Christians are cycling across parts of Europe and Russia to "share the gospel with people in towns and villages", the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) has announced.

The Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (UECB) missionary expedition is undertaking the huge 15,000km bike ride, which commenced on 13 May and will not end until 2 September.

The gruelling trek has seen groups of cyclists take charge of different stages of the route, which cuts across Germany, Belarus, Poland, Ukraine and Russia.

In total the route was split into four stages, with two riders continuing throughout the entire journey - Vladimir Skovpen, a Russian cyclist who won the Soviet National Championship in 1980, and Levon Sarkisov, a dentist.

According to the BWA, the teams have cycled hundreds of kilometres every single day, stopping where they can to meet local Christians and engage in evangelism activities.

The inspiring journey has also seen members of the tour lead various church services, festivals and other events, and has allowed the team to witness many people accepting the gospel.

The BWA has reported that Yuri Sipko, president of UECB, praised the cyclists in an interview with a Christian radio station in Russia for their willingness to "fight their way through on foot or on bicycles to reach even the most remote village and the most despairing person in order to bring them the message of God's kingdom.

"They do this so that Russia might be awakened to new life," he said.

The mammoth journey began in Varel, Germany on 13 May, and is scheduled to conclude in Vladivostok, Russia, on 2 September.

[Source: BWA]

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