ÑÓÅÒÀ—Su-ye-TA—bustle about, hectic activity

Acts 6:3 "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;4 "but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

I find my self busier and busier, and I begin to wonder if this “busy-ness” might not be one of the wiles of the evil one to distract me from what is important. With preparing for budget meetings, strategic planning, filling out other paperwork, answering emails, meeting with people, and administrating the mission (which often involves trying to balance personalities)—all of which is important and demands immediate attention—I have barely found the time to maintain my own faith life, let alone attempt to spread that faith to others. Of course, administration is part of being a missionary in today’s world—the nature of the beast, so to speak, a “necessary evil?”

Of course, God’s Word does not return void, and amidst all this “busy-ness,” God’s work, His Word, continues to move forward. For instance, the local Novosibirsk congregation is trying to expand its Sunday school—28 children attended the first day. To help with this, the mission is hoping to start a “children’s circle” as part of our ESL outreach—a “children’s circle” is a Russian practice of gathering children for various activities (with their parents), like art circles, dance circles, and other such things. The idea came from a Russian acquaintance (not affiliated with our church) who wondered why we didn’t have an “English circle.” We are still trying to negotiate with the local hospital to do some visitation there—this requires not only the agreement of the hospital administration (which so far has been open to the idea), but the local Orthodox priests (it is here we need to take care). We have held one seminar in Irkutsk for the Siberian pastors of our partner church on building a joint plan to move toward their financial independence. We will soon be hosting a seminar here in Novosibirsk for pastors, deacons, and teachers teaching them how to use the “Bethel Bible” material (Pastor Jeff had that material translated into Russian a while back and has used it locally, and now we are trying to get all the proper licensing and so forth). The seminary project for Krasnayarsk is moving forward—with plans to start the first course in December (there is room for only 15 students, but it’s a start). So, in spite of all my “busy-ness,” and I pray that in some small way with the help of my busy-ness, by the grace of God, the work here goes forward.

Meet Gregory Savchenko

Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

While at our joint planning seminar in Irkutsk, I took the time to interview some of the Siberian pastors who attended. Just one note—in our partner church, there are two levels of “pastor”—deacon and full pastor. Often in my newsletters I will speak of deacons and pastors—the distinction is often not one of function, but rather education. Out of the extreme need for indigenous pastors in Russia, a young man can become an “ordained deacon” after only one year of seminary and begin serving a congregation. So you can understand the current need, today in the Siberian region our partner church has 10 official congregations served by one “pastor” (Daniil who is also the probst—equivalent to our district president) and two “ordained deacons.” One of those deacons is Gregory, who is 25 years old and married to Yelena, is currently serving 4 congregations in and around Minuisinsk.. This is his story.

Gregory first became Christian in 1989 and was baptized into the Charismatic church in 1990. He didn’t become Lutheran until 1997, the year he met Daniil (who is not probst). In Gregory’s words, “Daniil had just come from seminary and invited me to his church. While there I agreed to help him edit a church newspaper. Then, when he invited me to attend seminary, I agreed. At this time I was studying Physics and Computer Technology at the University in Krasnayarsk, during one of those years, I also took the first year seminary course at Koltushe [which met during vacation periods]. When I finished the first course, because of the dire need for pastors, in the year 2000, I was ordained a deacon and sent from my home in Krasnayarsk to Minuisinsk to serve 5 congregations. The congregation in Minuisinsk worships between 40 and 50 on a Sunday, but on holidays attendance can be over 200—we meet in the cultural center. I also serve a congregation in Suituk, a congregation in Upper Bulanka and a congregation in Lower Belanka—I can make it to these places once a month.

In Suituk between 30-70 people worship—and in that village is an old Lutheran Church built by Finnish prisoners. The roof and bell tower, however, are caving in, and the building is in bad need of repair. In UpperBulanka, a village of about 40 people of Estonian background, about 20 people worship on a Sunday. 4 miles away in Lower Bulanka, a village of 200 people with Latvian heritage, the congregation also worships about 20 people—we meet in the old Lutheran School building.

For all this work, I do have some help, a local man, Ivan, serves in Suituk when I can’t come, and some Latvian volunteer missionaries come every year to help with work in Lower Bulanka.

Besides these four places, I also occasionally visit about 20 other places where there are “Lutheran” populations [Finns, Latvians, Estonians, etc.]. At present, however, I have many more invitations than I can handle.

When I asked Gregory what he would like to see in the future, he said, first that he wants to establish local leadership so he can go home to Krasnayarsk and then continue studying—hopefully abroad where the seminary training is stronger (with hopes of returning to Krasnayarsk to teach at the seminary he hopes will be established there). As far as his vision for the church:

We need leaders [pastors and deacons]. We need to strengthen the area congregations by providing good pastoral leadership and church buildings where they can worship. This is especially true in areas where there are traditional “Lutheran” populations. We need someone to gather in the flock—a pastor, and a place in which such a person can feed and nourish the flock—a church building.

Prayer Requests

Pray for our local Russian pastors, that God strengthen Gregory, Daniil and Albert in their faith and work. Pray also for other leaders: Deacon Yuri Peddelski who is in the process of bringing his Buratian congregation into the Church of Ingria; Pastor Yuri Oshenko on the Russian/Kazakstan border who is leading his Presbyterian congregation into the Lutheran communion; pray for the congregational leadership in Novosibirsk, specifically Catechets Slava Shadrin and Kostya Paramonov, and church council president Gennadi, who are taking on more responsibility for the congregation in Pastor Jeff’s absence. Pray for all the students who are hoping to attend the first seminary course being offered in Krasnayarsk—there are many details still to be worked out. Pray for the congregation in Irkutsk who recently lost its pastor (see below). Pray for the upcoming seminars here in Novosibirsk. Pray for the budget and planning meeting that will be held in Moscow next month—I have much to prepare for and little time in which to prepare. Pray also for our Russian mission staff here in Novo as well. Pray for my wife and family as they come to terms with my increased work load and travel schedule (this latter is the most difficult on them).

