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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 about 100 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 $500/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
NE MN Synod and other Lutheran 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 contributed $87,000 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 the 2007 Mission Tour partnered with the Laestadian Finns of Finland to build a new church building 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.
-Petrozavodsk-church-(10_.jpg)  
- 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 Krongolm in the Petrozavodsk congregation and of her husband Pastor Alex Krongolm, first as youth pastor for Karelia (2007-2010) and now as pastor of the church in Petrozavodsk, is a current mission project now supported by churches in our synod in partnership with other Lutheran churches, East European Mission Network, and The Suomi Conference. Both are looked to for leadership in youth ministry in the ELCIR (cost to support Nadia and Alex and their programs, including youth workers Vika Chinyaeva and Olga Onueva, is about $37,000/year). This support, together with support of the youth program and the ministry of the Petrozavodsk church in the context of the Bishop's vision that this be a "center" church in Karelia, have been combined into a focused program, Vision Petrozavdsk. If you would like more information about this project or are interested in helping with these efforts, click on the following links and/or contact Paul Anderson at 218.728.5853.
 
 
- 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 12-person, two-week mission trips from our synod in 2005, 2007, and 2011. As a result, churches in our synod give regularly to support priorities for ministry identified by the Ural Deanery. These include new church building projects in the village of Birsk (now complete) and in the city of Kazan, and subsidizing the salary of church workers like Artjom, a young lay evangelist, church maintenance man, and driver for the Yoshkar-Ola parish. For more information click on the following links:
 
 
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- 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 is organized through EEMN. The 2010 EEMN 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. 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 to develop friendships - a relational mission. 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. For information, contact Paul or Carol Anderson at 218.728.5853 and/or click on the following links:
 
 
 
- 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. As noted above, participants on the 2007 Mission Tour partnered with the Laestadian Finns of Finland to build a new church building in Laskela. Read more: 2007 Mission Tour summary
- Visitors from the ELCIR
Exchange visits have led to strong ties of friendship and have deepened our faiths. In 2006, Nina Jurttajeva, a deaconess from Moscow, visited. In April/May of 2008, Nadia and Alex krongolm visited and were guests at the Synod Assembly and area churches. In 2011 Dina Korepanova, deaconess in the Ural Deanery, and Anu Valiaho, an Estonian missionary married to the Dean of the Ural Deanery, were welcomed visitors who were an inspiring presence at our Synod Assembly and area churches. Other visits have included the Bishop of the ELCIR, Arri Kugappi; Tapio and Kaija Karjalainen from the seminary; and Pastor Fedor Tulinen and wife Elena, on internship at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Virginia.
 
 
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 Pastor David Carlson; 218.722.2381 or Pastor Joel Rova-Hegener; 218.744.2694 a call with questions or for more information on any missions listed here.
Click here for a summary of this information as a flyer
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, Pastor David (co-chair) and Stephanie Carlson, Pat Becker, Pastor Antti Lepisto, Mary Metzger, Pastors Joel (co-chair) and Emily Rova-Hegener.
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History of ELCIR
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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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