From July 23 to 28, 2024, a congress of pastors' children from the Euro-Asia Division (ESD), themed "Check, He is Near," was held in the village of Zaoksky, Russia. More than 450 participants attended the event. The leaders of the ESD Church and the congress organizers, Vyacheslav Buchnev, head of the region's Ministerial Association; Svetlana Velgosha, coordinator of the Pastoral Spouses Association, and Roman Kisakov, head of youth in the ESD, made every effort to ensure that the participants had a useful, interesting, and memorable experience. The program was designed to provide unforgettable impressions and inspiration for building a close relationship with God and for enthusiastic service.

This meeting aimed to bring together children from ministerial families, help them make new friends, strengthen their faith, and, most importantly, inspire pastors' children to take an important step in their lives by dedicating themselves to serving the Lord.

The overall theme of the congress was focused on impressing the minds and hearts of the young attendees with the main benefits of a life with God and a close relationship with Him. The event encouraged them to center their lives on Christ, continue to trust Him, work hand in hand with Him, learn to love as He loves, and, to join in His ministry.

Considering the challenges of a pastoral ministry: constant relocation, frequent changes of schools, getting used to new friends in schools and churches, getting to know new neighbors, a new city, and its unique characteristics – the theme and name of the congress served as a call to each participant to overcome all difficulties and adversities with God's power, renew their relationship with God, and journey along the path of ministry together with their parents and the church they are part of.

In his welcoming speech to the participants of the congress, the Mikhail Fomich Kaminsky, president of the ESD, noted as he addressed the attendees, "Now is your time. You are next in line, called to become the glory of Jesus and heroes of the faith."

Each day, the forum participants reflected on the basic elements of success in Christian life: how faith grows, where to find determination and courage to act, why love can be painful, and how to find genuine joy in service.

According to many of the attendees, most looked forward to communication, new meetings and acquaintances, interesting, inspiring sermons and seminars, and answers to their innermost questions.

Much time was devoted to prayer at the congress. Every day early in the morning, Anton Boykov, a youth pastor, led attendees in moments of prayer. The ESD Prayer Ministry team prepared a special prayer location, “Prayer Moves Mountains,” with the goal of reviving the prayer life. The name of the space highlighted moving the “mountain” that separates humanity from God, and allowed the young participants to pray for friends by writing their names on sheets, walking a prayer path, praying and thanking God for the promised strength, wisdom and happiness. After the main evening service and the unions’ presentations, a question and answer session was offered where everyone could ask about topics of interest while receiving answers from church leaders.

The congress participants were offered a wide range of topics at seminars and master classes on such topics as faith and spirituality, digital hygiene, relationships, trauma, and marriage.

After a sermon by Ivan Velgosha, executive secretary of the ESD, there was an appeal to young people to dedicate their lives to missionary pastoral service. More than 20 people came out to this call, and Velgosha spoke a prayer of dedication for them.

Zaoksky Adventist University leaders also highlighted milestones of the history and development of the University and encouraged the young participants to study at the institution.

Others also were inspired by the service to commit to learning more about Jesus.

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