A Message Everyone Needs to Hear

An evangelistic program was held in the first community of Rostov-on-Don on April 2–9. Everyone could hear it because on the eve of the program, a lot of invitations were distributed throughout the city and sent out via the internet.

However, the main thing is that everyone should hear this message because it is not about the momentary or what is here and now, for tomorrow will change. This life effuses many distractions from the important questions of life: Who am I? From where do I come? For what am I here? Why is there so much evil around us? Is there a meaning to my life? What's next for me?

For seven evenings, invited guests and members of the church discussed fundamental issues of earthly existence and eternity.

Evgeny Vladimirovich Zaitsev, ThD, teacher at the Zaoksky Theological Academy, candidate of philosophical sciences, and author of many books and television programs, helped everyone to answer these questions on the basis of the central message of the three angels from Revelation 14.

Every evening, in addition to Bible study, there were many prayers and a variety of musical services, and attention was paid to health issues, both in theory and practice. The gospel week ended with a wonderful feast of baptisms.

Eight Friends of Health

Within the framework of each meeting, an interesting section was presented on how to preserve the most important thing in life, which many people value most when they lose it: health.

Every day, Svetlana Belouschenko, a health specialist and head of the Health Department of the Caucasus Union Mission, within the framework of the “Fill your life with a holiday” series of topics, presented information about eight friends of health (i.e., the principles of a healthy lifestyle): fresh air, clean water, proper nutrition, exercise, rest, sunshine, abstinence, and trust in God.

In addition, almost every day, everyone could get advice from various medical specialists who spared an hour of their time before the meetings. Also, for all those who came to the meetings in the evening after work, a vegetarian buffet dinner was waiting.

Apocalypse: A Message of Hope?

The central theme of each evening, of course, was the lectures of Zaitsev, built on the Bible, which has not lost its relevance for more than 2,500 years. In his speeches, he presented in detail all aspects of the three angels' messages and tried to present the image of the One who can really change a person's life and fill it with true meaning.

In the first topic, “The Apocalypse Is a Message of Hope,” Zaitsev logically and consistently revealed the essence of the final book of the Bible, Revelation, which lifts the veil of the future, talks about the great struggle, and the second coming of Christ, and gives hope for a new life.

On the second evening, the topic of whether it is necessary to fear God, including what the Bible says on this issue, was deeply and comprehensively considered. Words from Scripture about the fear of God call for reverence for the moral, divine standards that were given for the good of mankind.

The title of the third theme stemmed from a well-known poem by Mikhail Lermontov, warning of God's judgement. Within the framework of this theme, there were reflections on God's love, mercy, and justice—Christ is our Intercessor in the heavenly court.

The next evening's session, titled "Are We from a Monkey?" the theme of creation, the dignity of humanity as the crown of God's creation, made in His image and likeness, was understood.

On the fifth evening of the program, the question was raised before the audience and online viewers: "What are the ruins of Babylon talking about?" The essence of the second angel's message was revealed, and the concept of spiritual Babylon was presented, in association with numerous distortions of the doctrine of God in the modern world and attempts to overcome them.

The riddle of the number 666 was discussed on the sixth evening of the program, when they began to consider the message of the third angel. It was about true worship of the Lord and the Sabbath as a day of worship.

On the final evening of the program, Vladimirovich shared with those present in the hall and the virtual audience a message that is easier to keep silent than it is to discuss. Based on the Word of God, the teaching was presented about what awaits a person after death, in contradistinction to the unbiblical nature of the teaching about eternal torment, and capped off with the final victory of God over evil and sin.

At the end of the evening meetings, prayer requests were voiced, which those present had or sent to the broadcast chat. Each person who came to the program for the first time could receive as a gift a set of spiritual literature, among which was the Bible, as well as the book How Can I Live If? by Zaitsev.

Celebration of the Birth of a New Life

The culmination of the program was the baptism of five young people, which took place on Sabbath, April 9, as part of a solemn service. Of course, they studied the Bible and prepared for baptism even before the start of the program, but it became the result of their journey to the Lord, and this day is the celebration of the birth of a new spiritual life, when they made a solemn vow to God to always be with Him. However, this is not the end. It was nice to see how several more young people came out to the final meetings after baptism to the call to devote their lives to Christ.

I would like to believe there were many people who thought about the meaning of their lives among those who watched the program online. And not only was it, but it will be, as the program can continue to be viewed and links to it can be shared on all internet platforms of the first Rostov-on-Don community: www.youtube.com/c/ rovenskaya_1 vk.com/rovenskaya_1 https://zen.yandex.ru/rovenskaya1 https://t.me/church_rostov

The community sincerely thanks Dr. Zaitsev for the time spent in such a valuable and blessed service for the residents of the city and members of the church.

This article was originally published on the Euro-Asia Division’s news site