Upper Room, Ministries with Young People Growing in Russia

By Andrew J. Schleicher*

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 25, 2009/GBOD/ -- The recent consultation on the Russia mission initiative gave evidence of growth of The Upper Room and ministries with young people throughout Eurasia.

A group of 27 people from Russia and Ukraine joined about 140 U.S. participants in the Russia Initiative for a consultation in San Diego, Calif.

Joan Floyd, coordinator of international ministries with The Upper Room shared about how both the Walk to Emmaus and The Upper Room devotional guide (http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/) started in Russia last year.

It was 15 years ago when 12 Russian men and women came to the United States and learned about the Walk to Emmaus. Floyd served at that women’s walk as a representative of the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship, which oversees the work of The Upper Room. Fourteen years later she meets a fellow traveler again, this time in Russia.

After the first Russian walks last July, Floyd participated in an Emmaus community training in November. Many of the team members had traveled to walks in the United States and some to Estonia, but the movement is taking hold now in Russia. Fourteen men and 23 women attended the first two Russian walks.

A second round of walks will occur this July.

Meanwhile, the first Russian-language edition of The Upper Room devotional guide appeared in November. Nicola Vidamour heads up the local team as managing editor. She has previously written for Upper Room as a teenager. That first devotional appeared November 1, 1987.

The growth of the Russia Upper Room ministry is being supported by churches in the United States. Many are giving gift subscriptions including a Sunday school class from Christ UMC in Memphis donating 30 subscriptions to a church in Kallingrad.

In translating The Upper Room to Russian, more people are growing in faith. “It meant so much for people to have in their hands something in their own language," Floyd said.

Fourteen young adults from Russia were a part of the Eurasian delegation to the consultation. Michael Ratliff, associate general secretary for GBOD’s Division on Ministry with Young People, facilitated a young adult panel discussion along with Elena Kim from Russia.

“We had the opportunity to learn about some of the ministries these young people are involved in,” Ratliff said. “A ‘café’ ministry in St. Petersburg stands out as an example of a ministry where United Methodist young people are seeking to reach other young people where they are.”

These young people grew up in a Russia that did not restrict religion. Two are pastors and many others are attending seminary. “To move forward as a world-changing entity, the church must include its young people in leadership if we are to share the good news of Jesus Christ in an increasingly relevant way,” Ratliff continues.

The Russia Initiative continues to show hope as many are being formed by these new opportunities.

*Andrew J. Schleicher is a writer, editor and provisional deacon in the United Methodist Church based at Nashville, Tenn.