wfn.org | Siberia is first appointment for U.S. seminary graduate

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

June 30, 1999	Contact: Linda Green*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-71B{357}

By United Methodist News Service

Pastors across the United Methodist Church shudder at the thought of being
appointed to the "Siberian" outskirts of an annual conference, but a recent
graduate of Saint Paul School of Theology is being sent to the actual place.

Siberia is the first appointment for Katya Marsakova, 25, who received her
master of divinity degree from the United Methodist-related school in May.
She is going to Pervouralsk, a city at the foot of the Ural Mountains, on
the western border of Siberia.  

"In every United Methodist annual conference, there is a mythical or actual
church appointment that clergy use to symbolize being sent 'far away.' But
even we never thought about being appointed to Siberia," said the Rev.
Lovett H. Weems Jr., president of the Kansas City, Mo., seminary. 

The city of 143,000 is in the Ekaterinburg region and is one of the
country's oldest industrial centers. It is plagued with economic, ecological
and health problems.

"When I answered God's called and came to seminary, I did not know where God
was leading me," Marsakova said. "I am so excited to bring the good news of
hope, love, healing and new life in Christ to my new place in ministry. I go
home with confidence that faith in Christ will make a difference in people's
lives and in our broken and suffering society."

A native of Ulyanovsk,  Marsakova is one of the first Russian students to
complete a seminary degree at an American United Methodist seminary. Her
faith story began after her baptism at age 15 in the Russian Orthodox
Church. "I was looking for God," she said, "And God found me." 

In 1993, a group from St. Luke United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City and
surrounding churches came to Russia on a mission trip bringing medicine and
other necessities. 

"They didn't come to evangelize Russians," Marsakova said. "They came to
tell and share stories of their faith with us."

This interaction lead to her enrollment at Oklahoma City University to study
religion. Academic credits received for a teaching degree in Russia were
transferred to the school and she received a bachelor of arts degree in
religion in a year and a half.  After a yearlong stint as a youth
coordinator in the Russia Annual Conference, she returned to the United
States and enrolled in the three-year master of divinity degree program at
Saint Paul. 

Before departing for her Siberian appointment, Marsakova expressed her
anxiousness and uncertainty about the future. "But I am confident in God's
call, and I trust God's guidance."
# # #
This story is adapted from a news release issued by the communications
office at Saint Paul School 

______________
United Methodist News Service
http://www.umc.org/umns/
newsdesk@umcom.umc.org
(615)742-5472