News |
|||
|
European Baptist President wants to be a Bishop On April 2-3 the President of the European Baptist Federation Billy Taranger of Norway shortly visited the capital city of Tbilisi.
Even though it was a very brief visit he attended the reception organized in his honor, Sunday morning Eucharist at the Bishop’s private chapel and Sunday service at the Second Baptist church in Navtlugi.
“You Georgians are right to have Bishops. Within six months the time of my presidency will expire. I do not want to come to Georgia as a president but rather as a Bishop.” said President Taranger at the reception given by the Navtlugi Baptist Church.
EBF Indigenous mission project in Georgia From March 30 to April 3 The Revd Daniel Trusiewicz visited Georgia. The Revd Trusiewicz is responsible for the EBF based Indigenous Missions Project. After some time of discussion between the EBF and the EBC Georgia the decision was made to start a first indigenous missions project in Georgia.
The Revd Trusiewicz had an opportunity to travel in Georgia, to meet home missionaries and local congregations. It was decided that two people will be supported by the EBF project in Georgia.
“I was supportive of your ministry even before coming to Georgia but now, since I have been to this country, you have my full support.” said Revd Trusiewicz at the end of his visit.
Baptist Church in Akhalsopeli - Symbol of Georgian Renewal On May 19th a new Church was consecrated in the village of Akhalsopheli where the original Baptist Church was burnt by arsonists two years ago.
The opening of the church was a huge celebration and was attended by a number of people including some guests of honor, the American and German ambassadors with their wives, the Public Defender of Georgia and the Deputy Public Defender and Leaders of NGOs.
The consecration of the Church took place in the ancient Eastern manner. People gathered at the entrance of the Church. The choir sung Psalm 24. Baptist and Lutheran Bishops elevated the Eucharist chalice in front of the church door. Than they opened the door and proceeded to the church. The altar of the Church was sprinkled with water and anointed with oil. The four walls of the church were also marked with oil.
After the Eucharist service, which was celebrated by Bishops and clergy, guests of honor spoke. “This is the remarkable occasion,” said Mr. Sozar Subari, the Public Defender of Georgia.” I wish the entire Georgia would be present here and experience this occasion of Christian unity.”
“For me the consecration of this new church is a symbol of the renewal of Georgia” said the American Ambassador, who had been the first to make a personal contribution of 100 GEL (50$) to the renovation fund of the Church. The major contributions to the same fund were made by the Baptist Union of Germany and American Organizations working with the persecuted churches.
The altar and the cross of the Church were made from the semi burnt wood of the burnt down church by Mr. Themur Makharaze, a student of the School of Elijah, who is a professional artist.
“Christ is Risen Indeed!” After the local court hearing a couple of months ago Fr. Basil Mkalavishvili, a renegade Orthodox priest, was sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment. His immediate associate was sentenced to 4 years. The rest of his people were released from the court room.
The priest appealed to the regional court for another hearing. The hearing took place on May 30th. Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili repeated at the regional court hearing that he is forgiving Fr. Mkalavishvili and his companions all the atrocities they carried out against the Baptist Church and against the Bishop personally. At the end of the hearing the Bishop shook hands with the prisoners through the iron bars and blessed them.
When he was leaving the court room some of the supporters of Fr. Mkalavishvili wanted to express their gratitude for the unconditional forgiveness and shouted at the bishop: “Christ is risen!” The Bishop who was about to disappear behind the door but stepped back to the court room and shouted back: “Christ is risen!” “He is risen, he is risen indeed!” responded both the crowd and the officials in the room.
“It was cool!” says the Bishop with a big smile “I think that event at the court room was an affirmation of our belief in the forgiving power of the risen Lord. We as people of Georgia do deserve to know and understand what our Christian faith all about is. For me the forgiveness is the center of our common faith”.
Feast of Ascension In the morning of June 9, a large exodus of people started from the Cathedral Baptist Church. Five busses and a number of small vans and vehicles started off to the top of one of the mountains in the vicinity of the Capital City of Tbilisi.
When the procession of people reached the place of celebration they were welcomed a group of people with waving flags of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia.
The Eucharist was celebrated by a number of Bishops and ministers including the international guests who had come for the opening of the Betheli Center.
