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'Spasiba,' in Russian means 'thank you.' It was a word frequently used by the Rev. Vera Bogolyubova and the people she encountered as this pastor from St. Petersburg, Russia, toured the Baltimore-Washington Conference last month.

Bogolyubova, who was a guest of Faith UMC in Rockville for two weeks in mid-September, thanked Bishop John R. Schol for his prayers. He thanked her for her ministry to 800 women in prison in Russia.

She also thanked the Rev. Rodney Smothers for a glimpse into church development in the United States, the staffs of West River Camp, the Board of Child Care, Lovely Lane Museum and Wesley Seminary for allowing her to learn about their ministries, and the Rev. Alex Karakcheyev, a pastor of the Russian Initiative in Washington, for his gift of translation.

But most of all, 'thank-you' was the sentiment repeatedly shared by Bogolyubova and the congregation of Faith UMC, which works in a partnership with Bogolyubova?s United Methodist Church of God?s Inspiration, providing her $6,000 annual salary.

'I think Vera?s impression during her visit has been, ?wow,?' said the Rev. Charles Harrell, pastor of Faith UMC.

'It has been interesting for us to see ourselves through her eyes,' Harrell said. 'She expressed continued amazement at the outward signs of our affluence and convenience. Her church in Russia does so much with so little. It made us think about how much more we should be able to do with the tremendous resources we have.'

Faith UMC is one of the leaders in the denomination?s Russian Initiative. It began its ministry when communism fell, working to provide humanitarian assistance through the Initiative?s Partner Church program, working closely with the Russian Peace Foundation.

Two years ago, the church entered a new phase of ministry by enrolling in the supporting congregation program, working directly to pay a pastor?s salary and provide some funds for a local church?s operating expenses.

A team from Faith UMC has visited Russia twice during the past two years and in this third year of their partnership, decided to invite Bogolyubova to visit them.

'There is no substitute for this personal connection,' said Harrell.

Since 1991, more than 100 United Methodist churches have been created across Russia?s 10 time zones. The challenges these churches face are significant.

Most significantly, Bogolyubova said, is the lack of permanent space for churches to meet. Churches that are not Russian Orthodox must pay increasingly exorbitant rents for spaces that don?t really serve their needs.

Bogolyubova congregation was recently forced to relocate from a room in a public library to a small borrowed space at a Roman Catholic church.

Faith UMC is looking at how they might assist the congregation in moving into the first floor of an apartment building. But several obstacles have presented themselves.

The 30-member church now has an operating budget of $40 a month, and the elderly people can?t be asked to give from the little they have, Bogolyubova said. 'You wish for more.'

But with all the challenges, including the impression among many Russians that The United Methodist Church is a dangerous sect, the Church of God?s Inspiration is intent on survival, finding its greatest strengths in 'heart-to-heart' evangelism.

This personal approach to faith sharing will bring Christ to Russia, said Bogolyubova, who remembers not so many years ago receiving a Bible from a friend who moved to Israel. 'It seemed like an exotic book,' she said. She became a Christian and began to serve God.

Three years later, someone asked her if she had a relationship with Jesus. They prayed together and when Bogolyubova closed her eyes, she saw light coming into her heart.

She shared this conversion story during a sermon at Faith UMC Sept. 25.

People were moved, Harrell said. They were reminded that 'Vera' means faith. 'We?ve seen her heart with her people,' in Russia, he said. 'Her experiences here will open new doors for her; she will be richer for this experience.'

Harrell also encourages any church interested in the 'frontier work going on in social ministry and evangelism,' in Russia to look at the General Board of Global Ministries Russian Initiative. 'It will give you a deeper appreciation of what God is doing in different parts of the world,' he said. It will also broaden your appreciation of 'thank you.'