Russian UMs to visit Southwest Texas congregations

By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
Following the 13th annual Russia Initiative consultation in Leawood, Kan., next week, two Russian United Methodist leaders are to visit congregations in Southwest Texas.
Vera Agapova, pastor of Good News UMC, the Southwest Texas Conference’s partner congregation in Vologda, Russia, and Katerina Labintseva, who helps organize Good News’ summer camps for children, are to itinerate through the Texas Hill Country Nov. 18-22.
A dinner in Austin Nov. 18 is to welcome the pair to Texas, said Cindy Stone, who works with the conference’s Russia mission initiative in Vologda.
The two are to visit Fredericksburg UMC Nov. 19 and First UMC, Kerrville, Nov. 20.
Stone said she is still waiting to hear if any San Antonio congregations would want to hear their presentation Nov. 20.
The Russian visitors are scheduled in Canyon Lake Nov. 21 and would pass through San Marcos for any interested church, Stone said. They are to finish their trip in Austin Nov. 22 and celebrate Thanksgiving with Stone’s family.
During the itineration, Agapova and Labintseva are to tell what is happening in the Vologda congregation and the community surrounding it.
“People will get a chance to hear all about what’s going on with the (church’s) Vacation Bible School and the plans (Agapova and Labintseva) have for the Christmas program,” Stone said. “There are just so many wonderful things going on. We’re starting to see these little seeds take off now.”
Good News UMC, begun in 1996, has experienced a baby boom, Stone said. Leaders hope in the next year or so to add a nursery to the building.
Agapova and Labintseva are raising funds for the church during the itineration, Stone added.
Since the Vologda congregation began, leaders have focused on children in an effort to draw their parents to church, Labintseva said. In Russia, she added, most people don’t know what a Protestant church is or assume that it’s not a denomination but more like a social party in Western countries.
Stone said Russians are very suspicious of anything that isn’t part of the Russian Orthodox Church and what they perceive as “true faith.”
“The church there has figured out good ways to reach out to the community,” she said. “It’s a challenge for the church to be recognized in the community as a place where people can go for help, encouragement and inspiration. But the church has attracted a lot of young people, and we’re really starting to see the results.”
For more information about the visit, call Stone at (512) 476-6688 or e-mail Judy Hutcherson at Judybhutch@yahoo.com.