Dr. Bruce Weaver has a personal definition of the word “neighbor,” and it extends far beyond the boundaries of his Lakewood home.
“After I retired in 1991, I was appointed interim director of United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR) traveling all over the world implementing disaster relief,” says Weaver. “It was while serving at UMCOR that I led the United Methodist Church into Russia delivering much needed aid.”
Within another year, Weaver was serving as director of the Russia Initiative Program (RIP), a direct extension of serving with UMCOR. “We have established 70 churches since 1992 and a United Methodist Seminary as well,” he says.
For eight years now, hundreds of Methodists throughout America have had personal interaction with Russians – getting to know and love those across the world as they deliver supplies and build churches – or host visitors in their homes.
The latter development came about after RIP participants heard a speech by Dr. James H. Billington, the Librarian of Congress. The premiere Russian scholar described what it would be like to bring young Russian political leaders to America – to provide them with an opportunity to see democracy in action – to give them direct communication with Americans.
The unique program came to be known as the Russian Leadership Program (RLP), and is sponsored by the Library of Congress and implemented through the United Methodist Church. What resulted was an unforgettable summer of international exchange.
It was the well-established personal contact that the church had in Russia that gave it the resources to host families and share their American homes with the Russian visitors in the summer of 1999. Once Billington received grant money from Congress, the program was off and running. Dr. Weaver knew that his home office would not be sufficient for the job and he called on his long-time friend and neighbor Rev. Bill Matthews to help set up the new office.
Matthews was no stranger to Russia; he had led several groups there while serving as communications director of Perkins School of Theology at SMU.
Says Matthews: “I was at the consultation where Dr. Billington spoke and was moved as well. When his grand design came to fruition, Dr. Weaver asked me: What are you doing next summer?”
Matthews hired another neighbor, Ilona O’Brien, to run the new office. A lifelong Dallasite and graduate of Hillcrest High School and SMU, she has lived in East Dallas for over 30 years.
“These programs bless everyone who participates,” says O’Brien. “Those who hosted the Russian visitors last year have made lifelong friends and opened up sensitivity between each other. Even the American children became involved.”
“There was an overwhelming sense of positive experience from the Russian visitors,” adds Weaver.
Last summer, the group successfully recruited over 700 host families, coordinated thousands of plane flights across America, and interviewed every group who participated – ending with a resounding desire to do it all again this summer.
Dr. Weaver is often asked why the United Methodist Church gets involved in working with governments. He says: “When it is no longer difficult for people to get to know each other and love each other, they don’t let governments build weapons to destroy each other.”
If you are interested in either the Russia Initiative Program or the Russian Leadership Program call 214-273-0262.
