Over 300 people gathered on Sabbath, December 14 to celebrate the organization of Dom Mira (House of Peace) Russian-speaking Seventh-day Adventist Congregation as a company. Oregon Conference President Dan Linrud preached the inaugural sermon, while VP for administration Dave Schwinghammer was on hand to acknowledge the 101 charter members and establish the congregation. VP for Finance Brent Plubell led the charter members in a reading of consecration. The day of celebration was enhanced by the music of a youth brass band, a vocal trio, and a youth choir. The highlight of the day was when the new congregation officially voted in a new member by profession of faith. “You’ll be excited to know that we have many more baptisms planned in the coming weeks,” proclaimed Pastor Alexander Bolotnikov. In the Adventist Church, a congregation is typically initially organized as a “group,” then changed to “company” status at a later time when it grows in size and influence. Dom Mira is extraordinary in that it is being initially organized as a company.

The House of Peace (Dom Mira in Russian) Russian-speaking congregation has been a dream in the making since 2016 when Pastor Bolotnikov began teaching the Bible on a weekly radio show on Slavic Family Radio. With no Russian-speaking Adventist ministries in Clark County, a new need was identified. At the same time, Beit Shalom Ba-Levav, the Jewish-Adventist ministry in Vancouver, experienced an uptick in Russian-speaking attendees. This led Beit Shalom to move toward starting a Russian-speaking service, with the goal of planting a new congregation within their walls. The first Russian-language service at Beit Shalom occurred on April 6, 2019. It quickly became a meeting place for new refugees, disconnected Adventists and new believers who came to faith through radio. Before long, it became clear that this new congregation would outgrow the facilities of its mother church almost immediately. Ultimately, Dom Mira found a beautiful facility to rent in the heart of Vancouver.

Guests are welcome to stop by for a visit. Services are Sabbath at 11:00 am (Sabbath School begins at 9:30 am). Dom Mira is located at 2300 E. 4th Plain Blvd in Vancouver, Wash.