Opening of the Betheli Center
Achtung !! Anweisung für Christian! Bitte füge doch, wenn möglich den Text ein, der schon im Flash steht einschließlich der Bilder. Damit wäre dann der Bericht auch im Archiv. Der Bericht soll aber mit diesem Satz schließen: If today you come close to the building you will noticed the white shining building from far. This area will be a centre for a lot of new constructions and bring new life.
Eucharist with Coca Cola? On July 11-12 Bishop Songulashvili and his assistant Mr. Luka Lapach visited the city of Ozurgeti in Western Georgian. Among other ecclesial responsibilities the Bishop baptized two ladies at home both being in their late 90-ies and being unable to walk to the river.
Both ladies had amazing stories to tell. One of them Lyda, who is blind, had become a Christian just two months before her baptism. She learned about Christ from a female minister of the Baptist Church in Ozurgeti, Mrs. Nani. “She liked listening to the Bible when I read it to her. Her memory is amazing. Within two months she memorized a lot of verses from the Bible and a number of Christian songs,” says Mrs. Nani, “I had major domestic problems at home but serving this old lady helped me to cope with the stress.”
After the Baptism by pouring the water the Bishop was to celebrate the Eucharist to offer first communion to the newly baptized. Somebody was sent to bring bread and wine. The latter was placed in the minister’s bag in a coca cola bottle. As soon as the ‘altar’ was prepared and elements placed on it the Bishop noticed that the red wine in the chalice was sparkling. He took closer look at the chalice and sniffed the chalice. It was not wine it was ordinary diet coca. “Shall I turn it into wine or will you bring the real one?” the Bishop joked. There was no need for a miracle since the lady minister produced another bottle of coca cola from her bag with real wine in it.
Georgian Response to Millennium Development Goals In preparation for G8 meeting in Edinburgh the Justitia and Pax, the Netherlands published a nicely designed book: >> Act Now for the Millennium Development Goals, Appeals from Religious Leaders and Scholars. <<
The United Nations has adopted Millennium Development Goals:
Religious leaders and scholars from the entire world were asked to make an appeal in support to the Millennium Goals. The Baptist Bishop of Georgia and Orthodox Archpriest Basil Kobakhidze had been selected to join their voices to the appeals of religious leaders and scholars.
Among other religious leaders and scholars, who have made their contribution to the book are the world - renowned names: the late Pope John Paul II, Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, the Revd Dr. Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Dalai Lama, Prince El-Hasan of Jordan...
In conclusion of their article the Baptist Bishop and the Orthodox Archpriest say: “We think the main responsibility of every Christian in this region is to support religious freedom and uphold complete confessional neutrality by the state institutions and civil servants. The wounds of people of the world can be healed by practical implementation of the goals. We think these goals are in full harmony with the core message of the gospel” (Values Matter p.27). Copies of this small book can be secured from Justitia and Pax: mdg@justitiaetpax.nl
“I feel certainly honored to be able to make an appeal about the Millennium Goals along with my Orthodox friend and other world religious leaders and scholars.” says Bishop Songulashvili, “I really believe that those goals have much to do with the Gospel. I would very much like to see all Christians and Baptists in particular being involved in implementation of those goals.”
Requiem Service On July 13 the Cathedral Baptist Church in cooperation with the British Embassy in Tbilisi organized a Requiem service in Memory of the London Bombings.
The service was celebrated by Baptist and Orthodox clergymen. It was attended by representatives of other churches and religious groups, including Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Salvationists, Muslims, Hare Krishnas and Mormons.
From other civilians the service was attended by all the personnel of the British Embassy. There were also ambassadors and representatives of different Embassies, representatives of the Georgian government and Non Governmental Organizations.
The homily was delivered by the Baptist Bishop. At the end of the service spoke Mrs Salome Zurabashvili, the Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Georgia. “In these days of mourning we feel closer with the people of Great Britain” said the Minister.
“It was a very moving service” said after the service Mr. Roy Williams, Deputy head of mission,” we are grateful to the Cathedral Baptist Church in Tbilisi for organizing this service.”
Georgian Baptists say Good Buy to the Miles On July, 22 the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia gave a farewell reception in honor of the American Ambassador to Georgia Mr. Richard Miles and his wife Mrs. Sharon Miles, who are retiring both from Georgia and the diplomatic service.
Ambassador Miles and his wife at the Inauguration of Betheli Center
The reception was attended by representatives of the Christian Churches, the Georgian society and Government.
The ambassador and his wife thanked both the Baptist Church and other honorary guests for their support during their three years long work in Georgia. “During these three years there was the Revolution of Roses, the first visit of an American President to Georgia and other events that made our work here most rewarding.” said Ambassador Miles.
