Gospel Expedition

Our last day in Ukraine. The journey and the border with Russia lay ahead. We got up at 6:00 in the morning and had breakfast at 7:00. Then we prepared our bicycles and started at eight. We were to cover 230 km, and we had time limits. The new time zone we were entering made it even more problematic for us. We lost one hour. After 100 km, we reached the border line.

Welcome to Russia

We were concerned about how long we would have to stay there. We compared the guards at the border with Matthew, the tax collector. But we met the border guards with the Gospel. We were quickly checked in and out at the border. The crossing point there is called Three Sisters. It is really so — there is a small square and three border points — Ukraine, Russia and Belarus (think of the Four Corners in the United States). Once these “sistersâ€? used to live in peace and harmony. Now our relations have become cool, borders have appeared, and soldiers with automatic guns guard the borders from the other sisters. We were short of time and were in a great hurry.

Warmly Received . . . Even by the Authorities!

Arriving at Klintsy, a town in Russia’s Bryansk region, we were pleasantly surprised. About 20 young Christians in red T-shirts, met us on their own bicycles on the outskirts of town. Forming a long line, we went into Klintsy proper. By now, we had become accustomed to attracting attention from people, but this day was special. Drivers and pedestrians greeted us. It isn’t every day that a transcontinental expedition travels through town, with such a number of people. We made a circle through the town and went to the church, but we were short of time and went to the town park. Hundreds of local people had gathered there. Our program was approved of by the town administration and was presented as a public service devoted to a healthy way of life!

First Evangelism in Russia and an Important Endorsement

After our introduction and some music from Living Water, a very well known person in the town spoke. He is the coach of Vladimir Skovpen, the leader of our Expedition bicycle team. This is the coach who trained Vladimir as a Champion of the USSR and as a Master of Sports. “One has to lead kids to churches at first and then to sport clubs,” said a wise man!

Members of the Expedition spoke in turn about the trip. Spiritual and physical development are the foundation for the normal development of a person, and society in general. The same idea was expressed by Vladimir, his coach — a well known citizen of Klintsy — and Leonid Kartavenko, the leader of the Expedition. After the official part of the program, an informal part began. We talked to the town’s young people and preached the Gospel from heart to heart. It was the first full-range evangelization thus far in Russia. After the meeting, the team of bikers had a bit of rest.