We’re Not Ashamed of the Gospel!

700 Russian Youth Leaders Meet in Moscow

by Rev. Allan Vincent
SGA/Canada Director

Through God’s gracious provision, last February SGA/Canada was the main sponsor of a Moscow conference of youth leaders from across Russia. Eight key national youth leaders of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (UECB) met and were joined by a core of other youth leaders from across the country. By the weekend, 700 youth leaders had gathered for their “1 plus Infinity” conference that focused on God’s gift of the Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation. Through preaching and every segment of the conference, the youth immersed themselves in the Apostle Paul’s words to the church at Rome . . . For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16).

Each evening, Russian UECB national youth ministry coordinator Eugene Bakhmutsky preached on Romans 1:16. His ardent and zealous sermons spoke to many hearts and helped the youth to see the overall picture of God’s calling for them. “The Theology of the Gospel”, “The Character of the Evangelist” and “The Secret of the Evangelist” were used by God to articulate their desire to preach the Gospel to their generation. Knowing that God is willing and able to save many in their country, the youth affirmed the truth that an exponential or “infinite” number of people can be converted through one believer.

Over four days, God used the best preachers and teachers in Russia to instill a clearly biblical ministry of evangelism into the lives of the youth. Realizing that good preaching and poignant examples do not always achieve the intended goals of a conference, the coordinators of the conference did something else to change the paradigm of evangelism in young people’s minds. Rather than “project/event” evangelism that takes place when someone organizes it, they advocated a continual, personal evangelism. During the conference sessions, the leaders developed detailed strategic concepts of how to take the Gospel to Russia. Each participant was expected to both contribute to the strategy, and to take responsibility for its implementation. And these zealous, committed young people take their responsibility as from the Lord . . .

I confessed to the Lord a lack of evangelism in my life and I have asked the Lord to change my life. I want to proclaim Christ to people and I want to encourage our youth group to do the same.

Muravlenko City, Tyumen Region

My choice is clear – Jesus! He is the only treasure in this universe. I am to live only for Him.

Volgograd Region

We are so grateful to the Lord for such a conference. Everything was well planned, well organized, well taught. This is the best conference for youth pastors

Tver Region

Now I know why I should preach the Gospel and how I need to do it. Praise God for it.

Bryansk Region

Planning is already underway for next year’s conference called “2+”. They are trusting that the Lord will bring new people into His church through the ministry of those who attended the conference. Those new believers will be brought to next year’s conference as a testimony of God’s grace and the power of the Gospel.

Please pray for these youth leaders as they preach the Gospel and disciple new believers. Pray especially during the summer as some of them plan to walk from St. Petersburg to Kiev proclaiming the Gospel in every town and city in between. Would you also please pray for Eugene Bakhmutsky, who has been asked to plant a church in Moscow? Some very gifted young adults are eager to be part of the core group, but they cannot begin without committed prayer and financial support. SGA/Canada and SGA/USA are seeking to raise that support. May the Lord use Eugene and all of the Russian youth leaders for His glory!