WOODSTOCK, Ga. (BP) – Living Stones Slavic Church has a plan to get bigger by going smaller.
The congregation, over five years old and dually affiliated with Noonday Baptist Association and the North Central Mission Center, includes those from Russia and Ukraine, as well as others from Eastern European countries such as Belarus, Moldova and Poland. The average attendance is 70, but leaders are hoping to attain addition by subtraction.
“They want to decrease in size so they can create churches in other areas,” said Kenneth Priest, a consultant with Noonday.
Pastor Boris Lebedev and Associate Pastor Andrew Mineev invited Priest to the church’s annual retreat held on Labor Day weekend. Over 40 camped near Lake Lanier in northeast Georgia, with about 60 attending a lakeside worship and baptismal service on Aug. 31.
Attendance is usually at 150. However, this year was different. In years past, an outreach theme prevailed. This time, the focus was on discipleship and growing into being a leader. Worship services occurred each morning and evening, with fellowship and lake events throughout the day.
It makes sense. Mineev is preparing to lead a church plant out of Living Stones in Cumming, where Priest is helping to secure meeting space. Currently, leadership is working to secure the arrival of another pastor from Russia to lead a church planned for Canton or Cartersville. The retreat focused on active members growing together and preparing to step into leadership.
Lebedev and Mineev do not take a salary from the church, working in remodeling and appliance repair, respectively.
“This is a multigenerational congregation,” said Priest. “Youth lead the music. Children quote a Bible verse every week and sing one or two songs. People drive in from everywhere to be a part of it.”
Although more Slavic people are moving into the area, they are dispersed just enough to justify several churches, he added.
“The goal is to create hubs in places like Birmingham and Chattanooga,” said Priest, who preached at the retreat’s Sunday service and is advising the church. “Boris is looking to plant ten Slavic churches in the coming years. He feels there is an ongoing need to reach others. These are people who just want to be part of an evangelical church.”
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