Crikey cobber - throw another prawn on the barbie! (said with tongue in cheek!)

A small invasion of warm-hearted and good-humoured Aussies created a few translation challenges this week. Crikey mate! Evelin and Kerlin learned a few new phrases as we hosted Major David Pullen and his colleague Gerard Byrne from Sydney. As leaders of the Australia Eastern territory’s recovery programmes they have pioneered a teaching and training resource that has been used by God in powerful ways throughout that territory. Last year, videos of Estonia’s rapidly developing ministry amongst drug and alcohol addicts were shown in Australia during the Self Denial appeal and sparked interest between Australia Eastern Territory and the Estonia Region.  David and Gerard’s services were generously offered and an assessment trip arranged to allow first hand opportunity to see if their ‘Bridge Programme’ material might be suitable for our ministry.

Gerard shares his testimony in Narva

During the week new friendships were developed as our visitors spent time at Lootusemaja (Hope House recovery centre - Tallinn), Narva, Johvi and Kopli corps. Having set off early from Tallinn on Wednesday morning we arrived at Narva just in time for the midweek Alpha course. The corps’ worship hall was full, with others sitting in the hallway listening to Nicky Gumbel (interestingly overdubbed in Russian!) present the truths of the gospel. Gerard was able to share powerful personal testimony of his own recovery and salvation transformation.

The assessment visit was very positive; the ‘Bridge Programme’ materials were well received by all and we concluded that this course will provide an excellent framework for our centres. We face a number of challenges if we are to turn the opportunity into reality. Fleshing out the presenter notes will be a big task for David and Gerard, then translating the materials into Russian and Estonian and adding suitably recorded multimedia will be a time-consuming and expensive package. But this will make for an exciting project and one we will be shaping up and presenting to donors as soon as possible.  

We are already thrilled to have a Regional team fluent and multilingual. It has been great to meet our new friends. As this territorial relationship  develops over future months we look forward to adding ‘Aussie-speak’ to the  skill set!

Introducing Estonia (part 2)

Thank you for joining me again this week and for the helpful comments that you post each week. It’s nice to know that through this little blog we sense your support and encouragement on our journey. It’s good to travel together!

The Sunday congregation at Narva

Last week I introduced you to Narva and Voru, our most remote corps. Facebook followers will have read that we visited Narva last Sunday for our first experience of Sunday worship there. The 3^rd floor worship hall was quite full (see pic) and the singing was enthusiastic and loud. Having worshipped mainly in Tallinn so far, it was interesting to see the different style of worship here in this Russian community. Songs were not translated adaptations of internationally known praise and worship songs but songs birthed in Russia – often in the minor key but always sung with gusto. The corps are working through a ‘Bible in a year’ reading plan and Captain Mihail invited testimonies of how this week’s readings have helped. A number stepped to the front readily to share how much they had learned from the readings. I confess, I had never realised how interesting the book of Chronicles and the story of King Manasseh could be!! During worship I shared a short word of introduction and Lyn preached.

Lyn shares the Word (assisted by Tanel)

It was lovely to see people coming forward to the place of prayer – a very simple wooden bench having as much significance for those particular seekers as the most ornate mercy seat. After worship we joined with the corps family for sandwiches and cake and learned more about the people who make up that fellowship; communion in every sense of the word.

We then travelled to Johvi, about 70kms back on the road to Tallinn. This small town’s population of approx 11,000 has an ethnic Russian majority so is predominantly a Russian speaking town. Candidates Evgeny and Arina were appointed as corps leaders a few months ago but with the change of Regional Leaders they had not been formally installed into their roles. It was our privilege to conduct the ceremony. One thing we have learned here is that with not a single local officer, many corps programmes rely heavily on corps leaders and officers and when leaders change this has a significant impact. This has been felt especially at Johvi and Evgeny and Arina are struggling to regroup a congregation. So as Evgeny stood to lead the worship Lyn and I were joined by Tanel (who

Candidates Evgeny and Arina (with Leon)

had accompanied us as translator), Arina and 3 others.  When it came time for the installation ceremony I asked if we could change the seating from formal rows into a circle. After the ceremony and the promises of commitment we invited the small corps family to gather around their new leaders and place a hand upon them as we prayed. We do not underestimate the challenge that Evgeny and Arina will face as they seek God’s wisdom and direction for their ministry. Your prayers would be valued, too.

I think we British Salvationists sometimes take for granted the commitment of our local officers. I was reminded last week how blessed I have been in previous corps appointments to have reliable, caring local officers who have maintained programmes, ministry and witness despite the comings and goings of Corprs leaders.

