Leadership Training in Bulgaria

This Fall once again we had the privilege to host a leadership seminar taught by the missionary couple Pat and Bob Bruton, who have dedicated their efforts to teach the Bulgarian Christina leader the important truths that can make them better equipped for their everyday duties to their churches аnd сhurch members.

This was the third part of a leadership seminar called Equip. The first part was taught in October 2010, the second in the spring and this October was the third part. They taught two groups – one in Stara Zagora and one in Sofia. Both gourds benefited greatly from the well-presented lectures. Bob and Pat are people with so much knowledge and experience. They are seasoned ministers, and you see their dedication to God and His Kingdom through their every word and action.

I am deeply grateful for their dedicated efforts and I feel privileged to call them my friends. The pastors and leaders who attended their classes received very valuable practical lessons and advice. I believe in the ministry of education, and I know that we should study and learn, and adapt new skills in our ministry every day. Thank you, Bob and Pat!

Foundations of Theology Course in Sofia, Bulgaria

Once again this year we had the privilege to be hosts of Prof. James Sawyer. He came to teach a theology class in Sofia. This was his first class in the capital. In the past few years he had been coming to teach the students in Stara Zagora, but now I invited him to share his knowledge and experience with the pastors and leaders from the Sofia region.

The class started with one day delay since our ministry group was not able to come back from Italy on time due to circumstances that were beyond our control (e.g. problems with the ferry in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea). However, we started the class with a group of about 20 people –brave men and women who were ready and willing to delve into the deep sea of theology. I have to tell you for some of them this was the first time to study such deep theological issues.

We had classes every night from 6 to 9 pm and the whole day on Saturday. The material was very challenging and times difficult to understand, but our leaders were not shy to ask many questions, and Prof. Sawyer patiently and with great expertise answered them all. I myself truly enjoyed the class and learned new things, which enriched my theological knowledge.

I am truly thankful to my good friend Jim for spending the time with us. He is a good and godly man and his dedication to teaching theology is admirable. I hope that next year he will be with us again. May God bless him for his efforts and his care for the ministers in Bulgaria.

Dinko Zlatarov

Russian Pastors Conference and Elections

The Annual Pastors Conference was held October 4-7, 2011 in Orel. The conference brought together bishops and pastors of the denomination from all over Russia. Sixty-four delegates and guests from abroad and foreign countries came together to praise the Lord for His mercy.

The theme of this year’s conference was “Courageous Leadership.” The ministry in Word and song was very good, too. Many thanks go to Regional Bishop, Pavel Abashin for his administrative organization of this year’s conference.

The peculiarity of this conference was that this year’s elections were the National Overseer and Assistant Overseer of Russian Church of God. Bishop Vladimir Shestopalov (Moscow) was elected to continue serving as national overseer. Bishop Anatoly Kravchenko (Samara) was elected to serve as assistant overseer.

Taken and redacted from the website of the Russian Church of God

Ukrainian National Conference

With great joy I would like to inform all of the brothers and sisters around the world that the work of God is growing here in Eastern Europe and CIS. The next regular meeting of the Regional Council of Eastern Europe and CIS was summoned to overlap with the National Assembly of the Ukrainian Church of God held during the month of September This is why Regional Superintendent Dr. Tom Rosson gathered us in Donetsk – a large city in the Eastern part of the country.

During the meeting strategic matters were discussed for the further development of the Region. We were additionally blessed to have Dr. Larry Hess with us – our Europe Field Director. He encouraged us with many wonderful stories from churches around Europe .

The National Assembly of Church of God convened under the anointing of the Holy Ghost. The love and friendship of the brothers and sisters here is simply unique.  They arrived from all over the nation for this special occasion. The business sessions included the elections of a national overseer and a National Council. Bishop Rosson moderated the elections and an international Teller’s Committee was represented by:  Rudi Shepik (Germany), Vladimir Shestapalov (Russia) and Dinko Zlatarov (Bulgaria) and a brother from Ukraine.

