“OUR CHILDREN WAIT FOR YOUR HELP!” That was our first contact with St. Marie Lutheran Church, Ussurisk, Russia and we at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kan. have been all about that since 2005.

Pastor Manfred Brockmann spoke to our congregation in 2005, and my Guild decided that we would become pen pals with one of the congregations. We chose St. Marie’s because of their work with orphan girls. It took about six months to finally contact the congregation, with the help of Companion Synod Team Members Kathie and Alan Walter, who had already established a relationship with a church in Russia and had also visited there. The Walters had been to our church to tell of their experiences and to help us make a connection. During the time we waited to hear from St. Marie’s we had studied a map and books about the area, and began to pray for them so that by the time we heard from them and saw their urgent plea, we knew God had much more in mind for us than just letter writing!

Alexey Kramer, the President of St. Marie’s shared with us his vision of a ministry focused on the girls at the Orphan School. As part of this vision, Mr. Kramer stated that the money that was raised from selling the items sewed would be used to buy medicine, food, and basics for the girls at the Orphan School.

Sewing Class at the Orphan School in Ussurisk, Russia

He prepared a budget, which included the purchase of ten sewing machines, dishes and cookware, a copier, school supplies, transportation costs and salaries for four teachers at $72 per month. There were fabric and food costs, and he outlined the curriculum. He also did an excellent job of converting Rubles to Dollars (about 27 to l). We approved the same and entered into a joint ministry, a partnership with St. Marie’s. Since that time, life changing work both in Russia and at Gloria Dei has been done. Life changing for the young girls ages 7 to 16 in Russia and also for us old gals ages 60 – 85. This work has created a passion for mission and given us a new vitality. As one of our members said, “We are way out of the box now!” Our part in this joint venture was initially prayer and fundraising. We designed and sold t-shirts, sold products from a tea and gluten free baking mixes line, and we also participated in the local Alternative Gift Market.

Our mission is now congregational. Gloria Dei raised funds to help pay my expenses to visit the orphan school in Russia, April 25 – May 14, 2007 and since that time, it is our global mission! The Sunday school children have made beautiful cards for Easter and their offerings have also been dedicated to St. Maries. Other Guilds have made special offerings to St. Marie’s and the Social Ministry Committee of Gloria Dei has designated $1,500 per year towards the expenses of the school. Many of our members have donated special worship items such as paraments and our banner ladies made a banner that I proudly carried to St. Marie’s on my Russian trip in 2007.

When we visited St. Marie’s there was the little wooden angel we had sent along with the children’s cards. Also, all of our pictures were in the library along with the book about Kansas. When I was there, the congregation presented me with a Book about Ussurisk and many of their members pictures were in the book and they proudly autographed them.

Central States Synod Companion Synod Team Visit (April, 2007)
St. Marie Lutheran Church, Ussurisk, Russia

I now spend my weekends making presentations about my visit, encouraging others to get involved, as well as raising funds and awareness for St. Marie’s. I seek to connect our congregations to those dear ones I visited in Russia. It is hard to explain how much we mean to them. They have not only been persecuted but isolated and very much struggling to regain their sense of being the church. It was explained to me by a Catholic Friar in Magadan, like this:

“We all know that our grandparents for the most part were rural, farmers. However for several generations we have been removed from the land. Then we are taken back to the farm. We have a sense of our heritage, but lack the knowledge to farm.”

That is what our connection helps them to do. We help them reconnect to the larger church.

On my visit to Russia, I took a picture directory of my congregation. As they looked at each face in the directory, they read it like a novel. I don’t know what they saw in our faces but I saw in theirs hope and a sense of belonging. My prayer is that every congregation in Russia will be blessed with a companion relationship. We are one body, we are of one heart and I see no better way to glorify our God than by the unity and joy we have found in our Companion Synod Relationship!

Jackie Volbrecht
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
Wichita, Kan.
January 14, 2008

“All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” Romans 8:14

To read more about Gloria Dei’s companion synod relationship, please visit www.childrenofthewind.blogspot.com.

Companion Synod Relationships: The Central States Synod, along with all other 64 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are part of the Companion Synod Program which links churches around the world into a companion relationship. The Central States Synod is a companion of two synods outside North America: the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea-Kotte District (ELCPNG) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia and Other States (ELCROS).

The Companion Synod Team for Central States Synod supports, encourages, and facilitates mission relationships that may be through the activity of individuals, congregations, area ministries, and the synod team. For more information about the Companion Synod Team of Central States Synod or how you, as an individual, congregation, or Area Ministry can get involved, contact Kathie Walter by e-mail Kathie-PMA@swbell.net or phone, 913-451-8778, regarding ELCROS, and contact Rev. Gary Teske at 785-843-4150 or e-mail gteske@tlclawrence.org regarding ELCPNG. For worship and educational resources, visit the Central States Synod Companion Synod Page.