On Sabbath, December 23, 2023, a small church in Balakhta, Krasnoyarsk, Russia, hosted the ordination of Yuri Vasilyevich Permyakov to pastorship in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Yuri, with his wife, Ilona, and two children have been dedicated workers for God and the church for many years. They began their ministry in the Far East, and in 2019, they moved to Siberia. Then the important moment came in their lives when the church, according to biblical tradition, confirmed their designation for ministry with the laying on of hands of responsible ordained ministers.

For this purpose, representatives of the pastoral team of Eastern Siberia came to Balakhta: Moisei Iosifovich Ostrovsky, president of the East Russian Union Mission, and Andrei Kalistratovich Arfanidi, Ministerial Association director for the union. Anatoly Anatolyevich Frolov and his wife, Natalya, representatives of the East Siberian Mission, also took part in the ordination.

The Balakhta community was very responsive to this service. A local choir prepared musical performances. Everyone listened carefully to the questions and promises made by the candidate and his wife. At the solemn moment, Yuri and the ordained brothers knelt. His wife stood nearby, confirming her agreement, together with her husband, to devote themselves to the call of the ministry to which Christ had called them. Ilona is not only a good helper for Yuri as a pastor's wife, but she was also recently elected as director of the Health Department at the East Russian Union Mission.

In the prayer of ordination, Moisei expressed gratitude to God for the family that raised the candidate, his wife and children who are next to him, and the local community that supports him; he asked for God's strength for Pastor Yuri to carry out His work. The ministers laid hands on the candidate as a sign that the church recognizes him as called by God and prayed for him to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

After the solemn prayer, Yuri and Ilona listened to instructions and warm greetings from Andrei and Anatoly. Natalya, director of the Ministerial Spouses Association for the East Siberian Mission, also greeted the minister’s wife with kind parting words. Memorable gifts were presented: a certificate of an ordained pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and a Bible. In a solemn atmosphere, everyone joyfully congratulated the pastor’s family and wished them well as they carry out their work before the Lord with new strength and inspiration. The service ended with warm fellowship and a festive meal. Praise God for the dedicated workers called into the harvest!

The original version of this story was posted on the Euro-Asia Division Russian-language news site.