This church growth and restoration has resulted in partnerships between established and emerging congregations in urban America and abroad. A recent beneficiary of the church-wide Millennium Funds is in the Baltic States—Sanciai United Methodist Church in Kaunas, Lithuania, where a reconsecration service was held on October 29, in a newly-renovated church building.

Viktorija Kupstaite (left) of the Sanciai congregation in Kaunas is studying theology at Klaipeda University, Lithuania. She hopes to become a Methodist minister. Photo/Courtesy of the United Methodist Church in Lithuania

Two U.S. congregations who made significant grants toward the work in Sanciai, thereby forming partnership with this congregation are: the Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston Salem, North Carolina, and the United Methodist Church of Geneva, Illinois. Additional funding came from matching grants of the General Board of Global Ministries that churches, conferences and individuals gave to the Millennium Fund.

Joining the Sanciai congregation in their reconsecration service was Bishop Hans Vaxby, and clergy and lay persons from the United Methodist congregations. Representatives from Global Ministries, included Deputy General Secretary Randy Day and Assistant General Secretary David Wu of Church Growth and Evangelism, and S. T. Kimbrough, Associate General Secretary for Mission Evangelism.

Sanciai United Methodist church, Lithuania

"The church in Sanciai has a history filled with faithful people, tragic events, and exciting rebirth. In the 1890's a small group of German Christians in Sanciai began to meet for prayer, singing, and Bible study. In 1905 they made a formal connection to the Methodists in Germany and received their first pastor....The congregation built a house of worship and sought permission from the government [to become a formal church].

On January 14, 1911, a service of dedication was held. In [ensuing] years, the church became an active place of Christian worship and ministry...The vibrant church came to a tragic close when war came to Lithuania. After successive invasion by the Soviet, Nazi and again Soviet armies, the church building in Sanciai was closed...

During Soviet times the church building was used as a military warehouse, a dance hall, a cinema and a sports hall. After Lithuania regained independence, the Methodists once again began to gather in the building. In 1997 the Kaunas city council voted to restore ownership of the building to the United Methodist Church in Lithuania. The congregation has been reorganized and now includes members of the pre-war congregation, adults, youth and children...

In the Methodist tradition, the church seeks to blend love of God and neighbors in its activities...The congregation sponsors a home health care ministry, where elderly persons receive visits from social workers, doctors, clergy and other members of the congregation. There are free English classes, youth activities, children and adult Sunday School, and weekly Sunday worship...

Renovation of the church was done with intent of restoring its former beauty while creating a multi-functional place of worship and service for the community...

As the congregation assembled on Sunday, October, 29, the first song they sang was "Jezau Tavo Reikalai," (Jesus We Are Here) the same hymn that was sung at the final closing of their church. This hymn, filled with memories of tragedies past of faithful men and women, is ultimately a hymn of praise to God. Once sung in sadness, it became a hymn of Thanksgiving...." *

* Excerpt from program book of rededication service in Lithuania

November 20, 2000

See also: The United Methodist Church in Lithuania

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