On September 22 and 23, 2023, pastors and other ministers from the ELCIR congregations in Velikiye Luki, Rzhev, and Nizhny Novgorod with ministers from Luga joining in, gathered at Vuoksa Hutor, a recreation and retreat center of the ELCIR in Leningrad Oblast.Bishop Laptev made presentations about the recent developments in the ELCIR congregations, the understanding of the Church as a gathering of living souls as well as an institution, the church members’ responsibility for the needs of the Church, and many other things. The ministers exchanged news and shared plans and visions of further ministry in 2024. Pastor Leif Camp gave a talk about financial literacy in the life of a congregation.
The recreation program included boating to some of the picturesque places in the area.
Thanks be to God for the opportunity to take rest, gain useful knowledge and get to know each other even better!
Information courtesy of Pavel Tyurikov, Rzhev