Ambassador Miles comes from Baptist background. Both he and his wife Sharon Miles were part of the Civil Rights movement led by the Revd Martin Luther King, an American Baptist minister.
The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia thanked the Ambassador and Mrs. Miles for their support in the struggle for religious liberty in Georgia. “During your work here in this country we have worked closely and developed friendship with you.” said the Presiding Bishop to the Miles. ”One can not possibly retire from friendship we are sure our friendship will have its continuation after you have left Georgia.”
Norwegian Help for Georgian Children Relations between the Third Baptist Church in Oslo and the Cathedral Baptist Church in Tbilisi started several years ago. These relations have been about sharing and learning from each other.
The female pastor of the Oslo Baptist Church, the Revd Ragnhild Schanke, has visited Georgia a few times and taught at the School of Elijah. Both the minister and the Oslo church have been very supportive of the Baptist work and witness in Georgia.
Recently the Revd Ragnhild Schanke organized the humanitarian aid to a boarding School for mentally underprivileged children. A school in Oslo collected goods for children and sent it by a container. Prior to that, the Revd Schanke gave talks about Georgia and the children at the school.
“Please do thank those people who sent us the aid.” says the Director of the Boarding School, Mr. Temuraz Balarjishvili. “The goods we have received will help us to survive at least for two more years. Some times we receive aid which is not good. But what we have received from Norway is excellent. For some of the children this is first time they get brand new clothes.”
The relations with the School started this year when Bishop Songulashvili visited this institution and stayed there as a part of his Lenten discipline. Since that time a there has been growing support to the School coming both from the local Baptist minister the Revd Zura Kakashvili and the Cathedral Baptist Church in Tbilisi.
A Baptist Policeman Died while Saving Teenagers 24 years old Guram Topchishvili of the Cathedral Baptist Church was drowned in the Black Sea being on duty on July 18. He himself was not a terribly good swimmer. Yet when he saw people drowning he jumped into the waving water. He managed to save the lives of two teenage boys, but when he went back to the Sea to rescue the boys’ father he drowned together with the man who was in his late forties.
Guram came from a traditional Baptist family. His great grand parents were the first to become members of the Baptist church in the village of Digomi.
Guram was 17 years old when he got baptized in the Cathedral Baptist Church. He was very active in youth work. Later he graduated from the Police Academy and became a policeman.
Highest Village in Europe Needs a Doctor The village Ushguli in the North West Georgian region of Svanetia is considered to be the highest mountainous village in Europe.
Sister Marina Maisashvili, Head of the Order of St Nino, reports that during her study visit to Svanetia she visited this village of Ushguli. She was part of a team of five from Tbilisi (Mr. Tony Hanmer, Dr. Keti Onikashvlili, Dr.Nodar Afrasidze, Sister Marina Maisashvili, Mr. Zurab Tsikhiseli)
“This village of Ushguli is really isolated from the rest of world. It is an absolutely picturesque place, yet the people there have a lot of difficulties. In winter time they get cut off from even of the regional center. One of the main problems is that they have no doctor in the village.”
The team checked 15 patients in the village, both children and adults. The Evangelical Baptist Church is keen to start the diaconical work in the villages of Svanetia including Ushguli.
Liturgical Dancers at the BWA Congress The Centennial Congress of the BWA will be one of the most memorable times for 8 Liturgical Dancers from the Cathedral Baptist Church. They arrived to the UK being accompanied by their Bishop. They spent 10 days in England (From July 22 to August 2).
During these days they danced at the Tyndale Baptist Church, the Queen’s Road Baptist Church in Coventry, at the Women’s Conference and the congress itself. Their dances were accepted with admiration and approval. “Your dance was marvelous” told the newly elected President of the Baptist World Alliance, the Revd David Coffey, to the Georgian liturgical dancers.
“I was so happy to present our tiny country of Georgia to the multinational audience of 12 thousand people” says Lika Gudishvili, one of the Liturgical Dancers. “During our stay in England I felt a lot of attention to us. I came back to Georgia being exited.” says Megi Bajadze, another dancer.
“It was my joy to share in ministry with you and your wonderful praise dancers while in Birmingham! What a powerful ministry in dance! You blessed many, many people from around the globe and I pray that the Lord would continue to strengthen and grow your ministry to the honor and glory of God,” wrote the Revd Cassandra Jones, one of the conveners at the congress, to Bishop Songulashvili.
