Charlie [Sawyer] and I traveled to Siberia/Far East in late November to meet and inspire the disciples in the Vladivostok and Novosibirsk churches. We also were determined to encourage the fulltime ministry staffs of these churches and other outlying churches in these two areas of Russia.
Editor's Notes: The following article is a report on the recent missions trip to the Far-Eastern Russian cities of Vladivostok and Novosibirsk by Tim Bernitt, who leads the church in Wichita, Kansas, and Charlie Sawyer, who leads the church in Kansas City, Kansas. Their churches have been paired up with the churches in Vladivostok and Novosibirsk, respectively, through the Eurasian Missions society. This article was originally posted on the website of the Wichita Church of Christ.
Overview:
Charlie [Sawyer] and I traveled to Siberia/Far East in late November to meet and inspire the disciples in the Vladivostok and Novosibirsk churches. We also were determined to encourage the fulltime ministry staffs of these churches and other outlying churches in these two areas of Russia. The other church ministry leaders that we met while in Vladivostok were Vova and Anja Komarov in Kharbarovsk; secondly, a young couple - I do not remember their names - who volunteered to move to Spask to lead a house church there; and thirdly, a man named Sasha and his wife, who lead a house church in Vostochnyy. Furthermore, in Novosibirsk, we met Maxim and Tonya Sotnichenko from Krasnoyarsk, and Sergei and Lena Lamekin from Omsk. Both couples traveled to Novosibirsk in anticipation of our visit.
Looking back, Charlie and I met up in New York City on the evening of November 27th and flew to Moscow, where we arrived on the morning of Nov 28th. After an 8-hour layover, we made another 10-hour flight to Vladivostok, which lies 6000 miles east of Moscow. Vladivostok is Russia???s naval base and harbor on the Pacific Ocean and is clear across the Asian part of Russia. This important military city is seven time zones ahead of Moscow time and 16 time zones ahead of Central Standard Time in the Heartland. I stayed in Vladivostok from Nov 29th, when we both arrived, to Sunday, Dec 3rd, when Sergei and I flew the 6-hour flight to Novosibirsk. Charlie flew to Novosibirsk on Friday, Dec 1st. (The Wichita church is paired with the Vladivostok church, so I determined to spend the bulk of my trip in Vladivostok, while the Kansas City Church of Christ is paired with the Novosibirsk church and he spent the bulk of his time with this church. Thus, we split up after two days in Vladivostok so that both of us could preach at the respective Sunday services: Charlie in Novosibirsk and I in Vladivostok). After great time with the disciples in Novosibirsk, we flew back, leaving Siberia the morning of Dec 6, flying through Moscow and New York and then home to Kansas City and Wichita.
Moscow:
Charlie and I had an 8-hour layover in Moscow, so we desired to grab the opportunity to see Red Square and the Kremlin while we had the chance. We negotiated the price for a taxi, which was a one hour ride from the airport. Our taxi driver was named Andre, and he spoke very little English, yet he delivered us to Red Square and took us on a tour as our personal tour guide. Let me just say, I am so thankful that we got to see Red Square. As an American who grew up in the midst of the Cold War, it was an unbelievable experience to stand in Red Square and in front of Lenin's tomb! It is something that I will never forget. It gave me eye-witness evidence that God truly does rule the nations, and He alone is able to unite the people of every nation under the banner of his Son, Jesus Christ.
Vladivostok:
Next, it was on to Vladivostok, where Sergei Glushonkov met us at the airport with Sasha, a brother who owns a cleaning business. Sasha and his wife have been christians about ten years, and they were converted after they were married. Sergei told us the sad story of Sasha's 16-year old daughter, who got pregnant and had an abortion when she was only 13. She currently, in Sergei's words, "hates the church and wants nothing to do with church or the teen ministry." I tell you this heart-breaking story because it illustrates two simple truths that I learned while in Russia. The first is that the Russian disciples' children are growing up into preteens and teens, and they want and need help with how to handle this. It was evident while we were there that they are looking to the American churches for advice, input and example in this most important question of the next generation of God's people. Secondly, I learned that even though we may be separated by thousands of miles, different cultures and language barriers, the Russian disciples are people very much like us and they are facing the same challenges and issues that we are.
