21 Century Challenge, Seminar for youth Leaders

The United Methodist Church in Eurasia has entered the 21 century that is full of new challenges and hopes. And our both young and non-traditional for Russia church will have to deal with these challenges. For the first time Methodism came in our country in 1889, when some missionaries from the Episcopal Methodist Church came here. And the first official Russian congregation appeared in 1909.
Then the revolution of 1917 broke out. Bolshevist’s government began to prosecute Christians. The work of the Methodist church was suspended. Estonia was the only region where the Methodist Church survived. The situation radically changed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Democratic Russia opened its doors wide for those who want to bring the Word of God in our country. Religious revival began in Russia, and Methodism came back again. And now there are about 116 United Methodist Churches and Bible study groups in our country and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Now, when the history of the revived Methodism in Russia has already been accounting for 20 years, new tasks are set before us, United Methodists. We need to bring up a new young generation of believers, so that Methodism became firmly established in our country. Therefore, we need strong, capable, young youth leaders in the UMC in Eurasia. Leadership seminar “21 Century Challenge” organized in the Moscow region was called to help their formation. It took place in the building of the RUMC Moscow Theological Seminary, August 17-20 and was led by youth pastor of Moscow Victor Fomin and local pastor of Perovo UMC Pavel Serdukov. Those youth leaders of Moscow churches who came to the seminar had the course of lectures on the problems of leadership and organization of Bible study small groups. Great help and support in carrying out of the seminar was provided by old good friends of the youth movement in Moscow from the US – Michael Stallion and Izzie.
There was not a large number of participants in the camp, that depicts the reality of Moscow Methodist Churches. But in spite of that, it is impossible to overestimate the significance of this seminar. This seminar is like a grain planted in the soil, which shall bring good fruit in the future. That is why Bishop of the UMC in Eurasia Hans Vaxby personally blessed the beginning of the seminar. Superintendents of Moscow regions Valeriy Khe and Valentina Berukova greeted the participants. Valentina Berukova also deeply involved in the work of the seminar.
Nevertheless, besides hard and difficult work during the seminar there was a time for games and outing to the bowling (thanks to Michael and Izze). The participants only were hearing the lectures, they also were preparing presentations, learning how to lead a small group, preparing Bible study. There was time for work and for fun.
Thus, it may be stated, that youth leadership seminar of the Moscow region was a great success. The participants were well fed with helpful information, got useful skills for their ministry, and moreover they got a home task: to be heavily involved in the activity of their local churches and you Methodist movement of Moscow. Each of them accepted obligation to develop youth ministry in his/her local congregation.
We cannot but hope that with God’s help our young leaders will do their best to cope with this task! 

Victor Fomin, Youth pastor of Moscow region.