Siberian Lutheran Mission Society
 
 

                     Click here to learn more about the Siberian Lutheran Mission Society


The Work of the SLMS

The Siberian Lutheran Mission Society  is working to help support our Siberian Lutheran brethren. We raise funds to support the Pastoral Office in the Siberian Lutheran congregations. We also gather funds to purchase Communion kits, Altar ware, Bibles, VBS materials, and so forth.

Your offerings help support the Mission effort of the Lutheran church in Siberia. None of the national church bodies are engaged in this work. It is the efforts of congregations that are helping to support the mission of our fellow Lutherans in Russia.

We are also engaged in Mercy work in Siberia. People need the Word of God. They also have physical needs and cares. Your offerings help the Pastors care for their flocks in body and soul.  Your prayers and financial gifts are vital to the mission in Siberia.     No financial gifts sent to the SLMS general budget are used for overhead -- 100% of your donations go directly to the mission.


How to Support the Siberian Lutheran Mission

Your gift helps provide pastors and deacons for those who are poor, pays rent for church facilities, covers transportation to villages near and far, purchases much needed supplies, and much more. One-time gifts are always appreciated. Your ongoing gifts help provide for the church so that your brethren do not fall into worry.   Checks may be made out to to Siberian Lutheran Mission Society and send it to:

Siberian Lutheran Mission Society
c/o Ascension Lutheran Church
8811 St. Joe Rd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46835

We also have electronic options for donating available on our SLMS  website

100%

One hundred percent of all financial donations go directly to the field to support the work of your Siberian Lutheran brothers and sisters. No funds are used for administration or overhead of the Siberian Lutheran Mission Society.


 Siberian Lutheran Mission Society Newsletters 


 



Newsletter Article for November 2022:
 
Restoration of the Lutheran Church in Russia Is Moving Forward

Even in this time of world conflict, the Lutheran seminary in Novosibirsk, Siberia, is still working to prepare future pastors to carry the Gospel to the Russian people and those in surrounding countries, including Ukraine. Although other confessional Lutheran seminaries have been operating in the area, the Novosibirsk seminary is one of just two remaining among those founded within the past 25 years.
 
Your gift to the Save the Seminary Campaign matters – not only for today, but also eternally – as pastors graduating from the seminary carry the Gospel to people starved of God’s Word and Sacrament for 70 repressive years. Will you help save the seminary with a gift of support today?
 
Please make your contribution at: savetheseminary.org, or use this QR Code.
 


2022 Summer Camp in Siberia

Dear Friend of SLMS;
In spite of the war between Russia and Ukraine, the Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELC) continues to conduct mission activity in both countries.  In Siberia, Bishop Vsevolod Lytkin writes about the Church Camp in Efremkino, in south central Siberia.


"In the beginning of July, the Christian family camp 'Pilgrims' was held in the village of Efremkino (Khakassia Region in south central Siberia).  This year, participants came from Abakan, Tuim, Tomsk, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg. Most of the people who gathered are members of our parishes, but there were also those who are still un-churched, who wanted to learn more about Christ, about faith, about the Church. Some of them have already visited our Christian camps before, others have arrived for the first time.

"During the eight days of the camp, we made a pilgrimage to the Heavenly Kingdom together, passing through the countries of Greed, Pride, Anger, and Envy. At each stage, we faced different temptations and difficulties. Completing the journey through another country, we studied a passage from the Scripture that speaks about this vice. Together we pondered why it is so difficult for us to overcome sin; how deeply it is ingrained in us. We also said that, without Christ, without the Church, without her Sacraments, we are powerless and will not be able to overcome sin on our own.

"And we didn't just talk about it. On Sunday, the priests conducted Divine Liturgy right in the camp, where the Gospel was preached for us, and the Lord granted us to partake of His Body and Blood.

"Every day we went hiking, which were not easy walks. We walked about 6 miles (10 km), and with teenagers in a two-day hike even 12 miles (20 km) every day. Moreover, we walked through the mountains, where we were constantly going up and down. It was a serious test especially for the poorly prepared participants. And so, we learned to overcome ourselves, to endure, to support a friend and help him or her.

