First United Methodist Church of Rockwall, Texas • 1200 East Yellowjacket Lane • Rockwall, Texas • 972-771-5500

Mission Incredible - Voronezh, Russia 2004
A Special Message from the FUMC Mission Team:

We bring you greetings and agape love from your Christian brothers and sisters of New Commandment Methodist Church in Voronezh, Russia.  They are truly thankful for our support and keep our church and congregation in their prayers.

The Mission Team wishes to thank the entire congregation for your prayers; a special thanks to those who prayed for each of us individually.  We were truly uplifted and felt your prayers during the entire trip.  Your unbelievable outpouring of financial support and your loving gifts for the church, the pastor and his family, and all the members of the Voronezh congregation made us even more aware of what a wonderful, loving congregation we are part of in Rockwall.  There are not words spoken or written that can express our gratitude for what you did to make our mission trip possible. 

Here are a few of the highlights, but if you would like to hear the details of our trip and have a free afternoon, ask a team member if you can get one down from the clouds.  There will also be a service of witnessing at all three services on September 5th. 

• The Mission Team was on the go from the time we left until we returned, including a couple of 24-hour days.

• The flights over and back were long, but provided a time during which the team grew closer.

• Lynn Etta and Bruce did an excellent job of setting our agenda and logistics for the trip.

• The touring and shopping in Moscow was a whirlwind, but we had excellent guides and everyone saw things we never imagined we would see.

• Moscow is a huge city that is on the go 24 hours a day with incredible auto traffic and generally friendly people.  Lots to see and do.

• Our overnight train ride to Voronezh did not provide much sleep, but did allow reflection about our mission and more bonding among the team members.

• We were met at the train by Pastor Kim and his family as well as several members of the congregation.  The love, respect and high esteem in which these people hold Lynn Etta was quickly apparent.  Lynn Etta has done a magnificent job of building the groundwork with our sister church.

• A quick change of clothes at the hotel and off to Sunday morning services at New Commandment.  It was the first service in their newly renovated sanctuary.  Many in the congregation worked day and night to have it completed for our arrival.

• Pastor Bruce, now known as "Bubba" in Voronezh, delivered the first sermon, ably assisted by Luba, our professional translator that accompanied us from Moscow.

• We were introduced to our four other paid translators and the volunteer translators the church arranged.  Each team member had an assigned translator who aided us during our time in Voronezh.  In this way we each knew what was being said and personal conversations were always possible.  All our translators were eager to help and devoted to their assigned team member.

• During the service, the singing of our well-known hymns like "Amazing Grace", "How Great Thou Art", etc. in the mixture of Russian and English was truly awesome and set the tone for a spirit-filled service. 

• Pastor Kim and his family received the gifts of the beautiful alter cloth made by Karen Autos, and the exceptional pall cloths made by Kay Moore.  All the gifts we gave were well received especially those personally crafted by Wayne Fisher and Raymond Cameron.

• The entire Mission Team spent all day Sunday through Wednesday at the church or with church members.

• On Monday, our first Training /Teaching Session on Drug/Alcohol Addiction, led by Bruce, Ann Johnston and Barb Hall, was well attended and led to counseling sessions for Bruce and Ann for the next two days.

• The Christian Caregiving Session, taught by Lynn Etta Manning, Carol Brown, Ann Kenney and Charlene Schwaneke, had such strong participation from those in attendance that they could not finish the prepared work in six hours.

• Stewardship and Finance, taught by Bob Brown, Mike Wintermute and Jim Kenney, drew attendance from other pastors and Rev. Kim said many of the concepts presented had never been heard in Russia before.

• Our translators did a great job of getting our points across so we had maximum participation in the form of questions and comments.  In all the sessions, there were tears and laughter as well as many hugs.

• The Bible studies taught by Bob Brown, Barb Hall and Ann Kenney, were filled with personal testimonies which especially pleased the Russian audiences.

• Pastor Bruce received seven brothers and sisters who came forward to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior during his evening revival sermons.

• Lynn Etta was asked to preach an evening service at one of the other Voronezh Methodist Churches; Bob and Carol Brown and Mike Wintermute went to an education center for an exchange of information. Jim Kenney and Mike Wintermute went to a half-way house to talk, answer questions and pray with a group of recently released prisoners that had accepted Jesus while in prison through a newly started prison ministry.

• It was very evident that Pastor Kim has helped ministry throughout Voronezh among several denominations and is highly respected.

• The personal relationships that developed were the true highlights of our mission.  Our tour of a country manor from the time of Peter the Great and wading in the Don River with many of the congregation on Thursday further cemented those relationships.  Friday each member of our team spent an afternoon and shared a meal in the home of a member of the congregation.  This was a special memory and you knew you had truly become brothers and sisters in Christ.

• As we caught the train back to Moscow Friday evening, Pastor Kim, his wife and son, and most of the congregation were there to see us off.  There were many hugs, kisses, tears and gifts given to each of us.

If you speak with members of the Mission Team, you will quickly hear that there is no doubt that this was a God-led trip.  We all returned with a renewed spirit and a closer relationship with the Lord.  We all have a deep love for the people of our Russian sister Church who are truly filled with the Holy Spirit.  We feel especially blessed to be part of First United Methodist Church of Rockwall and hope we, in a small way, lived like Jesus and served God's people.