Russian UECB Elects New Leadership

This past March, the faithful pastors of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (UECB) elected new leadership for the next four years — a younger generation that God is calling to press ahead with boldness in taking the Gospel to their people during a new era of challenges. Pastor Alexei Smirnov is the new president, replacing Pastor Yuri Sipko, who faithfully held that office with distinction for the past eight years. Saved in 1973, Alexei Smirnov began in ministry as a youth leader, and prior to coming to the UECB in 2006, served as senior pastor of the Baptist church in Dedovsk. The delegates also chose Eugene Bakhmutsky as senior vice president, who will also continue in his role as national youth director. Also elected were seven regional vice presidents, including newcomers Viktor Levashov for Southern Russia, Alexander Mandzyuk for the Volga Region, and Viktor Zaitsev for Far East Russia.