"As always, our Christian camp has become a bright event for everyone. There is magnificent scenery that never gets boring. All the time overcoming yourself, reading and reflecting on God's Word --- conversations about everything — about school, about work, about books, about God about faith, about the Church. We learn to understand each other better, parents — children, and children — parents. We delve into the Scriptures and learn to trust God. We understand ourselves better — where our weaknesses are, and where we can share with others, where we can help and serve.

"We pray for the un-churched people who were in our camp. They heard the Law and the Gospel; they asked very good and deep questions about faith and the Church. We want it not to end with talking, but that they would come to where Christ saves, that is, to His Church. [This camp was made possible because of donations from the Parish of Saint John in Wheaton, Illinois.]

"We are very grateful to everyone who helps our Church even in these troubled times. Thank you for your prayers and your support for the missionary ministry and Christian camps for children. Whatever time we live, the Church continues to serve her parishioners and proclaim the Gospel to all who are near and who are far."

Donations to support ongoing mission activity in Siberia may be sent to:
 

Siberian Lutheran Mission Society
c/o Ascension Lutheran Church
8811 St. Joe Rd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46835


We also have an online option for donating, available on our SLMS  website.
For support of pastoral care within the congregations and ongoing mission activity in the region, designate the donation to go for "General Fund."

Thank you for your support of Siberian Lutheran missions through the SLMS!

Pax,
Dan


Rev. Daniel S. Johnson
Chairman, Siberian Lutheran Mission Society (SLMS)


 

An Easter 2022 Message from Rev. Dr. Alexey Streltsov, Rector of the Seminary in Novosibirsk, Siberia
 
Dear Friends of the Seminary:  

Let me greet you with the traditional Paschal greeting: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Amid anxieties, frustrations, and turmoil of this life, we boldly proclaim the victory of Life over death. Although we are tempted to be afraid like the myrrh-bearing women (Mk 16:8), we don’t need to be, for the Gospel “is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16).

This year is unlike any other at our seminary. Are we afraid because of rapid changes around us and less-than-certain future? Humanly speaking, we are. However, the joy of Easter overcomes our fears. No matter what happens, the devil is not able to take this spiritual joy away from us: the risen Christ has triumphed over death and the devil in the waters of our Baptism.

At this time, our seminary continues to train students for the Holy Ministry – both from Russia and Ukraine! All people are sinners in need of forgiveness, and so all need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. No matter what shape or form the Seminary takes in the future, we will continue to “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38) and do everything within our power toward that noble task.

Thus, your support and prayers are appreciated at this time as much as at any other.

Let the risen Lord fill your hearts with His joy and love!
 
Save the Seminary Campaign

If you have any questions about the Save the Seminary Campaign or the seminary in Novosibirsk, please contact Rev. Dr. Timothy Quill, Director of Seminary Fundraising (260 580-0812) or Gerry Wiley, Chairman of the Save the Seminary Campaign fundraising committee (909 419-1327).
 
Contributions can be made by check or by using the CR Code at the right. The CR Code will connect you to the Save the Seminary Campaign website: www.savetheseminary.org.
If you contribute by check, please write Save the Seminary Campaign on your check.
 
Save the Seminary Campaign
The Siberian Lutheran Mission Society
8811 St. Joe Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46835
 
Phone: 260 209-1647
Email: savetheseminary@gmail.com
Website: savetheseminary.org
 
 
Copyright © 2022 The Siberian Lutheran Mission Society. All rights reserved.

 

 

 



 

 


SELC Newsletter #289 – The Feast of the Presentation of our Lord

By 

Peace to you, dear brothers and Sisters in Christ, and greetings to you on this Feast of the Presentation of our Lord.

Today’s Gospel tells us about going to church, or rather: then it was still a temple in Jerusalem. To be more precise, the Gospel tells about two temples: the temple in Jerusalem and about the Mother of God, who became the tabernacle, the temple in which God dwelt. After all, this is about her Saint John the Evangelist wrote his famous “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”  This is not only about Christ, but also about His Mother.  Do you remember?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. <…> And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1,14)

The Word became Flesh in the womb of the Virgin. It would be better to translate “dwelt” from Greek in a more detailed way as “lived in the tabernacle among us.” And Saint Mary became this tabernacle. She was the door through which the Savior entered the world – He Who is the Son of God and Son of Man.  She was a temple where God dwelt.

