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April 2008—St. Petersburg, Russia A GOOD WORD FROM CAMP from Leif & Zhanya Camp

(Click on http://www.flickr.com/photos/stpaulmp/ to see photos of the Camp’s work and life. This month’s are here.)

ЗНАКОМЫЙ-zna-KO-me=acquaintance

Job 22:21 " Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you.

Meeting people, getting acquainted, meeting old acquaintances, such happenings keep life interesting. Of course, the most important “acquaintance” is to meet Christ—and not just get acquainted with Jesus, but to establish the long term, eternally long term, relationship He desires. Through His death and resurrection, He not only allows us to become reacquainted with our Heavenly Father, but more so to re-establish our relationship as His Children. As Christians, as much as we want to acquaint people with our Lord—an important first step, but only a first step. Our mission, too, is to carry that further—to call people to a life of faith, a familial relationship with God, not simply an acquaintance. Yes, giving faith is the Work of the Holy Spirit, but every Baptized Christian has received the Holy Spirit and through the Word we have the promise that the Spirit works. So, we sow seeds of the Gospel, we tend those the Spirit allows, and we pray—and we continue to go about our Father’s business, the great commission given to us through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Theological Institute of the ELCI

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ingria has one licensed educational center, officially known as the Theological Institute, but more commonly referred to as Koltushe Seminary—Koltushe being the suburb of St. Petersburg where the institute is actually located (there are three Lutheran Seminaries in Russia—the Ingrian Seminary at Koltushe which is internationally licensed to grant a Bachelor’s degree of Divinity, the liberal German Lutheran seminary in the St. Petersburg suburb of Novosorotovka, and then the Siberian Lutheran Seminary in Novosibirsk which although independent of our partner church is also largely supported by people in the LCMS).

The Ingrian theological institute not only runs the training of future pastors, but also organizes short, intensive training courses for equipping Sunday school teachers, deacons and deaconesses, parish youth workers, parish bookkeepers and this fall police chaplains (in cooperation with Peace Officer Ministries run by LCMS Pastor Steven Lee). This month I was asked to teach at two such intensive courses: The deaconal course (a session on family and disciplining children) and the Youth Missionary course (where I taught two sessions—on the call to missions and on spiritual growth).

One of the traditional strengths of the Lutheran Church has always been an educated laity. Luther not only reformed the Church, but the educational system because he understood that a laity that can read and study the Bible on its own will bring that knowledge to the Church and help keep the pastors and teachers in line with good questions and Biblical discussion. An well biblically and confessionally grounded laity is the best defense against false and weak teaching. Before the Communist revolution, the Lutheran Church in Russia had more schools than church buildings, now there are only those three education centers officially running. Talk often turns to establishing parish schools, but that is still a far off dream—not only does this present a huge expense, but also the huge task of properly training teachers for such an undertaking (although this could be done through the existing Institute!).

Scouting Out the Neighborhood

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

I was taking a walk around our neighborhood a few weeks ago and happened along a street a couple of blocks from my house. Something was familiar about this street. Then I noticed a door with a sign posted next to it which read: Vasilievskii Island Youth Club “Scouts.” This was the same scout club that LCMS Can-Do youth helped remodel in 1995, the same scout club where I worked as a volunteer missionary that same year. So, I knocked on the door. A young man let me in and I introduced my self. He was not very impressed, so I asked if he had any old photo albums. He did, and I quickly found photographs featuring me and Alexander Schmidt (who worked with me with the scouts that year as well). This did make an impression. The young man gave me his “boss’” telephone number. Low and behold, the number led me to an old acquaintance—Edik who was also the leader back in 1995.

The next week I met with Edik who invited me again to work with his scouts, leading a Bible study for his sub-leaders and officiating with opening prayer and so forth at major scouting events—one which was scheduled for April 30^th, the 99^th birthday of scouting.

With the Bishop’s approval, I am back working with the scouts—and at the Bishop’s suggestion have recruited a couple of Ingrian Seminary students to assist. I have already started the Bible study, even though I know we will have to suspend things for the summer when we come to the US—still, why wait? Both Karl and Nastya have also begun attending scout meetings—which in Russia, at least in our group—include the Lord’s prayer.

