christian homes – attended church camps.

On a trip to the former Soviet Union this past fall, MBMS International staff Franz Rathmair and Tim Bergdahl visited the Omsk Association of Evangelical Christian Baptists, which has Mennonite Brethren roots.

“Their mission orientation continues to be strong and their work is worthy to be encouraged,” reported Rathmair, MBMSI program director for Europe.

In addition to evangelistic campaigns, the conference runs a humanitarian aid warehouse and produces Christian literature. MBMSI provides financial support to help with the conference’s outreach efforts.

“Without these funds, our missionary outreach would not be possible to the extent it is done now,” said the evangelist who leads the Omsk conference.

The Omsk churches have been working publicly even before the official openness of Russia in the early 1990s. In 1997, religious restrictions were placed on organizations that were not registered with the government. The Omsk conference has not been able to officially register.

“A few years ago, they could freely preach the gospel,” said Don Loewen, MBMSI missionary and director of the Moscow Mennonite Center. “Now, they can freely preach the gospel as long as no one decides to stop them.”

The opportunities the churches are taking also come with new challenges. Despite the loss of members moving to Germany, the number of churches and meeting points has grown from 53 to 70 over the past four years, Rathmair reported. The total membership stays stable at about 1,800. The loss because of immigration is balanced by the gain of new members through conversion.

“The big challenge is the follow-up work,” said Rathmair. “There are not enough mature workers who can visit the new converts, hold meetings and begin churches or assist the new congregations.” The Umsiedler (Russian immigrant) churches in Germany are being challenged to partner with the Omsk conference in meeting these needs.”

Bergdahl, who is director of programs for MBMSI, observed, “As North American Christians, we can learn from their experience that God is gracious and His power was at work even in the darkest times of the Soviet Union. The testimony can cost everything from life to health to wealth – you name it. Mennonites in Siberia at one time or another have been called on to sacrifice for their faith.”

As part of its evangelistic ministry, each of the Omsk congregations has made a commitment to bring the gospel to a particular part of its region. According to Bergdahl, this ongoing witness, central to the Christian community in the Omsk region, has roots in a history of faithfulness.

“They have had to make sure the gospel was the most important thing in their lives,” he said. “It was and is too expensive to keep if it isn’t real and life changing.”

 – Shelly Spencer, MBMS International

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Last modified May 5, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
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