<…>

“And when the days are fulfilled,” this is how our today’s Gospel begins. “The days are fulfilled,” it is not just about the fact that the right moment to go to church has come, when finally there were no other things to do (as often happens with us now).  “The days are fulfilled” is about the fact that the Old Testament history has reached its fullness, its fulfillment.  Remember how Saint Paul wrote about this: “the old has passed away, now everything is new” (2Cor. 5:17).

On that very day, “the old has passed away” – because what we read and talk about during the Feast of the Presentation was not just the performance of the Old Testament rite by a Jewish woman and her Child, but a change in the entire history of mankind.

For “the Lord entered His temple” (Mal. 3:1), and the Old Testament with its sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins, with its services in the Jerusalem Temple and longing for the coming Messiah, came to a fulfillment. The Savior came to became a sacrifice – a perfect and absolute Sacrifice – for the sins of the whole world. He came to establish the New Testament. He came to deliver us from all iniquity and to cleanse a special people for Himself (Titus 2:14).

God cleansed those who came to the Temple. For this, the temple with its sacrifices was needed. But when “the days were fulfilled,” the Old Testament became really “old,” because the time came, this blessed, promised new time has already come, when the Messiah came. And soon, very soon, His true worshipers will worship Him not only in Jerusalem, but wherever there is an altar, where the Word of truth sounds, and the Holy Spirit consecrates the Eucharist – the main sacrament of God’s salvific presence on earth.

<…>

And when they did everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their town of Nazareth. (Luke 2:39)

The Lord Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the Law for us and on the Cross He took our sins upon Himself. He called us to Himself and washed us with the waters of baptism, He saved us from death, and sanctified us with His innate presence in us.

In church, at each liturgy, He through His priests grants forgiveness to “poor miserable sinners.”  Here we touch Him and partake of His sacrifice.

And then we leave the church in peace and go to our homes. We walk the roads of this world, and, like Saint Mary, we carry Christ in our bodies. For His flesh is tied to ours, and His blood has mixed with our blood, His righteousness has become ours, and His eternal life is given to us by grace.

And if we are here in the church, then no matter what happens in our life, God will always be with us and in us. He will not forsake us and will not leave us. And when the time comes for us to leave this earthly home, we, like Simeon, will go “in peace according to the God’s Word” to heaven and there we will wait for the resurrection of the dead.

Please see the photos from our parish in Moscow, where Bishop Vsevolod celebrated the Presentation with concelebration of Priest Ivan Chernyshev and Deacon Roman Kislov.

Please pray for the safe travels of Lutheran clergy in Siberia, and that all parishioners always strive to the church for the salvific Word and sacraments.


Click here for the March 2020 SLMS Newsletter


February 2020

Greetings dear friend of the SLMS!

Your latest donations to the Siberian Lutheran Mission Society (SLMS) were transferred to Bishop Vsevolod Lytkin during the first week in February.

I have included Bishop Lytkin's response to Mr. Robert Kiefer, the SLMS treasurer.


Dear Robert,
Thank you very much for your great help and care for us in Siberia.
I was very happy to see you and our brethren in Fort Wayne. Thank you for the prayers! My travel was very good. I visited different congregations and preached there and met with people and talked about Siberia. And then I safely returned back to Siberia, but now I am traveling to Latvia, where there will be a very important conference of seminaries and meeting of bishops, and then I will come to St. Petersburg, where the new bishop of the Church of Ingria will be consecrated. Archbishop Janis Vanags of Latvia and other bishops plan to arrive there. And Dr. Tim Quill will come. And then I will return to Siberia and immediately go to visit our parishes. Life goes on! Thank you for your support, through which we can live normally and bring the Gospel through the Word and sacraments. 
We expect that Rev. Daniel Johnson will come to us in the summer, but we really hope that our other friends can come include Rev. Larry Beane. We plan to conduct the summer theological seminars.
Thank you for care for us!
In Christ,
Vsevolod,
bishop,
SELC


Click here for the SELC Feast of the Annunciation 2020 newsletter


Click here for the December 2019 SLMS Newsletter


November 2019

Dear Friend of the SLMS!

