Five years ago, Trinity United Methodist Church began a partnership with the United Methodist Church in Kybarti, Lithuania. A team from Trinity visited in Kybarti in 2004 and found a church filled with strong and faithful people alive with the Gospel and concerned about their community. At that time, the church was meeting in this small store front. You can see from the picture how inadequate the facility is for the needs of a growing church excited to be in ministry for Christ.
The facility hinders their growth and it also hurts their reputation. Churches are considered cults in Lithuania unless they have proper facilities. Even though their constitution guarantees freedom of religion, there is only nine traditional religions that are recognized. Other churches can apply to become non-traditional religions, but they have to meet certain standards in order to be approved. They must apply to the government, demonstrate that their doctrines are compatible with those accepted within the country, and prove that they have the support of the people. The United Methodist Church has applied to become a non-traditional religion but its application has not yet been approved.
Our church there is very courageous and committed to its ministry. They are already involved in work with women who are single or widowed. In addition, they help at the nearby orphanage taking care of the needs of children. Our team found a very special group of people concerned about their community and faithful in their discipleship. In order to be taken seriously, however they need a facility like the one here that is owned by the local Roman Catholic church.
The Methodist church has been in Kybarti since the early 1900's. In fact, the first Methodist Church built in Lithuania was in Kybarti. During the Soviet occupation, however, all church property was confiscated and used for other means. The church went underground and many of its leaders and officials were either killed or exported. It was a difficult period for those who remained faithful to the gospel they had learned as children in the Methodist Church. The original church was located on a nice piece of property in the very center of town near the other churches now recognized by the government.
When the soviets took over the property, they tore down the church structure and built this open recreational facility which is now condemned as a danger to the community. Fortunately, when our partnership first began, we were able to buy back that same property at a reasonable price. We now have to tear down this old structure and make way for the building of a proper facility. When our team returned in 2004, this was the dream they presented to the rest of our congregation:
Rebuild the church by 2009, its 100th anniversary.On November 14-20, 2006 two members of the former team, Bill Roberts and Lowell Zollar, will go with me to visit the church in Kybarti. We want to encourage our partner church and to look at the plans for the new facility. Much has to be done so that we can get ready to build. We have many questions to ask and hope to have several days to meet with the people in the church and the local officials who will work with them on this project. Even though no definite blue prints have been drawn, the facility we hope to build will be similar to this church located elsewhere in the Baltics and built by the United Methodist church.
Prior to our departure, I want to ask the other members of the 2004 team to share with you their remembrances of the people of Kybarti. While we are there, Bill, Lowell, and I will also use this blog to share with you our daily work along with pictures we will make of the project. God has called us to do a great work in a very special place. We ask for your prayers as we prepare, journey, and visit among the people of the United Methodist Church in Kybarti.
Charles F. Gattis, Jr.
Pastor, Trinity United Methodist Church
