In the endless taiga, about a hundred kilometres south of the Arctic Circle, lies the small village of Turochansk. In winter, it is a remote world of snow and ice. There is only a few hours of daylight each day and temperatures can drop to as low as 60 degrees below zero. In summer, the sun barely sets and large river cruise ships dock here. The former place of exile for political dissidents is now a tourist attraction. In this remote area, evangelist Yevgeny Shchirsky lives and works with his wife Katya and their eight children.
To the ends of the known world
Of the approximately 3,500 residents of Toeroechansk, Brother Sjtsjirski has already invited quite a few to a gathering at the place of worship. “We make a particular effort to reach out to as many people as possible around Christmas and Easter. Many have visited us before; some come from time to time; and a few have stayed and become members of our small congregation.” But Brother Yevgeni Shchirsky’s calling goes beyond leading the congregation in Turochansk: “Our greatest concern is for the remote villages in our province.”
The area he is referring to is about four times the size of the Netherlands. There are about twenty small villages here. The villages along the river are relatively easy for the evangelists to reach. In winter they use a snowmobile and in summer a boat. But a number of villages are far away, deep in the taiga. “A journey there easily takes two weeks and is difficult and dangerous. But there, too, live souls who do not know the Lord. For them, too, salvation is found only in Jesus Christ.”
A shared mission
It has become a joint mission for the congregation, which comprises around ten families. “When I arrived here in 2020, I took the entire burden of the missionary work upon my own shoulders,” says Yevgeny. “I tried to visit all twenty settlements in the area, both in summer and winter, within the space of a year. An impossible task. I asked the Lord for wisdom and was struck by the story of Moses: my father-in-law advised me to share the workload with the brothers in the congregation. Now we have a team of evangelists, each of whom is responsible for a number of villages. Without Andrej, Michael and Ivan, we wouldn’t be able to visit all the settlements twice a year. Their families are also involved in the work. We share a common mission, are involved in each other’s travels, listen to each other’s experiences and share in the blessing the Lord bestows on our labour. I think that is the secret of our bond.”
The sense of community and mutual love within the congregation is indeed striking. Everyone looks after one another’s children; they really are the congregation’s children. The adults treat one another with extraordinary warmth and kindness, and visit one another frequently. After the service, on Sundays and during the week, the small church hall is quickly transformed into a dining room for a communal meal. Everyone is welcome, and every family brings something to share: salads, bread, fish, meat.
Shared responsibility
Yevgeny and Katya’s eldest daughter is married; the other seven children still live at home. The teenagers, Ilya and Vitaly, are now also involved in the missionary work. They take care of the technical maintenance of the various vehicles and accompany the team on their missionary trips.
The team of evangelists also includes firefighter Andrej, firefighter and diver Ivan, and electrician Michael, supported by their wives. Michael, Yevgeny’s brother-in-law, is not originally from the north. When asked what motivates him to live in such an inhospitable place as Turochansk, he replies: “The north has a special allure. The purity, the silence, the seclusion. Here, the soul comes to life. I once went back to civilisation, but the north kept calling. So we returned. I don’t think we’ll ever leave again.”
Not going is not an option
Every evangelist visits a number of villages. These missionary journeys are not without danger. Everywhere they go, they encounter problems with alcohol, drugs and violence. The inhabitants mostly make their living from hunting. They all have guns, and when combined with alcohol, this is dangerous.
Yevgeny is responsible for the most remote areas, some four hundred to six hundred kilometres from Turochansk. This presents additional challenges. The route runs right through the taiga, which places great demands on the scooters. Moreover, the indigenous people there, whose religion is deeply rooted in animism, often react in a downright aggressive manner. “It can sometimes move me deeply to realise that there are souls living everywhere there who do not know the Lord. Not going is not an option. It is our mission. But it requires thorough preparation and much prayer. We are grateful to have a praying congregation behind us. We are also grateful for our praying friends in the Netherlands.”
Invite Yevgeny and Katya
Missionaries Yevgeny and Katya Shchirsky hope to visit the Netherlands this autumn at the invitation of Friedenstimme. God willing, they will be speaking at CGK congregations on 4 and 11 October. Please contact us for further information.
