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BY MELISSA LAUBER
UMCONNECTION STAFF

Imagine being able to shape an ancient but new nation, and then creating a church to serve that nation’s people. That’s the joy and the challenge facing Agnessa Sinibabnova, Dmitry Provotorov and other Christians in Russia.

In Dmitry Medvedev’s New Year’s message, Provotorov said, Russia’s President applauded the nation’s rich and ancient history. But, “at the same time,” Medvedev said, “Russia is a young county: in the coming year it will be only 20 years old.”

As young adults, Sinibabnova and Provotorov’s formative years have been lived out in the age following the fall of communism. They’ve watched religion and, more specifically, the Protestant church be introduced to Russia and both are active in a ministry called Anthill, a retreat and camping experience for youth in the Black Soil District in Russia.

As partners with the Baltimore-Washington Conference, they recently attended ROCK 2011 in Ocean City to learn about youth ministry.

The pair was impressed with the scale of the event, which drew 6,000 youth and their leaders and provided inspirational preaching, worship and learning experiences. Sinbabnova was particularly impressed with the manner in which many of the youth, especially those from the Conference Council on Youth Ministries, boldly shared their faith and talked about Christ.

Even though many of the youth were drawn into the social aspects of the weekend, Sinibabnova said, the emotional and spiritual message of ROCK will leave something in their hearts. “I don’t believe the disciples ever forgot the moment of transfiguration and it happened only once in their lives. I don’t believe the youth will be able to forget this. If God touches their heart, they will remember it.”

The Russian Orthodox Church, which has 135 million members worldwide, is the most influential religious force in Russia, where the United Methodist Church is gaining a small but faith-filled foothold.

However, growing a church is not easy. In fact, Provotorov said, some Russians look at the Protestant church as a cult. They don’t believe its members are pursuing Christian goals. Trust and acceptance from the powers-that-be have proven difficult to gain.

But that may be slowly changing, said Provotorov, a member of St. Peter and Paul United Methodist Church in Veronezh in southwest Russia.

“A lot of youth are really seeking God,” he said through Sinbabnova, a professional translator. “These kids – millions of Russians -- who were born after the Soviet Union fell apart are now growing up without fear. They are full of energy and strength. Many are wondering what to do with their lives. As soon as a strong leader comes, who stands out a little bit and is little bit different, they will be willing to follow. We in the church are praying for strong leaders who are willing and ready to lead youth.”

Many believe Provotorov is such a leader. Through the Anthill camping experience and other church experiences, his ministry is showing the youth that it’s okay to follow Christ, even if it means being counter-cultural.

“We help them figure out their own lives and to see the real and living God in the people that surround them,” Provotorov saud. “We want them to experience God in their lives.”

After attending ROCK and seeing the vision of the United Methodist Church in action, Provotorov is excited about the possibilities of Baltimore-Washington Conference churches working in partnership with the Black Soil District.

For more information about how you or your congregation can participate in the Russian Partnership contact the Revs. Rod Miller or Charles Harrell.