CRYSTAL’19
The fourth year of mission to Crystal. The official name is the Center of pilgrimage and catechesis of the RUMC in the village Ramon, Voronezh region. Youth from different parts of Eurasia continue to come to this mission. Their goal is to make Crystal a better place for people with special needs and for everyone who comes here to work or relax. This time the mission’s tasks were partial reconstruction and painting of wooden houses, landscape work in the territory, installation of a new playground. They tried to accomplish everything. Until sunset, the Moscow team had…
130 YEARS OF METHODISM
Today we celebrate the 130th anniversary of Methodism in Eurasia together with brothers and sisters who came to the Eurasia Consultation to share the joy of success and support each other in the ministry of the United Methodist Churches in Eurasia. The history of the People called Methodists in Eurasia began in the year 1889, when Finnish mission started its work in Saint-Petersburg. In 1909 Episcopal Methodist Church in Eurasia was recognised officially in the Russian Empire. In 1920 Methodists…
MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS
The name of the baby boy was Emmanuel which means God is with us – this is a great miracle of life – when God is with us. It fills us with faith and confidence, hope and love, it casts away from our hearts everything that is not pleasing to Holy God. Also, parents called the boy Jesus which means “Lord is salvation”. This is a miracle that God is now with us and saves our souls. By receiving this…
IN MEMORIAM: OUR FIRST BISHOP
Bishop Ruediger was our first bishop in the post-Soviet society. I remember my life in Moscow in early 1990s when I was a student. It was very difficult time. Imagine empty stores, crazy inflation, chaos and uncertainty about your future. God has been so gracious to send us bishop Ruediger. His love, wisdom and faith in us gave us wings to fly. I was always amazed how he as a German would speak Russian so well and know some words…
RENEWING RELATIONS WITH GOD ACADEMY FOR SPIRITUAL FORMATION 2017 ISSYK-KUL LAKE (KYRGYZSTAN)
by: Eduard Khegai Renewing relations with GodAcademy for Spiritual Formation 2017Issyk-Kul Lake (Kyrgyzstan) Every Christian experiences periods of stagnation, spiritual “droughts” and devastation during the process of spiritual growth. We all need renewal. Jesus lived a full life. Almost every day of His ministry was intensive in communication with people. Some came to Him late at night. He was pleaded to help even when He wanted to have a little rest after a hard day. But Jesus showed us an…
CHRISTIAN UNITY AND INTERRELIGIOUS RELATIONSHIPS
CHRISTIAN UNITY AND INTERRELIGIOUS RELATIONSHIPS …. ……….Eduard Khegay “I’m deeply blessed working in this group which has representatives from Africa, Asia, Europe, Eurasia, USA. Our world today as never before needs a new understanding of Christian unity and interreligious relationships. The Book of Disciple of the United Methodist Church calls us for unity. The very beginning of the Book of Discipline (Part I Constitution) says: “The church of Jesus Christ exists in and for the world, and its very dividedness…
RENEWAL. MISSION. MISSIONARY WORK.
Moving forwardBishop Eduard Khegay Renewal Spiritual renovation – is a natural wish of every Christian. It’s important for Christ’s disciples to constantly renew their relationships with God, both in the sphere of family, and in the church field, and in our service to the world. Many people, for example, speak of “semper reformanda” – a continuing reformation of the church. When I’m asked about the recipe of a spiritual renewal, I often relate it to the understanding of a personal…
REVIVAL MOVEMENT. DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF THE EARLY METHODIST MOVEMENT AND THE BEGINNING OF WESLEYAN REVIVAL.
“Keeping traditions transforming the future”. Methodism has appeared not as a new church, but as a movement aimed at the spiritual renewal. John Wesley’s theology has appeared out of his personal strive for holiness and looked toward reaching and spreading of holiness among the people so, that it will end up in reformation of the Church and the nation. This is how he saw his own mission. What could we learn today from the history of Methodism in order to…
DIFFERENT FORM OF CHURCH IN POLAND
There are not many United Methodist church buildings that are older than 600 years. But in Glaznoty, in the northern part of Poland, there is one. And it is not only a historical building but a place where new expressions of church can be experienced. The church of Glaznoty had been built in the 14th century with fieldstones. Until 1945, this building was used by the Evangelical Church of the Old Prussian Union, which lost its legal existence in Poland…
“IT’S JUST BECAUSE GOD IS IN ME”
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 still thinking about…
“BECOME AN INSTRUMENT IN GOD’S HANDS!” – THE CALLING OF UMC YOUTH LEADERSHIP SEMINAR
June 11-13, Krasnyj Yar, Samara region, young people gathered for the annual leadership seminar of UMC Eurasia. I had a wonderful opportunity to take part in it. It was truly a blessed time. The topic of the seminar was evangelism. The sermon of Volga District superintendent Natalya Prokhorova ran: «The God’s will for us is to save others and bring Lord to people». Ullas Tankler, a guest from Estonia and Global Ministries Representative, read a sermon and a lecture, where…