Even Russians were deeply moved by the Dancers. “I looked at the dancers with tears in my eyes.” says the Revd Yuri Apatov of Moscow, “they are really remarkable.”
“Well done Georgians!” said the Revd Yuri Sipko, President of the Russian Baptist Union, “The dance on the New Testament theme was really special.”
Scholarly Pre-Congress Conference On July 26 the Highgate Baptist Church in Birmingham hosted the Pre-Congress Scholarly Conference ‘Freedom in Christ – Freedom for the World’. The Georgian Baptist Bishop was invited by the Revd Dr. Paul Fiddes of Oxford to give a talk about the role of the Minority Baptist Church in the Majority Orthodox Country.
In his paper Bishop Malkhaz told the Conference about the experience of Georgian Baptists with the Orthodox majority culture. “After the dissolution of the Soviet Union we decided to become the Baptist Church for Georgia and stop being the Baptist church for Baptists.” said Bishop Malkhaz.” This made us to contextualize the Gospel and our ministry for Georgian people.” The Revd Oti Bunaciu from Romania presented a different approach of Romanian Baptists in another Orthodox Majority Country.
During the question and answers time Bishop Malkhaz was asked by a participant: “Why do you dress in Orthodox kind of vestments? Do you intend to crawl into the Orthodox tradition to cheat the people?” To this question the Bishop had to give lengthy answer explaining the significance of the contextualization of the Gospel into the Georgian culture: “I do not think we are ‘crawling’ anywhere. This is a theological question of the incarnation. God became human so that humans may understand God. This is a question of communication of the message. If this means crawling into human beings one may call incarnation ‘crawling’”.
Trinitarian Triangles “One of the best things that we got from our time at the congress was an opportunity to establish partnership with the Queen’s Road Baptist Church and the Community of the Cross of Nails” says Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili.
In accordance with the Bishop two triangle partnerships can possibly emerge out of talks he had with fellow Christian leaders. First triangle: Cathedral Baptist Church-Coventry Cathedral-Queen’s Road Baptist Church. Second triangle: Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia-Queen’s Road Baptist Church in Coventry- Baptist Union in Uganda.
It is clear that the Queen’s Road Baptist Church will play a key role in these twinning. The Revd Grenville Overton, Senior Pastor of the Queen’s road Baptist Church, had known Bishop Songulashvili for 11 years. He also taught the Bishop in various conferences and seminars in Switzerland. The Revd Overton and one of his Congregants have also visited Georgia for the high liturgical season of Easter.
The Revd Overton suggested Bishop Songulashvili to enquire about the Community of the Cross of Nails while in Coventry which is a part of the Coventry Cathedral ministries. “I believe that Cathedral Baptist Church and Coventry Cathedral working together would be a sign of active ecumenism locally and internationally” wrote the Revd Overton to the CCN.
The Revd Overton and Bishop Malkhaz held conversations about the possible cooperation with the CCN with the Bishop of Coventry and key persons responsible for the CCN.
The idea to join the CCN was welcomed by the Lord Bishop of Wakefield, who has been a good friend of the Baptists of Georgia. “The links between Tbilisi Baptist Cathedral and the Community of the Cross of Nails would be a worthwhile thing to do. As you probably know, the community has links with a number of cathedrals and major churches across Europe, beginning with Dresden.”
On August 7, the Cathedral Baptist Church unanimously voted for joining the CCN and affirmed its commitment to peace, reconciliation and Justice. The actual acceptance into membership will take place sometime next year.
An Example of Unusual Co-operation During the BWA Congress in Birmingham the Archbishop of York spoke on behalf of the Ecumenical guests representing the Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church, the Free Evangelical and Orthodox churches in Great Britain. He also represented Dr. Rowan Williams Archbishop of Canterbury and red his letter. Archbishop Williams in his letter to the Congress highly commended the results of the International conversations between the BWA and the Anglican Communion. The Archbishop of York waved in his hand a blue covered copy of the book report on those conversations. The title of the book is Conversations around the World, 2000-2005.
In one of the introductions of the book one can read: “The Republic of Georgia offers an unusual situation of co-operation between Baptists in one country in Europe and Anglicans in another, with a resulting impact on relations between Baptists and the Orthodox Church. This story had a special place in the European round of conversations in Norwich, and deserves telling here.”
