The geographical size and social diversity of former Soviet nations require flexible and innovative approaches to mission, say Seventh-day Adventist leaders in the Euro-Asia region.
The geographical size and social diversity of former Soviet nations require flexible and innovative approaches to mission, say Seventh-day Adventist leaders in the Euro-Asia region. Church leaders representing 12 countries met recently in Moscow to lay plans for future evangelism and to discuss possible reorganizations of their territory.
Delegates at the year-end meeting affirmed an earlier decision to create a new mission territory that will include the countries of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and a portion of southern Russia that includes Chechnya, Dagestan, and other mountainous regions. The new territory, to be called Caucasus Union Mission, will have separate mission offices in each country.
Artur Stele, president of the Adventist Church in Euro-Asia, says the new plan gives more autonomy to each country and will encourage cultural sensitivity to the more than 120 nationalities living in the Caucasus Mountains. Previously a single mission office served the entire region of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, while the Russian section of the Caucasus was attached to the larger territory of western Russia.
“This area has been such a great challenge for us, and we need to have a local presence in each country for legal reasons,” says Stele. “This region is part of what Christians call the 10/40 Window, where Christian evangelism can be extremely difficult. We hope the more experienced pastors in the Russian part of the Caucasus can provide support and resources for our young workers in the other countries.”
Along with the reorganization, Euro-Asia leaders voted to establish a committee to study evangelism within the 10/40 Window. This “window” is usually defined as the part of the eastern hemisphere lying between 10 degrees and 40 degrees north of the equator, where Christians have had the least impact on the world. Within Euro-Asia, the Caucasus and Central Asian nations are considered part of this region.
Delegates to the Year-end meeting also brought progress reports from the 300 young Global Mission pioneers who are starting member-led churches throughout Euro-Asia. Currently the pioneers are selling Christian books, getting acquainted with their communities, and holding small-group Bible studies in homes. The first baptisms of new members are scheduled for December.
Leaders voted to study the future reorganization of the East Russian Union Mission, which by land area is the largest Adventist union territory in the world. At present the region covers nine time zones. The cost for an administrator to visit a local congregation can exceed the amount of several monthly salaries for a pastor. Euro-Asia leaders hope to organize smaller local missions to encourage more autonomy in remote areas.
Delegates recommended a stronger emphasis on urban ministry, especially in the megalopolises of Moscow and Kiev.
Pavel Liberansky, currently union secretary and communication director in western Russia, was nominated as president of the new Caucasus Union Mission. Several days later his nomination was accepted by church constituents in Rostov-on-Don, Russia.
