BARNAUL – The Conference brought together representatives of five churches from cities and districts of the Altai region. At the opening session, Natalia Semenova, coordinator of children's ministry of the Light of Revival Church, shared her thoughts about the rainbow, “A rainbow is a promise that God will no longer curse the earth.”
The Scripture passage from Genesis 9:13— “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” — is more relevant than ever in our days.
The assembly hall and all Conference materials were decorated in the style of a rainbow. We all present to the world the rainbow of His love, and our umbrella is the Word of God. It is important for us to be God’s rainbow and shine and show our neighbors that God is for people, He wants everyone to be saved and to know the truth.
Addressing parents, pastor of the Light of Revival Church Vadim Semykin encouraged those present, “We are not orphans — we have a loving Father. And so the only thing we are called to is to show the Father and His love to people.” He spoke about the qualities that should be visible to our children: unshakeable faith, immediate and complete obedience, sacrificial life, impeccable Christian lifestyle, father’s care for young people, zealous interest in their true success, practical fatherhood — special care for children from single-parent families.
The second day of the conference began with the debut of the children's choir of the Light of Revival Church. This choir is the result of many prayers, and these prayers began many years ago, when most children were not even born yet.
Valentina Fedorova, head of the children's ministry of the Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith, said that the purpose of children's ministry is a personal encounter of children with Christ. It is important for parents to participate — to be a personal example and pray for children and with them. When planning lessons in children's ministry, it is important to remember that there should be a change in the life of the child through the truth of God's Word.
“Thy Word is the lamp of my foot and the light of my path” — these words from Psalm 119 became the epigraph of the Conference. Addressing those who came to the conference, Pastor of the Light of Revival Church Igor Shaparev reminded that the year 2020 has been declared the year of the Bible in the Russian Church, and parents need to renew themselves by the Word of God, take the sword of the Spirit and save themselves and their children.
Tatiana Chernyavskaya, the Children's Ministry Coordinator in the Siberian Federal District (Western Siberia), shared her experience in working with teenagers. At this age they care about the quantity and quality of time spent together; they are oriented towards their peers and can hide their faith. Tatyana explained how to help teenagers cope with this and how to become friends with them.
During the conference there was a lot of fellowship and group work, a lot of new acquaintances and experience exchange. Many parents asked questions and got competent answers about how to deal with problems in their family. Some participants shared about the changes that happened:
“I serve children for 20 years old, and today I received a renewal”, — Lyudmila.
“I've changed even in these two days: just a few days ago I was afraid to go forward, I was a closed, shy person, and here it was easy for me to work in groups and speak out,” — Tatiana.
The conference is over, but the Word sowed in people's hearts will do whatever the Lord wants and for what He sent it to do, which means there are many changes in the lives of parents and children ahead.
“Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds.” (Gen. 9: 14.) The time has come for each of us to become this rainbow where we are, and to bring His shining light into the world.
The Light of Revival Church, Barnaul
The Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith