ALAN AND ELLEN SMITH
MOSCOW, RUSSIA

Alan and Ellen Smith were appointed by the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2001 to serve as coordinators of the congregational twinning project in Russia and Belarus. This program matches up interested congregations in the United States with congregations in Russia and Belarus for friendship and shared mission.

Under the leadership of The Outreach Foundation, and in partnership with the Russian Federation of Evangelical Christian Baptists, the PC(USA) initiated the Russian twinning project in the early 1990s to build spiritual connections between American and Russian congregations. In the past three years, the Smiths have worked to deepen the connection with the Baptist Union and to develop connections to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia and Other States and the Russian Orthodox Church. They have also expanded the work of the twinning project into Belarus, where they work with the Belarusian Round Table of Interchurch Aid, the Belarusian Orthodox Church, the Belarusian Union of Evangelical Christians and Baptists.

“The foundation of the twinning program,” say the Smiths, “is a relationship—coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage one another, learn from one another and deepen our understanding of who we are as the Body of Christ. The program helps overcome Cold War and denominational stereotypes. Out of relationships, projects often develop that enrich congregations on both continents."

To date, more than 20 PC(USA) congregations have entered into these relationships. The program is expanding beyond the original denominational partners of the PC(USA) and the Baptist Union of Evangelical Churches in Russia to include Russian Orthodox, Lutheran and Reformed congregations. Some of the projects that the twinned congregations have undertaken include church and Christian education facility construction, summer camps, and ministries among orphans.

In addition to work on the twinning project, the Smiths have become increasingly involved in supporting ministries among the Roma (Gypsy) people of East/Central Europe, a people group facing widespread prejudice and marginalization.

Al also teaches mathematics at Hinkson Christian Academy in Moscow. Al received a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1981 and a Bachelor's degree in economics. Ellen holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and History from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.