The airport is outside of Vladivostok about 35 miles. As we drove in, Sergei pointed out the single family homes of the rich people, which did not look all that impressive to us. We stopped at the monument to the city on the outskirts, and we drove through some of the city of Vladivostok. It is a city on a peninsula, surrounded by water on three sides and with hills similar in feel to San Francisco. There are not really lanes for traffic and only a few traffic lights that I ever saw. The drivers there were very aggressive and things were done very randomly on the roads. We went on a mini-tour of the city on the way to our hotel. We saw the harbor, called the Golden Horn, from a hillside looking down. After this, we checked into the Hotel Vladivostok. Our rooms were on the fourth floor and were very much like a dorm room at a University. We rested a couple of hours and then Sasha, the administrator for the church in Vladivostok, picked us up and took us to the Wednesday evening midweek service. They meet in an old, but classy theater, which reminds me of the Ford Theater where President Lincoln was assassinated by Booth.
One important point to note is that it has been over eleven years, since 1995, that an American missionary has visited Vladivostok. The last to be here were Rhett and Debbie Spivey, and that was when they were in Kansas City. The church received Charlie and I in an incredibly warm and sincere way. Charlie and I each shared a charge from the Scriptures. Mine was from I Corinthians 1 on how the church has been enriched in every way by Jesus Christ. But more importantly, we shared about ourselves. We felt like it was important that the church get to know us and understand that we face problems and challenges like they do. If it is not blasphemous, I would even say the church received us as if we were apostles! They came to us in fellowship with smiles and hugs, taking pictures and attempting to communicate with us in the little English that they knew. It was incredible to actually be in Russia and meet the disciples of this great church.
We went out for Chinese food afterward with just the brothers on Sergei's leadership team, and a brother named Pasha, who used to lead the church, sat on my right. We were both drawn to each other, and we started a friendship that I am sure will last a lifetime. Pasha used to lead the Vladivostok church, but had to step out of the ministry about two years ago because of reoccurring migraine headaches. The time with the brothers was good, filled with stories and laughter, and the dynamic between the brothers seems to be very healthy. I observed positive interaction and good friendships within the group.
Thursday morning Sergei and Marina picked us up and took us on an excursion of the city of Vladivostok. We went up to the highest hill where Sergei often prays over the city. They also took us on a tour of a WWII Russian submarine that is now a museum. There is also a monument, which reminds me of the Vietnam War Memorial, built by Constantine, a brother in the church who owns a construction company. Sergei's wife, Marina, is delightful and gregarious. Even though she could not speak English, as we sat at lunch and conversed about her 4-year-old daughter, you could tell that she understood things we said even before Sergei translated them. She was full of questions about their daughter and how to raise her as a christian.
On Thursday evening, we again met at the theater with only the married disciples. I taught on marriage and Charlie taught on parenting. The needs here for further teaching and example in both these primary areas are great. All of the leaders in the church are in their 30's, and they are great people, but they are short on life experience. Some of the children in the church are getting to the teen and preteen age, but there are no grey-beards around with successful stories of raising their children in the church. Charlie and I fielded questions on parenting for about 45 minutes, until they kicked us out of the theater. There were many questions that went unanswered. However, we took time to give specific instructions on exactly how, when, why, and at what age to spank your children.
Afterwards, we went out for pizza with both the brothers and the sisters on the leadership team. I sat with Sergei and Alona, a young leadership couple in the Vladivostok church, and Alona translated for me. Dennis and Victoria peppered me with questions about their 7-month-old daughter. The baby is a crier, but I quickly deduced that Victoria is very sentimental with her and picks her up all the time. I encouraged her to allow the baby to cry herself to sleep for about a week and the problem would take care of itself. This is an example of the practical kind of teaching that is needed in the church there.
Friday morning, Charlie and I had breakfast, and then he headed out to the airport and on to Novosibirsk. Sergei picked me up at around 1pm and we had lunch with Vova and Anja, the couple who leads the Kharbovsk church. They are a great couple, full of energy, light and zeal. The next time I travel to Russia, I desire to visit them and their church in Kharbovsk. Friday evening, we had dinner at Sergei's house with all of the leaders in his leadership team. Marina was a charming host; they spread out a table cloth on the living room floor, and we dined on all kinds of seafood. Sergei's apartment is a very modest two bedroom flat. I remember feeling very grateful for the home I have in Wichita.
