Affirming that the mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ, Grace Russian United Methodist Church is a community of Christian Disciples who are seeking to reach new people, connect in fellowship, alleviate pain, nurture in faith, equip for ministry, and commission for service.


  • Make disciples of Jesus Christ

  • Be Christ to other people

  • Share the love of God with God’s people

  • Heal the wounded souls

  • Be a home to people who are far away from home

  • Be a place where lives are changed by prayer, Bible Study and worship

  • Help people to discover the gifts God has given them and to use these gifts to serve others



  • The heart of vital faith is our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

  • We believe that God called us to share the Good News through our words, attitudes, actions and worship.

  • Word and Spirit that guide our church in planning and decision making.

  • Personal and community discipline are essential for faithful living and spiritual growth.

  • The "priesthood of all believers" means every member is gifted, called and must be involved in some ministry.

  • The Sacraments (baptism and communion) are central to the Christian life.

  • Christianity is a matter of both personal piety and social action.





Time-line of Grace Russian UMC development
November, 1998 Rev. Kathleen Harris began to work on starting a new ministry for Russian-speaking immigrants in Washington Metropolitan area
November, 1999 Russian Ministry moves its location to Foundry UMC, located in Dupont Circle area of Washington, DC. Olexiy and Victoria Karakcheyev take pastoral leadership role.
February, 2000 Russian Church Children’s Ministry was launched.
March, 2000 English as Second Language (ESL) Program began to function as a mission of Russian church.
September, 2000 Russian Choir was organized.
February, 2001 First Russian Christian newsletter “Lampada” was printed and distributed to the Russian-speaking community.
April, 2001 The first concert of Russian Choir.
October, 2001 Russian United Methodist Women Unit was officially registered.
March, 2002 Russian Library began its service to Russian-Speaking community.
July, 2002 Justice Mission began to provide immigration help to Russian-speaking immigrants.
November, 2003 Job-hunt mission was launched and began to help Russian immigrants to find Job in the Greater Metropolitan area.
January, 2003 First Russian Language Worship service in the Chapel of Foundry UMC.
June, 2003 Russian Video-Library was open for Russian-speaking immigrants in the Greater Metropolitan area.
September, 2003 Russian Language preschool group was opened in Foundry’s Child Development Center.
March, 2004 Russian United Methodist Church ministry was incorporated in the District of Columbia as Grace Russian United Methodist Church.
January, 2005 Grace Russian UMC opens a new campus of Children Ministry in St. Luke UMC, Falls Church, VA.
September, 2006 Russian Full Day Preschool will start functioning in Falls Church, VA.

Copyright 2006 © Grace Russian UMC. All rights reserved.