Gospel Expedition

Khabarovsk was founded about 150 years ago by a battalion of the Russian Army to guard Russia’s border with China. Muraviov-Amursky is the founder of the town. Following the military people, landless peasants went there. The town was called after Yerofey P. Khabarov, a well-known traveler and explorer of Siberia. The current population of the town is 562,000 people. It is one of the most beautiful towns in the Far East.

The first Baptist churches in Khabarovsk were planted in the 1920s. Well-known Gospel ministers worked there, including Jacob J. Delyakov, as well as the grandfather and the father of George Wiense. Presently there are seven churches with about a thousand members. Six churches have their own houses of prayer.

Setting a New Record

God blessed us that day in a special way. First of all we reached the “hand hold.” A big map of our route is glued on one side of our KAMAZ. The Expedition checked the map daily, where we had come from and where we were still to go. Once we reached the “rear wheel.” then the “middle wheel,” and today we reached the door handle of the truck. A mere 195 kilometers were ahead of us. We cycled for 5 hours and 33 minutes, and reached a record average speed for the Expedition — 34.9 kilometers per hour. Praise God, we have a strong team of bikers, and the other teams were not weaker.

We reached Khabarovsk in amazing time. We came to the road inspection office close to the highway. They called to the central office and a car went to meet us. They guided us to the Central Church where the happy faces of believers met us, as well as a nice lunch. After lunch we took part in the meeting in the church.

Bringing the Body Together

It was not a typical meeting, but a general meeting of all believers from Khabarovsk churches. It was a service of gratitude. Unbelievers were invited, and it was not in vain as some people answered the altar call. Praise God!

The service was planned for 90 minutes, but lasted for over 2 hours. Immediately afterward, we went right to a planned evangelistic service in the central square downtown. We put up the sound equipment and began the service at 7 p.m. sharp.

Right before the beginning, young boys came up to us — a local team who are sport acrobats. They found out about our visit and came to greet us with their special trick — a somersault above the stage without any safety wire. It was a kind of greeting to us from the town sportsmen. We greeted and thanked them with Bibles and words of salvation. Many people were in the square. The weather was nice. Families strolled along the town streets and the square.

Saving a Life Despite Restrictions

The official permission we had for the meeting stated that no religious propaganda was allowed. That is why we sang and talked about how physical development without a spiritual basis would do no good. We told the story about the Prodigal son, and what happened when he stood up and went to his father. We did not give out the New Testaments officially, but at the end of the meeting, not a single copy of the New Testament was left. Believers talked to unsaved people and gave them the NTs. Those were individual discussions, not religious propaganda.

A young man came up to Levon, our doctor-cyclist, and asked about the meaning of the meeting. They talked. The young man’s name is Dmitri, he is 24. He has been using drugs for 7 years. He grew up without a father, and according to his words he lives for the sake of his mother and two sisters. During their talk, Dmitri confessed that he was ready to end his life. Many of his friends had died already. He attended their funeral services and began to think about the meaning of life. This young and still strong man wept, knowing that he had to make a choice — death or to change his life. Praise God, we came there in time.

Brothers Alexei Nozdrachev and Piotr Ryazanov stood by the truck. No more books were left. Two ladies came up to them. They were surprised about the Expedition. They began to talk about the places of interest in the town, mentioning our churches and that they have the New Testaments. One of the NTs was given to one of them the other day, on her birthday. She was very grateful to Christians for their attention to her. She wanted to thank them in response, but she had nothing with her.

It is interesting that the next day, when the brothers went out into the town, she met them and bought a book by a local poetess, and a book about the history of crafts in Khabarovsk. She took the men on a sightseeing tour in the town, and they told her more about Christ. She did not stop to wonder, as it is hard to meet each other in such a big town. The brothers told her that it was not by coincidence that they met again, that it was God’s mercy for her soul. After the tour, she led men to the church. We hope that her first visit to the church will become her permanent way there.