Pastor Boichenko finishes his book

John 10:5 "Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

After several years of work, Pastor Yaroslav Boichenko has finished his book entitled “the History of Lutherans in Russia, Nizhniy Novgorod and not only…” in which he underlines the historical contributions to Russian culture and society of famous Russian Lutherans. Such a book is an important witness to the Gospel in Russia, especially as it underlines the positive contribution the Lutheran Church and her members have made to Russia. It is not only interesting history, but provides an in to the surrounding culture, showing once more that Lutheranism is not “foreign” to Russian soil.

Yaroslov donated his time working on this book—he has received no pay, but the book was published with some help from the LCMS and others (editing, layout and printing costs).

Prayer Requests

Please pray for our upcoming visit to the USA, we again have documents to take care of concerning Zhanya’s status (immigration, naturalization, etc.). Pray that I have the wisdom and energy to arrange all the details (travel, insurance for the time we are in the US, etc.). A prayer of thanks for those who have been helping with these details (as I could not do this alone). Pray for Zhanya—at present she will be staying behind for a few weeks to join us later because of work and hosting an incoming group, we are still hoping that we can travel together. Pray that travel goes smoothly and is not too stressful. Pray for Darren and Ira Johnson, Darren is planning to study summer Greek at Concordia Seminary. Pray also for the English service—due to all the missionaries leaving, our leaving, Darren’s leaving, services will be suspended for the Summer (this is the first hiatus since we started services in 2004). Pray for the work among the scouts—for my relationship with the Seminary students who have agreed to help (Edik and Michail) as well as our relationship to the scouts. Pray for my family—me, Zhanya, and our children Karl and Nastya—that God keep us faithful in prayer and Word, grant us wisdom, faith and strength, more love for Him, each other, and for those around us.

Schedule in the USA

We are planning to visit with family and friends this summer and are pretty much booked up. If you are interested in knowing where we will be and when, send me an email, and I will send you our tentative schedule.

A Russian Joke

Two girlfriends meet after a long time and begin talking about their lives, especially about their prospects for marriage. One begins to brag, “last night my boyfriend took me to a very expensive restaurant and said the two words I have been longing to hear”. “Marry me?” asked the other. “No, ‘my treat.’”

Delay not, delay not, o sinner draw near,

The waters of life are now flowing for thee

No price is demanded; the Savior is here,

Redemption is purchased, salvation is free

TLH Hymn 278 v 1

In Christ,

Leif & Zhanya Camp

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Click on http://www.flickr.com/photos/stpaulmp/ to see photos of the Camp’s work and life. This month’s are here and descriptions are with them.

CONTACT ADDRESSES Feedback, questions, whatever are most welcome.

Our Russian home address: Leif and Zhanya Camp 18 line V. O. dom 43 Kv. 7 St. Petersburg, Russia, 199178

Stateside contact address: Leif and Zhanya Camp, C/O Marli Camp 902 N. 12^th Melrose Park, IL, 60160

Russian Lutheran Church Address: Ev. Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia Bolshaya Konyushennaya dom 8 St. Peterburg, Russia, 191186

Telephone: after getting an international line by dialing 011, dial 7- 812 (our area code) 321-1508(our phone number)

Note—Between St. Petersburg and central US time, the difference is 9 hours. Stateside contact telephone: 708-344-4472

E-MAIL: lzkcamp(at symbol)mail.ru & leif.camp(at symbol)elci.ru. Prolife web site with Russian materials you can down load: prolife.elci.ru. Other websites: Lisa Stapp has set up a website which has some of our last newsletters (with their cover letters and pictures):  http://www.worthywomanpage.com/camp/index.html. Also my mother's home congregation has our newsletters--the latest can be downloaded from: http://www.stpaulmp.org/camp/  a second site archives our past newsletters since 2002 http://www.stpaulmp.org/archives/ . Please feel free to share this newsletter with your Church, friends, or enemies if it might help (just please do not quote things out of context or edit my words in such a way as to change their intent). If you would like to receive a copy via e-mail, simply email me directly and ask!

St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, 1025 Lake Street, Melrose Park, Illinois 60160; Church: 708‑343‑1000, School: 708‑343‑5000

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