By: Brandon Dirks
A photo diary of my first day in Moscow.
Last moments in St. Petersburg. Getting on a high speed train at 6:30 am to Moscow to meet up with the rest of the team. Weird how nobody has recognized the logo on my shirt yet…;)
Our whole team is together! From left: Simon Mortimer, Lea Taylor, Valerie Deel, Beth Laury, Rev. Mark Danzey, Sergei Nikolaev, me
This is the Moscow United Methodist Seminary building. See the Cross and Flame on the gate? The Enblish Connection is a part of the seminary outreach mission to the community. They offer very low cost, but very high quality English education, which is in high demand. It has a similar relationship to the seminary as Christ Church School does to Christ Church. The English Connection had four students last year. This year they have over 100 children, youth and adults enrolled! Word of mouth has really spread!
Moscow UMC Seminary building with the Russian logo for the English Connection Center
This is the schedule for the second half of the teaching conference. The circled name is my name, Brandon Dirks, in Russian. I’m honored.
Our first team meeting at the seminary. Seminary president Sergei Nikolaev is telling us about the seminary, United Methodism in Russia and his dreams for the future of the seminary.
Sergei tells us that the seminary is about 25 years olad and is seeking to raise $8 million to ensure low cost seminary education. He has already raised 25% of that. He has a clear vision of how the ONLY UMC seminary in Russia, and nearly six surrounding countries, can be the center of disciple making training for all of Russia.
Holy Discontent 
June 25, 2018 at 10:02 pm
Keep it coming. Glad you could read your name in Russian!