The book does tell the story of the Anglican –Baptist- Orthodox relations in Georgia where the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia plays an important role.
Phenomenal Church Growth Immediately after his return from England, Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili made his pastoral visitation August 4-5 to Zugdidi, West Georgia.
This 20 members strong congregation joined the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia exactly one year ago. This church has a truly ecumenically minded congregation. “They are full of love and compassion towards all Christians and human beings” says Bishop Songulashvili.
After the morning service the entire congregation went down to the river to baptize new members. That day 28 people were baptized. There was a wide spectrum of ages among the baptized, the youngest being in their early teens and the oldest in their early 60-ies. The baptismal service was followed by the Eucharist, which was celebrated in the garden of the house where the church meets. After the Eucharist there was a most delightful reception organized by the members of the congregation. “We will never forget this day” said one of the newly baptized. And indeed it was a very memorable day. “For our Church this is a phenomenal growth” says Bishop Malkhaz “The newly baptized now outnumber the present number of members of the church. I do hope that this church can grow and mature in faith.”
The church is already involved in social outreach. They take care of the poor and destitute. They are running a regional station of the Sisterhood of St Nino.
Pagan Shrine Destroyed On August 9 Bishop Malkhaz was invited to the East Georgian village of Shilda. In the basement of the house of the Mathiashvili family there was a pagan shrine, worshiped and venerated by the family. They kept inviting fortunetellers and witchcrafts to serve the shrine.
After the family became Christians they stopped worshipping the shrine but were still scared to get rid of it. Ultimately they approached Bishop Songulashvili for help. With the request of the family the Bishop exorcised the place and blessed the home dedicating both the place and the family to the Name of Christ. The shrine was removed from the place and thrown into the river. “We are very happy that our house is now dedicated to Christ and the shrine has been removed from the house” says Bidzina Mathiashvili, one of the members of the Mathiashvili family, which is made up by 9 people.
“In East Georgia a lot of families have been enslaved by their family shrines and witchcrafts,“ says Bishop Malkhaz. “It is very important that both, Baptist and Orthodox Christians get rid of these shrines and worship him who really deserves it – our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Home for the Elderly – Healing Community Soon after the Opening of the Betheli Center the Home for the Elderly started functioning. For the time being there are 10 elderly. By the end of September the number of the elderly will be 20.
There are 3 people in the leadership team of the Home for the Elderly: Mr. Valeri Builiashvili, the director, Miss Thika Gudishvili and Miss Lika Gudishvili. The Community has a female Baptist Chaplain the Revd Helena Kobakhidze. In the autumn there will be one more chaplain, an Orthodox.
After two months of leaving and working together we have interviewed both the staff and the inhabitants of the Home. Here are some extracts from the interviews:
Mrs. Tamara Novoselova, 88, the oldest member of the community: “People here are very attentive and caring. I call them angels. I live in the Paradise on earth. Words fail me to express my gratitude. I am the happiest elderly in the world. Before I have come here I wanted to die, now I want to live.”
“I was about to commit suicide before coming here.” says Mrs. Zisana Zkhvedadze, 77. ”I lived in unbearable circumstances. God performed a miracle! When I was unable to cope with the difficulties I appealed God for help. There was no immediate answer, there was no answer on the second, third or fourth day. Five days later came two ladies from the church and offered there help. Ultimately I was brought here. This is a miracle! Sometimes I think it is a dream that I am here and do not want to wake up so that the dream does not go off. I have got a feeling that I was born here and I have grown up here.”
“I have been granted an enormous blessing. This is something I have not deserved,” says Mrs. Angelina Ziskadze, 87 “Its like heaven on earth. There is an enormous warmth and care here. The staff of the Home is really marvelous. I did not even think that there are people like them anywhere.”
“I often thought about the meaning of life.” says Mrs. Lika Gudishvili, senior staff members. ”This work at the Home has changed my life. I think the meaning of human life is to care for other human beings, care for the environment, care for the trees and animals.”
“Since I started my work here I have developed a very tender love and care towards the elderly,” says Miss Marika Kapanadze, the nurse. “When you serve the weak you are becoming a tender hearted individual.”
It is obvious that the Home for the Elderly has become a healing community, where both elderly and the staff are being healed and encouraged. |
|||
Liturgical dancers danced and doves were released as the ascension reading was read from the New Testament and the thorn crown on the wooden cross was replaced by a crown of ex-eye daisy flowers.
