This year, our congregation put on a Christmas performance with a large number of musical elements and songs, all aimed at glorifying the newborn Christ. The essence of the performance was the idea that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the Messiah, and it is important for the born Savior to always be the center of this holiday.
At the scheduled time for the performance, the House of Prayer was filled with people who had received invitations. Believers were eager to bring someone they knew. This time, many people who had never entered the House of Prayer before came. We had been inviting many of them for a long time, but only now did they respond to the invitation. We intentionally oriented the performance not only for children but also for families. Therefore, as they say, “both old and young” came to the celebration.
The hall, which accommodates 80 people, was overcrowded, and those who arrived later had to watch the performance from standing positions. The performance lasted just over an hour, and the time passed unnoticed, with the emotional connection between the performers and the audience felt throughout the evening. The climax of the performance was the distribution of the long-awaited gifts.
The village of Priiskovoye is located in a remote area, approximately 850 meters (2788 feet) above sea level, and is home to about 300 people. There is a school, but the classes consist of only 2-3 students. In this village, during the winter season, there is a ski resort for extreme sports enthusiasts. The majority of the population works in the service industry on the slopes and at the foot of the mountains. In the summer, the residents mainly go to the taiga to gather natural resources, which they use for food and sell to supplement their family budget.
The main beliefs in this area are shamanism, naturism, and neo-paganism. It is very difficult to find work in the village, which may be why many people suffer from alcohol addiction. Currently, there is no church in the village, but for the past eight years, the Abakan Church has been organizing various events for the residents of the settlement at least twice a year. During this time, some residents have started studying in Abakan and constantly seek opportunities to connect with believers.
Even during the pandemic, Christians came to the village for Christmas and distributed gifts with biblical literature to households. Over time, the church team has developed warm and trusting relationships with the village administration. The church team is always welcomed and given the opportunity to conduct lessons on biblical and moral education.
At the end of spring, after the quarantine was lifted, the administration of Priiskovoye invited the believers to organize a celebration for the children. This is another opportunity to introduce children and their parents to the Gospel!
Please pray for the residents of the settlement, that God will bring people to Christ!
How many children live around us who are deprived of the opportunity to feel brightness and joy of a festive atmosphere? How can they see care and participation in their life? The first Saturday of summer, we, the Word of Truth Church team, installed sound equipment and other inventory in the yard apartment building. The children had the chance to play outside games and races, inflatable slide and trampoline, face art and songs with movements, of course – sweet prizes and treats for all participants.
The holiday was a success! Though and certain changes in society. People have become careful, and a lack of initiative. They also beware of large people clusters. Some parents, walking around with children, so and did not dare to join this celebration. After all, as it is written “Many are called, but few are chosen …” most of the children at the party were not from the home, on the site which the event took place, but from the nearest neighborhood.
By the grace of the Lord we have succeeded unite the church and find contacts and build relationships with local residents. Thank you everyone who prays and supports the ministry Church “Word of Truth” in Omsk! We are praying for you.
