Pastor Richard Hergesheimer sits in his office musing at one tangible benefit of his Vancouver church, First Lutheran, granting sanctuary to former KGB staffer Mikhail Lennikov: increased church attendance.

Usually in the summer attendance at weekly services can drop to 80 people, he said Tuesday. "I don't think we've been under 100."

He's not sure how exactly the rise in numbers has related to Lennikov living in the church basement since June 2 to avoid deportation.

Hergesheimer said those attending services in recent months have included new people who likely heard of the church through Lennikov-related media reports. Some come back, some don't.

Some congregation members have actually been showing up more often than they would otherwise. But, Hergesheimer pondered, that could also be a product of the recession and people travelling less.

He's certainly been buoyed by the support the church has received from complete strangers, in phone calls and emails. He's even had pats on the back from people he'd never expect would support the church breaking the law to help someone the federal government has deemed inadmissible due to his KGB work experience.

"It's been an interesting experience," he said. "I'm not sure [granting sanctuary] is a recipe for church growth. It's a pretty high stakes game to play."

Otherwise a resident of South Burnaby, Lennikov decided seeking refuge at First Lutheran would give him a better chance to fight Ottawa's decision to deport him and allow him to at least see his wife and teenaged son a few days a week, instead of not at all.

Based on past cases elsewhere, Hergesheimer said the congregation is aware Lennikov could be in sanctuary for up to two years.

So far, it's been easier than they imagined. The church building on Wales Street near E. 42nd Avenue, is large enough that Lennikov isn't in the way, and child care and English-as-a-second-language classes bring people around for him to interact with if he wishes.

Along with helping out with small chores, Lennikov even filled in for the church secretary when she went on vacation for two weeks.

The federal government's efforts to kick Lennikov out of Canada also come at a time when they haven't looked after their own citizens abroad, Hergesheimer said, citing the cases of Suaad Hagi Mohamud and Abousfian Abdelrazik, Canadians unjustly detained in African countries.

"There's been a series of screw-ups by the government and these are citizens of this country and they didn't bring them home"–at least not right away.

Ottawa has yet to show what evidence it has that Lennikov would be a security risk. "I think there's a whole lot of people who don't understand [the government's decision]."

Hergesheimer said he once asked Lennikov why he didn't just spend an afternoon at a movie to get a break from his self-imposed prison. Chances were slim border services agents would be lying in wait outside the church.

"He said, 'No, because I gave my word to the Canadian government this is where I'll be.' This is a man of considerable integrity.

"He's extremely honest, in fact to his detriment–he told them (immigration officials) he was KGB."

wchow@burnabynewsleader.com