5 Questions with Jackie Volbrecht

From the Wichita Eagle:

MEMBER, GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH

5 QUESTIONS WITH JACKIE VOLBRECHT

MEMBER, GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH

Jackie Volbrecht and her husband, Lawrence, have owned and operated Estates Unlimited, a Wichita real estate firm, for the past 20 years. Volbrecht is social ministry chairperson at Gloria Dei Lutheran, where she and others are active in outreach through a number of community organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Alternative Christmas Market, Salvation Army and Interfaith Ministries. Volbrecht also participates in her church's global mission known as "Children of the Wind," whose goal is to provide information about and collect funds for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia. Volbrecht was the only layperson to accompany her bishop's delegation to Russia a year ago. A high point of her trip was visiting the girls' orphanage in Ussurijsk, where Gloria Dei helps sponsor learning opportunities in cooperation with St. Marie's Church.

1. Why are you a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) denomination?

I am a member of the ELCA because of their emphasis on grace, which is extremely important to me because I know I need it. I believe God has totally forgotten the "wild child" of my youth and works through the new me! I also love the denomination's reverent, respectful and powerful worship practices. I am a "bells and smells" worshipper, a light way of saying that I like the ancient and traditional things such as candles, incense, chants, icons and paintings.

2. Who inspires you?

Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Anwar Sadat and Mother Teresa, who is a golden light and example for all faiths. I guess I was very fortunate to grow up in a time of heroes, or at least heroic acts: the Civil Rights Movement, a real attempt at peace in the Middle East and presidents I trusted who challenged me to be better than I am. To me, a hero is someone who in spite of his or her human nature rises above that and strives to be a force for good -- does things that benefit the whole and sacrifices to help others. I believe and know that heroes are still out there; in fact, I want to be one!

Today, I'm inspired by Pastor Manfred Brockmann. He began his ministry in far eastern Russia after the German Lutheran Church retired him. He is the only pastor for the largest parish in the world. He has helped eight congregations regain their roots, worship practices and faith statements. I believe him to be a true saint, and I actually know him firsthand.

3. How has your faith made a difference in your life?

My faith is my life. To try and separate a Christian from Christ is impossible. The difference is light and darkness, life and death... it goes way beyond right and wrong to being. My guide, my reason, my hope, yes, the great hope is all in Christ. It has made all the difference.

4. What has been the biggest challenge to your faith?

Me -- my basic selfish self. I don't believe anyone can tempt me beyond my ability to resist, and I don't believe any circumstance would ever separate me from God. But I must continually, daily determine who I am, not by the large things, but the little everyday decisions, choices that I make that could take me away from my faith. Faith is lived, day by day, minute by minute. It is not a stagnant thing. You either feed it and grow it, or you starve it and it can die.

5. If you weren't Lutheran, what might you be?

I think the labels, the way we practice our faith, are like tattoos on the surface of the body of Christ. The Scriptures tell us over and over again, "One body, one God, one faith, one baptism, one Communion, one Resurrection." I am Lutheran because that particular way of worship helps to grow my faith. I accept that theology as truth but not to the extent that I would say we are "exclusively correct." I am Christian, which I believe makes me Methodist, Catholic, Episcopal, Baptist, Pentecostal, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox... and Lutheran. (If I left out any Christian denominations, it was not intentional.) I am not Buddhist, Muslim or Hindu. So you know that I DO have one criterion that is so simple: Jesus Christ crucified, Jesus Christ alive. He left us a faith. We, in turn, need religion.

Cynthia Snider, Special to The Eagle

Letters from Russia: September 20, 2007

Wladiwo, Sept 20.07.

Dear Jackie,

Yesterday we had here Oleg Lapin, the preacher of Ussurijsk, and I could hand over to him your wonderful gift, the paraments. (see photo). They will surely soon thank you. Ludmila, the musician, is on a women's seminar in Omsk. Alexej or Oleg will be the official representatives at our jubilees, for which we are hard working now. Bishop MAnsholt has written us now an official greeting.

THanks to you all. Manfred

Letters from Russia: September 8, 2007

Wladiwostok Sept 8.07.

Dear Jackie,

Thank you so much for your letter Aug 30. It must be wonderful to
ride an old train on the old roads in the states. Teton I know,
Tanj and I have been there in 2001 by car.-

I thank you so much, that you will begin the great
fundraising in September, and that you are so full of
hope in this!

In the next days I shall have the opportunity to hand over the
paraments to delegates from St MAry's Ussuruijsk, when they will
coem here. --- Yes, we are now after my birtday and the visit of
my daughters eagerly p[reparing the festivies of our jubilees. I
send tyou the latest edition of the program. Now even our
archbishop will come and preach on our thanksgiving day, Sept 30!
It is a great pity, that ee have nort yet an official delegate
from the CSS, nore from teh states at al....I just wrote again to
KAthie, I wrote and telephoned to bishop G MAnsholt, but did not
even get an answer... --

I told you, that we had the visit of the German industrial, who
will sponsor these three church bells for us?( see photo, when he
handed us a costy present: copies of old Armenian symbols. I shall
share the admiration of them with my colleage of the Armenian
church nearby ). You can also read about this on our website. So
you are right, when writing in your letter, that "His children can
always be hopeful and rejoicing".

We yesterday has a great event in St PAul's: the American
general consul, THomas Armbruster, who from time to time
attends our Divine Service(!) made wirth us a merry meeting
with 65 Amercan tourists in our church. I send you what I shall
place about on our website, and also a photo.

