Raisa Dubenko assumed the leadership of the study group in Votkinsk in 2005, when the previous leader Rev. Sasha Tensin stepped down. She became a practitioner in 2002 when she was paneled at the Izhevsk summer camp by participants of the Global Heart Journey to Russia . Votkinsk is a very active center with 16 practitioners and many students. They work very closely with the Izhevsk Center and Rev. Galina Emeliyanova. Four of the practitioners are working in Galina’s children’s program in the orphanage in Votkinsk. This is a program which teaches self-esteem and positive thinking to the young people there.

Raisa said, “In 1996 someone gave me the book “Basic Principles of Science of Mind” by Frederick Bailes. I learned that our choices are the most important things. I was astonished by the results I had. I read the book until it had holes in the pages. I also knew about Louise Hay. The rest unfolded by itself.”

Raisa is a pensioner, but her pension is “only enough to pay for the conference”. She supplements it with a cosmetics business, which she has had for two years. She sells products from Faberlik, a Russian manufacturer. She has organized a Woman’s Club, which is very supportive of women in crisis, such as those facing cancer, a divorce, or raising children alone. They study make-up, sewing, interior design, and self-esteem. Many go on to become students of her center.

Many of the students attend the Izhevsk conferences which are each summer and January. Raisa loves the outdoors and loves to ski, so she really enjoys the winter conference sat a ski resort.

The group in Votkinsk was originally started by Anton, who was going to school in Izhevsk . He learned about SOM and wanted to bring it to Votkinsk. He invited Rev. Ron Rude and Gala to come there from Izhevsk to teach, and an active group emerged. When Ron moved away in 2001, practitioner Sasha Tensin was made a Novitiate Minister and leader of the group. At the same time Galena Emeliyanova and Svetlana Kashishena were also made Noviate Ministers. Sasha and Svetlana taught classes until last year, when Sasha moved away and Raisa assumed leadership. They all have worked closely with Galina in Izhevsk for materials and publications to conduct their classes.