Russia

Narnia Center in Moscow

The Narnia Center seeks to develop discipleship resources and train Christian leaders working with Russian churches. It publishes and distributes Christian books, videos and educational materials in the Russian language for Russian children and youth. They not only translate Christian materials written in English, but seek to encourage and publish Russian authors. It also provides leadership training and publishes materials for pastors, Christian educators, and those who work with special needs children.

Our partnership has been facilitated in many ways by the Outreach Foundation, a validated mission partner of the PC(USA) Additional information about the Narnia Center is available at www.theoutreachfoundation.org.

Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship

Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship seeks to mobilize congregations to participate with God in bringing the Good News of the Kingdom into cultures where the church has yet to take root. Their vision is “for every people: an indigenous church; and for every church: a mission vision.” A validated mission partner of the PC(USA), PFF seeks to help indigenous Christian leaders spread the Gospel in Ethiopia, Central Asia, Siberia, the Middle East, India, China, Kenya, and Sudan.

Al and Ellen Smith

The Smiths accepted their assignment to serve as PC(USA) mission co-workers based in Moscow in 2001, to serve as coordinators of the PC(USA) congregational twinning program in Russia and Belarus. In this capacity they have been instrumental in the development of the close sister relationship between FPC and the Good News Baptist Church in Moscow.

Ellen also works with the Russian and Belarusian Round Tables, church structures dedicated to diaconal ministries, with special focus on the battle against alcohol and drug addiction and the spread of HIV/AIDS. Al is deeply involved in outreach to the Roma (gypsy) people of Russia and Eastern Europe, who experience widespread discrimination.

The church twinning program Ellen facilitates pairs US Presbyterian congregations with Russian congregations. As there is not a Presbyterian tradition in Russia, partner churches there may be Baptist, Russian Orthodox, or Lutheran.

Most recently, Al and Ellen have moved with their youngest daughter Emma to a home base in Berlin, because of visa restrictions that required spending at least 180 days per year out of Russia. They will continue the same work in Russia, traveling back and forth from Berlin.

Ellen has visited FPC three times and participated in our global mission conferences in 2004 and 2011.

Al is former attorney and Ellen a former English teacher. They first became interested in Russian Missions when Ellen traveled on a short term mission trip to Russia to visit the church partner of their congregation, MacPherson PC in Fayetteville, NC. They have three daughters, one married and working in Wisconsin, one attending Hastings College, and Emma attending now attending high school in Berlin

Gary Payton

Gary has served as the regional liaison for Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Poland for the PCUSA since 1999. He serves a “bridge” between church partners, fellow mission co-workers, and all the pieces of the PCUSA engaged in mission in his region—individuals, congregations, Presbyteries, synods, GAMC, and mission support groups. He also works with a broad spectrum of denominations in his region, including Baptist, Lutheran, Orthodox, and Reformed.

Gary has visited our church twice, speaking at our global mission conference in ____.

Previously he served for 3 years as coordinator of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. A graduate of the US Air Force Academy with a double major in International Affairs and Soviet Studies, he received his M.A.S. in management from John Hopkins and an M.A. in Russian studies from Georgetown University. He served as an officer in the USAF for 24 years prior to service with the PCUSA. Gary is married to the Rev. Dr. Nancy Copeland-Payton and resides in Sandpoint, Idaho. They have three sons, two of them married, and a much cherished grandchild.

http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/missionconnections/payton-gary/

Good News Baptist Church in Moscow

Members of the Good News Church in Moscow with FPC friends

The Good News Baptist Church has been our church partner in Moscow for over 12 years. The partnership was begun under the church twinning program initiated by the Outreach Foundation and the PC(USA), and has been facilitated by Mission Co-workers Donald Marsden and, since 2001, Ellen and Al Smith.

The cornerstone of our relationship is the visits by groups from FPC to Moscow every other year, and our bringing teams from the Good News Church to Columbus in alternate years. When we have visited them, we have participated in their programs, including a Christmas break VBS; summer youth camps (three times); visits to orphanages; and fellowship events at their church. When their teams have visited us, they have assisted with our summer VBS, global mission conferences (twice) and in 2010, four of their young adults attended Triennium with our church youth. Their pastor, Misha Chekalin, has visited with us numerous times, both with Good News groups and on his own.

We are continually impressed by the Good News Church outreach to orphans, the unchurched, and families with handicapped children. Our support has, among other things, helped them purchase a new church van, underwritten the cost of youth summer camps, and now will help them replace the damaged roof of their church building. But the biggest benefit to all has been the warm relationships we have developed and our mutual support as brothers and sisters in Christ.