Companion Synod Mission Relationships

New Church Buildings

The Russian government is returning church buildings or land to Lutheran churches, but with the stipulation that they be rebuilt in a fixed period of time — there simply aren’t resources to do that. Rebuilding or replacing these buildings is of particular importance because religious groups meeting without a building risk being “labeled” a cult, which curtails outreach opportunities.

Our synod churches with help from other Lutheran churches have contributed $170,000 to help build an Education Center and new church building in Petrozavodsk in the Republic of Karelia, which was completed in September, 2011. Churches in our synod partnered to help build a small new church at Birsk in the Ural Deanery. Participants in a 2007 Mission Tour partnered with the Laestadian Finns of Finland to build a new church building in Läskelä.

A current new initiative by the Companion Synod Task Force is to provide opportunity for churches or individuals to help build a modest new church building in the city of Cheboksary, a city in the Ural Deanery on the Volga River. This is a new congregation, Lutheran Church of St. Luke the Evangelist, pastored by Konstantin Subbotin, one of the group of younger clergy in the ELCIR who has helped develop the Spirit-led vision for the future of the ELCIR; Pastor Subbotin also serves as Dean of the Ural Deanery. As noted above, unlike in the U.S., a church building is essential for being viewed as a legitimate “Church.” The cost is $120,000 – if you or your church feel called to contribute to this initiative, contact the Synod office for details (218-724-4424).

One of the greatest needs in the ELCIR is trained workers. Our synod has contributed $170,000 to help build an Education Center and new church building in Petrozavodsk in the Republic of Karelia, which was completed in September, 2011. Other churches in our synod partnered to help build a small new church at Birsk in the Ural Deanery. Participants in a 2007 Mission Tour partnered with the Laestadian Finns of Finland to build a new church building in Läskelä. The Russian government is returning church buildings or land to Lutheran churches, but with the stipulation that they be rebuilt in a fixed period of time – there simply aren’t resources to do that. A building is needed for a church to avoid being labeled a cult.

Establishing a Friendship Congregation Relationship

Several churches in our synod have “Friendship Congregation Relationships” with churches in the ELCIR. This is an excellent way to establish mutually supporting “Accompaniment” ministry relationships and to personalize support for ministries such as children’s summer camps, Bible schools, hunger programs for children and orphanages, scholarships to attend educational centers or seminary, internships for Russian seminary students in our churches, exchange visits, etc. Some of the churches partnering to help build a new church in Birsk have also supported a summer Family and Children’s Camp.
The ELCIR encourages these relationships.

Please call 218-724-4424, the Northeastern Minnesota Synod (ELCA), for information if you are interested in establishing a Friendship Congregation Relationship.

Why Missions with the ELCIR?

The ELCIR was decimated under communism: Half the members and most pastors were liquidated, many of the remainder sent to Siberia or elsewhere. The really good news is that it is now rebuilding, from 10 congregations in 1993 to ≈ 100 today, with a small seminary and educational center near St. Petersburg. Ministry has been focused on strengthening the faith of existing congregations through emphasis on stewardship, discipleship and servant-leadership.

There is another reality behind this encouraging picture:

Much of the funding to date has been supported by churches and organizations outside of Russia. The reason is that the income of most Russian members is simply not yet sufficient to provide the needed support. For example, teachers earn about $400/month, yet the cost of living is similar to ours. There is hope and expectation for an improved economy and the ELCIR is emphasizing stewardship and financial self-support, but this will take time, likely a generation. We can help at this critical time until that happens!

But, then the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in 2020:

Although some congregations adapted as best they could, just as we did by virtual meetings, streaming of services, etc, few had resources to adapt this way. In addition, the death rate from Covid in Russia was much higher than in our country, and this had a severe impact, especially on many congregations with older members. Another detrimental impact as been the loss of personal relationships through cancelled exchange visits with partnering congregations outside of the country.

And, now the war with Ukraine:

As you can imagine, this has been devastating. At the time of this writing in early October, Bishop Ivan Laptev has urged pastors who have visas to leave the country ASAP, the purpose being that leadership for the future of the ELCIR not be decimated by being called into the war. Other pastors are “hiding,” others who have been called to serve are refusing, likely facing imprisonment. The Bishop and friends of the ELCIR in Finland and elsewhere have urgently appealed for prayer and financial support for pastor’s and their families. How this all ends is unknown at this writing, early October, 2022. Please pray and support

Support for Pastor’s Salaries and Seminary Scholarships

As described under ELCIR Visions for the Future – Accompaniment Opportunities, there is great need for support for new pastors and increased funding for scholarships to attend seminary, pastor salaries (some are now as low as $400/month!), for the ELCIR Youth Committee to support youth ministry workers, and for other church workers – here are terrific and urgent opportunities for accompaniment. Youth Ministry and training of pastoral and lay leaders is vital for the future of the ELCIR.

Short Term Missions – Examples

Pastor David and Stephanie Carlson from our synod have coordinated ministries efforts to the ELCIR churches in Yoshkar-Ola, 500 miles east of Moscow, and other parts of the region, the Ural Deanery. They led 12-person, two-week mission trips from our synod in 2005, 2007, and 2011. As a result, several churches and individuals in our synod have given regularly to support priorities for ministry identified by the Ural Deanery, including a new church building project in the village of Birsk (now complete), and subsidizing the salary of church workers like Artjom, a young lay evangelist, church maintenance man, and driver for the Yoshkar-Ola parish.

Another example in the Ural Deanery is the current new initiative to support building a new church structure in Cheboksary (see New Church Buildings- above)

The Northeastern Minnesota Synod ELCIR Task Force has partnered in the past (2004-2017) with East European Mission Network to participate in Friendship English Language (Bible) Camps in Petrozavodsk and Kondopoga, Russia. This was a relational short-term mission program organized through EEMN. For example, a mission team of 28 Americans, including 11 from our synod, worked with about 500 youth from four public schools and several ELCIR congregations in June, 2010. This included a “Lutheran Camp” organized by Nadia Krongolm from the Petrozavodsk Lutheran Church. Participants have a Russian translator and stay in a Russian home, adding to the cultural experience. The objective wasn’t to teach English, but simply to provide opportunity to practice English, to learn about the Good News, and to develop friendships – a relational mission. Nadia reports that many kids who attend the Camp become interested in the church and the Youth Program. These mission trips in Petrozavodsk have been discontinued by EEMN since 2018, the pandemic resulted in cancellation of an analogous mission visit with the Petrozavodsk congregation in 2020 hosted by Vision Petrozavodsk partnering churches and now the war with Ukraine presents uncertainty for the near future, but we are hopeful relational visits can be resumed.

If interested in participating in or organizing a mission visit to ELCIR churches, please contact the Northeastern Minnesota Synod (ELCA) office for information at 218-724-4424