On Saturday morning, Pasha picked me up, and I rode out to a retreat center outside of Vladivostok with his family. We again had the leadership team together for a cookout and a Russian sauna. This leadership group is very comfortable being together with men and women as well as their children. This was the highlight time of my trip. I had given Sergei an American football as a gift. He brought it with him and for about 45 minutes all of the brothers threw the football around in 15-degree temperatures. They had never seen or thrown an American football before, and I taught them all how to throw and catch it! This was a great deal of fun and I thought to myself what an incredible thing this is: me in the far east of Russia teaching American football to grown men who has never seen a football before! The meal was great, and then the sisters went in to the sauna first, followed by the brothers. The temperature was about 140 degrees!
Afterward, we went back to the city, and we had Sunday worship service at 6pm Saturday evening. Sergei suggested that I preach from the gospels, because most Russians do not have any background in Christianity. I preached the story of Lazarus from John 11. I read Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment on the trip out, and I used a passage from the text that includes the whole passage on Lazarus. The church was again warm and engaging. Many disciples gave me pictures with their email on the back. We took many pictures. Sergei and his wife, along with many disciples were very touched that I used Dostoevsky in my sermon.
Sunday morning, Sergei picked me up from my hotel, and we drove out to the end of the peninsula. It was very beautiful to look out over the ocean and pray together. We then journeyed into the city, and I talked Sergei into taking me to a worship service of the Russian Orthodox Church. We met Slava there and crowded into a small temple that was packed with worshippers. The acapella singing was very beautiful. We then went back to Sergei's before leaving for the airport and Novosibirsk. Before we left, Pasha and his family came to say goodbye and give me a gift. The gift was a beautiful pewter car with a clock. Pasha sells cars, and on the way to the airport, he called Sergei to make sure he explained that the gift was a car so that whenever I looked at it, I would think of him, because his business is buying and selling cars. Furthermore, as we left Sergei's flat, Eva, his daughter, broke into tears at my leaving. It was all very moving.
Novosibirsk:
Sergei flew with me to Novosibirsk to help translate. It was a 6-hour flight and we got in at about 5:30pm on Sunday evening. Charlie and I had dinner at the hotel and went to bed. The next morning we meet at 10am at the church's rented office space. I taught a lesson from 1 Corinthians on different facets of being a good minister. Sergei and Lena were in from Omsk and Max and Tonya were there from Krasnoyarsk. There was a great spirit amongst these leaders and it was a pleasure to be with them.
After staff meeting, Charlie and I went to lunch with Victor, Yuri and Sergei. We had a good discussion on where their churches were at. One of the most penetrating questions they asked was about how to handle tithing for Russians because they are just starting to get bank loans for cars and houses. Capitalism has made great inroads in Russia over the last ten years and now the church is going to have to deal with the new culture that brings in. We also talked about how the Heartland can work together with the Russian churches. The Russian brothers all really expressed that in the next few years that Americans traveling to Russia and teaching them will be just as important as us sending money. We had kind of a brain-storming session on how Wichita and Kansas City could help these churches in Siberia in the future.
Monday evening, Charlie taught the family group leaders of the Novosibirsk church on leadership, and we again did question and answer at the end. The next morning, Charlie taught the staff on parenting and we had a lively discussion on the topic. At lunch, Charlie spent time with Kostya and Olga, because he picked up that some things in their marriage were not right. He pulled in Yuri and Lena and had a discipling time. I was able to have a great talk with the Lamekin's, the couple who lead the Omsk church. We talked about their campus ministry. They felt they were too old to work with students any more, so I shared with them about Gerri and I working with campus students into our 40's.
I did want to say that James and Kelly Shultz of Oklahoma City have done an outstanding job of reaching out to the Lamekin's and the church in Omsk. The Lemekin's sent a gift with me for the Schultzes and talked about them a lot. On Tuesday evening, I spoke at midweek to the Novosibirsk church. Yuri and Lena asked me to speak about Jesus, because even the disciples in Russia do not hold Jesus on the same level as God. So I taught about Jesus from Colossians 1 and the book of Hebrews. The church was very warm and engaging. Many disciples came up to us, giving us hugs and taking pictures. It was great meeting all the disciples in the church. Finally, Charlie and I left for home early Wednesday morning. We were both spent and fulfilled by our time in Russia.