A Bit of Sad News

Last April I interviewed Deacon Slava Kaptiev, pastor of the congregation in Irkutsk. At the Sunday service preceding our seminar in Irkutsk, he announced that he was leaving the pastorate and the Lutheran church. Deacon Albert will be taking his place as pastor, but losing Slava from the ministry is still hard—hard on the congregation, hard on our work in Irkutsk, and hard on me personally as his friend. He cited 3 major reasons for leaving—first, he, his wife and their 3 children live in one room. By working in a factory, he will receive a 3 room apartment, which if he works for 10 years will become his (I had suggested that we might rent him an apartment, but renting is not owning). That he will in addition to an apartment be making twice as much money he said was not a reason. His second reason was simply being tired of being on the front lines alone—burned out (this was apparent already last spring, and my reason for holding the seminar in Irkutsk this fall was to see if I might have some time to minister to Slava—too little too late. Third, as to why he is leaving Lutheranism, he asked, “why should I continue to worship in an apartment when there are real Christian church buildings (Orthodox, Catholic and Baptist) in which I can worship? Of course, he took several of the congregation with him….

Family News:

Karl and Nastya have started Kindergarten. Karl is thriving on it, Nastya is still not sure. Zhanya is looking into taking some art classes (by education she is qualified to be a kindergarden arts methods specialist).

On the lighter side:

A pastor and an evangelist decide to work together to evangelize the animals in a neighboring forest. They enter the forest and in a short while come to a cabin. The evangelist says to the pastor, “you stay here and I will go out to gather possible converts and bring them to you.” So the pastor waits in the cabin while the evangelist goes out into the deep wood. In a short while the pastor sees the evangelist running madly toward the cabin chased by a bear. The pastor opens the door of the cabin, and braces himself to shut it and lock it as soon as the evangelist is safe inside. Right before the evangelist gets to the door, with the bear close at his heels, the evangelist suddenly veers off to the side. The big bear trundles inside the cabin. In the heat of the moment the pastor quickly shuts and locks the door—as he had planned— before he quite realizes what has happened. Through the window the evangelist shouts back to the pastor, “you baptize and teach that one while I go find another prospect.”

Hymn verse: “O Christ, Our Hope, LW 151

Christ Jesus be our present Joy, our future great reward

Our only glory may it be to glory in the Lord.

In Christ,

Leif & Zhanya Camp

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NEW ADDRESSES--Feedback, questions, whatever are most welcome.

Home Address:

Leif & Zhanya Camp

Ulitza Lenina 13 Kv 1

Novosibirsk, Russia, 630099

Leif & Zhanya Camp

LCMS World Mission/Russia

1333 S. Kirkwood Rd.

St. Louis, MO 63122

Mission Address for packages:

Evangelical Lutheran Mission

Leif R. Camp

Ulitsa Novogodniya 20/2

Novosibirsk, Russia, 630064

The first address is our home address—for letters and packages we understand that for regular ground mail it takes about 2 months, the second letters are sent via courier through the State side mission office (airmail takes less time but is more expensive). The third address in the mission address here in Novosibirsk. If and when we are ever in the States, our stateside address is 902 N. 12^th, Melrose Park, IL, 60160 (my mother’s address).

Telephone: after getting an international line, 3832 (our area code) 17-92-55 (our phone number)

Note—Between Novosibirsk and central US time, the difference is 12 hours.

E-MAIL: lzkcamp@online.nsk.su Please feel free to share this newsletter with your Church, friends, or enemies if it might help! If you would like to receive a copy via e-mail, simply email me directly and ask!

October 5, 2002

Yesterday, October 4th, was the last day of our weeklong seminar teaching our Church leaders how to use the Bethel Bible series. Armed with this new tool for spreading God's Word 25 teachers, catechets (certified church workers who are on their way to being deacons and pastors), deacons and pastors, excitedly headed for their homes--some as far as three time zones away. One of those who attended was Yuri, a catechet from Krasnayarsk, who was always ready with a smile and sound, mature, Christian advice.

Yuri, the gentleman from Krasnayarsk who during the seminar sat at the table at the end of the first row, received his crown of Glory. He died October 5 two hours after returning home. Of course, we celebrate his Christian faith, but we will miss his smile, his energy, his life experience (so necessary in a young church like the Church of Ingria). Please pray for the Krasnayarsk and Minuisinsk parishes. As you know leaders--especially pastors, preachers and liturgists--are in short supply. Yuri was able to fill in for pastor Daniil (the Siberian probst) when Daniil had to travel. Pray that God raise up another person to help Daniil, pray that God fill the void left by Yuri--not only with a worker to replace him, but also with a father for his son and a friend for his friends as we wait for the glorious return of Christ and the resurrection of the body.

We know and trust that all things work together for good (Rom 8:28). When death strikes at those close to us, especially leaders in the Church, the devil tries to use this to bring us to despair. As Christians, however, we know we already have the victory in Christ our Lord (1Cor 15:57)--we do not despair, but go boldly forward and strike back at the devil, proclaiming the Gospel with even more energy, joy and hope, knowing our brother Yuri lives as our Lord lives, as we, too shall live!

In this we ask your prayers specifically for Probst Daniil, for Deacon Gregory, for all the Catechets and future leaders who will be tempted to despair--pray that God strengthen them in their faith and raise up yet more deacons and pastors to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the far reaches of Siberia.

Blessings,

Missionary Pastor Leif R. Camp