Welcome to our Home!

Serving in Siberia

Family Photo August 2008 Welcome to ColdKerins.com, our attempt at bridging the gap between North America and Central Siberia! While the temperatures in Siberia can drop to as low as minus 60 degrees, our hearts are warmed by the passion of our Russian and Buryat brothers and sisters. We’re excited to be a part of what’s going on in Buryatia. We moved to Far East Russia in January, 2003 for language studies and then on to Buryatia in October 2004, where we have since been privileged to serve along side local believers in planting and building churches. We've been involved in leadership development, small groups, preaching, outdoors, camp, men’s, children’s and youth ministries. In addition to serving in the church, we also direct a student organization called “Compass.” Our goal is to help students from all faith and religious backgrounds grow in the areas of intellectual, physical, spiritual and social development. In doing so, we believe they will be better equipped to deal with challenges and more likely to find the true meaning and purpose in life.

Vision

Our vision this year is to help Salvation Church continue growing into a healthy and mission-minded body of believers who are effectively reaching out to those in the community. Part of this vision includes helping the church obtain a building for worship services and other ministries including a Christian Bookstore in an important and unchurched area of the city. For more details on the church building project, check out the Special Needs section on this site.

Compass’ vision remains centered on providing a safe place for students to gather and discuss relevant themes in a way that brings stability to what is often a very challenging time of studies and “growing-up.” While Gardner remains director of this organization, he has stepped back and asked another family to coordinate the program for this year, freeing him up to be more involved in equipping leaders in the church.

We live and work in the city of Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Republic of Buryatia. The city is growing and we’re excited to see the church having an impact on people’s lives and providing hope and strength amidst numerous challenges and difficulties. We’re excited about what lies ahead!

Restored Buddhist Temple in Ulan-Ude

More than one third of Ulan-Ude's total population of 450,000 are Buryats. There are approximately one million Buryats in Russia and Mongolia - most of whom are Tibetan Buddhists. Their ancestors originally migrated to Russia from Mongolia, located just south of Russia's border. For more information on the Buryat people, check out the Helpful Links section of our web site which will take you to other sites related to Buryatia and Tibetan Buddhism.

The church here has typically grown through prison and drug and alcohol rehabilitation ministries. We're excited to be part of a church plant focused on reaching other parts of society as well with the life-changing message of hope in found in Jesus alone. The church we are serving with desires to share God’s message of hope with families and people of all social/economic classes while being sensitive in particular to the local cultures. Salvation Church is presently engaged in a building project in order ot better reach out to and minister to the community.

The Central Russian Baptist Church in Ulan-Ude