Russian Missionaries

Jon and Julie Muhly serve the Lord as LCMS missionaries in Eurasia, based out of Moscow, Russia. Jon is the area facilitator of LCMS mission work in Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. In this capacity, he is working with Lutheran churches, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (ELCIR), and other emerging Lutheran church bodies in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. His main responsibilities are to enhance their ability to reach out to non-believers, to support the churches’ efforts to mature in Christ, and to provide theological resources. These efforts are achieved through training, teaching, and coordinating work with the leaders of the Lutheran churches.

Born in Lodi, Calif., Jon graduated with a bachelor’s degree in theology from Concordia University, Portland, Ore., and completed a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo. He completed his vicarage through missionary service in Russia. In his free time, Jon enjoys traveling and reading. Julie (Goecker) was born in Seymour, Ind., and earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. Julie enjoys painting in her free time. Jon and Julie’s oldest son, David, was born in 2005, with their second son, Nathaniel, was born in 2006. They consider both St. Peter Lutheran Church, Lodi, Calif., and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Seymour, Ind., their home congregations. Jon and Julie previously served as LCMS missionaries in Cieszyn, Poland, from 2000 to 2002.