Russian Pastors Visit Grace

From April 26 to April 30, 2017 Grace UMC was host to two UMC pastors, Vladimir Ilyukhin and Valeri Patkevitch, from Volgograd, Russia. On Sunday, April 30, they also preached and conducted discussions at the La Grange Methodist Church where Lisa Telomen is pastor. Rev. Telomen hopes that her church can help provide support in the future.

Volgograd is a city of 1 million people located 560 miles south of Moscow. President Putin has made it clear to the Russian people that making Russia a world power is important and that citizens must realize that this means financial and living sacrifices on their part. Valeri summarized the government’s philosophy as “Russia puts the state first, America puts its people first.

The pastors told us that the Russian laws are very hostile to churches. Church activities and programs are allowed only in the church building or your home for only your family. Speaking in public about church is forbidden. Valeri’s church has its own building, so he may hold Sunday school classes in the state registered church. Vladimir holds his church in a rented facility, which means that he cannot hold Sunday school at all – for then it becomes a public school, with many state imposed restrictions. In years past, the churches would visit orphanages with gifts and speak about Jesus. Now the pastors may take gifts to orphanages, but cannot speak religiously at all.

We toured the Loaves and Fishes facility with the pastors. They clearly understand this need, and noted that there is no such pantry operation in Russia by the government. We also toured Alden of Waterford. Here the pastors were shown the needs and help provided to senior citizens.