On January 13 to 16 the Head Bishop of the Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith Edward Grabovenko and his deputy in the Far East Federal District, Bishop Peter Yarmolyuk traveled to the Far East to visit churches and meet with pastors and leaders. They ministered in churches of Khabarovsk and Magadan regional associations.
On January 13 a meeting with the pastors and leaders of the churches of the Khabarovsk region took place. The meeting was held at the main office of the association. Regional Bishop Leonid Momotok of Khabarovsk region opened the meeting with greetings and a prayer. Then the floor was given to Edward Grabovenko. Intelligently and enthusiastically sounded his sermon about the cases of internal fatigue that every minister experiences and about the continued support of God in these difficult moments. He reminded that it is possible, regardless of age, to be young, moving with God to new achievements, and one can get old, trying to keep things as they are. The second part of his sermon contained the idea of how important it is to cherish each other to remain brothers.
After a short break there was a meeting at the Grace church. Last year its case was in court and the church won. However the church survived tremendous pressure: many church members were interrogated, local TV channels showed all kinds of lies about the church, many people were hurt. That is why Pastor Vladimir Pak shared at this meeting about the experience. Then the church service was held, where Bishop Edward Grabovenko preached. Very carefully he spoke about the hurts and that it’s useless for men, even with authority and powere, to go against God, He always wins and protects His church! People were encouraged and many received healing. Bishop Grabovenko prayed for the church.
According to pastors and leaders of the Khabarovsk regional association, meetings with Bishop Edward gave them a new impulse to serve God with zeal and faith and to put more efforts into spreading the Gospel.
After services and meetings in Khabarovsk, Edward Grabovenko and Peter Yarmolyuk travelled to Magadan, where they ministered in the churches of two regional associations (Bishop Nickolay Voskoboinikov and Senior Presbyter Sergey Kozhakin). On January 15 and 16 meetings with leaders and pastors of churches were held. This was the first time Head Bishop Grabovenko and Bishop Yarmolyuk visited Magadan.
On January 14 at Rock of Hope Church Bishop Grabovenko exhorted Christians to "act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with God" (Micah 6:8). He emphasized that it is important to understand what for everyone of us was born: "We, the church, called by God to bring people to Christ. This is the highest value in the lives of Christians".
On the morning of January 15th there was a meeting with pastors and church leaders, where Bishop Edward addressed the audience, showing them a Biblical example of dedication, which was Nehemiah. Later he also answered questions about his own life and ministry of the Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith, he shared his thoughts on the upbringing of children and other questions.
In the evening service at the Rock of Hope Church Bishop Peter Yarmolyuk preached. He drew attention to four important things in Christian life: the heart, dedicated to the Lord, a sacrifice of praise, the fruit in our lives and the time we dedicate to God.
On January 16 Bishop Peter met with pastors and leaders of the regional association and ‘Good News’ mercy mission the head of which is Sr. Presbyter Sergey Kozhakin.
Bishop Peter Yarmolyuk commented on his trip to Magadan: "Magadan is an amazing place, but most importantly, there is an amazing church. Anything that God's hand planted, brought fruit hundredfold. Each church is a miracle of God. The place where so much blood was spilled, God's glory is blooming. [Magadan was a place of Stalin’s Gulag, where many people were exiled and died.] We had awesome and very blessed church services and meetings with Bishop Edward Grabovenko, and after his departure, the anointing of the Holy Spirit continued to act powerfully. Thank you, Lord".
Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith
Khabarovsk Regional Association
Magadan Regional Association
