by Peter Rempel
Members of the congregation in a joint worship session on the ship - July, 1997
See also a short history of the congregation written by the members
See also a short history of the congregation written by the members
Commission on Overseas Mission of the General Conference Mennonite Church,
Winnipeg
(written after a 2 week trip to Ukraine in February, 1998)
Since 1993 persons of Mennonite and German ethnic background have been gathering into a new Mennonite congregation in Zaporozhye, the city which now incorporates the core area of the former Mennonite colony of Chortitza. Frank and Nettie Dyck who helped to organize and register the church are again providing leadership and pastoring since the departure in March 1997 of COM workers Peter and Sue Kehler. COM has accepted the Dycks as Mission Associates and has covered their travel expenses as well as their rent for the past year. COM has also received and forwarded some above-budget contributions for critical medical needs in the congregation and related persons. Boris Letkemann, chair of the church council, expressed the deep gratitude of the congregation to COM for its assistance. In his words: "Through this church we have come to know God's word and to know Christ."
The life of the congregation is flourishing. After several baptismal celebrations in the past years, the membership has risen to 50. The attendance for the hour-long Sunday morning worship is in the 70-80 range. The sermon, scripture and announcements are presented in German and then in Russian translation. The hymns are from the General Conference German hymnal. At the worship we attended a young man who accompanies the singing on guitar, also sang a self-composed song in Russian and a young woman read a poem in Russian. A Sunday School has begun with the assistance of several students from the Zaporozhye Bible College. On Tuesday evening and on Thursday morning Bible study groups meet at the Dycks' apartment. There is a five member church council, the majority being women and one of Russian ethnicity.
Presently the congregation meets for Sunday worship in the assembly hall of a school near the center of the city, a five-minute walk from Lenina Prospekt, the city's main street. The room has seating for about 90 which slightly exceeds the normal attendance. Its location on the second floor presents some difficulty for the frailer members and occasionally there are problems with access to the building.
Frank and Nettie Dyck are very much appreciated for their ministry. They make weekly visits to members and friends of the congregation who are unable to attend its gatherings or who need encouragement to do so. Frank has accepted short-term teaching assignments at the Bible College and also finds time to continue his earlier ministry of distributing Bibles.
The church council members expressed the wish that the Dycks would serve the congregation as long as they are able. They intend to remain in Zaporozhye until December unless ill health requires their return to Calgary. With the church council and with the Dycks it was agreed that they would lead the congregation until their departure in December and that until then the new workers would devote themselves to acculturation and Russian language learning, while becoming acquainted with the congregation and its circle of related persons.
The congregation has been informed that COM will be sending Jake and Dorothy Unrau of Rosemary, Alberta and been given a brief description of them.
Pavel Metlenko, the superintendent of the Union of Baptist churches in the Zaporozhye region, continues to take a cooperative stance toward the Mennonite congregation. He does not regard it as competition or detraction for the Baptist churches.
The Zaporozhye Congregation receives funding assistance from a number of organizations, including COM. The needs are great. Members in the congregation also receive funds individually from friends and relatives. As COM we have assisted in the delivery of such gifts and a batch of these was delivered on this trip. I was personally moved to commit a contribution to the need of one woman suffering with Parkinson's disease, confined to her bed and deprived of proper care. Funds will be needed to pay someone to tend this woman on a daily basis.
The help given by passengers of the Mennonite Heritage Cruise is significant and deeply appreciated.. At their request, I will be in close touch with cruise organizers Walter and Marina Unger relating to specific needs and these will be relayed to passengers later this Spring and Summer. The requests will likely include the carrying of medical supplies which have been funded by a number of donors.
Peter H. Rempel - COM - Winnipeg, March 1998