Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Sunday the 27th of April was a memorable day in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kyrgyzstan Republic. Congregational members came to Bishkek from the near-by congregations of the Chuiskoj oblast – from the village of Nizhne-Chuisk, Vinogradnoe, Belovodskoe, Kirovskoe and the cities of Kant, Tokmok and Karbalta. Pastors specially came from congregations further away – from the village of Ananevo (Issyk-Kulskaja obl) and the city of Dzhallabada. The Russian phrase “there was nowhere for an apple to fall” was particularly appropriate for this service; additional benches had to be found so that everyone had a place to sit.
The reason for this was the ordination of the young preachers Nikolaj Vorobeva and Valentin Limonovich. Both of these new pastors came to the congregation as children, during the time of the rebirth and growth of the ELCKR after the fall of the USSR. They grew up in the church, both literally and figuratively. They went on the path from Sunday school children to coordinators of youth ministry in ELCKR. And therefore their older mentors, brothers and sisters in faith, greatly anticipated the joyful day of their ordination. They were compared to chicks whose feathers had been formed and who were able to fly out from under the caring wings of their spiritual mentors. The choir from Vinogradnoe sang a gift to their young pastors - “I've Chosen a Hatchling,” which exactly accurately described the care of their mentors, the concern for the future of these young men and the wish that they fly bravely and freely ahead.
The ordination was presided at by ELCKR Bishop Alfred Eicholtz. He was assisted by pastors Nikolai Barnov (Kant), Dmitry Shlebaev (Belvodskoe), Alexandr Shantz (Nizhne-Chisk), Valeria Nevremin (Anaanevo) and Aleksandr Kekself (Dzhalalabada). When they were all together, it was a wonderful sight – before the altar was a wonderful team for Christ! And now new servants have been added, dedicated to working for God's harvest. ….
In the ELC congregations in Kyrgyzstan over the past years it is possible to notice a significant drop in the number of congregations. This is tied with the mass emigration of the Russian-speaking population (and it is this group which is at present the majority of congregants) from the republic for residency elsewhere. Therefore an over-full church witnesses to the specialness of this event. At the end of the service there were prayers of thanksgiving for the young ministers who already for a few years have been leaders of congregations in Kyrgyzstan and now are taking on the responsibility of pastoral ministry.
Sunday the 27th of April was a memorable day in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kyrgyzstan Republic. Congregational members came to Bishkek from the near-by congregations of the Chuiskoj oblast – from the village of Nizhne-Chuisk, Vinogradnoe, Belovodskoe, Kirovskoe and the cities of Kant, Tokmok and Karbalta. Pastors specially came from congregations further away – from the village of Ananevo (Issyk-Kulskaja obl) and the city of Dzhallabada. The Russian phrase “there was nowhere for an apple to fall” was particularly appropriate for this service; additional benches had to be found so that everyone had a place to sit.
The reason for this was the ordination of the young preachers Nikolaj Vorobeva and Valentin Limonovich. Both of these new pastors came to the congregation as children, during the time of the rebirth and growth of the ELCKR after the fall of the USSR. They grew up in the church, both literally and figuratively. They went on the path from Sunday school children to coordinators of youth ministry in ELCKR. And therefore their older mentors, brothers and sisters in faith, greatly anticipated the joyful day of their ordination. They were compared to chicks whose feathers had been formed and who were able to fly out from under the caring wings of their spiritual mentors. The choir from Vinogradnoe sang a gift to their young pastors - “I've Chosen a Hatchling,” which exactly accurately described the care of their mentors, the concern for the future of these young men and the wish that they fly bravely and freely ahead.
The ordination was presided at by ELCKR Bishop Alfred Eicholtz. He was assisted by pastors Nikolai Barnov (Kant), Dmitry Shlebaev (Belvodskoe), Alexandr Shantz (Nizhne-Chisk), Valeria Nevremin (Anaanevo) and Aleksandr Kekself (Dzhalalabada). When they were all together, it was a wonderful sight – before the altar was a wonderful team for Christ! And now new servants have been added, dedicated to working for God's harvest. ….
In the ELC congregations in Kyrgyzstan over the past years it is possible to notice a significant drop in the number of congregations. This is tied with the mass emigration of the Russian-speaking population (and it is this group which is at present the majority of congregants) from the republic for residency elsewhere. Therefore an over-full church witnesses to the specialness of this event. At the end of the service there were prayers of thanksgiving for the young ministers who already for a few years have been leaders of congregations in Kyrgyzstan and now are taking on the responsibility of pastoral ministry.
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