A local pastor has found unity in the most unlikely of places; Russia. 

Gerry Michalski is the lead pastor at Soul Sanctuary in Winnipeg. His church has a hand in many places throughout the world, including into Ukraine and Russia.

Soul Sanctuary sponsored a church plant in the Altai Republic, located in Siberia. Michalski was later invited to Moscow to teach at a Bible college. That is where the trips started.

"Just encouraging," said Michalski about the reason for the trips. "There is a real need, a real hunger for more knowledge and support."

There is also a real need for peace. Russia and Ukraine have been fighting a highly political war for years. Michalski says both countries are very nationalistic, but when it comes to the Russian and Ukrainian Christian assemblies, the two sides have found a way to come together.

"They represent unity, which is just incredible," Michalski said.

Their unity and their faith are shown through actions. Michalski said there was a pastor in jail and the Christians were paying out of their poorly funded pocketbooks to support the family.

"They are committed," he said. "Their faith, it blows my mind."

Michalski says there is a hunger in Russia and Ukraine for the gospel. That movement has been driven by the youth and the Winnipeg pastor has been encouraged by that.

Michalski spent August 13 to August 22 in Russia, travelling between Moscow and a drug rehabilitation facility in Ivanovo, which is a four-hour drive from Moscow.