The Rev. Douglas Childress and his wife Dr. Kulli Toniste received a contract from the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) to do missional work in Estonia. They will have an orientation on Aug. 5 and 6 in New York City and will leave for Estonia by mid-August.

Rev. Childress graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2004, where he and his wife met. Through his wife, he developed an interest in the Estonian people.

Since moving to New York from Kentucky, Rev. Childress has been a pastor in the Upper New York Conference and one of its predecessor conferences, the Western New York Conference. He served the Belmont and Scio United Methodist churches from 2006-2011, Alexander UMC from 2011-2015, and briefly served as coordinating pastor of Darien and Warsaw Immanuel UMCs in 2011. 

Ordained an Elder in 2011, Rev. Childress has enjoyed his time in New York, but has consistently felt a call to serve the people of Estonia. Both he and Toniste occasionally researched possible missional endeavors; however, nothing seemed to fit.   

Recently, an opportunity arose. The Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary located in Tallinn, Estonia, needed instructors, and the Estonian Church wanted to start an extension ministry reaching out to English speakers in the city, migrants, and refugees. The school and church looked for a couple who could meet their needs. 

In August, Rev. Childress and Toniste will move to Estonia to begin this new ministry with their three children: Karl (7), Kristofer (5), and Kalev (3).

Rev. Childress is grateful to God for the opportunity to serve in Estonia and asks for your prayers and support in making Christ known to this former Soviet Republic and now a largely secular European Union nation.

If any churches are interested in supporting Rev. Childress and Toniste, please call (585) 993-1246 or email douglasrobbchildress@gmail.com.