Rev. Lydia Istomina is from (Y)Ekaterinburg, Russia where she started the very first Methodist Church after 70 years of atheism. Lydia Istomina was the very first woman pastor in Russia and has set a trend, as now there are more women in Russia serving United Methodist Churches and its ministries than men.
Lydia’s church in Russia quickly grew to number over 1,000 members under her leadership, acquired largely during her career in electrochemistry and nine years as CEO of the Russian non-profit association Znanie (Knowledge).
At the beginning of her ministry in Russia, Lydia served as an instrument of negotiating the US-Russian Aid Airlift in 1992. Lydia’s heart was always divided between preaching the Word and social justice. To help bridge the two, her church in Russia started a prison ministry, four soup kitchens, a pre-school, a shelter for troubled teenagers and a medical clinic. To find out more about the revival of Methodism in Russia in the 1990s, please visit www.lifeofasoul.com.
Lydia was on the national radio program “Russian America” in February 2007 twice. She told her life story and also performed her short comedy to Russian speaking immigrants in America and Canada.
Lydia’s first book, ”Bringing Hidden Things to Light,” (Abingdon Press, 1996) describes her way to Christ during the dramatic changes in Russia right after the fall of the Soviet Union. Her latest book, “From Misery to Mystery,” presents an enticing and very personal account of her life in America, especially in the Kansas City Area, as a woman, a foreigner, a pastor, and just as a regular human being. Her articles and stories are published in the Methodist magazines and newspapers around the world. She also keeps a blog site, http://ligooshka.blogspot.com
Lydia Istomina is a graduate of St. Paul School of Theology.
Lydia serves the First UMC in Raytown since 2004 after nine years of ministry in Kansas City, KS, where she served Grinter Chapel, Edwardsville, Central Avenue and Piper United Methodist Churches.
Lydia received the SOJOUNER OF TRUTH AWARD for courage and justice in 1992 and ARLON O. EBRIGHT AWARD for leadership. Lydia is the honorary member of the Louisiana Conference UMW since 1991.
Lydia is also a singer as well as a song writer. She has a CD, “Introspection,” that tells her faith and life story. Lydia translates her favorite songs from Russian into English.
She works hard to meet her goal to send 30% from the proceeds to support the elderly women ministry in her home town in Russia.
