Church address: Mindaugo g. 4, LT-70416 Kybartai, Lithuania
Pastors Jolita Erbele and Andrew Erbele
This last year have been quite challenging for Kybartai UMC: after several years of stability, there has been a change in pastors. This change has not been easy to this energetic and active congregation and has given the church an opportunity to reflect back on its ministry as a whole. I, as the pastor of the church, am deeply thankful to the people of the congregation, for their continuous work to keep the ministries of the church going and for their faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ despite the emotions that these changes inevitably stir within their souls.
Kybartai congregation has always had a rich and intensive church life and this year we have also tried to stay deeply rooted in our spirituality. Special services, events and choir trips have helped to nurture the people. Yet weekly Bible studies and worship services continue to be the center of our life together as a church. The choir consists of the key people in the church and plays an important role in helping the congregation to worship God on Sunday mornings as well as deepening the spiritual life of the singers. In some ways, the role of Kybartai choir is similar to that of small groups in the Wesleyan tradition since the people who attend it experience the kind of accountability and spiritual growth, which was typical of the early Methodists.
Another important aspect of our activities is the humanitarian centre, which has grown in importance this year. As of this year, the center has assumed full responsibility for all humanitarian programs that are run by the church and has become the main venue through which we implement our diaconal ministries. The centre coordinates the feeding program which serves more than twenty children and youth from socially vulnerable families twice a week, runs „The Bread of Life“ food package program, sorts and hands out clothes and other donations received through charities. The humanitarian center is the most important way Kybartai UMC lives out its love for God and neighbor and extends a helping hand to those in need.
People at Kybartai UMC receive food not only for their bodies, but also for their souls. Every Monday five to eight teenagers gather for youth meetings where we study the Bible, talk, play games and engage in other activities that help us understand what it means to live as a Christian in today‘s world. Children come for their weekly lesson on Wednesdays to learn more about God and God‘s world. Women also continue to meet as circumstances allow. The people of the congregation also participate in educational programs: this summer the children and youth had an opportunity to participate in two camps, one run by the district, the other organized by Pilviskiai UMC. The women of the church hosted International Women‘s Day of Prayer and took part in women‘s seminar „We Are One in the Spirit“ .
This year the renovation of the building facade was completed. The issues of heating in the building and cleaning up the surrounding are remain to be addressed.
As we look into the future, we dream of recording the hymns performed by our choir, of strengthening our youth ministry and hopefully a leader, who can devote sufficient time and energy to this program, and of a growing number of people in our church‘sprograms.Financial self-sufficiency is also high on our priorities list. The main challenge for today is saving the people of the church from burning out as they continue their ministries and finding the right place for ministry for every member of the church where they could experience joy and be nourished.
