CHRISTIAN YOUTH CAMP “SAMARA JAT-2015”
author: M. Kvyatkovskiy In the end of August 2015 Samara United Methodist church for the second time hosted JAT Christian youth camp (German: Jugend Actions Tage – «JAT»). This time there were over fifty participants from the churches of Moscow, Samara, Ulyanovsk, Syzran and German cities. During the whole week they lived in the church: young people discussed different topics, talked, relaxed, prepared evening shows, took part in workshops. Below you will find some photos and testimonies from the participants.…
UMC EURASIA SEMINAR ON THE PREVENTION OF DEPENDENCE “LIVE FREELY!”
автор: Vladimir Ditmar Scripture says, ‘Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’ (John 8:32, NIV). Sometimes we need a slightest understanding of who we are or the world around us – and it suddenly makes all the difference. We start to understand ourselves better, as well as other people and God. Discovering small truths. That’s exactly what happened at the leaders’ training for Eurasia UMC ministers in the field of substance abuse prevention and…
WESLEYAN GROUP
author: Bishop Eduard Khegay November 19, 2015 …………………….. The practice of Wesleyan groups has always been a strong point of Methodist movement. This type of accountability was widely spread in times of John Wesley’s (he was the founder of Methodism). People would gather together in a small group, sharing their joys and hardships, success and misfortunes, their temptations and the understanding of God’s will. That confidential communication would help the early Methodists in reaching sanctification, at the same time without…
NOVOKUJBYSHEVSK UMC LEADERS AND “OPORA” DISABLED PERSONS CENTRE: “WE ARE TOGETHER!”
author: Natalya Guryanova Among various family problems there is a new emerging one: the issue of disabled children, who can hardly find social contacts. There are quite a few families in the town of Novokujbyshevsk with handicapped children who require special care. Mostly, these are single-parent families, where mothers shoulder the burden, many do not even have stable income. Notwithstanding the illness, the children are very talented, just as their parents. In order to broaden the circle of social contacts…
AT THE MEETING OF LAY LEADERS FROM EUROPE IN STRUGA (MACEDONIA)
July 11-17 Lay leaders from the United Methodist Churches of different European countries met at the Conference that was held on the shore of very picturesque Lake Ohrid in Struga, Macedonia. Brothers from Ukraine Oleg Melekh and Vasiliy Braynik were representatives from Eurasia area. Vasiliy Bryanik is a lay leader from Uzhgorod. His ministry is work with refugees, socially unprotected people, elderly and lonely. Oleg Melekh is a lay leader from the church in L’vov. He is a artists and…
‘IN MISSION TOGETHER’ TAKES THE BATON FROM ‘EURASIA INITIATIVE’
author: S. Pugachev ‘Eurasia Initiative’ has been on of the ministries of the General Board of Global Ministries of UMC. More than 20 years this mission contributed to the visit exchange of pastors and leaders of partner churches from the U.S. to episcopal territory of Eurasia, Bible study groups, theological education, leadership development, integral ministry in the spirit on John Wesley. These were the topics discussed on the last conference ‘Eurasia Initiative’ that took place in one of Moscow suburbs…
UNITED METHODIST COUNCIL OF BISHOPS ISSUES PASTORAL LETTER ON RACISM
автор: Diane Degnan The Council of Bishops issued a pastoral letter on racism to the 12.8 million people of The United Methodist Church affirming the sacredness of all lives and renewing their commitment to work for an anti-racist, pro-humanity church. The action came at the end of the Council’s weeklong meeting in Berlin after prayerful reflection and discussion about the topic. Earlier in the week, President of the Council Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. had also issued a letter calling…
INTERCONNECTED MINISTRY OF PAVLODAR UMC AND CHURCHES OF CENTRAL ASIA DISTRICT
author: Pastor, Kanat Khojamuratov Studying the Apostle Paul’s epistles, I saw, how he took care of communities; he visited them or sent other servants there. After that we got an idea to start the ministry which is called “Carry the burdens of others”. In 2014 the youth group from UMC “Ushtobe” visited Pavlodar UMC, we were testifying about our faith through sincere service. In 2015 the team of 9 adults (servants) went to Pavlodar, there were 4 people – presbyters,…
ORATORY COURSE: TESTIMONY OF THE PASTOR FROM SREDNEURALSK UMC
D. Sherbakov The first question I asked myself when I was deciding on attending the oratory course was should I, the pastor of UMC of Sredneuralsk, attend the course in Yekaterinburg? Is this something I really need? Dmirty Sherbakov, Sredneuralsk UMC pastor Does one have to develop the skills of public speaking – the one who makes a public speech once a week (or more often sometimes)? And my answer was ‘sure’. Next question: do I have to commit my…
“GIVE THE HELPING HAND” – MINISTRY AT SAMARA UMC
Olga Ganina “Give the helping hand” is the name of a program that started in Samara United Methodist Church three years ago. «Give the helping hand» is a soup kitchen ministry. The council of leaders organized the ministry responding to several issues. For example, our church is situated in a district with adverse influences, where there are dysfunctional families, disabled and sick people, people with substance dependencies, newly released from prisons, families where children are not cared for. Another reason…
“LIGHT IT UP!” – SLOGAN OF THE EURASIAN UMC YOUTH FORUM-2015
Vladimir Ditmar That was the motto of the new Youth Forum-2015 “You are the light of the world!” that took place near Saint Petersburg: the event lit up the new stars and constellations of young, gifted ministers of United Methodist churches in Eurasia. The very first night the participants received an impulse of cheerfulness and energy through the encouraging worship service and Holy Communion, as well as the night café with the special treat – a dance flash mob, prepared…
METHODIST CHURCH IN PORTUGAL: “LOVE IS NOT A MATTER OF SIZE – SIZE IS A MATTER OF LOVE”
Sifredo Teixeira Since 1871 the Methodist Church in Portugal is a small minority Church in a country with a population of about 10.5 millions. There are 14 Methodist congregations with an overall constituency of about 2000 people. But although small in numbers, the Methodists in Portugal continue to aim at «Sharing Jesus in words and actions», being aware that there is a growing number of people in need of help on their way to God. Thinking of the church he…