Yesterday we travelled to Tartu (the last stop on this blog’s tour!). We had visited Tartu twice before but , due to family holidays, had not had the privilege of meeting Captain Anna Kotirkadze and her children. David and Anna are overseas officers, serving here from the Eastern Europe territory and their homes in Georgia and Russia (respectively).  Tartu is Estonia’s 2^nd city, a really beautiful town hosting a large university, the Ministry of education and the country’s Supreme court.  Under David and Anna’s leadership the corps is in fine form. Whilst blessed with only a handful of soldiers (and no local officers) this small group meet every Wednesday for Bible study and planning meetings. The corps programme has a positive mix of worship, discipleship and social service. A partnership with  ’Toidaank’ (Estonia’s food bank initiative) sees food parcels distributed

Tartu corps (installation of Cadets Maksim and Dzina)

from the corps every week; clothes distributions take place simultaneously.  The corps has one problem – the hall is no longer big enough. We own a small worship hall and rent adjacent rooms for the social services programme. But we need more space – and that’s a good problem to have. Fortunately, David’s previous appointments include Territorial Property secretary (Moscow) so he has the skills necessary to identify suitable options. We look forward to working together on this, developing a project proposal and praying for generous donors!

These few weeks are very much about ‘journeying’ – thanks for travelling around Estonia with me during these last couple of postings. Tomorrow I travel to London for a budget conference at IHQ. Lyn will be in Finland midweek and then heads to the UK next weekend to join me as we return to Portsmouth to celebrate the life of Anne Sumner – one of those faithful local officers I referred to earlier.  Wherever your journey takes you this week I pray you will ‘go well and go with God’.

Introducing Estonia

Thanks for joining me for this week's blog - a virtual tour to visit the extremities of the Estonia Region. Come with me and we will visit Narva (east) and Voru (south).

Narva is not only our easternmost corps but the country's easternmost town. The town's 65,000 population are almost entirely Russians. It's literally a border town, the bridge at the end of the main street crosses into Russia. Salvation Army ministry is conducted in Russian and the corps is currently led by Captains Mihail and Ludmila Baglai, Moldovan officers on missionary service from the Eastern Europe Territory. The corps celebrated its 10th anniversary earlier this year, a milestone that was marked by moving into a larger, owned building. Courtesy of a very generous gift from with USA Western territory the corps is now housed in a 3 storey (plus basement) building, offering great scope for future development. Check out the pics in the slideshow to see how it has already been put to use. The ministry is a strong mix of social services, worship, teaching and evangelism. Every day crowds of dozens queue from early to receive a simple donation of bread. Food parcels are managed on behalf of the Narva Foodbank; together around 3,500 people receive support each month. Once a week the corps run Alpha - and the hall is packed to overflowing, with people sitting in the corridor to hear the teaching. There are many opportunities but moving people through to commitment to Christ and Christian discipleship is a tough challenge and many of those who have earlier committed to Soldiership in the Salvation Army have fallen by the wayside. Plans and designs are being considered for renovating the building and making it suitable to serve the needs of the programme.

If the slideshow (below) doesn't work - check out the pics here: Narva corps



Heading south towards Latvia and you pass through Voru, about 25 miles north of the border. The delightful little town (population 14,300) is a lovely mix of 19th century wooden buildings and rather less attractive Soviet-era ones. Set on Lake Tamula the population is predominantly Estonian speaking. Opened in 2006 the corps occupies a lovely, rented 1st floor facility. On entering the SA hall you are immediately impacted by the care given to make this small property a real haven of worship and service. Envoy Inge is amazing! Her personal testimony of coming to the Army having given years of service leading children's homes is fascinating. Inge has a background of theology study but hers is no faith of 'head knowledge' alone. Her huge heart for the vulnerable led her (and husband Timo) to adopt 5 small children (in order to keep a whole family together), despite being in her 50's and already having a grown up daughter and grandchild of her own. The corps' small worshiping family of 12-20 meeting in a lovely worship hall, the ante rooms house a delightful dining area from which a feeding programme operates twice each week. The 'Get dressed for free' programme allows families to receive good quality clothes in exchange for their old ones. Inge is supported by Candidate Natalia who is preparing for service as an officer in The Salvation Army with the support and backing of her husband and 2 small children.

If the slideshow doesn't work you can access the pics here: Voru corps

Both of these centres are 3 hours' drive from Tallinn and Regional HQ so the leaders (and corps members) might easily feel a little isolated. They represent the very different blends of community in Estonia (the Russian and Estonian) but the expressions of worship and service are impacting their communities. If you have a moment to remember our friends in prayer we would appreciate it.