In the first round of voting, Brother Alexei Demidovich was reelected for a National Bishop, gaining some 83% of the votes. Vladimir Kovynev from Donetsk was elected to the Office of the Assistant Overseer. I would like to once again underline the fact that all of the business meetings were conducted with a wonderful sense of love, respect and unity.

Also with gratitude, we saw three new churches formally organized and accepted into the denomination, bringing the total number of Churches of God in Ukraine to 89. There also 227 conversion (salvations) throughout the past year and 317 new members in the church.

Thank God for this opportunity to witness this historic event.this certainly inspired and motivated me for our work in Bulgaria. I thank brother Tom Rosson for his incredible leadership and brother Demidovich for their hospitality.

Dinko Zlatarov and Tom Rosson
For more information and pictures (in Russian), visit the website of the Ukrainian Church of God

Youth Ministry in Izhevsk, Russia

Freshness in worship and serving to God was what the youth of different churches searched for in youth camp “Obnovleniye” (Renewal). It was the second time when the union of youth ministries of four churches in Izhevsk (The Udmurt Republic) — “Philadelphia” (Youth Christian movement “Podkluchis k nebesam”), “Delo very” (Act of Faith), “Izhevsk Christian Fellowship” and “Church of God”.

From 9 till 17 of July on the riverside of the Vala, 80 miles (120 km) away from Izhevsk, camp city was located. Beautiful nature, clean air and remoteness from the civilization prompted to seek for God in a special way, to spend more time talking with Him and to be updated in the power of Spirit. Each day there were seminars, services and small cell groups devoted to various aspects of spiritual growth and ministry of Christians, evangelization, relationships between God and people. There were different preachers, youth and senior pastors, and also pastor of the church “Sila very” (Moscow) Fares Askerov and a head manager of Biblical college “Timothy Ministry Team” Carel Albertyn (South Africa).

Carel brought a whole delegation with him — one of the ministers and five students of this college. Though they spent only five days in the camp, many succeeded in making friends with them, practicing their English, playing their favorite game rugby and learning a strange, but obviously interesting game “ninja-mime”. But above all — South-African guests brought with them a bit of the atmosphere of worship and ministry which they had in their college. They shared their testimonies and revelations, prayed for those who needed it.

At daytime the youth were busy with different sport and entertaining games — team building, sports competitions, quizzes, discussing situations from life where one has to make a choice. One day each of the campers could choose a creative “work shop”. They could paint T-shirts, decorate photo frames, make a photo collage, sand figures, think up dancing and drama performances, learn oratory, make-up and hairstyle and whatnot. They were able to represent their works at Art-meeting. Besides that, there were a lot of songs, serious and funny skits, dances, plays and so on.

At the last night the teams showed their short skits about the camp life, remembering funny moments while living on the Vala river. Afterwards Chinese lanterns were launched to the sky — amazing spectacle which was followed by a big bonfire and two-hour worship.

As many campers said, this camp differs from the previous one, because this time there were less emotions and more consciousness in decisions they made about changing and serving God. Sermons rich with important thoughts and challenges made listeners deeply think about their inner state and helped to find a way to be closer to God.

All in all in the camp “Obnovelniye” there were around 300 people from different churches and places. The geography is vast indeed: Izhevsk, Votkinsk, Mozhga, Sarapul, Igra, Selty, Perm, Chusovoy, Kazan, Naberezhnye Chelny, Moscow, Saint Petersburg. Non-believers were there as well, and about 5 of them made up their mind to follow the Lord in the camp.

Nine days spent on the riverside of the Vala will be remembered, but main thing is that those decisions which we made there would not be lost in urban fuss. God worked with a heart of everyone who allowed Him to do it, and fruits of it will be seen in near future.

Alexander Podobedev
National Youth Ministries Coordiantor

Record Graduation in Moscow

On May 21, 2011, the Eurasian Theological Seminary in Moscow conducted by far its largest graduation. After reading of the Word and worship the Regional Superintendent & the President of ETSM Dr. Thomas W. Rosson addressed the congregation of graduates and their relatives and friends. Then National Bishops for the Russian Church of God and for the Belorussian Church of God and the National Director for Education of Ukrainian Church of God have given their word of greeting, encouraging and motivating graduates to keep on serving the Lord.