Your September and October donations to the Siberian Lutheran Mission Society (SLMS) were transferred to Bishop Vsevolod Lytkin during the first weeks in October and November, respectively.

I have included Bishop Lytkin's response to the SLMS treasurer, Mr. Robert Kiefer.

 

Dear Robert;
Thank you very much!
With your help, we can support our families, and travel and proclaim the Gospel. Recently in Novosibirsk, we celebrated Reformation Day. After the liturgy, we had an excellent theological conference. Unfortunately, I myself was not at it, because I was in Novokuznetsk to celebrate Reformation Day there in the Parish of Saint James. (There we still do not have a permanent priest, and we have to travel there every weekend. Most often I go myself, because formally I am the senior-priest of that parish, and this is my responsibility. But I hope that one of the current deacons would soon be ordained into the priesthood and will work there.)

May I ask you if any donations came for the repairs of the church in Abakan? Several people wrote to me on Facebook that they want to donate for repairs, and this is important because the weather is cold and we should complete the thermal insulation in the church soon.
Thank you again for your continuous help to us in Siberia!
In Christ,
Vsevolod,
bishop,
SELC


Greetings to friends of the SLMS!

Your August donations to the Siberian Lutheran Mission Society were transferred to Bishop Vsevolod Lytkin during the first week in September. I have included Bishop Lytkin's response to the SLMS Treasurer, Robert Kiefer.

Dear Robert,
Thank you very much for your help!

I'm going by train in Siberia now. In our part of the world, the distances are large, and although it is more pleasant to travel by car (because it is clean in a car, but it is dirty in trains, and you depend on yourself when in the car, you can choose when to drive and where to stop), but it is safer to take the train.

Because our roads in Siberia are getting worse year by year. Most of them were built back in Soviet times, and now there are continuous pits and holes there. Recently, one observer posted that "when you drive by a provincial road, you can see how our country is gradually dying." And this is true, although it sounds sad.

But no matter what happens in the country, the Church must serve the people. And Church is especially needed when it is difficult around. Because besides the Church, who else can give hope? In a poor situation, we understand better that in this world there is no other hope than that which Christ gives. And the Christian hope is the most reliable.

Because of your help, we can travel and visit people, and give them salvation through the word and sacraments. To encourage and save them. Constant travels are an absolutely necessary part of our Church' s work.

This month we have to pay a large sum for a surgical operation for one of the priests. This is an important operation, and also because of your help, we can cover it.

So, thank you for your care for us and greetings from the Siberian train!

Vsevolod,
bishop,
SELC


SLMS Newsletters can be downloaded from our website at:
https://www.siberianlutheranmissions.org/newsletters

We are constantly updating information about the "Save the Seminary" campaign. SLMS is involved in a campaign to raise a $7 million endowment to support the operational costs of the Novosibirsk seminary. Watch a video of Dr. Timothy Quill explaining the SLMS Save the Seminary Campaign.

Your prayers and financial gifts are vital to the mission in Siberia. No donations to the SLMS general budget are used for overhead -- 100% of your donations go directly to the mission.


Summer 2019

Dear friends of SLMS;
 
Robert Kiefer, the SLMS Treasurer, recently sent our May donations to Siberia for use in the Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church (100% of all donations to the general fund are sent to the mission field in Siberia. No undesignated funds are used for operational costs.)  

The following is Bishop Vsevolod Lytkin’s response to this month’s donations.
 
