Years ago, Irina, a Russian chemist, was wondering how life began. She also wanted to know how people could extend life. In all her secular studies and work, she never found the solution.

Looking elsewhere for answers, Irina wanted to study the Bible, but the local Russian Orthodox church didn't offer classes. One day, while waiting for the doctor, she happened upon the Christian Information Center in Berdsk. There, Irina learned how life began and how to extend life—eternally.

"She reminds me a little of St. Paul," says Jennifer Wolfgramm, wife of missionary Luke Wolfgramm. "He went from ardent persecutor to ardent missionary. She went from ardent atheist to ardent Christian.”

As God's timing would have it, Irina quit her job around the same time the WELS mission in Russia was looking for someone to work at the center. Irina took the job and is now one of four deaconesses in Russia who have been supported by WELS Kingdom Workers since 2008.

These women's work is vital at a time when the culture of the Orthodox church has regained strength and anything Western is being rejected. "Friendship evangelism works in Russia. It needs to be the Russians themselves sharing their faith. Then the people don't see it as foreign. They think, 'If my friend goes and it's okay, then I can go too,' " says Jennifer, who has lived in Russia for 13 years.

As these women fill important roles in the congregations, they excel at sharing their faith in different ways, with their different gifts.

"Lena [a deaconess like Irina] has a clear grasp of law and gospel. She is so competent and capable and really wants to help," says Jennifer. Lena works with another deaconess, Julia, to prepare for Sunday school, which almost 50 children attend each week. Lena also is good at knowing everyone's personal needs. "People in Russian congregations aren't used to calling the pastor for their physical needs, so they don't think to call Luke," says Jennifer. Lena's knowledge of each member's situation helps the mission staff reach out and care for the whole person.

"Julia is fantastic with the little kids," says Jennifer. Julia publishes a newspaper for them—15 pages, front and back. She writes stories and includes children's pictures and poems. The newspaper is distributed throughout all the congregations and to the children's friends. Julia also organizes vacation Bible school and holds two-day children's seminars. "There are lots of family problems in Iskitim, so anything positive we can do for kids is a good thing," says Jennifer.