First Sabbath Offering

Russia, by area, is the biggest country in the world, spanning 6,612,073.2 square miles (17,125,191 km2) with a population of 147,000,000. People from more than 180 nationalities inhabit this vast territory, and in their turn, they profess different religious beliefs. The most prominent is Russian Orthodox (41.1%), followed by other Christian faiths (6.3%), Islam (6.5%), Neopagans and Tengrists (1.2%), Buddhism (1.2%), non-practicing believers (25.2%), Atheists (13%), with the remainder not professing any religion.

Since the beginning of the SDARM, the message of the everlasting gospel advanced here under very difficult circumstances. Many believers had to suffer severe persecution—and some witnessed for the crucified and resurrected Saviour at the cost of their life.

In the end of 1990’s, a Bible worker with his wife moved to the central region of Russia for the purpose of carrying out missionary work. As a result of their efforts and prayers, a group of believers was organized. But they didn’t have a place for meetings and worship. Finally, in 2006 they found a small house on a piece of land in Prokhorovka, an urban administrative center of the Prokhorovsky District of Belgorod Oblast—an agricultural area producing grains, sugar beets, sunflowers, and fruit along the Psyol River southeast of the city of Kursk, home to vast iron deposits.

We clearly saw the hand of God at work when He miraculously removed many obstacles and blessed the purchase of this house. The work in this region has continued to grow, and it was not long before the house became too small to seat all the worshipers of God. A few years ago, we received a permit from the authorities and began building a house of worship. The brethren have made donations and worked hard, but to finish this project we need the generous help of people around the world who love the Lord. The completion of this project will give the opportunity to develop further the gospel work in the neighboring regions, as a beacon of light in spreading the last message of salvation. May the Lord bless each one whose heart is ready to assist the success of the present truth in this region of the world!

Your brethren from the church of Prokhorovka and the Russian Union