The main speaker at this Graduation Service was Dr. Samuel Solivan, Professor of Christian Theology at Professor of Theology at InterAmerican University. Dr. Solivan has been ETSM visiting faculty member since 1998. His personal testimony and high level of teaching combines theology and practical life and ministry. Students simply love him and appreciate his efforts to assist them in understanding Contemporary Theology, which would be relevant to their own ministerial context.

Following the main sermon a significant occasion took place: The National Bishop of the Belorussian Church of God, Pastor Alexander Melukhov has been awarded a honorary Doctoral degree in Church ministry in recognition of 50 years of his ministry to God and people in USSR in the past and currently in Belarus. Pastor Melukhov is one of those ministers whom we all witness and say: he is a good pastor, rooted in the Word, encouraging to people, true to his calling in life. I’ve been to his church and country many times and can testify the fruit of ministry is great in Pastor Melukhov’s life!

Following the honorary doctoral degree 59 graduates have walked the stage and received either:

1. Diploma in Church Ministry, or
2. Diploma in Pastoral Ministry, or
3. Bachelor of Ministry degree, or
4. Bachelor of Theology degree!

The graduating class consists of

• Ukrainians,
• Belorussians and
• Russians who come from Central, Eastern, North-Western, Southern and Siberian regions.

Please, keep Eurasian Seminary in your prayers: may every student who comes to be trained for ministry be:

• equipped not just in knowing the right doctrine (Orthodoxy), but also would be
• formed into ministers according to God’s heart and upon graduation have Christ-like character (Orthopathy) and may they be
• able to do His ministry (Orthopraxy) effectively and enthusiastically

Visit ETSM’s Facebook’s page for more pictures of the graduation here: http://www.facebook.com/etsmoscow?sk=wall

Ilya Okhotnikov, Rector

Russian Church of God Holds Its Premiere Youth Leadership Conference

Alexander Podobedev, National Youth Ministries Coordinator

The first Youth Leadership Conference of the Association of the “Church of God,” Russia, which took place from 7 to 9 May at the Eurasian Theological Seminary in Moscow.

About fifty people, most of whom were youth ministers, gathered for a joint search for God, communication, and learning how to start and build a dynamically growing youth ministry.

On the first evening of the opening of the conference, which was accompanied by a live worship and inspiring preaching pastor second of the “Church of God,” Izhevsk, who said that young people – it’s not just the future of the church, but now so young people must take responsibility for their own generation and preach the Gospel to reach people.

The next day began with a lively preaching pastor of the church in Moscow “The Power of Faith” Perez Askerova. In his message, he spoke of a radical Christianity in which people do not just say that they are believers, but really live for Christ and His will. Evidence from the life of Pastor Perez left nobody indifferent and encouraged young people to new solutions in their personal relationship with God.

The conference also hosted invited  youth pastors from the United States, Matthew Cornett and Josh Martin. Pastors shared their experiences of serving youth in the United States, as well as the principles of successful leadership and productive evangelism.

Practical advice on achieving young people shared the Gospel David Saveliev (Church of “Rosa”, Moscow) and Stanislav Kulov (the church “The Church of God in the Tsarina’s”, Moscow). They spoke of the fruitful work of “Alpha Course”, as well as how to organize the “Alpha Course” in the city.

The culmination of the conference was to address the National Bishop of the Church of God of Vladimir Anatolyevich Shestopalov to young people. He urged the youth to believe in God, in His power to live and to fear nothing. It was a very blessed ministry in which the Word of God penetrated people’s hearts and changed their lives.

At the end of the conference pastors prayed for the young people as spiritual fathers. They passed on the blessing of a new generation of ministers to have their case continued in the future. This prayer was a landmark for all those who participated in the conference. This was the first Youth Leadership Conference and we believe this is only the beginning.

Pictured, Alexander Podobedev, National Youth Ministries Coordinator