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September 02, 2010
Back to: Mission > Ingria/Russia
 
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Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (ELCIR)
Visions for the Future

Where the Northeastern Minnesota Synod can accompany the ELCIR in ministry in Russia
(from the Northeastern Minnesota Synod ELCIR Companion Synod Task Force)

  

Click here for ELCIR Vision Statement
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Why missions with the ELCIR?
The ELCIR was decimated under communism, half the members liquidated, many of the remainder sent to Siberia or elsewhere. The really good news is that it is now being "reborn," from 10 congregations in 1993 to over 80 today, with a seminary near St. Petersburg. Today ministry is being focused on strengthening faith of existing congregations through emphasis on stewardship, discipleship and servant-leadership. But, there is a 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 sufficient to provide the needed support. For example, teachers earn about $300/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 self-support, but this will take time. We can help at this critical time until that happens!

If you haven't yet had opportunity to be involved, consider joining
other synod churches in this important and timely mission ministry
 - helping the Lutheran Church in Russia rebuild and 
share the Good News of the Gospel and enriching your and your church's faith



  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Mission Relationships,
Involvements and Opportunities

  • New Churches
    One of the greatest needs in the ELCIR is trained workers. Our synod's goal of members and churches contributing $85,000 of the needed $800,000 to help build an Education Center and new church building in Petrozavodsk in the Republic of Karelia was completed in December 2006! Praise the Lord! Other churches in our synod have partnered to help build a small new church at Birsk in the Ural Deanery. Participants in the 2007 Mission Tour have pledged to provide funds to build a church in Laskela. 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 
    Seven churches in our synod have formal "Friendship Congregation Relationships" with churches in the ELCIR. This is an excellent way to establish mutually supporting relationships and to personalize support for children summer camps, Bible schools, hunger programs for children and orphanages, scholarships to attend educational centers, internships for Russian seminary students in Northeastern Minnesota churches, etc. For example, some of the churches partnering to help build the new church in Birsk noted above have also supported a summer Family and Children's Camp. Bishop Arri Kuggapi has indicated that it would be helpful if more such relationships could be established. View Friendship Congregation Guidelines. 

    

  • Support for Pastor's Salaries and Seminary Scholarships
    There is a great need for training more new pastors and for increasing funding of pastor salaries (some are now as low as $300/month, forcing many to take outside jobs or to leave the ministry in order to support their families).
  • Support for Youth Ministry Work
    Youth ministry and training of youth ministry leaders is vital for the future of the ELCIR. The youth ministry work of Nadia Krongholm in the Petrozavodsk congregation and of her husband Alex in Karelia as youth pastor is a current project now supported by churches in our synod in partnership with other Lutheran churches. Both are looked to for leadership in youth ministry in the ELCIR (cost to support Nadia and Alex and their programs is about $18,000/year). A new synod project is to support a youth ministry worker in Sortavala. If you would like more information or are interested in helping with either of these efforts, please contact Paul Anderson at 218.728.5853.

        *     Download/read the Nadia and Alex ministry brochure
        *     Read a recent     newsletter from Nadia and Alex 
        *     October/November 2009 newsletter from Nadia and Alex

      

    

  • Short term missions - Ural Deanery
    Pastor David and Stephanie Carlson from our synod are coordinating ministry efforts to the ELCIR churches in Yoshkar-Ola, 500 miles east of Moscow, and other parts of the region, the Ural Deanery. They led a 12-person, two-week mission trip from our synod in 2005 and in 2007. One outcome is that some churches in our synod have partnered to build a small new church in the village of Birsk.     Another mission trip is tentatively planned for 2011 - a great short-term mission opportunity! For more information contact the Carlsons at 218.525.4787.
        *    Read/download     summaries of 2007 Mission Trips

 

 

  

 

