VORKUTA (RUSSIA) – Vorkuta Source of Life Church, pastored by Anatoly and Valentina Potapovs, celebrated the 16th anniversary on October 21 and 22, with a “From youth to maturity” conference. Words of congratulations were addressed to pastors and the community of the church, songs of praise and words of prayer were raised to God. Youth groups performed skits, sang songs and danced. Source of Life churches pastors from Syktyvkar, Sosnogorsk, Usinsk, Emva, Pechora and ministers from Vorkuta Church of God congratulated pastors Anatoly and Valentina and the church.
On Saturday, bishop of Komi-Perm Association of the Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith, pastor of New Testament church in Kudymkar Vyacheslav Gerasimov ministered at the first service. What purpose should a Christian pursue? “Our purposes should be set by God. And the main purpose is the prize of the upward call of God in Christ”. The Scripture for this was apostle Paul’s words from Philippians, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”.
Pavel Kudrov, bishop of the Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith, Senior Presbyter for Komi Republic and senior pastor of the Source of Life Church in Syktyvkar, preached about the signet ring of adoption and the signet ring of authority. The first one is given to every Christian, who accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour. To receive the second one we should pay a price and take the responsibility.
Grant Burnadze, pastor of Pechora Source of Life Church, and Anatoly Potapov, pastor of Vorkuta Source of Life Church shared about maturity.
On Sunday, two celebration services took place. Pavel Kudrov and Vyacheslav Gerasimov shared about the importance of being faithful and thankful to God – thankful for the family, relationships between parents and kids, job, church, the pastor and the ministers, and for the good name. “What you value – works well!” – said Pavel Kudrov in his word.
On that day the church had a reception – tea with tasty cakes were served. Before the conference in Vorkuta bishops Pavel Kudrov and Vyacheslav Gerasimov ministered in Pechora and Syktyvkar. Minister from Kudymkar encouraged the Syktyvkar church to dwell in the helping hand ministry and not to grow weaker in it. The church of Pechora was addressed by a word about the Holy Spirit: how to build the relationships with the Holy Spirit, why we should rest upon the Holy Spirit and not the world.
On the same day, Pavel Kudrov taught Pechora church about the beneficence. The verse from the Scripture the preacher referred to was John 10:10 “I came that they may have life, and have {it} abundantly.”
The churches gladly welcomed the guests. We trust that the Lord will abundantly bless His children and one day people of Komi republic will glorify God in unity!The Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith
Bishops Pavel Kudrov and Vyacheslav Gerasimov ministered at Vorkuta Source of Life Church Conference
