However, only about a quarter of Russia’s population lives in Siberia, and many Siberian residents live in difficult-to-reach areas.

Tim* with Global Disciples recently visited Siberia and says, “It’s really difficult to get around in Siberia. Plus, it’s often very cold. The day that we were there and actually the day we were leaving, it was supposed to get to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Their joke is that even Satan doesn’t go outside when it’s that cold.”

(Photo courtesy of Global Disciples)

Even so, the Prince of Darkness does hold sway over much of Siberia and the rest of Russia. The Joshua Project estimates there are over 15 million unreached Russian people, and only 1.46 percent of the population is Evangelical Christian.

One group of Christians in Siberia is forging into unreached territory with the Gospel — not by land, but by water.

“Some of the places that are so difficult to reach, the churches have bought small boats and they take them up the rivers to reach these remote areas where there are no churches, there are no witnesses, and it’s there that they do outreach.”

One of the churches with these floating ministry hubs goes by the name ‘938.’ Tim was intrigued and asked what it means.

“They said that it is named after Matthew 9:38, which says, ‘Ask the Lord’ or ‘Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.’”

The meaning doesn’t stop there. “Every morning at 9:38 am, the members of this church gather and they spend time praying that God would send workers into the harvest field.”

Global Disciples trains denominational leaders in Siberia to make disciples for Christ. Their hope is that these churches would then send their discipled members to go make more disciples in an expanding Gospel movement.

(Image courtesy of Global Disciples)

“That’s actually what we are starting to see. We’re seeing people being sent, people serving the Lord,…and they’re taking the Gospel message.”

Tim says their biggest need right now from the global Body of Christ is prayer.

“We want people to pray that God would raise up leaders and church planters who would go into these remote areas with the Gospel where the Gospel hasn’t been or where there’s little witness at all. So if people would pray with us for that — that we would be able to do trainings and send more workers into the harvest — that’s what we would appreciate.”

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*Last name withheld for security purposes.

Header photo courtesy of Simon Matzinger via Pixabay.

Many Christians in the west are buying Christmas gifts for those who have everything. But India Partners encourages the purchase of a boat or similar gift this Christmas for someone who lost everything in the tsunami of 2004. Brent Hample with India Partners says, "More than 450 billion dollars will be spent at Christmas time, a lot of it on gifts that end up in the closet, under the bed or simply not used. We're offering a great way to show the love of Christ where Jesus isn't very well known."

Hample says the tsunami destroyed fishing boats — a way of life for many in this area. $490 purchases a boat, or $49 buys a share of one. He says it provides opportunities for ministry in an area antagonistic to the Gospel. "People ask, 'Who paid for your boat? We know you can't afford it.' Well, I got this from…' and they mention the name of the local Christian agency that we work with. It opens the door to share the Gospel."

Hample says over the last four years, these gifts have softened the hearts of those who had been antagonistic to Christians. "Love can show many forms," says Hample. "Tangible ways (in this part of India) include boats, nets, huts. Helping people with their families and the things they need to survive is just a reflection of the spiritual love that Jesus commanded us to have, especially for people in need."

The program is called Gifts Worth Giving and India Partners is providing a wide assortment of ways to help. Go to IndiaPartners.org to purchase a gift that could make an eternal difference.