Evangelist Oleg Lyubich has lived and worked in the far North for more than 30 years. And as long as God gives him the strength, he continues. But his time on earth is not endless. If one day he will have to stop, the work of evangelisation on the Arctic tundra must not end. It is his prayer that the next generation will take over.
Then He said to His disciples: The harvest may be great, but there are few workers.
Matthew 9:37-38
Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest that He will send out labourers into His harvest.
Youth trip
Lyubich spends a lot of time equipping young people so that new missionaries will emerge who will diligently and devotedly proclaim the gospel among the inhabitants of this region. This winter, he took a group of young people out onto the tundra. A missionary journey through wintry weather conditions, to also reach people in the remote villages with the gospel. The trip proved not entirely without dangers.
Proclaiming and encouraging
Along the way, they held an evangelisation meeting in Ust-Avam. Forty people came. On Sunday, they gathered to hold a church service and encourage the evangelist couple.
They also wanted to do exactly those two things in Tiksi: evangelise and encourage the brothers. It was a dangerous journey. They covered the first leg safely, but then things went wrong. The ice was already melting and it was treacherous along the way. They sank through the ice.
Fallen through the ice
As if by a miracle, they were able to pass through anyway. Earlier that day they were reminded of the words from Psalm 40:2-4: "Long have I waited for the LORD, and He bowed down to me, and heard my cry for help. He raised me from a pit of swirling water, from muddy mire; He set my feet on a rock and fixed my steps. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see it and fear it, and trust in the LORD." Oleg did not think it would apply concretely to them.
The fuel tank had sprung a leak. The Trekol, a special off-road vehicle for extreme conditions, tilted over and almost went underwater. It was already night when they got the vehicle back on solid ice and were able to drive on to Tiksi. There, the Trekol had to be repaired. Fortunately, the evangelists have a knack for that too.
Singing and giving thanks
On the Saturday they arrived, they invited the residents to a festive evangelisation meeting. The children learned the song "Every hour, every step brings us closer". For many children, it was the first time in their lives they had held a musical instrument in their hands. On Sunday, Holy Communion was allowed to be served.
On the way back, the group visited a feast of reindeer herders, a population group called Nentsen. The Russian authorities forbade meeting in the village hall, so they could only talk and sing with the reindeer herders in the open air. Many reindeer herders invited the missionaries into their tents. The Lord opened doors!
Oleg and his group returned safely on 6 May. Thanks be to God!