  • Short term missions Friendship English Language Camp (FELC)
    The Northeastern Minnesota Synod ELCIR Task Force has partnered with     East European Mission Network to participate in Friendship English Language (Bible) Camps in Petrozavodsk and Kondopoga, Russia. This is a relational short-term mission program at the invitation of the schools in Petrozavodsk and Kondopoga and are organized through EEMN. A mission team of 30 worked with 500 youth from three public schools and several ELCIR congregations in June, 2009. This included a "Lutheran Camp" organized by Nadia Krongolm from the Petrozavodsk Lutheran Church. Each of the two week-long "camps" involves a class with the Bible and Christian materials as the base for the curriculum. Participants have a Russian translator and stay in a Russian home, adding to the cultural experience. The objective isn't to teach English, but simply to provide opportunity to practice English, to learn about the Good News, and develop friendships. Each day includes class, lunch, assembly, drama, crafts, and sports. Nadia reports that many kids who attend the Camp become interested in the church and the Youth Program. Another terrific short-term mission opportunity. Contact Paul or Carol Anderson at 218.728.5853.
         Related links:
         *         Summaries of 2007 Mission Trips
         *     Friendship English Language Camp reports
         *     Download a 2010 Friendship Camp brochure. 
         *     Download an     article by Nadia Krongholm on the camps.

     

  

 

 

  • Mission Tours
    Participants on two mission tours led by Pastor Antti and Jane Lepisto in May and June 2007, visited congregations of the Ingrian Lutheran Church. This introduction to the Ingrian Lutheran Church provided an opportunity for sightseeing in St. Petersburg and visiting many of the friendship congregations in Russia. Read more:     2007 Mission Trip summaries


  • Visitors from the ELCIR
    Exchange visits have led to strong ties of friendship and have deepened our faiths. Nina Jurttajeva, a deaconess from Moscow, visited in June 2006 - a terrific experience for everyone involved. Other visits have included the Bishop of the ELCIR, Arri Kugappi; Tapio and Kaija Karjalainen from the seminary; Pastor Fedor Tulinen and wife Elena, on internship at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Virginia; and Nadia and Alex Krongholm in April/May, 2008.

  • Complete a Covenant 
    Click here to download an ELCIR Ministry Covenant for support of God's mission through the Companion Synod relationship between the ELCIR and the Northeastern Minnesota Synod.

There are many ways to be creatively involved - let the Spirit guide!

We can help - give Paul Anderson a call at 218.728.5853 with questions or for more information on any missions listed here.

Click here for a summary of this information as a brochure

Mission of the Companion Synod Task Force - "The mission of the Northeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA/Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia Companion Synod Task Force is to facilitate the support and encouragement of the ELCIR and its programs and to foster mutually supporting relationships between ELCIR churches and Lutheran churches in North America." 

Task Force Members: Paul Anderson (Chair), Pastor David and Stephanie Carlson, Betty Eskola, Pat Becker, Pastor Antti Lepisto, Pastors Joel and Emily Rova-Hegener, Sandy Stephenson Nys.
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 History of ELCIR Minimize

History of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (ELCIR) is nearly 400 years old. The region of Ingria, south and east of the Gulf of Finland, and the Russian province of Karelia, along the Finnish border, have been home to Lutherans since the late 16th century. As early as 1655, there were 58 Lutheran parishes, 36 churches and 42 pastors.
          By the time of the 1917 Russian revolution there were 32 Finnish Lutheran congregations, 300 elementary schools, a teacher training academy and a Lutheran high school in St. Petersburg and the surrounding area. During the communist regime, churches were closed. 80,000 Ingrians were liquidated; others were deported to Siberia and other parts of Russia. Still, members continued to meet secretly and illegally, with worship often led by widowed women.
          During the 1950s surviving Ingrians gradually returned home. Two Ingrian Lutheran congregations were permitted to organize in the 1970s. Since 1990 and the collapse of communism, the ELCIR has grown to nearly 70 congregations, most in the former area of Ingria and Karelia but extending all the way to Vladivostok in the far east. The ELCIR is now the fastest growing Lutheran church in Europe.
  
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