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September 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.)

ПЕРВЕНСТВО-pare-venst-vo-“what comes first”

Deut. 6:5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

This is a synonym for another Russian word which is has Latin roots—Приоритет (pree-or-i-tet, or priority), but since this was so close to the English, I wanted to stretch your brains). The busy part of the year has started—although I probably say that a lot. Summer has ended and there is a rush in the church to get as much done before Advent begins. All the promises for holding seminars, visiting parishes and so forth seem to come up as a surprise and there never seem enough days in the week, enough Saturdays in the week, enough time an a day to visit all the parishes, present all the seminars, and organize all the evangelism events that we planned to do. Often it is hard to prioritize—or decide what needs to be done first.

Add to this the additional “work” of everyday life—getting the kids to and from school every day, fixing things around the house, cooking, cleaning, yelling at the computer because it just does not work right, and even faithful missionaries, pastors, and Christians can get their priorities out of order, and allow the cares of everyday life, desires which grow into “needs,” and work (even and especially work in the Church) become thorns that choke out their plants of faith and love for their Lord (Mark 4:19).

In the Sermon on the mount (Matt. 6:25) when Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, what we will eat, drink and wear. These wonderfully comforting verses are sandwiched between Jesus telling us we cannot serve God and Mammon (pursuing money and riches as life’s goal) and the command to “seek first the Kingdom of God.”

When we keep our priorities in order, when we put God first and serving Him, everything else falls into place. If we are serving God and keeping our mind on our service and relationship with Him, we will not worry about money—our focus will be on Him. When we see ourselves worried about these things, we should see our worry as what it is—sin, and a sign that we are to repent (which means to turn from what we are doing and change our hearts). God does provide, He takes care of His children who are walking in His ways (He even takes care of His children who are rebellious calling them back to His love, and He is so merciful that He provides even for the wicked, although they don’t know it or appreciate it—Matt 5:45).

So when we become overburdened, when the busyness and the details begin to drown out God’s quieting voice, let us stop, turn from our hectivity, stop, pray, and cast our burdens on Him. For if our service is truly for Him—whether that be serving Him by serving our family, church, community or employer—it is light, for His yoke is light (and we can do all things through Him!).

Police Chaplaincy in Russia

Deut. 16:18 " You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

Last September LCMS Pastor Steven Lee, founder and director of Peace Officer Ministries, contacted me and came to Russia with pastor and chaplain Anton Lagutine on an exploratory mission to see about establishing a police chaplaincy ministry in Russia through the Lutheran Church of Ingria. At that time an initial plan to hold an educational seminar and print a study Bible with some notes specifically for police officers was proposed. The Bible project was put on hold for several reasons, but this last September from the 21^st through the 26^th the first chaplaincy education seminar was presented at the Ingrian Lutheran theological Institute in Koltushe, a suburb of St. Petersburg.

Many themes were discussed: Romans 13, Luther’s explanation of the two kingdoms, Police subculture in America and Russia (in which many similarities were noted, as well as some particular issues that were unique to the Russian situation), and the goals, practice and challenges of being a police chaplain.

The seminar well received and attended by representatives from St. Petersburg, the Volga Valley and the Ural region. As a result of the progress and interest shown, Steven Lee and Police officer ministries have decided to continue working with the Ingrian Church in this area. The idea of publishing a Bible has been made a priority and the hope is that such will be finished by this same time next year when another seminar is planned.

How much effect the fledgling Lutheran Church of Ingria can have in the area of chaplaincy in Russia is up to God, but the hope is that with a good study Bible, this will reach across confessional boundaries. Thus our small confessional Church’s little ripple may stand a big wave for the Gospel.

International Christian Accademy

Deut. 4:9 " Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,

A new ministry for me also began this month: teaching Bible to the junior and senior high school students at the International Christian Academy. Educating the Children in His Word has always been one of God’s priorities, and I suppose this is one reason Lutherans have often made education of the young a priority—and why it is one of my priorities. In fact, one of my dreams (and the dream of many others I know) has been to re-plant a Lutheran Christian school in Russia.

Why a Christian school? Especially in today’s world, where the world is clearly becoming more and more anti-Christian, a Christian school that teaches all the basics needed to exist in this world while at the same time fortifying the Christian values that are taught at home is so important. But this has always been the case. Before Communism decimated the Church here during the last century, Lutherans had over 2000 educational facilities (schools, institutes, etc.), several hundred more schools than church buildings.

Although the International Christian Academy is not Lutheran, it does offer a solid Christian education, fortifying the children of believers to keep their faith in a hostile world, instilling in them answers from God’s Word to the questions they face and will face in the future. Also, since many of the students are from unchurched families, as with many Lutheran schools back in the USA, the school and my teaching offer a means to spread the Gospel to the unreached.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for me as I try to maintain a balance of family, new and old work and still find some time for myself (since many missionaries are now here only part time, my work is expanding). Pray that God raise up competent people to whom I can pass some of the work on to. Pray for the English service that more people might find us to hear the Gospel. Pray for the continuation of the Chaplaincy initiative, that God open doors. Pray for pro-life seminars in Petrozavodsk and St. Petersburg. Pray for Alexander and Olga Schmidt who have been helping out with pro-life more and more. Pray for Karl’s new school, Nastya finishing up Russian grammar school Zhanya studying at the University trying finish her degree—while still trying to keep work and family into the mix. Pray also for Darin and Ira Johnson with whom we have lost contact—Darin has yet to return to study at the seminary here. Pray that God grant us all more wisdom to know His will, faith to desire His will, and strength to do His will, and love that we may do so with joy and gladness!

English Service

Sunday September 14^th we began our 5^th year of English Worship services (actually 5^th year will begin with the first Sunday of Advent). Although we lost some regular attendees who are on furlough for this coming year, 14 people were in attendance. Two people are interested in taking confirmation classes (so those begin next week), which is good, but there are struggles ahead. As I teach stewardship, I have made a point that all the expenses of English service need to come from the weekly offerings (except my support, of course). More Russians attend now than Americans, and as nice as this is, the Russians are still not used to tithing and so forth.

A Russian Joke:

One of the first laws of the local primitive society was to forbid murder and cannibalism—violators were killed and summarily eaten.

A woman is standing before the judge: what is your name? “Masha Petrova” Are you married? “yes” “What does your husband do? “He is an assembler.” Children? “Of course not! Furniture!”

Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee

Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise

Take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine;

Take my heart, it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne.

Verse 1 and 5 Hymn 400TLH

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!

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