In faraway Karelia, Russia (not far from the border with Finland), a small group of new Lutherans has reclaimed a piece of Lutheran history and started a new church.
The group of new believers had been studying LHF’s translation of Luther’s Small Catechism when they learned that a church from a different denomination — one with false teachings — intended to buy the ruins of an old church building in their community. Instead, the new believers decided to quickly buy the ruins themselves and form a new Lutheran congregation – Lahdenpohia.
The people filled the space with benches and with dozens of statues and paintings of angels made by local artists. Then came a day of great rejoicing as each new member of Lahdenpohia Lutheran Church was confirmed in the faith. “It was the laypeople’s initiative, actually [that created this new church],” shared Rev. Leif Camp, an American missionary in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (in fellowship with the LCMS).
Tourists from all around come to see this unique church, and while they’re there, members and believers are able to share the Gospel news with their visitors. “This tourist attraction is in the middle of nowhere in Karelia, and the church — it’s growing!” Rev. Camp said.
In Russia, many believers who join churches like this are coming to faith in unique ways. While only 1% of Russians go to church on a Sunday, the online streams of Rev. Camp’s services receive thousands of hits of people watching every week. Others learn by going to confirmation classes, which the public are invited to attend.
“We don’t call it Confirmation anymore,” explained Rev. Camp. Although the content of the classes remains what Americans know from our regular confirmation classes, the Lutheran church in Russia takes a different approach to engage with non-believers.
“We call it Basic Christianity class, and we invite everybody to it. We say, ‘Hey, there’s a lot of stuff on the Internet about Christianity, but if you really want to know, ask a Christian. If you’re an atheist, you really need to come, because then you can better argue against what you don’t believe. So here are these open classes, no commitment, nothing like that,’” he continued.
As a result of those classes, many new believers have come to faith through the Holy Spirit – including two former atheists who are now going to seminary!
Each step of the way, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria uses LHF books to teach the faith.
They start with Luther’s Small Catechism as an evangelistic and educational tool. Then later, as the students begin basic Christianity classes, books like Veith’s Spirituality of the Cross and Luther’s On the Freedom of a Christian help teach the fundamental teachings of the Lutheran faith and what it means to be a Christian. In pre-seminary courses, books like The Christian Faith by Robert Kolb teach the faith in basic terms, but in greater detail.
“It’s great to have this partnership with LHF,” exclaimed Rev. Camp. “It’s been really fruitful on our end, and it’s been very, very helpful to have these books available!”
Especially as the Russian-Ukrainian war rages, the need for the Gospel has never been greater.
“The fact is, we can get distracted by politics,” warned Rev. Camp. “That’s what Satan wants us to do. He wants us to get distracted and concerned about what’s going on. People are looking for stability, and there is only one true stability — that’s Christ. As a Christian, if a drone falls on me tomorrow, I’m in Heaven. But what about my neighbor?”
That’s where LHF books come in handy! “We give away thousands of the Russian Small Catechisms every year, because people are interested! The Study Bible that LHF printed a few years ago is very important because people are now studying their Bibles,” said Rev. Camp.
Rev. Camp continues to live in Russia, sharing the Gospel message. “We should always live as Christians. We forget that we live always with one foot in eternity. God is ultimately in control, right? This stuff happens because of the evil in the world. There is something solid. There is somebody, this Jesus. And this is why He came. So repent, and believe!”
— by Anna Irwin, LHF staff writer
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