SLMS IN ACTION
2008 Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School was held again in Novosibirsk, providing Christian education, lively activities and just plain fun for the children of the congregation as well as their guests. This year’s theme was the life of King David. Children were taught how David’s life as a great king of Israel was only a foreshadowing of Jesus, the King of all who fulfilled the promise made to King David: “And thine house and they kingdom shall be established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.” 2 Sam 7:16
2008 Youth Summer Camp
In early July, 93 young people and teachers gathered near the village of Cheryonushki in eastern Siberia for the annual Youth Summer Camp. This year’s theme was “Higher than the Mountains”, an idea reinforcing the concept that although the young people would be climbing peaks to altitudes of 7,000 feet, God is always above them. Young people traveled, usually by train, from Tuim, Abakan, Novosibirsk, Bersk, Perm, Solikamsk, Nefteygansk and Karelia to participate. Instructors came from the seminary in Novosibirsk, nearby (a relative term in Siberia) congregations and included the leader of the event, Pastor Pavel Zayakin, Deacon Dmitri Dotsenko and Christian Education teachers.
“Higher than the Mountains” offered healthy outdoor activities, such as mountain climbing, rafting and hang-gliding all structured around instruction in how Holy Scripture allows faith to come alive through the Word. Deacon Dotsenko commented that, “We tried to raise the question of who made all this beauty, who is always above us?” Around the campfire, scouting principles were discussed including “Duty to Oneself”, “Duty to Others”, and “Duty to God.” The donations of the congregations of St. John in Wheaton, Illinois and Bethany in Naperville, Illinois made the camp possible. A private donation from an American, Bobby Kiger, helped equip two low-income teenagers for the camp. Russian business owner, Victor Solotayov, supplied spice cakes, a treat for all. The young people who attended the camp expressed their sincere gratitude to the organizers and those who helped make the camp possible.
2008 Summer Seminars
Once again, the Summer Seminars were held at a number of congregations across Siberia. These seminars are both an educational opportunity for members of congregations and an outreach program to local residents who are welcome to attend the seminars. This year, instructors included America pastors Dr. Timothy Quill, of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Rev. Robert Wurst of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Cedar, Michigan and Dr. Carl Rockrohr of Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Rockrohr lectured on Old Testament promises and how they are fulfilled through Jesus Christ. A Siberian Deacon, Andrei Lipnitski, lectured on the Lord’s Supper and Pastor Wurst explained the many facets of the Lord’s Prayer.
The lecturers arrived first in Novokuznetsk in western Siberia, a small congregation which Deacon Dmitri Dotsenko visits every weekend. The congregation is small, but many members trace their roots to German Lutheran settlers who lived there before communism and who were persecuted during those grim years. Visitors included Christians with Pentecostal roots whose faith was bound up in the Law. The teachings of the seminar seemed liberating to them as they redirected attention to the power of the Holy Sacraments and the saving work of Jesus and His grace.
Bishop Lytkin visited the seminar with two guests from “Good News” magazine, a publication that works with the Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church and is distributed free of charge across Siberia.
The Summer Seminar group moved eastward to Abakan to visit Pastor Pavel Zayakin’s parish. The topics of the seminar were the same as the group continued on to the small village of Tuim to the parish of the Holy Transfiguration where the congregation has remained strong despite dreadful unemployment and crime in the community.
The Seminar team then moved on to visit Ulan Ude at the southern tip of the world’s largest fresh water lake, Lake Baikal and they also visited Irkutsk where a statue of Lenin now stands on the site where a large cathedral once stood. Several congregations met at Ulan Ude to participate in the seminars, including the congregation of Pastor Igor Kizyaev from Chita. This congregation serves a large number of deaf members and Pastor Kizyaev also serves as a chaplain at a local prison. Pastor Wurst, who works with the deaf at his congregation in America, prepared a special series of lectures for the deaf congregants who attended the seminar.
Once again, Pentecostals who attended found true relief by the freedom they were given when they learned of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The SLMS is deeply grateful to the Pastors who taught these valuable seminars designed to strengthen the faithful and spread the Good News to those who still wait.
