Leading worship at a recent Sunday morning service at City Church, 4909 E. Buckeye Road, was City Church worship pastor Brian Montrey and members of the band Spasenie, from Brest, Belarus.
It’s not unusual to have visiting musicians leading worship for a Sunday morning service. But in this case, the relationship between Montrey and the members of Spasenie goes much deeper. Montrey has also traveled to Belarus to lead worship in Spasenie’s home church. And a year and a half ago he traveled to Belarus to record an album with the band.
Spasenie came together in the waning days of the Soviet Union when members of the group started a Bible study. They began to play music together. And then they started a small church, with 16 people. Now they have 700 worshipping in the church on an average Sunday morning.
Officials in Belarus monitor religious groups closely, but recently approved the operation of a non-profit Christian community center out of the church. The group is also starting a music academy, to help bring music instruction to students who have limited opportunities to learn music in school.
First meeting in 2005
Montrey originally linked with Spasenie in 2005 through one of the group’s U.S. contacts in Oconomowoc, a mutual acquaintance. Belarus was preparing to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II and government officials urged Spasenie to use its musical contacts to invite musicians from the U.S., France, and Britain to come and join the celebration.
At the time Montrey was leading worship for Mad City Church. He put together a group of musicians and accepted the invitation. They spent two weeks in Belarus, performing at various events. He has maintained his relationship with the group since then.
“We have a lot in common,” Montrey said. “We’re all about the same age. They started their church about the same time that Mad City Church began.” (One year ago Mad City Church merged with Lake City Church to form City Church.)
The Album Project
Montrey has written a number of worship songs in the past. But the Spasenie project was different. “About three to four years ago I felt the Lord telling me to write some outreach oriented songs. So I did, and then I offered Spasenie an album’s worth of music.”
Montrey traveled to Brest 18 months ago to record with the band, and the album is now available. It’s called Reboot.
Despite the limits of religious expression imposed by the government of Belarus, Spasenie has found favor and has been invited to perform in public schools and organize a youth festival.
“When you are not allowed to say what you want to say, you are still allowed to love sacrifially,” said Igor Muha, one of the leaders of Spasenie.