October 29, 2004

Dear Friends,

Our warmest greetings to all you. We haven’t been in touch with some of you for a while. I realized recently that for those of you who only receive the paper copy of our newsletters, you might want access to the email newsletters as well. We only send out the paper copies about three times a year, but we are much more regular with the email versions. If you would like to be on that mailing list as well, please let us know. In any event, all of our newsletters are on PC(USA)’s Web site—all mission co-workers have a home page there. Ours is at http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/smitha.htm. A new photo album of ours was just published there, too.

Last week I was out traveling with one of our colleagues, Jeff Koning, and a guest from America. We were visiting two partners (Hope Baptist in Perm and Church of Grace in Kirovo-Chepetsk). Our focus was the orphanage ministry in the two neighboring regions. Both churches are actively involved, as is Jeff. While in Kirovo-Chepetsk, though, I also had a chance to get updated on a project that was just a dream when we first visited that city in 2001. The Church of Grace is a young and exciting congregation that has always focused much of its ministry on children and youth. In addition to the orphanage ministry, they have a vibrant summer camp ministry, a music ministry, a puppet ministry, a strong AWANA program (an Evangelical Christian Club for children featuring games, songs, and Bible studies), and now an art school has begun. In a society, where there are now few opportunities for children outside of school, these ministries provide a safe and nurturing place for children to recreate, as well as connecting them to the love of Christ.

When we first visited this church, they lifted up to us the hope that they might be able to build a gymnasium. They were at the time using a local school gymnasium for AWANA, but there were often threats from the administration to put them out. They saw so many possibilities in having there own facility and we saw them too. We wrote a project at the time, but there wasn’t any immediate response. About a year later, their partner church was in the midst of a building project and decided that make a thank offering for all that the Lord had made possible for them. The thank offering was directed to the Church of Grace for the building of the gymnasium. At the time, we all believed that the generous gift would be enough, but we soon discovered that since the writing of the original project, prices had gone up.

Trying to save money, they found a factory gymnasium in nearby Kirov and purchased that from the failing company. They took it apart piece by piece and hauled it the 40 kilometers to Kirovo-Chepetsk. For the last two years, they have been reconstructing it on a plot of land not far from the church. Prices have continued to rise.

They have done the building work themselves, and it is amazing what they have accomplished with the original gift. They have given greatly from their own limited resources and turned to other friends as well. We have stood back and watched, wanting to see how far they could go on their own. We are determined not to weaken any church by doing too much. My visit this past week, however, convinced me that it is time for us now to see what else we can do. The project has come to a stand still for lack of funds. The dreams for the project have not, however, and we know the potential it has.

With the gymnasium they can start a volleyball league (Russians love volleyball) and train young people in a new sport in Russia, floor hockey. They hope to be a center for camping ministry, organizing summer and winter camping expeditions and renting out equipment to groups and families. They hope to have a climbing wall. There will be classrooms for youth meetings and training sessions. This gymnasium, as our American guest suggested, will be much like the YMCA was in its roots, serving the same role in this Russian community of keeping kids off the streets and giving them direction, Christ-centered direction. They will be a presence in the community, ministering to children, youth and their families. The need is greater than I can relate in this short letter. The potential is exciting.

The building is enclosed and warm enough for work to continue throughout the winter, but resources are needed. We are approaching the Christmas season. Perhaps some of you would like to help the Church of Grace complete this project as a gift to that person who has everything. Perhaps you know a youth group that is looking for a special holiday project. We would be grateful for any support. Please pray with us too. The Church of Grace is praying. Prayer has gotten them this far and they continue to pray. By the grace of God, great things are happening in Kirovo-Chepetsk.

May the peace and blessings of our Lord, Jesus Christ, be with each of you.

Peace and blessings,

Ellen

P.S. If you would like to make a contribution, please contact us by email (elalsmith@eamail.net ). We’ll be glad to send instructions.

The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 182