A 15-year friendship between Court Street United Methodist Church and churches in Russia will be celebrated Nov. 2 when Court Street welcomes the Rev. Vladimir Konevets of Stavopol United Methodist Church in Stavopol, Russia.
The Rev. Konevets will be welcomed at the 11 a.m. worship service. Then, he will be joined by former Court Street pastor, the Rev. James M. (Jerry) John, who will highlight church growth in Russia during a slide presentation after a light luncheon in the church refectory.
In response to a request from the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church in 1993, John and four members of Court Street traveled to Stavropol in southern Russia where the team was also taken to Pyatigorsk, Russia, and soon discovered a growing relationship with the two cities.
The Bible studies, which had been translated into Russian, continued during May and June of the next year with a team. The success of these studies, which had been attended by more than 100 people at each of the three-day sessions over the two-month period, led to the establishment of continued studies by the churches in each of the two cities.
During the ensuing years, teams from throughout the Virginia Conference of United Methodist Churches have continued going to both cities presenting Bible studies, taking on projects in churches,
orphanages and schools, and contributing medical supplies to a children’s hospital and orphanages. Teams from Russian youth groups, businessmen and women’s groups began coming to the United States as early as 1995, and now each of the two Russian cities has a full-time pastor serving their small congregations.
“The prayers of the people of Court Street UMC have been a major catalyst to guide and strengthen this work in southern Russia,” said Selene Stewart, a member of the church’s first team to travel to Russia and one deeply involved with the project. “Endearing friendships continue.”
The service, luncheon and program are open to the public.
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