SLEIGH-BELLS RING

As the mission's Mercedes van pressed its way, two hours out of the city of Perm, in the heart of the Ural Mountains, the roads became covered with compact snow and ice. To our stunned amazement, coming the other way on a little country road were three sleds driven by one horse each. We stopped to take pictures, only to be invited by the lead sled to take a ride on this typical Russian, Siberian sleigh. With an arched, wood harness and sleigh-bells gently jingling, the horse responded to the tug on the reigns and off went Sara, her brother Fred and Merlin, our team member. About ten minutes later upon their return, we had discovered that the proprietor of these sleds and horses was a local mayor and former Communist Party director. He had offered these sled rides to the local orphans out of the goodness of his heart just to cheer them up at this Christmas Season. As Fred and Merlin departed to take better pictures, Sara pressed the conversation from the temporal to the eternal. It wasn't long before the Holy Spirit did its work in drawing men to Jesus. In just a few moments time, this divine appointment, due to our obedience, turned out to be, NO DISSAPOINTMENT!

Just like the encounter of Philip and the eunuch in the book of Acts, the man's inquiring heart said, "What must I do to be saved?" This truly was a miracle encounter as the Holy Spirit convinced this man, his good deeds; even to the least of these orphan children was not adequate for his salvation. As is so often the case, after three generations of Communism and Atheism, Sara had to help him formulate a sincere heart-felt sinner's prayer.

Upon completing his calling on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, noticeable tears were brimming at the corners of his eyes. His heart had been touched and transformed by the presence of Jesus Christ. Now his good works would have eternal merit, as they were done in the Name of the Lord. He would now be showing forth God's goodness and mercy to his generation and to the least of these little ones. Truly, our steps are ordered of the Lord, even chance encounters or so we assume they are, can be divine appointments by the directive of the Spirit of God to the salvation of friends, family and total strangers.

Our hearts greatly rejoiced as we solidified the encounter with a prayer of thanksgiving in our vehicle as we pressed further to be part of an orphanage outreach in the next village. All the while, our hearts were overwhelmed in reflection on heavens rejoicing for one sinner who repented. Daily encounters such as these were evident due to the covering of prayers of God's people. Some had sown, some had watered and this was God's hour to bring in the increase. Siberia is ready for a mighty harvest of salvation. Prophetically, God spoke that Siberia would become as a watered garden, blossoming and blooming abundantly, filled with abounding and remaining fruit at every frontier.

Help us sow water and harvest in the vastness of this grand land with its great people, twice the land area of the Continental United States. The church plants in the last ten years can still be numbered in the low hundreds. Millions await their first time hearing of the Gospel and the planting of their lives in a local Church Body with pastors after the heart of God. Impact Ministries is called to work alongside these indigenous churches, lifting up their hands as Hur and Joshua did for Moses, until the battle is won and the victory is the Lord's. Thank you for participating with your prayers and with your giving.