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By Elliott Wright San Diego, California, March 10, 2009--The importance of youth and young adult ministry held center stage in San Diego at the 2009 consultation of the United Methodist Russia Initiative, which covers Russia and several adjoining countries. Fourteen students and young professionals brought a spirit of newness and a sense of continuity to the March 5-7 event, the 14th such consultation since The United Methodist Church was reborn in former Soviet territories. "We are at a time of changing generations," said the Rev. Dr. Sergei Nikolaev, president of the United Methodist Theological Seminary in Moscow. "Young people born into or joining the church are becoming mature leaders." The denomination in Russia was reactivated almost 20 years ago, having once had mission work in St. Petersburg and on the far east coast around Vladivostok. The Russia Initiative includes Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus, and is part of the United Methodist episocpal area of Eurasia. It is sponsored by the General Board of Global Ministries. There are today 116 United Methodist congregations, all with indigenous pastoral leadership, within the initiative countries, according to Bishop Hans Växby, leader of the Eurasia Area. The United Methodist seminary currently has 48 students in residential and extension programs. A second seminary center is located in Almaty, Khazakstan. Delegation from Russia and Ukraine A delegation of 27 from Russia and Ukraine were joined at the consultation by some 140 Russia Initiative participants from the United States. This enthusiastic mission venture depends upon partnership relations between Russian and US congregations. The California-Pacific United Methodist Annual (regional) Conference hosted the 2009 consultation. The conference is deeply involved with the United Methodists in the Vladivostok area. Four of the young adults at the consultation were from Ukraine, the others from Russia. They spent a week prior to the meeting as the guests of San Diego's Foothills United Methodist Church, a congregation engaged in the Russia Initiative. “The Church Changed My Life” All of the young adults took part in a consultation forum. They had opportunities to speak individually and to answer questions. Two young pastors, the Rev. Natalya Botova from Samara, Russia, and the Rev. Kira Volkova from Kirov, said they had been in the church since they were young, having been guided by family. On the other hand, Anton Kuzmin, a college student from St. Petersburg, came to the church only last year. "Some of my friends make jokes about me going to the Methodist church," said Mr. Kuzmin, "but I keep going because going to church changed my life. My mother, who is Orthodox, did not understand what I was doing. I finally persuaded her to go with me to church once, and now she knows what I do on Sundays. I am trying to influence my friends and my family because they also need to know Jesus Christ." The panel was moderated by the Rev. Michael Ratliff, associate general secretary of the Division on Ministries with Young People of the General Board of Discipleship, and Elena Kim, director of education and church development of the Eurasia Area of the church. Mr. Ratliff and Kendra Dunbar of the General Board of Global Ministries served as staff for the young adult delegation. Prior to the panel, Ekaterina Pugacheva of St. Petersburg told the consultation that she sees great promise for successful youth ministry in Russia because younger people do not have the same hostility to faith that was common in the communist era. "People are coming to church through their children," she said, noting that she first went to a United Methodist church when she was seven years old. The St. Petersburg District sponsors an annual Student Forum that each year has an increase of participation, up to 150 in 2008. The four Ukrainian students said that they came to the small United Methodist community in Lviv several years ago because they wanted to learn English, and classes were offered by missionaries. They found the Methodist spiritual and social way appealing. "Student ministry is still the heart of the mission in our city," said Iryna Pyrch. "It is an ecumenical Protestant work, but some of us have joined The United Methodist Church and are hoping soon to have a church of our own." Andrey Tatchin, also from Lviv and enrolled part-time in the Moscow seminary, spoke at a special service marking the 100th anniversary of the official registration of Methodism in Czarist Russia. He said that young people in his culture are looking "to know God with their hearts, their minds, and their hands." Anniversaries The anniversary year also marks the 120th year since the first Methodist church opened in Czarist Russia, in present-day Lithuania. A new book on the history of Methodism in Russia from 1889 through 1931 was unveiled at the consultation, and its author, the Rev. Dr. S T Kimbrough, gave a talk on this history at the anniversary service. The book is published by the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History and contains many early photographs and copies of historical documents. Bishop Mary Ann Swenson of the California-Pacific Area brought greetings at the special celebration. She noted the importance of the church partnerships in the Russia Initiative, seeing the work of the initiative as saying "Yes" to God for the future. Upper Room and Walk to Emmaus One highlight of the consultation was a presentation on the introduction into Eurasian United Methodism of The Upper Room, a daily devotional guide and the Walk to Emmaus, an experience in spiritual growth. The Upper Room is now being published in Russian, using writers from Russia. The first Walk to Emmaus was last summer, and others are planned. Both The Upper Room and the Walk to Emmaus are ministries of the General Board of Discipleship. The presentation was made by Joan Floyd of the Discipleship staff. Financial Challenges In his report on the church in Eurasia, Bishop Växby reviewed financial challenges caused by global economic conditions and declining contributions from US churches. He said that Russian congregations are trying to become more self-sufficient, and he forecast positive outcomes for the church despite a weaker economy. "There is no limit to what God can do," said the bishop, "when we put what we have and what we are in the hands of Jesus." Bishop Växby was joined by Bishop Swenson in leading a service of Holy Communion at the conclusion of the consultation. The next Russia Initiative Consultation will be in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 7-9, 2011. Staff for the initiative includes the Rev. James Athearn, a retired pastor in Virginia, coordinator, and Vladimir Shaporenko, an executive with the Evangelization and Church Growth unit of Global Ministries. Information on the initiative can be obtained by contacting Mr. Athearn at jimathearn@gmail.com or Mr. Shaporenko at vshapore@gbgm-umc.org. Elliott Wright is the information officer of the General Board of Global Ministries.
Date posted: Mar 10, 2009 |
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