Young Slavic Christians going their own way

As children of immigrants uprooted by religious persecution, Tania and Simon Lelyuk spent their childhood in traditional Slavic churches – houses of worship where women cover their heads, where children learn strict rules, where pastors deliver God’s word primarily in Russian.

Now, as young adults, the newly married couple have discovered new ways to spread the Gospel.

Through the rhythm of rock, pages on MySpace, and gatherings that include games and door prizes, the Lelyuks and other Russian-speakers have reached beyond the boundaries of their churches to better connect with American culture and the broader community.

“We are on fire for God,” said 20-year-old Tania Lelyuk, who was 7 when her family left Kyrgyzstan. “We wanted to show God’s love by building relationships with people.”

What started as Bible study among the Lelyuks and two individuals quickly grew to dozens of people willing to walk the streets, hang out at malls and travel all over town in order to talk to youths about Jesus.

Today, this group, known as Salvation Ministry, will kick off a revival crusade that will feature music and evangelism in both English and Russian. The two-day event is expected to draw hundreds of Christian youth – not just those attending the area’s 18 Slavic-speaking churches, but also young people from other houses of worship.

“We are all God’s children,” said Simon Lelyuk, 24, a native of Ukraine. “It can’t just be American people here and Russians there. That’s messed up. In Jesus Christ, we will all be together.”

Besides its evangelical outreach, Salvation Ministry has served as a bridge between cultures and people who grew up speaking different languages.

“I didn’t even know there were Russian churches here until I met them,” said Heath Robertson, 23, a youth leader at Community Bible Chapel in Spokane. “I saw that they were truly dedicated to the Lord. Even though we come from different cultures, we seek the same God.”

Every Tuesday for the last two months, from 40 to as many as 120 Christians between the ages of 14 and 25 have been taking part in Salvation Ministry’s activities. For about 2 1/2 hours, this diverse group – about half come from Slavic churches – listen to music, participate in small group discussions, play games and worship God through testimonies and song.

“We gather here because we have nowhere else to go,” said 18-year-old Alyse Shevchuk, whose family hails from Kyrgyzstan. “In Russian culture we’re expected to be perfect Christians, get good grades and come from perfect families. They teach us rules and how to dress. … Here we can be ourselves. We can make mistakes and admit that we are all sinners.”

Despite its growing popularity among Russian-speaking youth, Salvation Ministry hasn’t exactly been embraced by the area’s Slavic congregations, according to the Lelyuks, who met in 2005 during a service at Slavic Baptist Church in Five Mile. Traditionalists view them with suspicion, describing their activities as “too free,” “too American” and “getting away from God.”

Many families from Ukraine, Russia and elsewhere in the former Soviet Union are approaching the youth ministry with caution, said Tatyana Bistrevsky, who is supportive of her two sons’ involvement with Salvation Ministry.

“They were persecuted for years, and there was a wall between believers and nonbelievers,” Bistrevsky explained. As a result of persecution and their experiences in the former Soviet Union, they cling to their religious and cultural traditions and are wary of change, she said.

“I have mixed feelings,” said Alexandr Kaprian, pastor of Pilgrim Slavic Baptist Church. “(Salvation Ministry) is a great idea for youth who are not involved in church activities. But on the other hand, they’re trying to draw kids who are involved in other ministries. Choir and youth directors are not happy about it because they’re destroying already established services. That’s not evangelical. I don’t think this is helping our churches and children.”

Pilgrim Slavic Baptist Church, like others in town, already provides enough activities for youth, he said. And they also welcome diversity and different ways of worshipping, he added. “In our church, it’s fine to have American music,” Kaprian said. “We’re not old-fashioned, we’re right in the middle. We have a rock-and-roll band and lots of freedom for the youth.”

Shevchuk – who attends both Pilgrim Slavic as well as One, a church in Spokane Valley – doesn’t want the religion of her parents and grandparents, she said. Instead, she’s looking for a relationship with God while maintaining her Slavic heritage. “This generation is hungry and thirsty,” she said. “We need fellowship.”

After holding several gatherings at the Service Station, a coffee shop in north Spokane, members of Salvation Ministry eventually found a home at Liferoads, a Foursquare church in east Spokane. Bistrevsky contacted the church’s pastor, Grant Opland, who immediately opened the doors to his church.

“They have a raw desire to find something,” said Opland, describing the Russian-speaking members of the youth ministry. “They’re seeking a cultural and spiritual identity. … I am refreshed to hear their testimony and faith. It inspires me.”