March 9, 1944 while Estonians slept secure in their beds, Soviet bombers unleashed a holocaust upon the city of Tallinn. 53% of residential buildings were destroyed, and the beautiful Methodist Church, the largest in continental Europe was utterly demolished.
1950, Tallinn's second Methodist church was confiscated by Soviet authorities, leaving the congregation homeless.
September 10, 2000, by the incomparable grace of God, Tallinn Methodists will celebrate the officially dedication, opening their own new Church Sanctuary!
We in Estonia would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the individuals and churches who participated in January's Friends of Estonia meeting in Lexington. As a direct result of your generosity, we are now very close to the completion of the Baltic Mission Center Sanctuary!
Currently,
- The ceiling and walls of the Sanctuary are painted and entirely finished!
- Granite floor tiles for the "high traffic" areas have been mostly installed, and the parquet flooring is being laid down in the rest of the Sanctuary.
By the end of March,
- The tile and parquet flooring will be completed
- The carpet will be laid
- The baptistery will be tiled
- The altar and pulpit area will be ready.
By the middle of April,
- The lighting will be installed
- Railings on the ramp leading to the Sanctuary will be installed
- Plumbing work will be completed for the washrooms.
By the end of April,
- The pews and other furnishings will be set up
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN EXACTLY 50 YEARS,
THE TALLINN METHODIST CHURCH WILL WORSHIP
IN ITS OWN SANCTUARY!Due to the busy schedule of our many important friends who have played such a large role in this project, the official dedication service will be held on September 10th. We invite all of you to come and see what God has done!
While we rejoice at this unforgettable milestone, the task is not yet completed. The Baltic Mission Center will still remain unfinished. With the completion of the Sanctuary, the next goal is the Sanctuary Foyer on the first floor. This must be completed before the BMC can begin its ministry of providing a Christian atmosphere for concerts, conferences and exhibitions.
Once the Foyer is complete, attention can turn to the remaining rooms in the Seminary wing, such as the Seminary Dormitories, Soup Kitchen, Day-care, Choir Room, and Youth Room. The task is not yet completed, but every day the light at the end of the tunnel gets brighter and brighter!
Please join us in praising God for what He has accomplished. This is truly an unforgettable moment and we are grateful to have you sharing it with us.