Russia Initiative

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Members and Friends of The United Methodist Church in Eurasia,

"I thank God every time I mention you in my prayers. I'm thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it's always a prayer full of joy… You are all my partners in God's grace… God is my witness that I feel affection for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus." These words were originally Apostle Paul's (parts of Philippians 1:3, 4, 7, and 8), but they interpret perfectly what I feel about you!

We have certainly experienced pain in the year of 2011, the increasingly negative attitude in the society towards Protestant churches, the hard hearts of so many people, and the struggle with finances. At the same time, there is so much joy. I praise God for the faithfulness of pastors, other leaders, members and friends of our churches (I mentioned several of them in my November sermon series that is now available via www.umc-eurasia.ru). And I see clearly God's grace in the special events and blessed achievements of the year. Of the latter, let me mention a few,

Student Forums in St. Petersburg and Almaty
The first visible fruit of the ministry in Veshchevo, as two persons confessed their sins, and gave their hearts to Jesus
Natasha in Tyumen got a call from Lena: "You might not remember me, but 2 years ago you told me about Jesus – I want to know more and want to come to church." Today Lena is an active member of the church; her 13year old daughter comes to church often with her
The new pastor of Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy, Matthew Laferty, is a GBGM missionary
Moscow Seminary graduated 8 students, one from the residential program and seven from the extension program.
Moscow Seminary has now moved to a modular system, and enrolled 9 new students, three in the 3 years' program and six in the 6 years' program
St. Petersburg and West Districts in Northwest Russia have completed their first Lay Speakers and Lay Leaders Course over two years
Central Asia has established a new educational program for Church Leadership
The first re-run of the basic church development (originally with the team from Church of Resurrection in Kansas City) has been held
The Russia United Methodist Church has become a full member of the Council of Protestant Church Leaders
Komsomolsk-na-Amure was one of the organizers of an outreach in connection with the celebration of Reformation Day
Camp Voronezh reported for the first time a calendar year with a small surplus, which means that all salaries and operation costs were covered with funds generated by the activities
When the membership statistics for December 31, 2010 finally were completed, four out of the five annual conferences showed a small growth
Resurrection UMC in Voronezh has reached self-sufficiency in terms of pastor's salary and basic operation costs
Zhetigen and Bishkek have as the first Central Asia churches decided to pick up 25% of the pastor's salary
The first Institute of Excellence in Preaching was held at the Seminary with 50 students, and with Pastor Adam Hamilton as its main speaker
The opportunity for me to give a sermon series about the People of God at the Seminary that was recorded on video and now is available via www.umc-eurasia.ru

God is at work

It is obvious that "it is God who is at work in you!" (Philippians 2:13) By blessing your continuous faithfulness and brave new efforts, he has acknowledged the fact that he gave us our vision for The United Methodist Church in Eurasia[1]. It is humbling to realize that God is at work in us. At the same time it is compelling. "If God is at work, how could I even think of stopping my working?" Therefore, let us make the following words of Apostle Paul the motto for the New Year and the theme for our five annual conferences in 2012, "Let us move forward" from Philippians 3:16.

Quality and sanctification

"No virtue is safe that is not enthusiastic; no heart is pure that is not passionate; no life is Christian that is not Christianizing[2]." I was confronting with this challenging truth recently in my devotional reading, and I can't stop thinking of it. It takes some time to understand it in all its depth. And when you finally understand it, you can't just leave it behind.

It speaks to me about Quality of ministry[3] and about sanctification. When the so called Signposts[4] were published on our website last year, and I mentioned that I saw them as indicators of the quality of our ministry, someone objected, "But quality of our churches is a spiritual quality, and comes from inside." However, holiness of heart and holiness of life are expressions of the same quality. Practical matters are very spiritual, and spiritual matters are very practical. Yes, salvation is marked by a radical change, since we repent from a life without God, and give our hearts to Jesus. But is not a quick fix that guarantees that everything comes easy thereafter. Apostle Paul encourages us, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Philippians 2:12. Likewise we also need to work out the quality of our ministry with fear and trembling. It is a part of our sanctification.

With Apostle Paul we say, "It's not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it, so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose. Brothers and sisters, I myself don't think I've reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. The goal I pursue is the prize of God's upward call in Christ Jesus. So, all of us who are spiritually mature should think this way and if anyone thinks differently, God will reveal it to him or her. In any case, let us move forward, following the things we have already reached! Phil 3:12-16.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas with family, friends and church, and a Good New Year 2012 with Jesus!

Your co-worker and shepherd,
Bishop [1] "We see The United Methodist Church in Eurasia in 2015 dynamically growing, recognized in the society, and helping people to become committed Christians."

[2] = Influencing settings and persons to become Christian

[3] One of the five Road Work Areas we have defined for the Eurasian Road towards 2015 and beyond,

o Quality of ministry
o Education
o Self-sufficiency
o Mission, evangelism, growth
o Social service
[4] Those 18 Signpost together with 7 new ones have recently been published under the title "Quality of ministry" in the booklet series "We – United Methodists." They can be ordered from the Area Office, Sergei Pugachev (pugachev_sergei@mail.ru)
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May you have a New Year richly blessed in the joy of serving the Lord,

Jim

Dr. W. James Athearn
Coordinator, Russia/Eurasia Initiative
GENERAL BOARD OF GLOBAL MINISTRIES
The United Methodist Church
116 Frasher Drive, Clear Brook, VA 22624
Tel: 540-662-2066 (after Jan 1, 2012: 540-662-0334)
Fax: 540-662-2093
jimathearn@gmail.com
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/work/initiatives/russia/
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/work/initiatives/russia/consultation/

After January 1, 2012
David McLaurin
Partnership Coordinator, Russia/Eurasia Initiative
GENERAL BOARD OF GLOBAL MINISTRIES
The United Methodist Church
5437 Willis Avenue, Dallas, TX 75206
Tel.: 214-821-2621
imteurasia@gmail.com