I also am someti,es placing a candle for you in our church.

Yours sincerely MAnfred + TAnja

Facts and Information about our Congregations in Far Eastern Russia

Russia is about twice the size of the United States (including Alaska) with about half as many people. There are eleven time zones that span the country.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States (ELCROS) includes the Lutheran churches in Russia. The Central States Synod has had a companion relationship with the following eight congregations in the Far East of Russia:

St. Paul, Vladivostok

St. Paul began over 100 years ago by Germans that were either deported to Vladivostok or went there for economic opportunity. The current building was completed in 1907. Stalin closed it in 1935, and the communists used it as a military museum. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1988, St. Paul was restarted in 1992 and the building was given back to the congregation in 1997. The building is currently being restored.

The congregation is served by Pastor Manfred Brockman who serves as Dean of the eight congregations in the Far East of Russia. Pr. Brockman has made several visits to the Central States Synod.

St. Paul currently has about 200 members. A variety of ministry is being done through the congregation which includes: music ministry, children’s ministry, youth ministry, prison outreach, web site development, and hosting a German cultural center where people come to learn the German language.

Each Christmas and Easter St. Paul presents a concert of music by Bach that is open to the general public. In the summer they have a one-week summer camp for children.

St. Marie’s, Ussurijsk

This congregation is about 60 miles from Vladivostok and owns their own flat where they hold worship services. They work with a girl’s orphanage helping the youth get training to become beauticians, drivers, and computer programmers. They teach the younger girls how to crochet, knit and sew. They sponsor a camp and learning opportunities for the youth during the summer.

Gloria Dei in Wichita, Kansas, began a relationship with St. Marie’s in 2005, and they help St. Marie’s sponsor learning opportunities for the girls at the orphanage.

St. Luke’s Arsenyev

St. Luke’s began in 1999 and is located a little over 200 miles from Vladivostok. The congregation consists of quite a few young people that are well educated and many are studying English. They bought a house (in need of repairs) that they use as a worship center. They do a lot of community service ministry, such as helping older people especially those that are ill, having sports teams, helping with forestry, and offering bible study. They have a puppet ministry and each year present the Christmas story and a concert. A German pastor had served them, but he has returned to Germany.

St. Katharines’ Komsomoksk

St. Katharines’ began in 1999 with five women. Today there are around 100 that range in age from infants to retired people. They work closely with a children’s home. They collect clothing for the children and visit the home on a regular basis to teach Bible lessons, give art lessons, and have holiday parties. They have a very active women’s group that does Bible study and participates in the World Day of Prayer each year. They have an active youth group that does Bible study and community service projects.

Atonement in Overland Park, Kansas, began a relationship with St. Katharine’s in 2003 and sent two individuals to Komsomolsk in the summer of 2004. Olga Kokhan visited the US during the summer of 2006 and Atonement hopes to send two individuals to Komsomolsk during the summer of 2007. With the help of Atonement St. Katharine’s recently purchased a flat where they can meet for worship, study and ministry activities.

St. Johns Khabarovsk

St Johns is a vibrant congregation that is about ten years old and has 60+ members. They have a good music ministry, which attracts young people. They do have a preacher, and they have use of a classroom in the German Cultural Center for two and half hours each Sunday.

St. Matthew’s Chita

St. Matthew’s was started in January of 2000 and is located 1500 miles west of Vladivostok a trip that takes two days and three nights by train. They do not have a preacher or regular place to hold worship.

St. Mark’s Magadan

Magadan, about 1,800 miles north of Vladivostok, was founded by Stalin in 1935 as the headquarters for the Gulags in that area. St. Mark’s started in 2000.

Holy Cross in Overland Park, Kansas, began a relationship with St. Mark’s in 2001. Three individuals from Holy Cross traveled to Magadan in 2002, and Alla Vysokova visited the US in 2004. Two individuals from Holy Cross visited St. Mark’s in 2005, and Alla and Elena Romaneva visited Holy Cross in 2006. With the help of Holy Cross St. mark’s was able to purchase a flat in 2004 where they celebrate worship, conduct Bible study, do social ministry in the area of drug and alcohol abuse, and offer housekeeping and handicraft classes.

In the Spring of 2007, a delegation visiting Russia, met the newly elected Bishop of ELCROS, Bishop Kruse who indicated that they would attempt to have a census in 2008 to determine how many other home church congregations might be in the vast regions of Eastern Russia.

We anxiously await the news!

Welcome!

Our Mission is to provide information about and to collect funds for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia and Other States, ELCROS. After 70 years of tyranny and oppression a new church is rising up. The need is urgent and great, however their faith and hope are even greater!

The Mission to St. Marie's Church in Ussurisk, Russia, began with 14 ladies, old ladies, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas. Since the visit of Jackie Volbrecht to Russia, our vision is larger and so are our plans to help. Our organization is now congregational and of course affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, The ELCA.

Your gifts should be made payable to

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
and mailed to
1101 N. River Blvd, Wichita, Kansas 67203.

Please mark them as a Children of the Wind donation.

We then forward the entire sum, 100% to our ELCROS representative, Manfred Brockmann, Dean of the Church of Far East Russia for distribution as indicated by you or if not indicated, as needed by the congregations.

To read more about it, www.luthvostok.com is the official website of the Far East (make sure you find the English translation button at the top of the site)

This site is new, I plan to ad additional information and more interesting links, however, this is the beginning, thank you for being here with us.

In His Service
Jackie