IZHEVSK (RUSSIA) – “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” — was the title of the National Conference of the Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith that took place in Izhevsk on April 30 to May 2. More than 1 300 ministers — bishops and pastors — from 76 cities and towns of Russia, USA, Sweden and Singapore came to participate in this important and outstanding event.
The sermons preached at the conference were approaching from different perspectives the matters of the Church of Christ, its arrangement, our place in it, God’s attitude to His church, what should be the Church’s attitude to Israel and many more. Through His ministers God was calling the Church to freshen the dedication to Him, to dwell more in fellowship with Him, to follow the way of love and trust to the Spirit of God in the work that He has ordained us to do where each one of us ministers. The dedication to the ministry, the willingness to fulfill the foreordination cannot be separated from remaining in the fellowship with our Creator.
The speakers of the conference were the Head Bishop of the Russian Church, senior pastor of Perm New Testament Church Edward Grabovenko, First Deputy Head Bishop of the Russian Church, senior pastor of Pskov Emmanuel Church Nikolai Zalutski, First Deputy Head Bishop of the Russian Church in Privolzhsky and Uralsky Federal Districts, senior pastor of Izhevsk Philadelphia Church, bishop Pavel Zhelnovakov, Deputy Head Bishop of the Russian Church in Far-Eastern Federal District, bishop Petr Yarmolyuk, senior pastor of Cape First Church Gary Brothers (USA), bishop of the Russian church, senior pastor of Novosibirsk Covenant Church Vitaly Maksimyuk, Deputy Head Bishop of the Russian Church in Siberian Federal District, senior pastor of Chita Salvation in Jesus Church Andrei Panasovets, senior pastor and founder of Singapore City Mission Church, evangelist Wee Tiong Howe, International evangelist from USA Mikel French, representative of the Assemblies of God (USA) Robert Shipley, president of the Light to the Nations missions Magnus Lindeman (Sweden).
On day two of the conference a panel discussion “Church as a family. Contemporary challenges” took place. Bishop and senior presbyter of Omsk Association of the Russian Church Sergei Gorbenko, bishop and senior presbyter of Magadan Association of the Russian Church Nikolai Voskoboinikov, bishop and head of the family ministry of the Russian Church Vladimir Khvalov took part in the discussion. The ministers discussed the matter of relationships in the church as a family and answered questions of the participants. The discussion helped to indicate some of the most critical and significant questions that need careful attention of those who takes care of God’s people.
After the discussion there were workshops on relationships in the family and church, about how to deal with the life challenges and to trust in the Lord with all heart, how to bring the Gospel to all nations and how to start women’s ministry in the church.
At the closing of the conference a ceremony of awards to the ministers who made a significant contribution to the development of the Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith with a commemorative medal of Ivan Voronaev took place. This year bishop Nikolai Zalutski and head of the administration of the Russian Church Ivan Borichevski had the honor of winning the award.
The conference of the Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith is an unforgettable and significant event intended to freshen the vision and the common purposes and to contribute into developing the relationships between churches. We believe that the Lord continues His extensive work nationwide, helping the ministers with the events like this to strengthen in faith and dedication.
Dilyara Porseva
Media ministry of Izhevsk Philadelphia Church
The Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith
National Conference of the Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith took place in Izhevsk
