January 2008

Friends,

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we bring you greetings for a new year from Klaipeda, Lithuania.

We’re sure many of you can understand when we ask, where did 2007 go? The year just seemed to fly by. As always, it was a year filled with joys and challenges. We have just finished Eric’s seventh and Becky’s sixth year of teaching at Lithuania Christian College. We calculate we have had over 2,500 students between us over these years—what a blessing! And a lot of homework to grade!

Lithuanian Christian College has a new name--LCC International University.

 

When we look back at the transformations that have taken place in LCC, Lithuania, our students, and in us, we are amazed at what God has done. Who could have imagined that this tiny new school in a former Soviet republic could grow to 600 students from 21 countries? In 2007, Lithuania Christian College changed its name to LCC International University to better reflect our mission to the international Christian community in this part of the world.

As you may know, Lithuania joined the European Union in 2005. EU accession seems to have had as large an impact as the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991. Emigration was much larger than originally anticipated. Mostly younger, educated people have migrated to England and Ireland. As a result, the LCC student body has changed from predominantly Lithuanian to a more mixed Eastern European population. Over half of our students are now ethnic Russians. More students are coming from Belarus, Ukraine, and the so-called “stan” countries. This diversity is both a blessing and a challenge.

We have been blessed with many bright young men and women from these countries, but they have diverse traditions and come from different experiences and backgrounds. We face the challenge in the classroom to make this a meaningful and contextual educational experience for them. We need to understand and respect their traditions and equip them to become the leaders of their communities and churches when the temptation is there for continued emigration. 

Nadezda and Aleksandra are typical second-year LCC students preparing for class.

The change in its student body has brought financial challenges to LCC. Typically, students from the eastern countries require scholarships and assistance in travel and visa applications. In September 2007, LCC opened its first residence dorm on campus (we now have three buildings). But more international students means more housing is needed. A second new dorm will be needed within five years.

Our great privilege has been to work at LCC under the leadership of President Jim Mininger. Jim and his wife Virginia have been at the foundation of LCC for the past 13 years. LCC would not be the place it is today without their devotion, dedication, and love. Jim and Virginia will be retiring in June 2008. LCC is currently in the search process for a new president. We would ask that you keep LCC, its board, and its extended family in your prayers during this time of changing leadership. 
2007 was a busy year for us. We taught the spring term at LCC. At the end of April, LCC graduated 97 students. In May we went to Moscow to teach in the summer session at RACU (Russian American Christian University). In June, we flew directly from Moscow to Pennsylvania in the summer in order to do our mid-term interpretation assignment in the United States and to have chance to visit with many of you. 

Our stay reminded us we are a relational church, and this was a time of renewed friendships. We do mission not alone, but as a church in Christ’s name. We would not be able to do this work without you. People tend to ask to hear about our part of the story, but it is just that, one part. You are just as integral a part as we are. Our teaching commitments did not allow us to stay in the United States for the PC(USA) Mission Challenge ’07, which took place in October, but we were able to meet with many church mission committees and with the presbytery executives of Donegal Presbytery and Carlisle Presbytery. This gave us an opportunity to share the work we do and to be clear about the financial needs of world mission.

In August we returned to Lithuania to start a new semester full of bright faces and shiny promises. The time just flew by, and before we knew it, it was time for the annual LCC Christmas pageant. (Eric plays a great king.) We start the spring 2008 semester on January 14. Eric is teaching a new course in political economy for 45 students and has spent much researching, reading, and preparing for it. Students are inquisitive and demanding—they want to know not just what, but why and how.
We are anticipating a mission trip by the First Presbyterian Church in Warren, Pennsylvania (where Eric grew up) this coming June. Twelve members will visit and we are busily working on arrangements and tasks with Christie Leininger and their mission committee. This delegation will get a chance to meet our students and get a hands-on feel for our week. And we’re sure the weather will be great!

We continue our work at the prison. We will make a visit this coming Saturday and look forward to seeing these young men again. For several of the men, we are their only regular visitors. Visiting is not always a comfortable task, but one we feel called to. This work always puts all our other work, and indeed our lives, into greater perspective.

So, 2007 is done, and we have ushered in 2008. Our hope and prayer for each of you is one of Christ’s peace and blessings.  We thank you for all your love, prayers, and continuing support.\Peace and blessings,

Eric and Becky Hinderliter
Klaipeda, Lithuania

The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 158