KOSTOMUKSHA (RUSSIA) – Kostomuksha is a town covered with snow in the middle of pine woods in the north of Karelia. The local church has for several years been accepting the participants of Karelian youth conference.
From January 3rd to 6th 120 kids from cities and towns of Karelia came to the youth Christian conference called “Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead” to be encouraged and built up by senior ministers.
At the conference pastors and youth leaders of Karelian churches were ministering: Daniel Andreev (Petrozavodsk), Vladimir Kostin (Kalevala), Vasily Grudov (Pyaozeorny) and pastor of Kostomuksha church Oleg Ignatyuk. The guest speaker was Anna Shpakova, youth pastor from Pskov Emmanuel Church.
During these days, seminars on evangelism, healthy life style, femininity and masculinity were conducted. The participants split into creative teams and prepared a Cheerful and sharp-witted club show. Worship teams from Petrozavodsk and Kostomuksha led the youth in praise and worship. The youth spent days of the conference in fellowship with each other and the Holy Spirit. At one of the evening services several young people committed their lives to Jesus, and some were baptized with the Holy Spirit.
According to youth minister Tatyiana Grudova from Pyaozerny Church, many kids came from small Karelian towns. For them to learn to the word of God, to worship and pray with so many young people has become a great encouragement and blessing.Youth ministry of the Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical faith in North-Western Federal District
Karelian youth conference has become an encouragement for youth
