Rev. Lydia Istomina’s program reflects her path as an experienced pastor, creative leader and effective manager, with deep intercultural knowledge and awareness. To review the program in full, please visit the Central Conference Web site.

This fall, October 17-21, 2012, the Central Conference for the United Methodist Church in Northern Europe and Eurasia, will take place in Kaunas, Lithuania. The Conference is charged with electing a new Bishop to lead the Eurasian area, comprised of Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Moldova, Belorussia, Kyrguzstan, Tadjikistan and Uzbekistan. The new Bishop will be replacing Hans Växby, who is retiring this year.

Additional information on all three candidates for the position of Bishop can be downloaded here.

Twenty years ago, people of Shreveport, LA got serious jitters at the sight of a Russian military plane AN-124 coming in for a landing at the nearby Barksdale Airforce Base. Against the stereotypical assumptions, however, this flight did not have any militaristic intentions. Quite the opposite, the large transport plane was coming with the most noble of goals – to load 86 tons of humanitarian aid consisting of food and medical supplies and to deliver the valuable load to Ekaterinburg, Russia.

April of 1992 witnessed several historical moments. This very first memorable landing of the Russian military plan, AN-124 (Ruslan), on the American Airforce Base, Barskdale AFB, was completely unthinkable before that day. Such breakthrough event led to a series of reciprocal visits and exchanges between ex-enemy states in the months to come.

The gifts of humanitarian aid from the Unites States to Russia took place before, but this was the first of its kind from American Methodists to Russian Methodists, especially on that scale. Moreover, thanks to AN-124 and its 18-member crew, this valuable load bypassed the bureaucracy and corruption, arriving directly to Ekaterinburg and reaching the ones truly in need.

Capt. Yuriy Martinenko and his team flew 24 hours straight, in shifts. Arriving in the morning of April 22, 1992, the plane spent 32 hours on the base while being loaded up, setting off on its return journey on April 25.

Red Square Service to Air Here

General Board of Global Ministries Letter to Lydia Istomina - February 16, 1995

Bishop Minor's Report to the Counil of Bishops - Fall 1992 (p1)

Our Sister City - article by David Westerfiled, The Shreveport Times, May 17 1992

UMs Reach out to Soviets on Variety of Fronts

Russian Visitors Endorse UM Church's Soviet Initiatives

Ramsey Brings Dream for Russia to Holston