The ice is breaking at the Arctic Circle

A group of devout Koreans visited our church north of the Arctic Circle in Siberia. The Evenks, an unreached people group, live there. At first, they were very cautious about strangers, but after just a short time, their reservations vanished into thin air.

The church is located in Tura, the administrative center of the Evenks. In winter, temperatures here sometimes drop to as low as minus 60 degrees. Despite the extreme conditions, a small Christian community has been growing for some time. In the meantime, a house has actually been purchased for the gatherings. Nevertheless, for many people from the Evenk people, it was difficult for a long time to trust and attend the services.

The Korean Christians found an unusual way to reach out. They offered free professional massages. Since the Evenks look a bit like Koreans, a natural rapport quickly developed. Many people gratefully accepted the offer and came to the church building. The demand was so high that not everyone who was interested could be treated.

While people waited in the foyer for their massage, conversations about faith arose. Church staff used this time to listen, answer questions, and pray for those waiting. For many, it was their first personal encounter with Christians.

Sunday finally brought a big surprise. For the first time, the church auditorium was completely full. At least ten new visitors attended the service. Three of them made a conscious decision to follow Jesus Christ during the service.

For the small church in Tura, this is an encouraging breakthrough. After a long period of mistrust, the ice seems to have been broken. Please pray for the young believers and that many more people from the Evenki people will hear the Gospel and find hope in Jesus.