VGI Updates

Pastor Hugo Becker was sent to Germany for six months following World War II to work with POWs and displaced persons under the auspices of the Committee for War Victims and Reconstruction of the Congregational Christian Churches, the Y.M.C.A., and the Prisoners of War Committee of America.

Pastor Becker served Ebenezer Congregational Church in Portland, Oregon, from 1937-1948. The records for the Pacific Conference of Congregational Churches do not indicate that he served other churches.

Pastor Liborius Eduard Herbord Behning, son of Pastor Georg Behning & Mathilda Paulina Kruger, was born 3 December 1862 in Sarata (Bessarabia) and died 26 March 1933 in Saratov. He studied theology at the University of Dorpat (Estonia), served a vicorage under Pastor Günther in Beideck, and was ordained on 18 October 1888 in Odessa.

He married on 20 April 1889 to Beata Asmus, daughter of Jakob Asmus & Rosalia Rothermel. They were the parents of Arvid Behning, a famous zoologist, and Beata Behning (born 1899) who was married to Pastor Arthur Julius Kluck.

Father Beilmann was born in 1847 in Volmer, and died 25 June 1903 in Saratov. He was ordained on 23 July 1872 and received his first call to Rosental in the Crimea. From 1873 to 1875, he served the parish in Luzern. He returned to Rosental in 1875 and 1876. In 1885, he was the priest and deacon of the Katharinenstadt Parish. From 1885 to 27 November 1900, Father Beilmann served as priest and deacon to the parish in Seelmann. From 1900 to 1907 he was in Marienberg.

Father Bielmann was born in Volmer in 1873. He was ordained in 1897. His first call was to Georgsburg, Denmark. He also served in Husaren and Seelmann.

Father Beilmann was born in 1873 in Volmer and was ordained in 1896.

His first call was to Rohleder where he served until 31 July 1898. He also served the parishes of Bergtal and Krasna in Bessarabia. From 21 September 1908 to 9 October 1910, he served as the administrator in Karlsruhe (Odessa District). He then served as vicar of the parish of Pfeifer, and in 1914 began religious instruction in Seelmann. From 1924 to 1928 he served the parish of Köhler. From 1928 to 1930, when services were banned, he went to Volmer to live with his parents.

Father Adam Bellendir was born in 1889 in Köhler.

Father Bellendir studied theology at the Catholic Seminary in Saratov. He was ordained in 1913.

Pastor Johann Kaspar Brauns served the following parishes:

Stephan (1771-1778)
Galka (1778)
Astrakhan (1779-1785)
Archangelsk (1795-1882)

Father Brungardt was born in Hildmann, and died 2 November 1923. He was ordained 9 July 1872. He served the Kamenka Parish from 1872 to 1873, was in Köhler in 1887, Husaren in 1901, and Graf in 1903. He returned to Hildmann from 1919-1921.

Father Brungardt was born in 1875 in the Volga Region. He studied at the Saratov Seminary and was ordained in 1898. From then to 1901, he served the parish of Mariental. In 1903 he went to serve in Marienberg, and in 1905 to Streckerau. He also served Husaren from 1909 to 1910, Volmer from 1910 to 1920, Pfeifer from 1920 to 1928, and went to Hildmann in 1928.

He was arrested in 1930, but was not convicted. Five years later, he was arrested again and brought to Odessa where he was imprisoned. It is likely that he died in prison there.

Johann Heinrich Buck was born in Vörden near Bersenbrück, Hannover (Prussia). Schnurr describes him as "from Osnabrück."

He began his theological studies on 16 October 1788 in Halle. From 1793-1798, he served as the pastor in Dietel. From 1798 to 1820, he was pastor in Katharinenstadt (South) parish. From 1820 to 1831, he was pastor in Rosenheim.

He married Elisabeth Müller, the daughter of Ludwig Müller from Bieber near Hanau in Hessen-Nassau (Prussia) who was employed as a government official in Saratov.