"He was a martyr"

Pastor carries on work at historic Methodist church

Tiit Henno is a slight man of 46 years with dark hair and a compassionate face, a face that often reveals the struggles of one who pastors an aging congregation once hindered by decades of Soviet oppression. Now, it’s the choices offered by independence – what one could call “the World” – that hinders the church and likely bewilders its shepherd.

Henno knows the price his predecessors paid for living out their faith at this simple clapboard building known as Kuressaare Methodist Church.

On an autumn night following a worship service, Henno rises from a dinner table in a narrow room just off from the sanctuary. The table is surrounded by visiting American Christians who have come to serve as a mission team.

Sometimes in broken English, sometimes with the help of an interpreter, but often with teary eyes, Henno humbly tells the story of Martin Prikask, a former businessman who founded this church – the first Methodist church in Estonia – and served as the first superintendent of the Estonian Methodist conference.

“In 1941 … the communists deported this man to Siberia and he was shot in ’42,” Henno says. “And he was buried symbolically in this cemetery, of this town, but he’s actually there in Siberia.”

One team member notes, “His body is there but his spirit is here.”

“Yes,” Henno says in agreement. “We come to say that he was a martyr. But very much the members of this congregation escaped to West, and was deported to Siberia and to Germany. But all the time the services was held. During the worst, also. And after there was three congregations. For about 50 years was three congregations here: Methodists, Baptists and (Seventh Day) Adventists. There was very much activity. But, as you know, the Baptist church has now own beautiful new church, Zion Church, but the Adventists are also now here.

“And this was the living room of this man,” Henno says, sweeping his arm around the narrow room now holding the dinner table. “This was his sleeping room,” he says, pointing to an adjoining room now used as a cooking area.

“And he was such man who very much prayed,” Henno says. “Before services he was in church and he knelt on the top of each bench and prayed for these people who will sit in this bench.

“Yes, he has written also books, very good books, and the people love them. Ja, I have such a feeling that I will continue now this work that he began. This was first Methodist congregation in Estonia. The Methodists came to Estonia from St. Petersburg (Russia) and from Kuressarre, Saaremaa, this movement came to the mainland also, and to Tallinn also.

“I believe that will come such time that our church will again be full of people. Now, we have only 65 members,” he says somewhat disappointedly.

The Kuressaare Methodist Church was built in 1912 and has not been reconstructed – even the English shake roof remains the same.

Henno was sent to the church for a two-week revival in 1976, but it turned out to be a long-term assignment. While the team was Kuressaare, Henno celebrated his 23rd year at the church.

When he moved there, Henno recalls, “All I had was a little map and a little bag with my clothes.”

Now, he says, he has much more.

“Everything I have belongs to Jesus,” Henno says. “All my things are in heaven.”