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Apolonovka, Siberia
The challenge of Siberia


In November 1998, seven farmers from the Peace River area of British Columbia were asked by Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to travel to the Omsk region of Siberia to advise five farmers who had taken their portion of land out of a collective farm and were trying to farm the land themselves. Each person that had worked on the Apolonovka (Waldheim) Collective Farm was given 17 hectares of land. The Omsk region is situated at the same latitude as Canada’s Peace River country; however, the land is at sea level, making it much more conducive to growing wheat.

Under the direction of Ben and Erna Falk, who had been sent by MCC to help establish a cheese factory in Neudachino, we travelled from Moscow to Omsk, where we visited five Mennonite churches. We enjoyed their singing and their playing of musical instruments. We stayed in homes and learned much about hospitality, sharing and kindness.

Besides many Mennonite churches, there are over 70 Mennonite Brethren churches or house churches in the Omsk region, all under the leadership of Nicolai Dueckman. They conduct an ongoing tent ministry each summer in many of the surrounding villages. The follow-up is done during the winter months as they visit all the new converts, gathering them into house churches and home Bible studies and discipling them in the Scriptures.

We learned that Russian Mennonites’ ways of worship and prayer are still very much the same as those of our ancestors when they first emigrated to Canada from Ukraine in the 1920s. Only 20% of the Mennonites were able to come out of Russia; 80% remained and lived through hardships we cannot even imagine. These people were sent to Siberia. Every village there has many people with “Mennonite” names such as Friesen, Funk, Falk, Epp and Derksen. However, many of these people have no recollection of having been taught about Jesus Christ. They are pagan.

Many left the Christian faith during the 1930s and 1940s, but there was a remnant which held fast to their faith. In the 1950s, when Khrushchev was in power, there was a short time of religious freedom, and great revival was experienced among the people. At that time, many former Mennonites renewed their faith and became ardent followers of Jesus Christ.

There was a cost. Johann Wall, the pastor of the Apolonovka church, spent 15 years in prison because of his faith in Jesus Christ. Many ministers of the gospel endured the same fate. The father of Johann and Peter Dirksen (two of the five farmers) died in prison. The false testimony of the present teacher in the village helped to put him there. We asked Peter how he felt about this. He said, “Forgiveness is the answer.”

From the renewal in the 1950s came the five farmers with whom we are now working: Johann & Anna Dirksen, Peter & Lydia Dirksen, Jacob & Rita Toews, Jacob & Nita Rosenbach and Peter & Helena Regier. By the time perestroika (a loosening of the communist system) came in 1989, their village, which had been predominantly Mennonite, was half Russian. When they were given the opportunity, the five families took their land out of the collective farm together with a few pieces of broken-down machinery. Their extended families for the most part had moved to Germany, but because they had a heart for the Russian people, they decided to stay in Siberia to evangelize these people. Yet, in order to be able to stay and do this, they needed to be able to feed and clothe their families; thus, the idea of farming on their own came to mind.

They all have a number of pigs, at most two cows, some chickens and huge gardens. The women and children work all summer in order to eat all winter. In the fall, many jars of jam, fruit preserves, pickles and salad line the shelves of their cellars. The potato bins are filled with at least 20 hundred-pound sacks of potatoes. Carrots, cabbages, onions and garlic are stored in huge underground cellars.

The Thanksgiving celebration is always one of the big events of the year for these families. On this weekend, they decorate the church with their finest fruits, vegetables and preserves. The children and youth practise for many evenings in order to present a program that is as perfect as possible. They are very thankful for this time, for many can remember when times were not so good.

When we met them, the five farmers were very excited young men, full of ideas and energy. We asked them to give us an idea of what they would need most in their village. They said a flour mill. To make a long story short, we helped these five farmers in the building of their flour mill, which is now running 24 hours a day when they have the wheat to grind.

Wheat is not always available, and the amount of land which they farm is not enough to keep the mill working daily. Therefore, we decided to help them form a business to do custom combining. We brought two combines from Austria to Siberia, and in fall 2001 they were able to start work. Now there will be enough wheat to work the mill year-round.

The average wage is approximately $25 US a month. The flour mill and the custom combining allow these five farmers to work with the village people. The people have huge problems with alcoholism, abuse and despair. Many do not want to change, but there are those who do.

In our last two visits, we have noticed a change for the better in the village and in other places in Siberia. The land is very productive even though vast tracts of land are out of production. They could lease land at a very minimal cost, but capital is not available. If they could receive help with this, their situation would greatly improve economically. The nation is in transition from the communist system to a capitalist system, which causes much confusion and difficulty. However, it is possible, with patience and God’s grace, to establish viable businesses in the country.

 – Walter and Anne Willms

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Last modified April 17, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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