Head Bishop of the Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostal Union) Edward Grabovenko and his deputy, the head of the International Department of the Russian Church, Bishop Nickolai Zalutsky participated in the annual Leadership Conference of the Association of Full Gospel Churches in the Republic of Belarus, which took place on January 20-22 at New Life Church in Minsk.
The conference was attended by pastors and ministers of the Association, which includes 60 churches.
The day before the conference started, there was a pastoral meeting held "From Heart to Heart". Bishop Nikolai Zalutsky took part in the meeting. He spoke about the vision and the work of the Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostal Union), about One Year for Jesus Project and shared his experience of pastoral ministry.
During the conference, seven workshops were held. Edward Grabovenko preached at three of them. In his sermons, the Head Bishop said that pastors could get tired and disappointed, but they must trust in the Lord. No minister can fulfill his mission if he seeks for approval from men. The bishop also spoke about the calling of a minister to preach the Gospel and the mission of the Church (according to the book of the prophet Micah): to preach the Gospel, to love mercy, and to be obedient to God. Bishop Edward Grabovenko urged pastors and ministers of Belarus to reach their country for Christ.
Besides the pastoral meeting on the eve of the conference, Bishop Nicholai Zalutsky held two services. In one of them, he preached about fatherhood: that the time for ‘stars’ passed by, now it is time to become fathers, and what it means to a pastor. Another service was devoted to the topic that the church can be strong and can influence the world through the life and ministry of every member. After the sermon the Bishop gave an altar call. About 300 people came forward for prayer to renew their commitment to the Lord.
The information posted on the official site of the New Life Church (www.newlife.by), says that all the preachers’ sermons at the conference were united with one topic of evangelism as the main purpose of the Church as a whole, and of each Christian individually. It is said that the words of Bishop Edward Grabovenko became the quote of the conference: "The greatest injustice is when a good man, a good husband and father, a leader at his work, who never drinks, but tries to do good deeds, in due time will stand before God, and find out that he has never heard about the Lord. Let's make every effort so that everyone has a chance to make a choice. This is justice".
There were also many prophecies regarding the New Life Church, which only confirmed the earlier prophecies. All of them are in tune with the vision, which the church received at the time of fasting and prayer in the beginning of the year. "2012 begins very powerfully. There is a sense that we should expect great things!" – concluded the New Life Church pastor, Bishop of the Full Gospel Association Vyacheslav Goncharenko.
About the New Life Church in Minsk
The New Life Church in Minsk has about 1,100 members and parishioners, as well as over 500 children. The church has 14 daughter churches in Belarus and abroad. The senior pastor is Vyacheslav Goncharenko.
According to the pastor, the New Life Church is aimed at reaching 500,000 people in their city, as well as planting hundreds of churches in Belarus. Love for the country, openness and real help to people with their problems (sin, alcoholism, orphanhood, hunger, poverty, etc.) determine the character of the church. But its main mission is the transformation of people's lives through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The New Life Church is growing through a system of small groups. To date, 96 home groups and thirty-five ministries are fully functioning at the church.
Special attention is paid to the younger generation. The church has various children's programs to help children in need, to develop their creative abilities, and programs of social adaptation of orphans.