Summary:
First of all, I want to express my gratitude to the Eurasian Missions Society for the opportunity to go to Russia and visit the churches in Vladivostok and Novosibirsk. This was the opportunity of a lifetime, and I am so thankful that I was able to participate. I have desired to travel to Russia for over ten years now because I have been a minister of congregations sending money to churches in Russia for at least twelve years. The actual trip was more than I could have asked for or imagined. What a blessing it has been to meet and build friendships with my Russian brothers and sisters and to actually see the flesh and blood fruit of my missions giving over the last fifteen years!
For example, Sergei and I had one conversation in which I offered to personally buy his daughter a bed (because she sleeps on a bed made of two small chairs pushed together). He told me no, no, no. They will buy her a bed some day, but right now they are missionaries and what she has will do. I expressed to him that Gerri and I personally over the last thirteen years or so had given literally thousands of dollars to help finance missions in Russia. And that we had not a single regret about even a dollar of those funds. But now I actually have seen flesh and blood Russians who are not only my brothers and sisters, but my personal friends. I expressed to him that my desire to give my money has never been greater, because now it is much more connected with my heart in a much deeper way than ever before.
I want to commend Eurasian Missions for the plan that has linked the Heartland with the Siberian and Far Eastern churches, and even more specifically, linked Wichita with the Vladivostok church. This has spread the responsibility for these churches from just a few higher-ups in our movement to all of us. And we desire to feel the responsibility. I am so grateful that I made the decision to visit Vladivostok. What a joy it was to meet the disciples in that remote church. Moreover, in just a few months, Sergei and I have really become good friends. My church has met Sergei, and Sergei's church has met me! Russian church plantings and missions has become so much more personal to all of us!
Another example of how this is working well is the example of the Schultzes in Oklahoma City paired with the Lamekin's in Omsk. I am confident that this bond will be even stronger as the Schultzes are planning a visit in the spring of 2007. I believe these visits by Americans to the Russian churches are so important in the future. Charlie and I discussed on the way home how we now feel a personal responsibility that we have never felt before to the churches in Siberia and the Far East. This has given me a great platform with which to help raise missions support in the future. I would like to go on a mini-tour of the Heartland with my PowerPoint of this Russian trip and help the churches raise money for their special missions contribution in 2007. I am confident that because of this trip, the Wichita Church of Christ will give more this year than we have in the past couple of years.
Furthermore, I see a great need in the churches in Siberia and the Far East for training and input in their marriages and families. Their leaders are all in their 30's and their families are still young. They and the people in their churches will need guidance over the next few years in raising these children to be disciples. The teen ministries of the churches we visited are either very small or nonexistent. There is a need for faith and example of successful teen conversions of kingdom kids. They will need elders and elders in training to visit them and share their stories and teaching. We see the need to send more of our people over in the next few years so that they will feel the responsibility that we feel. One suggestion that Charlie and I came up with is for us to identify empty nest couples in the Heartland who may be able to come to Russia for longer periods of time, either a month or even over a whole summer , and work with specific congregations on their marriages and parenting.
One idea that we are trying for the next two years in Wichita is that we are setting aside 20% of our missions contribution to help with congregational travel during that time. We do not at all anticipate that this will diminish the amount we send to Eurasian missions; we actually are projecting that this amount will increase. I have already asked Ken and Lana Johnson to return to Russia with me when I go again. Our congregation will be saving money for this in 2007. I have also talked with Sergei and Yuri about the Wichita Church of Christ helping plant a church in Irkutsk in the summer of 2008. I have laid it before the congregation that we want to send at least 10 people from Wichita over a two week period to help with this planting.
Finally, the women expressed to us over and over again that they want our wives to travel with us when we come to Russia. They said that it is great seeing Charlie and I, Dan Rice, etc., but that they want to talk to a woman! So there is a great need to send our wives over with us to minister to the women.
Thanks again so much to the Eurasian Missions Society for the opportunity to fulfill a dream of mine. What a trip this was. My heart is completely with our Russian brothers and sisters!