Holy Trinity Church, Omsk, Russia
On my first blog I would like to report on my trip to Russia last month. Since 1991, I have made 45 trips to Russia, four trips to Latvia, three trips to Ukraine, two trips to Kazakhstan, two trips to Moldova and one trip to Belarus. I chose to concentrate on Russia as it is the dominant country and what happens there affects all the surrounding countries. My wife, Evelyn, accompanied me on most of the trips. In addition, on her own, she, with a team of women conducted several Women’s Conferences in Russia and Ukraine. Later, I will write more on Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States but will stick to Omsk, Russia for this blog.
In April of 1992, with a team from Evangel Cathedral in Spartanburg, SC, we flew into Moscow and then caught a flight on Aerolfot on to Omsk. Yuroslav Pikulyak was the pastor there. He went there after graduating from Calvary Bible School in Jelgava, Latvia. He stared his church a year before we arrived. A hall seating about 800 was rented for our meeting. We had meetings there for several nights. Practically everyone in attendance accepted Christ in these services.
Out of the 800 in attendance each night, only five or six people indicated that they owned a Bible. We gave a New Testament to everyone who attended. I returned for another evangelistic campaign the following year and then in 1995, we rented a large sports arena that seated approximately 8,000. An estimated 5,000 people were in attendance each night. We rented this arena for two nights paying $10,000 each night, a total of $20,000 and an extra $1000 for police protection. 80% of the people came forward to accept Christ. Each person in attendance received a free New Testament.
After this crusade a newspaper article went out all over Russia with absurd statements that the American preachers were buying the souls of the Russian people and stealing their children. Altogether, I have made 10 trips to Omsk. Each time I took a team with me. We went back to teach the church and to strengthen the believers. Also, we sent several containers of humanitarian aid to Omsk.
A lady by the name of Holt Erwin went to Omsk where she spent several years in ministry. She was a member of Evangel Cathedral in Spartanburg, SC. Pastor Yuroslav has since moved to the USA. The church now is led by Pastor Innokente Shantin. Our greatest opposition has been the Russian Orthodox Church. They feel that we are encroaching on their territory and stealing their members. However, the people we reach are unchurched. There really is no competition.
The church in Omsk, Holy Trinity Church, now has their own building. For 15 years they rented a cultural center in downtown Omsk. A few years ago a house was purchased sitting on a large lot on the outskirst of the city but on the bus line. The house was torn down and a beautiful new church is being built. Buses are important in Russia as the vast majority of the population still do not own automobiles.
Holy Trinity Church is well established with a congregation of hundreds of people.
Next week I will write more on Evangel Fellowship International and our work in Russia.
The Ministry Team
(L to R) VitalyYevseyev, Interpreter, Pastor Innokente, Bishop Miles, Debbie & Steve Sawyer, & Stanley Fant.
Inside Holy Trinity Church
(L to R) Dr. Steve & Debbie Sawyer, Vitaly, Bishop Miles & Stanley Fant.
Prayer Line
Children that came forward for prayer.
Team at Holy Trinity Church
Choir
Children Sharing In Service
November 15, 2007
