Light in the darkness

Having lived for most of my life in a country where 2 cm of snow brings the whole nation to a standstill, I found it puzzling that Estonians spent Christmas and New Year mourning the fact that no snow had fallen.  About 10 days ago the snow arrived – not loads by Estonian standards – but enough to make it feel as if winter had properly come. The daytime temperatures of -15 degrees contributed to the wintery feel! Last week I had to drive to our camp at Loksa.  It’s about 70kms east of the city and in a lovely woodland area close to the coast. The snow transformed the journey – it was so bright! The normally dark and overcast winter seemed magically transformed. The snow-covered pine trees looked like something from a postcard picture and the white, un-trodden snow just seemed to glow. I realised what we had been missing and why Estonians love the snow so much.

The new session (spot the joker in the pack!)

Last weekend new light came to The Salvation Army – to be a little more accurate – the Messengers of Light arrived! It was a historic occasion as Colonel Kleman (Territorial Commander) officially welcomed the 6 new cadets, the very first session ever to train for Salvation Army officership in Estonia. We have had other individuals train here – but this is the first time the training college has organised an official session here. The sessional welcome was a really joyful celebration - a scene experienced around the Salvation Army world - but one we had never experienced before in Estonia.



Tallinn Methodist church

This historic event has come about largely because 4 of the 6 cadets are Russian language speaking, something that the Territory’s training college in Finland is not equipped for.  So, after much discussion and exploration, we have partnered with the Methodist seminary in Tallinn and relocated our academic courses to Estonia. The modern seminary (the only one in Estonia that offers theological training in Russian) has classrooms with built in translation booths and professional translators; the library has theological study materials available in Russian and the accommodation is suitable and really reasonably priced.  Cadets will spend 3 days each month at the seminary participating in lectures organised by our own Training college staff. Later in the year our students might join with the seminary’s students for specific classes. One interesting spin-off is that the Methodists have asked if The Salvation Army in Estonia might provide practical placements for their trainee ministers so that they might experience social work and community service ministry. A great opportunity for partnership in ministry!


The new session (with CS Lieut Col Kornilow and Natalia Pentinnen)

 

Spiritually, Estonia might be considered a very dark place, with a very tiny percentage of the population attending church.  As our new session begins their training we thank God for the sign of new life for The Salvation Army in the Finland & Estonia territory – but we also pray our cadets will be true to their sessional name,  radiating the light of God in their own lives and brightening our country with the light and love of Jesus. God bless the Messengers of Light!