Testimony of Sergey Prokopov

«And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them..." »
(Luke 24:35).

     Meeting the Lord Jesus for a new believer is the beginning of the new way, new life and new countdown. The person who has met the Lord of life now knows the purpose of his or her own earthly being. The Word of God says that we have been "called to proclaim the perfections of the Him Who called us from darkness into His glorious light" (1 Peter 2:9).
     The group called "The Evangelist" is doing exactly that in the new year - proclames the Lord's perfections. We have just had five evangelistic outreach services: January 10 at UO 68/3, January 16 at UO 68/1, January 24 at UO 68/8, February 20 at UO 68/7. (UO in Russian stands for the prison camp)
     Each and every service was somehow different from the other. At UO-8 we received permission from administration to conduct our service on the concrete square ground. The weather was warm and favorable as it can only be in spring. Everybody was listening to us preach and sing.
     At UO-7 which has always been known for its lack of space due to the absence of a clubhouse we had our service right in the canteen, third time in a row already.
     It's out first time at UO-1 and the men there showed great interest in the Christian literature.
     At UO-2 we were amazed with the warm and favorable climate the prisoners gave us. Our brothers have been baptized in the Holy Spirit and are now working here. They had also been water-baptized and have earned a good name and a good reputation. The canteen was very large and could housed over five hundred people in it. After the service we had a rainfall of questions that fell on us fron every side.
     Mission "The Evangelist" gave out 400 Bibles to the officers staff of all camps, the literature that we received last year from the Association of Christian Churches. It was a part of the project called "The Bible" when the Caucasian Region received 3,000 Bibles. As ACC President Igor Nikitin stated for the goal of the distribution - it is aimed at non-believers, so that they would hear the Word of God.
     The prison ministry outreach is picking up as the time goes. The brothers who were born again in prisons are taking part in it more and more along with the others who remember the words of the Lord Jesus: "I was in prison, and you came to me" (Mt. 25:35). Sisters take their active part in the ministry as well. This work greatly is in need of the spiritual and material support. The prize if guarranteed (stored in heaven).
     Apostle Paul says: "Remember prisoners as if you were bonded with them yourselves" (Heb. 13:3). Compassion and love is what these people need, tormented and weared by sin. So let us be zealous to the end.

Testimony of Alexander Mesherin

    It is Saturday, February, 20. Today we are heading to the prison TB hospital to preach the Gospel. The weather this morning is as gloomy as the place of our today's destination: it is cold, cloudy and damp.
    Clicks of electric locks revived my memories of the past and some oppressive anguish and anxiety came jumping right into my heart. I drive these feelings and thoughts away and see my brothers coming along with me, and most important - there is Jesus Himself walkinf ahead of us to that very place where reign the evil, hatred and violence. That is why I do not fear the abrupt cried of the officers, it is right on the contrary, my heart there is a deep feeling of assurance and trust in God for the work that we are doing here.
     The speakers and instruments have been set up. I look into the eyes of those who have come to the service. Some of them look straight and serious, others are kind of hiding a laugh in the corner of their mouths - but I do know that many of them are just showing off, they have that fear - not to look like the ones that the peers would laugh and mock at.
    I do believe the Lord made this meeting possible - so they could learn about the true freedom from sin offered by the Lord to the world's outcasts, and about God's love to them. We ourselves, the former criminals taken out of the pit of death, healed from the deadly diseases, we are now free, are now children of God and heirs to His glory!
      The time of the service passes quickly: just a few hymns, a sermon, and a personal testimony in conclusion. Brother calls for repentance. The faces of the men are in confusion. The Lord is doing His work of revival now, right here and I am praying that God encourages those whom He has appointed to be saved today, that they could step forward at the call for repentance, to step forward regardless the mind of the crowd!
    My heart starts beating harder with joy - as I observe this first man coming out to the front. And then there's another one, and one more, and another one again. How great are the ways of the Lord, His love and His mercy! We pray for those who stepped out for the call and a few other prisoners are joining us asking for prayer.
      So, it's time to go now. They ask us not to forget about them and help us carry back the equipment. How glad I am that God has such a love for His creation!
    So passed another day worth living for. And then, there was a way on to another prison camp, and there was amazement expressed in the faces of the guards as they watched the men behind the bars gracefully receiving the Word of God and praying. This is what the Lord Jesus is doing today in His Love and great mercy.
      Thanks be to Him, glory and praise forever.
      Amen.