Dear Robert,
Thank you very much!
Now, since the summer has begun, we have many plans: as usual, we plan to organize various educational programs for children and adults. The first one will start on Monday: it will be the "Vacation Bible School" here in Novosibirsk. But we invited parents and children from other parishes also. There will be a large educational program for children, and the parallel classes for their parents. And then we plan to start summer seminars in different places, and Fr. Daniel Johnson will fly to us to participate. We will start in Tomsk on June 22, and then we will continue in Khakassia, then in Chita, and then in Bieloretsk and Yekaterinburg. And later in the summer (the dates have not yet been approved), we will conduct seminars in Novokuznetsk and in Novosibirsk. It is very important to train the parishioners so that they know better the basics of Lutheran faith and can tell others as well. Thank you very much for your help, because of which we can conduct the missionary work, visit remote places, receive medical care and feed our children.
We are very thankful to you!
In Christ,
Vsevolod,
bishop,
SELC
 
As stated by Bishop Vsevolod in his letter, I will be traveling to Siberia this month to teach at the summer seminars, preach, assist with liturgical prayer and visit congregations.  

Your prayers for safe travel and successful seminars are requested.  

Donations may be sent to:

Siberian Lutheran Mission Society
c/o Ascension Lutheran Church
8811 St. Joe Rd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46835

EASTER GREETINGS FROM SIBERIA

By  | April 21, 2019

Peace to you, dear Brothers and Sisters,

We are glad to greet you with Easter Greetings: Христос воскрес! Christ is risen!

May we bring to your attention the words of greetings from the Easter Message 2019 of our Bishop Vsevolod that were read today in all parishes of SELC during the Easter liturgy:

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it [John 1: 5]. These words from the very beginning of the Gospel speak very well to us about Easter. The hearts of the apostles and women marching to the tomb on that Easter morning were clouded: after all, their Lord and Master was dead.

In the unbelieving world proclaiming that “God is dead,” that is, that there is no God, or that He is not needed by a modern man who can be lived without God, we also sometimes feel that it is very difficult for us to endure the darkness around us.

But Easter morning comes, and we proclaim again and again: “Christ is risen.” And light dispels darkness in our lives, as it shone on the first witnesses of the resurrection. We rush to the church, where the resurrected Lord is waiting for us to strengthen us through the Word and the Sacraments — so that we would fulfill our designation and would be “children of light” [John. 12: 36] in the midst of sinful darkness.

Happy Easter, my beloved parishioners! Christ is risen!

And we wish you blessed Easter!

“Faith and hope”,

Siberia, Center of the world. 


Greetings dear friend of the SLMS!

"Around the world in 42 Days." This is the title of a story suggested to me from a donor. While relating my recent travels to this particular gentleman, he asked if I had considered writing about my experiences in Siberia. (My travels may seem interesting to some -- perhaps, this man and others -- and I greatly appreciate their interest in my travels -- but there are many others who can tell more interesting and compelling stories of life in Siberian Russia, than this single traveler). However, this most recent journey began when I left Marshalltown, Iowa on June 28th for a 42-day trip, which included a three-week journey through Siberia.

On July 4, I met Dr. Timothy Quill and Pastor Jeremy Mills in Amsterdam -- who had flown from Indiana. After a short layover, together, we flew to St. Petersburg, Russia. Two days later, we were on a “red-eye” to Novosibirsk.

Sunday, July 8, which marked the 28th anniversary of my ordination, involved the ordination of two recent graduates from the seminary in Novosibirsk. Dr. Quill and I participated in the ordination of these two deacons who will serve SELC congregations. (In the SELC a deacon is the first level of the priesthood or pastoral ministry. After several years the bishop and consistory may elect to consecrate the deacon as a pastor, with all the duties and responsibilities of a parish priest.) The Novosibirsk seminary continues to produce highly qualified candidates to serve the church in Siberia and beyond.

Two days of seminars were held in Novosibirsk before departing by a car on a 7-day, 1200 mile journey on Siberian roads, to visit congregations in the cities of Yurga, Tomsk, Tuim, and Novokuznetsk. Dr. Quill lectured on: “The Lord’s Prayer in the life of the church.” Pastor Mills lectured on: “The Lord’s Supper as the church’s confession.” I lectured on “Psalm 23 as a model for pastoral care.”

