Siberian Lutherans

Today in Bible study, in place of Jeremiah, we heard a visiting Lutheran bishop for whom our church had donated money to help build a church. Some factoids from his slide show:

• 6th cent. original church in Kiev. 988: "Baptism of Russia."
• Majorities--Lutheran and Russian Orthodox--rights (schools, hospitals). That changed during the Russian Revolution because communism can't coexist with Christianity. 360K Christian clergy/laity killed in 1st 4 years. 1941--last Lutheran pastor killed.
• Churches are concentrated in southern Russia, with some at each E/W end.
• Transportation, in decreasing order of frequency: horse, car/train, plane.
• Most congregations don't have their own, nor permanent, buildings.
• Common ministry: caring for the deaf. Use sign language for confession and absolution, sharing the Gospel, etc.
• Rampant alcoholism --> people steal car parts for money. Rampant TB too.
• Neighbors may love you, but they love your property more...
• Chapel--bedroom-size! (~10' x 14')
• Some regions--Buddhism is the government-supported religion.
• Cities--bricks from churches used for monuments of Lenin.
• Parasails but no instructors (one church youth group) --> sent several children to heaven :-/ (dark Russian humor...).
• Angela Merkel visited a government-supported Lutheran church build for historical value.
• The church (a former apartment building) we paid for is in process of being remodeled.