Russia was not in our plans originally but through miraculous provision and guidance we got to visit this amazing country. The Russian people we had the privilege to meet at various churches truly know how to practice hospitality – just as we as believers are commanded to do.
We received a particularly warm welcome from one of our own team members’, Tim’s family. It was a beautiful reunion especially since Tim had not seen them in a year.
After a day of rest we were divided into three groups that went to three different regions: Krasnodar, Sochi and Anapa.
Krasnodar
The team that went to Krasnodar spent the majority of their time with the youth during youth nights, hosting Bible studies and language classes but particularly building relationships with them during the day. The youth were very receptive and hungry to talk about the Lord.
Lizé shares two testimonies:
We had the privilege to be hosted by a young woman and her family. She had a lot of hurt from abandonment by her father. One evening we had the opportunity to talk to her, we shared about God’s fatherly love and she received a lot of breakthrough. She testified that it’s crazy how the Lord sends strangers to help you get perspective.
Another young woman I met was part of the youth group and one morning I missed church because I went for a walk with her. It turned out to be such an appointment from God because I could share my testimony with her. She asked me about baptism and I asked her what she thought about it. She said that she is actually not a Christian yet because it seems like so much pressure to be a good person. I could then tell her the Gospel and the Holy Spirit worked through me to say the right things. We also talked a lot about forgiveness and I could tell that she was touched. Later on she sent me a message from which she told me that she got saved.
Sochi
The Sochi team was hosted by Tim’s family and another family.
They mostly did street evangelism with Tim’s dad and teen ministry with the other host family. They also got to visit a few churches in Sochi.
They were also blessed with food from their hosts and were even able to go ice skating and watch an ice hockey game.
Anapa
The Anapa team were hosted by members of the church there, as well as a lady that taught English classes. Communication was interesting at times as we relied a lot on Google Translate to help us understand each other.
The team were lavished with food but even more so with friendly hospitality. Ministry mostly consisted of spending time and building relationships with hosts and other members of the church. They attended a Bible study, youth evening and church services.
Elize shares her testimony:
I have never been met with such great hospitality from strangers. We felt like family in a matter of days. Ministry looked very different here, merely but not less important, encouraging each other around kitchen tables through testimonies and impromptu worship sessions.
Stories told to us by our host and what he learnt from it really stood out to me. He said that he met Jesus in a dream once and another time when He got home at night there was a figure standing behind his house and could sense it meant him harm, but he started to worship and the figure disappeared. He said that despite the visions he has seen he prizes the Word of God above it all.
The church members of Anapa heard that some of us were going to Moscow and were very concerned about us because some were walking in sandals despite the cold. A member of the church then proceeded to send us to a shop to buy warm clothes.
Moscow & St. Petersburg
The older team members, the Veterans they called themselves had a chance to go visit one of our Global friends and his family in Moscow. The time in Moscow was brief but wisdom and some more testimonies were shared, again around a kitchen table. The Veterans had a dream come true opportunity to go to St. Petersburg and see the Venice of Russia for themselves.
The time in Russia was a time of refreshment through tremendous hospitality and encouragement. We stand in amazement at how the Lord opened up doors upon doors for us to visit Russia.
Love,
Global Challenge One Year Team 2025