Gospel Expedition

The new Expedition team began their trek with steep climbs and difficult slopes, along with sharp turns. It was the hardest test for many of us as it was our first day and we were not yet ready for such hard physical exertion. Even so, 150 kilometers of the most difficult mountain road from Irkutsk to Baikalsk in the Sayan Mountains were successfully covered. The view of the grand, wonderful Lake Baikal was a reward for us after a hard trip.

The church in the town of Baikalsk welcomed the Expedition. The ministry of the church began seven years ago when church planter Andrew Portyanoy came from Irkutsk to Baikalsk to plant the church. He is now the senior pastor of the church. There are 50 members. They remodeled the building of a former shop and the church is active in the town.

Our Baikalsk brethren were well prepared for the Expedition. They pasted posters in the town, gave out invitations and listeners came to the town square at the fixed time. The group Eden’s Heavens was warmly welcomed by the people. It was their last concert at the Expedition. After the concert, they left Baikalsk to return home to Vladikavkaz.

Singers from Siberia also took part at the meeting, as well as Victor Zaitsev, senior pastor for the Irkutsk region, musician Sergey Abramov, and Andrew Portyanoy, the Baikalsk church pastor, who joined the Expedition.

After the meeting people remained in the square and talked to bikers and church ministers, gladly taking New Testaments and other Christian literature.