An estimated 1,000 young adults from the 12 nations of the of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Euro-Asia region gathered in the town of Zaoksky, approximately 80 miles (100 km) south of Moscow, for a youth congress that ended with a massive renewal of Christian commitment.

“During this congress I realized that I love my church and saw that the church loves me and does many things for me,” said one young man. Others came forward for baptism and to serve as pastors or bible instructors. Still others participated in extensive community service programs during the four-day event.

Added Artur Stele, regional president of the Adventist Church, “The most impressive thing were the gifts of young people. I’ve been expecting that they will come with interesting music, but the fact our youth is so talented amazed me. I was also amazed with the mood of the youth and the desire to do something for the Church, many of them are very serious and ready to make an impact.”

Following a parade of flags from the 12 countries represented in the region, youth department director Arkady Balkan opened the event.

Special guests included world church youth director Baraka Muganda; Fernando Rossi, a youth pastor from Berrien Springs; Dennis Sand, pastor of three Spanish churches in Detroit-Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Joel Barrios from Battle Creek, Michigan; renowned violinist Jaime Jorge also participated and led a seminar discussion on music. Regional church officials included Pastor Stele; treasurer Bill Biaggi; and Heriberto Muller, education department director. Zaokski regional mayor Anatoly Gurov was a special guest for the event.

Seminars covered a variety of topics of interest to young people. Topics included friendship evangelism, Christian education, small groups, social service, drama ministry,  sport evangelism, creative worship, literature evangelism, volunteer ministry, and “Generation Next,” a program centered on how to bring teenagers to the church.

On August 11, some delegates went to a local hospital to help with cleaning and other jobs. The following day, along with the seminars, a large group went to the city of Tula, capital of the region in which Zaoksky is located, to clean the park, give clothes to residents of the orphanage and local nursing home, as well as clean the cemetery where World War II soldiers are buried. The Central Tula district administration expressed their gratitude and local TV news featured the volunteer work on a newscast.

The week reached its climax in Sabbath worship, which began Friday evening, August 13. On that day, 13 young people were baptized, with others coming forward for future baptism or to recommit their lives to Jesus. The following day, almost every delegate responded affirmatively to a call to commitment and service.