On May 15, 2024, the forum "Development of the Institution of the Traditional Family: Experience of St. Petersburg" took place. Representatives of religious organizations in the city, along with Adventists, addressed the issue of premarital counseling.

The forum was organized by the Administration of St. Petersburg and was headed by Vladimir Ivanov, director of relations with religious associations.

The theme of family is of great significance to society as a whole and to each individual. Representatives of the city's administration, along with representatives of religious organizations, participated in the forum, with the aim of promoting the institution of the family as a traditional Russian value.

During the meeting, various speakers addressed important family-related topics. Ivan Laptev, the head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria, discussed the Christian concept of marriage and providing support to families in crisis. Alexey Smotrov, an elder of the Church of Evangelical Christian Baptists "Reconciliation," talked about the family center's work and their efforts with teenagers. Other topics covered included working with families of combatants, overseeing cemeteries and burials, finding solutions for families in crisis, offering courses for parents and spouses, foster family issues, and working with teenagers.

Vyacheslav Kotov, Youth director of the Northwestern Conference in Russia, also spoke about premarital counseling, emphasizing its importance in preventing divorce and presenting resources from the Family Ministries department of the Adventist Church.

The original article was published on the Euro-Asia Division website.