By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

GLENDALE - For some Greater Cincinnati churches, the message of Jesus Christ can often come best from a faraway place.

In coming days, Landmark Baptist Church and Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church will each offer a bit of faith from an international perspective.

At Landmark on Aug. 8, at 10:40 a.m. Gen. Vycheslav Borisov, an officer during the Soviet Union's war in Afghanistan, will speak about what he calls the miracle that drew him to Christ in the then-communist country.

Borisov tells of how he was the sole survivor of a helicopter crash in the mountains in 1984. He says he turned his back on communism and declared his faith in Christ. And after the fall of the Soviet Union, he began spreading his message all over the world.

"Any kind of a religious story like that is of interest to a lot of people," said the Rev. Matt Holman, Landmark's pastor. "I think people will walk away with a courage and boldness in our walk as Christians, and also knowing God's grace, that God has a purpose for our life. Some of us walk close to death, some of us closer than others, but God has spared us and there's a reason for that."

Borisov spoke at a church in Erlanger in 1999, raising money to buy Bibles for Russian soldiers.

Holman said the talk is part of a greater strategy at the church to practice diversity. The talk has been advertised in the growing Russian immigrant community in Greater Cincinnati. The church has also worked to reach the Hispanic community, adding an interpreter at services.

"Our call as Christians is to reach into the whole world," Holman said. "There are people from different cultures coming into our community and we should reach out to them and use whatever tools God gives us."

Landmark, at 1600 Glendale-Milford Road in Glendale, isn't the only church bringing a flavor of the international to Greater Cincinnati.

Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church will host the Rev. Barry Sloan, a pastor of three churches in the former East Germany who has been ministering in Ireland as well.

Sloan will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday on the topic "Northern Ireland - Land of Hopes and Dreams" in the church at 3020 Erie Ave., Hyde Park. He hopes to talk about the people of Northern Ireland, the political situation and the role of church there.

For more information about Borisov's talk, call Landmark at (513) 771-0960 or visit www.landmarkcincinnati.com. For more information about Sloan's talk, call Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church at (513) 871-1345.

Athenaeum fall classes

The Athenaeum of Ohio/Mount St. Mary's Seminary, is now accepting registration for fall classes. Classes open to the public include "Old Testament Scriptures," "Human Development and Spiritual Experience," "Chemical Dependency," "Vatican II: Problem or Solution," and "Catholic Medical Ethics."

For more information and complete course offerings, call the registrar's office at (513) 231-2223 or e-mal msweeney@athenaeum.edu. Registration after Aug. 27 carries a $25 late fee.

Da Vinci Code Bible study

The Hyde Park Baptist Church, 3460 Michigan Ave., will begin a six-week Bible study on the topic "The Da Vinci Code ... Fact or Fiction?" on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The seminar will examine the claims the author of the best-selling novel makes and compare them to scriptures and historical evidence.

For more information, call the church at (513) 321-5856.

To submit religion news, e-mail kbvance@adelphia.net or send a fax to (513) 755-4150.