Brief History

1990 - With the fall of the Iron Curtain, the Lord of the Church opens a door to bring the saving Gospel of the Lord Jesus to millions of people who had long been held in spiritual ignorance under the sway of atheistic governments. 1992 After exploratory trips, a decision is made to place a team of missionaries in the Siberian capital of Novosibirsk.

Beginnings

1993 - The Christian Information Confession, a charitable organization, is created as a legal basis for mission activities in Russia.

1994 - A Christian Information Center (CIC) is opened in Novosibirsk suburb of Akademgorodok, where free Bibles are distributed and a video course of instruction is offered. Regular Sunday worship begins. Sunday school also beings. By God's grace, four adults and six children are baptized, 12 adults are confirmed. The confessional Lutheran church is born in Russia. 1995 The congregation is registered under the name of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Mission Growth and Change

1996 - A Christian Information Center opened in Iskitim, a city of about 60,000 located 20 miles south of Novosibirsk. Our Russian Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church is received into membership in the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference. 1997 The Bible Institute/Seminary opened. A second CIC is opened on the Left Bank of the Ob River in Novosibirsk. 1999 Exploratory work begins in Omsk and Tomsk.

Our Mission Today

The Russia field is currently served by four mission families. Our mission effort is centered in and around the city of Novosibirsk (pop. 1.5 million) and its suburb, Akademgorodok (pop. 70,000), the political and cultural center of the state of Siberia. To summarize who the missionaries are and their primary responsibilities:

• Luke Wolfgramm: Lives in Berdsk (pop. 70,000). Serves as pastor of the Akademgorodok congregation (avg. worship attendance: 35). Does outreach work in Berdsk. Teaches some classes in the seminary / Bible institute.
   
• John Sullivan: Lives in Akademgorodok. Serves as seminary / Bible institute director and teaches a majority of classes. He also heads up the mission's publications program.
   
• Mark Rohrback: Lives in Tomsk and does outreach in this city of 350,000 (avg. worship attendance: 10.)
   
• Michael Ewart: Lives in Iskitim. Serves as pastor of Iskitim congregation (avg. worship attendance: 50.) Also serves as field coordinator. Teaches a class in the seminary or Bible institute.

The Russia field has two national pastors:

• Igor Logvinov: Serves the congregation in Novosibirsk (avg. worship attendance: 25.) Teaches a seminary or B.I. class. Serves a preaching station in Toguchin. Does the weekly radio devotion. Igor has had some visitors at his congregation lately because of the radio devotions.
   
• Mikhail Starikov: At age 70 he serves as associate pastor in Iskitim, with duties in line with a retirement call.

Because of a manpower shortage, the registered congregation in Omsk and the preaching station in Reftinski (outside of Yekaterinburg) do not have a shepherd to lead them. The four remaining missionaries hope to make monthly trips to serve these people.

Publications

Work continues on the translating and publishing of People's Bibles and other literature. Recently Isaiah II; Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi; and Baptism (People's Bibles teachings) were published. 1 Corinthians will soon be ready as well.

Christian Charity

From the beginning, assistance for the poor and needy has accompanied our Gospel outreach. Generous gifts designated for charitable work have enabled us to help many people.

Contact Person in Russia

Rev. Luke A. Wolfgramm
E-mail: lukewolfgramm@gmail.com
Gorkovo Street, 14, Kv. 57
633190, Berdsk
CIS (Russia)
Phone: 011-7-38341-536-09

Website: http://www.luteranin.ru/