wfn.org | Lithuania Mission Initiative

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3519 notes).

Note 3516 by UMNS on March 26, 1997 at 16:37 Eastern (3154 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Bloom                          162(10-21-71B){3516}
          New York (212) 870-3803                   March 26, 1997

Partner churches to expand
mission work in Lithuania

     NEW YORK (UMNS) -- Partner church relationships are being
sought to expand United Methodist work in Lithuania.
     The churches either would develop shared ministries with
existing congregations or foster a relationship with a Lithuanian
community that could lead to a new congregation.
     The partner church connection is one focus of the Lithuania
Mission Initiative sponsored by the United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries and the denomination's Northern European Central
Conference.
     Lithuania's first Methodist congregation was founded nearly a
century ago in the city of Kaunas, according to the Rev. S.T.
Kimbrough, the board's associate general secretary for mission
evangelism. It and other early congregations were German-speaking.
As the Methodist movement spread north, indigenous congregations
took root.
     "This history is directly related to the contemporary renewed
witness of our church," said Kimbrough at a March 25 board
briefing on Lithuania here.
     The nucleus of that renewed witness is the remainder of the
Kaunas congregation, which had its last service in 1944 before
being shut down by the Russians. Today, the revived congregation
there is registered officially with the government, along with one
congregation each in the towns of Siauliai and Birzai.
     Missionaries currently serving Lithuania are the Rev. William
and Grace Warnock and the Rev. David and the Rev. Kristin Markay.
     Besides focusing on congregation-building and leadership
development, the Lithuania initiative will assess opportunities
for economic development and community-based health care.
     Sarla Lall, executive secretary for congregational health
ministries, noted that as the economy in Lithuania has declined,
health care needs have increased.
     Between 1989 and 1996, for instance, the number of alcohol-
related deaths increased fourfold, she said, and the depression
rate for 35- to 50-year-olds has risen at an alarming rate. "There
is massive need for mental health work," she added. 
     Also rising are the incidence of tuberculosis, incurable
brain tumors and other types of cancer, particularly in 35- to 50-
year-olds and children under 14. At the same time, life expectancy
has dropped, according to Lall, and the population in general is
decreasing.
     Participation in the Lithuania Mission Initiative is open to
local churches, church school classes, vacation Bible schools,
church-related organizations and individuals. It has been
designated as Advance No.012168-2RA.
     More information is available from Vally Nance, Lithuania
Mission Initiative Project Team, 1816 Wellington Rd., Birmingham,
AL 35209. The telephone number is (205)879-0619; the fax is
(205)802-7008.
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