2008 SLMS Board Meeting
The Board of the Siberian Lutheran Mission Society held its annual meeting in January at Fort Wayne. Financial reports and a review presented by Bishop Lytkin about activities of the Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church indicated the SLMS is fulfilling its mission to support the young church in Siberia. One goal of the SLMS Board is to reach out to more congregations and to expand the donor base to provide for a more predictable income stream.
Upon arrival in Chicago for the SLMS Board meeting, Bishop Lytkin and Olga Natayevna, organist at the congregation of St. Andrew in Novosibirsk and Natasha Sheludakova, a member of that congregation headed in different directions. Bishop Lytkin traveled to Spring Lake, Michigan to visit the congregation of SLMS Board Member, Judy Bascom and her husband, Bob. Saint Matthew Lutheran Church received Bishop Lytkin graciously and has decided to lend its support to the congregation of Novokuznetsk in western Siberia. Olga and Natasha were invited to visit St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton, Illinois.
Following the symposia, SLMS Board Member Rev. Daniel Johnson (Redeemer &150 Marshalltown) traveled with his Russian guests to visit congregations in Iowa, Missouri, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado and Nebraska where Bishop Lytkin gave presentations about the work in Siberia at all of these stops.
Amazing Campaign
In March, Messiah Lutheran Church in Danville held its mission festival for the second year of a three-year campaign to raise funds for a capital project in Siberia. This year, the members of Messiah presented a check for $15,610.21 to the SLMS for future use in purchasing a property for the Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Faithful Support
The Lutheran Laymen’s League of the Northeast District Circuit of the Rocky Mountain District continues its very generous annual support to the SLMS fund for capital projects.
Outreach to the Deaf
The Ephphatha Lutheran Mission Society in Highland, Michigan has provided a generous gift to support the congregation in Chita, which ministers to a large group of deaf parishioners.
Luther’s Small Catechism
At Abakan, in the republic of Khakassia, the Lutheran Heritage Foundation has translated, published and distributed Luther’s Small Catechism, as well as several books of the New Testament into the Khakassian language. Pastor Pavel Zayakin spoke of the importance of these books for spiritual growth of the native population. A representative of the local government attended the event to applaud this effort.
Fire in Abakan
In May, a fire occurred at the congregational building in Abakan. An electric boiler in the basement overheated. Fortunately, the fire was spotted quickly and the fire department was able to extinguish the flames before they spread to the sacristy, which sustained only smoke damage. The congregation in Abakan has been working to make repairs and is hoping for donations to help pay for materials which will cost about $2,000.
Young People Join In
At Vacation Bible School at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Cupertino, California the children decided to name the Siberian Lutheran Mission Society as their mission project. The learned a lot about Lutherans in Siberia and raised more than $500 for the SLMS. Way to go!
The Band at Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne just completed a major fundraising campaign. The group has been moved by the newsletters describing the challenges and ministry of the Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church and decided to contribute ten percent of their campaign funds, a phenomenal $703, to the SLMS in gratitude to God.
Other Donations:
The children of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Fullerton Nebraska earmarked their offerings for work in Siberia. Likewise, the First Lutheran School of Knoxville, Tennessee has contributed generously.
United in Mission, an association of congregations in Iowa, has offered its generous financial support for the work of the SLMS.
Thrivent Financial in Pampa, Texas has joined in the effort to give a financial boost to the SLMS, as has the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League of Holy Trinity in Grandview, Missouri.
A retired pastor from Texas has donated generous gifts specifically designated for the spiritual education and physical needs of poor children in Siberia.
May 2007 Pastor Lytkin Ordained Bishop.
In an historic and joyous consecration ceremony on May 6th, Pastor Vsevolod Lytkin, leader of the Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELC) was ordained as Bishop at the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary in Tallinn, Estonia. Although Americans may not be familiar with the notion of a Bishop as leader of a Lutheran Church body, this office is traditional in Europe. Under Bishop Lytkin’s leadership, SELC is now officially recognized as an independent church body by the Russian government. This new status will enhance SELC’s credibility with local government officials and also gives Bishop Lytkin the authority to ordain Pastors and Deacons.