Following the lectures in Novokuznetsk, we had been traveling for 2 weeks in Siberia and were in need of rest. After the 300-mile journey back to Novosibirsk, we enjoyed a day of relaxation. Dr. Quill and I spent the day reconnecting with old friends and Pr. Mills toured the city and made new acquaintances among our Siberian hosts. The next day Dr. Quill and Pr. Mills left Siberia to return to Indiana, with an overnight in Moscow. I traveled with Rev. Alexey Streltsov (Rector of the SELC seminary in Novosibirsk) to Ekaterinburg by airplane, for an additional week of seminars. Pastor Sergey Glushkov joined us in Ekaterinburg, as we traveled over the Ural Mountains by car, to spend 3 days in the European Russian city of Beloretsk.

I have traveled through the Ural Mountains many times and have always been underwhelmed. The Rockies, Alps, Appalachians, Altai Mountains (in south-central Siberia), and even Ozark Mountains (really the Ozark Plateau) have much more to impress the traveler than the Urals. Perhaps I would find these ancient mountains much more interesting if I simply regarded them as geographic markers, separating Asia from Europe; often traveled by ancient explorers and conquering armies, throughout the centuries.

In Beloretsk, I continued my lectures on Psalm 23 and visited parishioners, before returning to Ekaterinburg by way of the 6-hour car ride across the Urals. The same lectures were given to a very enthusiastic crowd at the congregation of St. Peter and St. Paul in Ekaterinburg, before Rector Streltsov returned to Novosibirsk and I flew on to Germany and other locations. After 42 days of living out of a suitcase, including a trip halfway around the world and back, I have finally returned home!

I thank supporters of the SLMS who have designated their donations to be used for the purpose of theological education in Siberia. Without such donations, it would not be possible for the SLMS to send pastors and professors to Siberia to conduct the summer seminars, provide necessary theological education and visit the SELC congregations. Remember, 100% of your undesignated donations to the SLMS go directly to SELC congregations to support pastoral care and planting new missions.

A letter from Bishop Vsevolod Lytkin was recently received by the SLMS treasurer, Mr. Robert Kiefer. In this email, the bishop is responding to a recent dispersion of funds from SLMS donors to the SELC. He writes:

Dear Robert,
Thank you very much!
And greetings from Novokuznetsk. I should visit this parish about three times per month because there is no resident priest right now. You know that pastor Pavel Zayakin is moving from Abakan to serve in Dnipro in Ukraine, according to the agreement with our sister-Church in Ukraine. So Pastor Dmitri Dotsenko (who served in Novokuznetsk during last 10 years) now serves in Abakan, Sayanogorsk, and Taskino and once per week he also visits Tuim. And so, I (or another priest) am traveling to Novokuznetsk to serve Sunday liturgies there. It is not far: about 300 miles. I just arrived here. Tomorrow I will serve the liturgy, then I will speak with the parishioners, and then I will go to Prokopievsk (a town about 30 miles from here) to conduct burial service of an old Volga German lady who died two days ago. The support we obtain from you makes our travels and life possible here in Siberia. We appreciate it very much.
In Christ,
Vsevolod,
bishop,
SELC

Donations to the SLMS may be sent to:


Siberian Lutheran Mission Society
c/o Ascension Lutheran Church
8811 St. Joe Rd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46835


Your prayers and financial gifts are appreciated!

Pax,
Dan

Rev. Daniel S. Johnson
Chairman, Siberian Lutheran Mission Society (SLMS)
https://www.siberianlutheranmissions.org
 


Greetings to fellow supporters of the mission in Siberia!

Rev. Alan Ludwig, LCMS missionary and seminary professor deployed to Siberia, writes concerning his latest newsletter (#42):
"This issue is devoted to the lovely Siberian city of Tomsk, located some four hours by car from Novosibirsk. The city has a long Lutheran history, and our seminary in Novosibirsk has a share in writing new chapters of this history."

