Online Archives

Bishop Hans Växby recently wrote a New Year’s letter to the United Methodists in the Eurasia Area. As partners of United Methodists in the Black Soil District in Russia, their stories, joys and challenges are ours.

Dear Members and Friends of The United Methodist Church in Eurasia:

I thank God for the privilege of being your coworker. I am grateful for our spiritual and administrative leaders in the Area Cabinet, Eurasia Administrative Council and the Annual Conference Councils. I thank those who have completed their terms this year, and welcome the new ones. When I asked one of the new district superintendents, if she is ready (гoтова) for her new appointment; she answered, “No, but I am willing (согласна).” This is the spirit of our leaders; they know it is impossible to be fully knowledgeable and trained for all that is ahead, but they willing to walk with Jesus, serve his people, and build his church.

I also thank God for all of you who week after week participate in and contribute to the ministry in the local churches in various ways. Financially this has been a tough year. Costs are increasing, while the support from partner churches stays the same, decrease, or even comes to an end. The burden of financial responsibility is shifting as we both willingly and forced by circumstances are moving towards self-sufficiency. In such a situation, the question automatically is raised, “Why are we doing this?” And I am moved by the answer I see and hear; some take a step back, but the majority of our congregations stand up to the challenges; they know their calling, and continue to act in Christ’s name.

There are many highlights and moments of God’s grace in the year of 2010. Some of the ones I recall are,

• In Tomsk, Pastor Yelena Chudinova and her coworkers read the Upper Room on a local radio station.
• In Krasnoarmeisk, Ukraine and Oryol, Russia our congregations bought pieces of land and are planning to build churches.
• In Kaliningrad a brand new building is consecrated to serve the Lord and his people.
• The congregation in Syktyvkar moved back into an enlarged and renewed sanctuary after last winter’s fire, and continues towards completion of the rebuilding.
• St. Petersburg District has started a new ministry in Veshchevo, outside Vyborg.
• In Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan, Maksim Kozybovsky is the leader of a new congregation composed of students and other young adults.
• Hope UMC in Volgograd has committed to give RUB 314,000 in tithing and offerings in 2011, which is 58 percent of its total budget.
• Perovo UMC in Moscow becomes the first Eurasian church with a monthly commitment of $100 to a missions project in Africa.
• Late Pastor Mikhail Kazimirov said in a debate during the Northwest Russia Annual Conference, “I have no right to expel a fallen brother from the church; the only right I have is to talk with him and help him back to the Lord.”
• The Advent Prayer Vigil from Vladivostok to Kaliningrad.

Still work to do
At the same time, there is no end to the many problems – sickness, unemployment, alcohol & drug abuse, and racism. We must be reaching out to the many people who are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36) around us. So there is still work for The United Methodist Church in Eurasia to do. The Lord still needs all possible “laborers” for “his harvest.” (Matthew 9:38) What a privilege it is to know the church is not our idea, but it is God who has called us and sent us to be a part of his people in this part of the world!

The Map is a document – the Road is an adventure
We have been working for some time now with the Road Map, It has been fascinating to see how so many pastors, lay leaders and members have contributed to the process by their creative thinking and sensitivity to God’s guidance.
As we enter into the New Year, I invite you to share a reflection on a small but important difference between Road and Map:

• A map is a piece of paper. Our Road Map is a series of documents. Maps are always interesting, and documents can be very important. But they still remain pieces of paper that can be read, filed and forgotten.
• A road is a route in the landscape, leading from one place to another. You walk on it step by step, or drive it kilometer by kilometer. It takes energy and effort, and things change around you – and within you – as you progress.

It may appear a game with small nuances in the language, but the difference is decisive! The Road Map is a document, produced and filed – the Eurasian Road is an adventure with a beginning and a goal not yet reached.

See, now is the acceptable time
Our vision, therefore, will not become a reality all of a sudden in 2015, it is becoming real now, step by step, as we are faithful and courageous in our work for the Lord. That is why it is so important to have a strategic plan every year with goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-specific. That is why it is so important that we hold one another accountable to the commitments we have made, and “encourage one another… all the more as we see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

“We see The United Methodist Church in Eurasia in 2015 dynamically growing, recognized in the society, and helping people to become committed Christians.” This is not something we just talk about now, and deal with later. This is truly something we are putting all our prayer and working energy in now. “See, now is the acceptable time,” says Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:2, from which we also will take the theme for the 2011 annual conference.

I have really enjoyed working with you all in 2010, and deeply appreciate your prayer as I struggled with my health during the fall. I thank God for each of you, and continue to keep you in my heart and in my prayers.

Your co-worker and shepherd,

Hans Växby
Bishop