News (Page 8)

by: Klaus Ulrich Ruof A JOURNEY THAT HAS TO CONTINUE European Central Conferences meeting debates unity within the UMC. (Press release) . FRANKFURT/Main (Germany) – 2017-01-13 – From January 9-11, 2017 the bishops of the three Central Conferences in Europe and up to three cabinet members of the four Episcopal Areas met in Frankfurt, Germany in order to spend time in worship, prayer and intensive Christian Conferencing on the question how to maintain and to strengthen the unity within the…

by: Taavi Hollman Some years ago, the United Methodist congregation in the small town of Kunda, Estonia, almost ceased to exist. Only a few teenagers met occasionally with a pastor. There was no regular work, and there were no services either. With support from the Fund for Mission in Europe, a project called «Year For God» started in August 2015 under the leadership of pastor Robert Tserenkov. Six young people enrolled, all of them students at the Baltic Methodist Theological…

by: Elena Melnikova The first Family Festival under the brand name GROWING TOGETHER for the families affiliated with the United Methodist Church of the Eurasia Episcopal Area took place in Camp Crystal, Voronezh, Russia on June 21-20, 2016. It was our idea to find an approach that will allow families to be together in study and in leisure, in growing spiritually and having fun, in improving relations and enriching experience, in strengthening family spirit and team work, in enjoying sports…

by: Ekaterina Tokareva . Our family has finally made the long-awaited purchase, we bought a motorcycle. The biker mission to the Crimea, which we thoroughly planned, has become a reality. Below you will find our testimony. When Dima became Christian he got a dream of a ministry to the bikers in Russia and in the whole world, touring on a motorcycle. We live in Sochi and got acquainted with a wonderful couple of travelers Tanya and Vanya. Once they mentioned…

by: Irina Mitina The issues of social justice have always stirred humanity. In particular, the United Methodist Church, who has always stood up for solving the problems existing in the society. South District Seminar on UMC Social Principles was planned and organized to educate. Due to the thorough preparation and coordination between DS Irina Margulis (UMC Eurasia representative in Church and Society General Board), South District DS Irina Mitina and Sochi UMC pastor Nadezhda Torlina the seminar took place in…

by: Perestov Ivan I have always been thinking «what motivates people, what encourages them to carry the light and kindness to all the corners of the Earth? Why are they leaving their homes? These people are special. They have experienced something that hasn’t happened to me» When I heard the offer to go and work in Voronezh, my first thought was «that’s not for me». There were too many “important” things I had to do. For the second time I…

by: Elena Kitaeva Last year the superintendent offered me a chance to participate the Academy for Spiritual Formation – I couldn’t go, because the dates were the same as my daughter’s wedding. And this year I wasn’t expecting, just the random conversation, like the accidental coincidence, that I would be free this time… But God doesn’t have coincidences. Probably, the topic is more relevant and the soil of the heart is ready for sowing. . “Love never ends…” I am…

by: V.Ditmar After a long, hard set of preparations, full of prayers, fears, doubts, joy and awe – here we are, gathered together and worked for the glory of God: District superintendent Irina Margulis (Moscow), District superintendent Irina Mitina (Stavropol), Irina Khoroshunova (Novotroitskaya), Valeria Tsoy (Komsomolsk-on-the-Amur), Mikhail Khamgushkeyev (Pushkin), Pastor Vladimir Ditmar (Kirov), Maksim Skurikhin (Slobodskoy), Elena Uryupina (Stravropol), Polina Mazina (Novotroitskaya). Our mission trip to Novotroitskaya (Stavropol area) and the Christian camp we held there in July, 5 –…

by: Sergei Nikolaev Moscow Theological Seminary of the United Methodist Church finished our two-week summer session. What a blessed and powerful experience. One story out of several meaningful events is my experience from the first week’s Saturday morning devotional. Every morning we start with a short devotion on a psalm, given by a student or faculty. We sing; we pray. The first week of the session, Dr. Sondra Wheeler from Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C., taught the course “Ethical Dimensions…

by: Katya Zubkova Pastor and congregation of Tyumen United Methodist Church “Salvation” pushed Youth ministry – and it is developing. Few years ago we realized that we do not have youth in the church. A few youth who attended were bored and left the church with the time. We did nothing for the youth because there were no youth in church to work with. Now we set a goal to bring youth to the church. Three years in a row…

St. Luke’s is heading back to Russia – twice in 2016 – to share God’s love and bring hope to the world! We will renew friendships in Ulyanovsk that began more than 20 years ago, and work alongside our Russian family of faith in several areas: helping handicapped young adults, meeting with retirement home residents, collaborating with the Ulyanovsk UMC in Bible study, and so much more. The first trip is April 28-May 7. We will celebrate Easter with them…