Rev. Alexey Streltsov, rector of Lutheran theological Seminary - Novosibirsk, Russia (Siberia), writes this in Facebook on Sunday, June 24, 2018, concerning Rev. Ludwig's service to the church and seminary:

"At the church following the [divine] service, we honored Dr. Alan Ludwig who has given 20 years of his life to ensure [the] formation of [a] confessional Lutheran Seminary of high academic standards in the middle of Siberia. Bishop Vsevolod says, and I fully concur with him here, that without Fr Alan our Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church would not have gotten to the point where she is now.

"He set the bar extremely high, and it will be our privilege to follow in his footsteps in the matter of pastoral training. [His] unique combination of skills and personal qualities contributed to Fr Alan making Akademgorodok and our church there his second home. We also remember, fondly, his wife Patricia who shared with him a good part of his Siberian experience.

"People of St Andrew’s parish had a chance to say the words of farewell today. Personally, it makes me very sad thinking that I will no longer see Dr. Ludwig worshipping at the front pew of the church. Every time I saw him there, I knew I had to do a good job [of] preaching because he was listening. We will certainly stay in touch, but it will be different not having his company around.

"Fr. Alan had [the] unique experience of profound immersion in the middle of real Russian life (different from visiting the country for a short period of time and also different from being in only well-known showcase sights of Russia). This is what true mission work is all about."

 


 

Click here for Rev. Ludwig's January 2018 newsletter

Professor Alan Ludwig writes in his cover letter to his January 2018 newsletter from Siberia:
 
Here in Siberia we are experiencing some of the coldest and darkest days of the year. Someone said it was warmer right now in Antarctica. No matter: the season of Epiphany proclaims Christ as the Light of the world, a Light to the nations. He is the Sun of righteousness, who warms the natural coldness of our hearts.

In this issue we celebrate the 20 years of Lutheran Theological Seminary, of which I have been privileged to be a part almost from its beginning. I reflect on the past, rejoice in the present, and look to the future.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.


Rev. Alan Ludwig
Novosibirsk, Russia
 


Here is a favorite newsletter from Christmas 2016

Christmas Greetings:

Dear supporters of the Lutheran mission in Siberia;

The following are 2016 Christmas greetings from Bishop Vsevolod Lytkin of the Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELC), and photos of the Christmas liturgy at the parish of St. Andrew, in Novosibirsk, Russia.

Peace to you dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

May we bring to your attention the words of greetings from the Christmas Address of our Bishop Vsevolod Lytkin that was read in the parishes of Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church during the Christmas liturgy.

Brothers and Sisters,

The Feast of the Nativity - one of the most Church of holidays.

I emphasize the word “Church.”  Because real Christmas is impossible without the Church.

We come here, like the shepherds, who hurried to the manger of Bethlehem and like the Magi who followed the guiding star, and we find here the incarnate God.

It is impossible to find Christ, bypassing the Church. You cannot be saved without the Church.  Here, there is the font from which, together with the Holy Spirit, the water of baptism is poured out upon us. Here you get the forgiveness of sins and you hear the Word of God, “full of grace and truth.”

Here the Eucharist is celebrated - the main sacrament of God’s presence on earth.

My beloved parishioners, I congratulate you on this Christmas and approaching New Year.  Let the coming year be better than the outgoing.  It is my prayer that this year brings your life less suffering and misery, but more joy and the Church.

We wish you all God’s blessings during this holy time of Christmas!
     
“Faith and Hope”

Here are some photos from the Christmas service in the parish of St. Andrew in Novosibirsk:

To learn more about the Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELC), you may go to the Siberian Lutheran Mission Society (SLMS) website:  http://www.siberianlutheranmissions.org

Donations may be sent to the Siberian Lutheran Mission Society by our online Facebook giving page: http://www.siberianlutheranmissions.org/how-to-help

Checks may also be sent to:

Siberian Lutheran Mission Society

c/o Ascension Lutheran Church

8811 St. Joe Rd.

Fort Wayne, IN 46835

Please note: The Siberian Lutheran Mission Society is a 501(c)(3) organization.

“One hundred percent of all financial donations go directly to the field to support the work of your Siberian Lutheran brothers and sisters.  No funds are used for administration or overhead of the Siberian Lutheran Mission Society.”

The Siberian Lutheran Mission Society is a Recognized Service Organization (RSO) of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS).