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Students Conduct Fieldwork during Holy Week.LTS trains pastors primarily for the mission field of Siberia. This year’s first-year students will graduate in the year 2003. Yet some missions are growing so fast that they are commencing work in new areas, though there are no pastors to be sent to serve the Lord in those places. This situation was discussed at several clergy meetings in Novosibirsk. There it was decided that Rev. Pavel Zayakin should travel to two cities, visiting each city every other month, so that both would receive pastoral visitation until the students who have come to the seminary from these places graduate to be full-time ministers there. Liturgically, Holy week is the most intense time in the church year, and no pastor or deacon from our church can spare the time to travel to any place other than where he serves. That is why the seminary sent two students to conduct services in Chita and Irkutsk. This was done under the guidance of Pastor Vsevolod Lytkin of the Lutheran parish in Novosibirsk. Accordingly, Mark Plyaskin conducted several services in Irkutsk. The attendance was 14 people for the Easter service. Igor Kizyaev went to Chita. Formerly, Igor was a member of the Pentecostal group there, and so he has many contacts in the city. Igor conducted several services in Chita, an apartment having been provided by his family. There were 24 people at the Easter service. LTS gave crucifixes both in Irkutsk and in Chita, to be used by the students for these special occasions. Besides conducting services, Igor also visited one of the prisons in the city. In Russia it is Baptists and to a lesser degree Pentecostals who dominate in prison ministry. It is very important for the Lutherans to catch up in this field. Convicts in the prison inquired why Igor left the Pentecostal movement. Mostly theological reasons were given in response to that question, namely, the importance of the right attitude toward Scripture, the doctrine of justification, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. Lutheran literature, including the Small Catechism, the Book of Concord, and Good News magazine, was distributed in the prison to those who were interested. And the interest was indeed very high. Many people wanted to know how they could join the Lutheran church. Some humanitarian aid was also distributed. Igor gave the convicts some things that are dire necessities to them - blank envelopes, pens, glasses. Another interesting development in Chita was the involvement of the deaf. About 10 people came to learn about Lutheran theology. Potentially there are very good options to establish a solid Lutheran ministry to the deaf in Chita. Mark and Igor will continue their missionary endeavors during the summer practicum. The high point of the summer in Eastern Siberia will be the summer theological seminar in Irkutsk in July of 2000, which many people from Irkutsk and Chita want to attend to learn more about the Lutheran faith. News: Professor Kurt Marquart Gives Lectures in Ekaterinburg. [June 2000] News: Completion of 1999-2000 Academic Year. [June 2000] News: Summer Practicum. [June 2000] News: Seminary Movie. [June 2000] News: LTS Theological Journal. [May 2000] News: Trip to Ulaanbaatar. [May 2000] News: A Missionary and Catechetical Trip to Khakassia, Buryatia, and Irkutsk. [May 2000] News: Student’s Daughter Baptized at the Chapel’s Baptismal Font. [May 2000] News: Students Conduct Fieldwork during Holy Week. [April 2000] News: LTS holds April seminar in new seminary building. [April 2000] News: Dr. Scaer teaches full course in Novosibirsk in one week. [March 2000] News: LTS student participates in international Christian Pedagogical conference. [March 2000] News: Three New Students Accepted at the Seminary in Novosibirsk [February 2000] |
