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ELCIR Ministries
and Opportunities for Involvement
If you haven't yet had opportunity to be involved, consider joining other synod churches in this growing and exciting 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.
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 70 today, with a seminary near St. Petersburg. But, there is a reality behind this encouraging picture. Much of the funding is supported by churches and organizations outside of Russia. The reason is that the income of most Russians members is simply not sufficient to provide the needed support. For example, teachers earn about $100-$150/month, yet the cost of living is similar to ours. There is hope for an improved economy and the ELCIR is emphasizing stewardship and self-support, but this will take time. We can help until that happens!
Examples of Current Mission Relationships,
Involvements and Opportunities
New Churches: Trained workers is one of the greatest needs in the ELCIR. 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. 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 also supported a "Summer Family and Children's Camp" there in the summer of 2006.
Support for Church Worker Salaries and Seminary Scholarships: There is a great need for support of new pastors and increased funding for pastor salaries (some are now as low as $150/month). Also for the ELCIR Youth Committee to support youth ministry workers and for other church workers - here are terrific and urgent opportunities for support. Youth ministry and training of leaders is vital for the future of the ELCIR. The youth ministry work of Nadia Krongolm in the Petrozavodsk congregation and of her husband Alex in Karelia as Youth Pastor is currently being 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 $14,000/year); contact Paul Anderson at 218.728.5853 for information. Click here for a brochure on the ministry of 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 trip to the Ural Deanery is tentatively planned for the summer of 2009 - a great short-term mission opportunity! For more information, contact the Carlsons (218.525.4787), and read these links: Ural Deanery Mission Trip and 2007 Mission Trip summaries.
 
 
Short term missions - Friendship English Language Camp (FELC): The NE MN 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 are organized through EEMN. A mission team of 37 worked with 500 youth from three public schools and several ELCIR congregations in June, 2007. This included a "Lutheran Camp" organized by Nadia Krongolm from the Petrozavodsk Lutheran Church and a new camp in Kondopoga. 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 - consider joining the team in 2008. Contact Paul or Carol Anderson at 218.728.5853. Click here for a 2008 Friendship Camp brochure. Download a report on the 2007 FELC: 2007 Mission Trip summaries and an article by Nadia Krongholm on the camps.
Mission Tours: Participants on two mission tours led by Pastor and 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, Arre Kugappi; Tapio and Kaija Karjalainen from the seminary; and Pastor Fedor Tulinen and wife Elena, on internship at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Virginia.
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 a member of the Ingria Companion Synod Task Force call via the Synod Office at 218.724.4424
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 Rollie and Tracy Bockbrader, Pastor Karen G. Bockelman, Pastor David and Stephanie Carlson, Pastor Gerald and Miriam Eisele, Les and Betty Eskola, Pat Becker, Pastor Antti Lepisto,
Jackie Neese, Pastors Joel and Emily Rova-Hegener
Click here for this information in a printable 2007 ELCIR Summary
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