On February 28, 2023, ELCIR Bishop Ivan Laptev visited the Lutheran Church of Novosibirsk. The church serves the local community through its various ministries, such as public lectures, English language classes, Bible studies, a year-round catechetical class, outreach to prostitutes, and hosting anonymous addicts’ groups. There is always something going on in the church.The morning began with an online meeting of the ministers from the ELCIR Siberian Deanery where the pastors and deacons shared news and discussed the Gospel lesson for the upcoming Sunday. Bishop Laptev talked to congregants and participated in one of their church’s ministries – reaching out to the local “Red Light Street” with coffee and an invitation to the church.
The congregation is also unique for building organs! Once a week, Senior Pastor Timur Pamyatnykh updates his web page with another installment on the history of designing and building an electronic organ for his church.
In the evening, Bishop Laptev met with Bishop Vsevolod Lytkin of The Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church and Pastor Aleksei Streltsov, rector of the SELC Theological Seminary. Thanks be to God for the chance to visit together!
Please pray that the Novosibirsk Lutheran church grows even stronger and continues its ministries!
