December 16, 2004

…they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star they had seen in the East, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2: 9-11

Dear Friends,

The season of Christmas is marked by gifts given in love. In this season, we gain both insights into the giver as well as knowledge of the gift that is shared.

In this wondrous story, Matthew gives us some insight into the character of the “magi from the East.” Words like “diligent,” “insightful,” and “brave” come to mind. And the gifts shared from treasure chests offered both means to live and a foreshadowing of the future.

Each day of my life, I witness givers and gifts shared to build up the Body of Christ. For the “Twelve Days of Christmas,” I want to share with you the twelve gifts given by Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission personnel and our partner churches in Russia these past many months.

• The gift of steadfastness given by Garth and Lyuda Moller. Faced with Russian government bureaucracy, criminality, and seemingly hopeless circumstances, Garth and Lyuda are near the dream of a lifetime. In 2005, if financial support is forthcoming, the Kargel and Baedeker School will move to a new building with space for expanded classes, a real playground, and a greater opportunity to teach children in the spirit of Christ’s love.

• The gift of hospitality given by Joe and Hannah Kang. While their formal ministry is with the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Joe and Hannah are known for opening their home to travelers from around the world. Dinners lovingly prepared restore the bodies and spirits of all who come. Conversation swirls in English, Russian, and Korean. Throughout, the Lord’s presence is at table as guests are renewed to resume their work on the morrow.
• The gift of commitment given by Peter and Merian Kim; worship space transformed by the loving hands of congregation members; tea shared to refresh all; vibrant music praising God; powerful preaching. Peter and Merian share their commitment to Christ with all whom they encounter. Now Merian recovers in California from her November stroke. Their commitment is great, so may we hold them in prayer during this time of healing.

• The gift of courage given by John and Deb Burgess. A sabbatical year from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary presents new opportunities to be met. Armed with great personal courage, John and Deb and their three daughters moved to St. Petersburg to deepen their connections of our Orthodox brothers and sisters. Their courage is seen by all around them. And, from their example others are less afraid to live their lives by God’s will.

• The gift of patience given by Jin Eun Kim. Long serving at Canaan Theological Seminary, Jin Eun Kim has patiently awaited appointment by the General Assembly Council. He has met delays due to health, financial distress, and downsizing with his broad smile and quiet presence. His patience teaches us to “trust in the Lord” and to meet each new day with hope and thanksgiving. His patience teaches us how to act as “foreigners in a foreign land.”
• The gift of exuberance given by Jeff Koning. How can one best serve parentless orphans in the state institutions in Perm? Jeff’s gift shows us the way. The answer is with exuberance, childlike enthusiasm, sports, games, art, ice sculpture, potato farming and cabbage digging, swimming and running, and with hugs. But, most importantly, Jeff teaches us what it is to care, what it is to love unselfishly as Jesus taught us to love.
• The gift of compassion given by Ellen and Al Smith. In administering our Twinning Project, Ellen and Al encounter daily the challenges of our partner congregations. From their very depths, this couple walks with those infected with HIV/AIDS, those unadoptable in the orphanage system, and those who seek to live out the gospel in social ministry. Through their compassion, we see how to “come alongside” as brothers and sisters in Christ.
• The gift of risk-taking given by Laurie and Donald Marsden. Risk-taking, guided by the Spirit, is part of a missionary’s life. Laurie shares this gift in teaching others to organize 12-step programs dealing with rampant substance abuse. Donald lives it in deepest winter trips to northern Siberia meeting with pastors and ethnic Believers and in traveling to the north Caucasus to ease the pain and suffering of war and terror. May each of us risk so for Christ.
• The gift of tradition given by our friends in the Russian Orthodox Church. Christ’s church arrived in the region in 988. Across the millennia, the liturgy, the message, and the presence have been constant. Through “times of trouble” old and new, the Church survived. Now, we seek a deeper partnership with this historic church that suffered so grievously under the communists. Tradition remains a bedrock upon which they rebuild for the 21st century.
• The gift of strength given by our friends in the Baptist Union. Persecution, condemnation, exclusion, and charges of being a “sect” have all fallen upon our Baptist partner over the years. Yet, their gift of strength has sustained them through the most difficult times. With God’s help, they are growing, planting new churches, and spreading the good news where it has not been heard. Their example, grounded in their faith, is a gift to us all.
• The gift of heritage given by our friends in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia and Other States. Lutherans came to the Russian empire as immigrants, as conquered people in the Baltic region under Peter the Great, and as invited guests of Catherine the Great. Now, Lutherans build upon their heritage and expand the church as faithful followers of Christ. They are shaped by the Reformation and by a unique cultural heritage.
• And do I bring a gift to the Christ child in this Christmas season? I seek to give the gift of connection; connection that ties missionaries in Russia with the many pieces of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); connection that demonstrates to our partners that we “do mission in partnership;” and connection that binds us all in a spiritual journey together, each being willing to be transformed by the Spirit as the holy journey continues.

I wish you God’s blessings as we encounter Epiphany anew this year.

I ask for your prayers for our partners in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Poland.

I ask for your prayers for all those mission workers who serve as “foreigners in a foreign land.”

And, I invite you learn more about the extraordinary servants who have given their gifts across the last year. Click here to read their stories.

May the Peace of Christ be with you,

Gary Payton
Regional Liaison for Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Poland
Worldwide Ministries Division
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 179, 187