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!
Ministry in Khakassia – Evgeny Kubrin