North Pacific Union is now home to two of the 2026 Junia Award winners. The Junia Award is given by Association of Adventist Women to one woman in a pastoral role in each division. NPUC is the longtime home of Violeta Bilan, the North American Division winner. Lidija Djordjevic Runic, who was chosen as the Trans-European Division winner, now pastors at Walla Walla University Church.
Raised in the USSR, Georgia and Ukraine, Bilan studied religion at Zaoksky Seminary in Russia with no clear view of a career since she had never met any women pastors. She became communications director of a conference in Ukraine and a pastor’s spouse. Then, Bilan and her husband attended Andrews University Theological Seminary and she became a chaplain. Later, she served as youth/young adult pastor in a Russian-speaking church in Portland, Oregon.
Bilan understands cultural norms, leadership styles and how societal traumas affect acceptance of female ministers in different regions. She believes Jesus expects us to navigate our local contexts with faithfulness to His mission. Bilan currently pastors three congregations in the Portland area and is excited to find innovative and creative approaches to strengthen the effectiveness of our church mission in a fast-changing world.
Violeta Bilan is the 2026 North American Division winner of the Junia Award.
Leading a church is a long way from Runic’s initial training in computer science. She heard God calling her to empower others to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ, so she earned a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry. Until recently, Runic served as senior pastor for two churches in Belgrade, Serbia, and mentored a number of women colleagues in ministry. She also served as a lecturer in practical theology at Belgrade Theological Seminary, where she previously served as student dean. Runic has also been secretary for mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Runic has tested the belief that God can bring unity and healing through her ministry by serving on numerous committees, including the TED and General Conference executive committees, and by establishing a prison ministry in an all-male prison in Foča, which continues today. Runic was installed as a pastor at Walla Walla University Church this summer.
Lidija Djordjevic Runic, the 2026 Trans-European Division winner of the Junia Award, now pastors at Walla Walla University Church.
Association of Adventist Women created the yearly Junia Award in 2024 to highlight women from each Adventist division who are actively leading churches, teaching religion or serving as chaplains. Like Junia, and many other women who led in the early church, the association wishes to highlight women’s roles in nurturing and sustaining church life. This includes groundbreaking new roles for women and roles that are representative or unique in their division. We encourage nominations for future awards at aaw4ministry@gmail.com.
Association of Adventist Women was organized in 1980 to offer support and encouragement to women supporting the Adventist Church. Currently, it connects with women ministers worldwide, translates church scholarships, works to prevent abuse and documents women in Adventist history.
