XIII ITCM Seminar

The Church of Christ: Past, Present, and Future. XIII ITCM Seminar

"This seminar proved to be quite impactful. However, maintaining spiritual balance was a considerable challenge. Drawing from this experience, we endeavor to find a spiritual equilibrium."

The seminar took place in Saint Petersburg from October 12 to 14. It was organized by the Institute of Theology and Christian Ministry (ITCM) with the support from the Neva Church of Christ. Over 50 participants came to the seminar from Barnaul, Biysk, Grodno (Belarus), Krasnodar, Minsk (Belarus), Moscow, Nizhniy Novgorod, Omsk, Saint Petersburg, Tomsk, Vorkuta, Voronezh, Vyatskie Polyany and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

During the preparation phase, we noted the frequent discussions on the history of the emergence of Church of Christ congregations in Russian social media, aligning with our considerations in St. Petersburg. Consequently, the notion arose that this theme would serve as the seminar's focal point.

Over thirty years have elapsed since the inception of the Church of Christ congregations in the former USSR. During this time, the demography of those congregations has undergone significant changes due to generational shifts and global migrations. At the seminar, we all together made a list of existing congregations of the Church of Christ. We found out that there are 36 of them. We also created a list of congregations that have ceased to exist. There are 23 of them! It was very sad to realize this, but this is the reality. Yet, those who actively participated in establishing congregations —essentially the 'bearers of history’— still remain. That resembles the genesis of the New Testament books, which were not composed instantly. Decades later, guided by the Holy Spirit, Christians either recalled their personal experiences or painstakingly assembled information from primary sources, as witnesses to the gospel story were still alive.

Evangelist Luke wrote: «Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus» (Luke 1:1-3).

These words could serve as the epigraph to the seminar, assuming that by Theophilus (the Lover of God), we mean all those who will succeed us. We anticipated an emotionally charged seminar, but it exceeded even our expectations. For me, it all began with selecting photos for my presentations on the formation of congregations in Magadan and Rostov-on-Don. I always knew these photos were somewhere in albums, but how often do we actually revisit them? The occasion arose to open the old pages, and that's where it all began. The past literally began to come alive, eliciting a range of emotions: joy, sadness, pain, heartfelt warmth, and so on.

Subsequently, at the seminar, these emotions were replicated by the speakers, so nearly every presentation was imbued with personal experiences. However, it's not just about emotions. After all, the seminar's purpose was not merely to play on emotions, and if it did, it was for some more distant and elevated goal. This brings us to the main idea. Why should we know our history? Understanding and knowing our history helps us make sense of where we are now, who we are, where we came from— essentially, to see ourselves today through the prism of history. But that's not the ultimate goal either. Understanding where we are now helps us make conscious decisions about the future, considering the lessons of the past.

The seminar was titled 'The Church of Christ: Past, Present, and Future.' I hope it helped us look gratefully into the past to better understand where we are now and where we need to move forward."

Igor Egirev on the behalf of the ITCM team

"This year, I had the privilege of participating in the seminar. The invitation was unexpected but very much welcomed. Where else can one be so immersed in God, feeling so much love than at events where every heart glorifies Christ, where everything and everyone breathes Him?! Emotions – there were plenty. However, that's not the main thing that each participant took away from the seminar. It's been over two weeks since the seminar concluded, and I keep thinking: What did this seminar give us? What did we learn? What conclusions did we draw, and what actions will we take?

We shared stories of congregations and ministries, listened to one another, praised God in songs, prayed for each congregation, ate together, and engaged in conversations. Perhaps, I'm articulating only my perspective right now, but it felt like we were discovering each other, every congregation, and every brother or sister for the first time. We listened to stories filled with real life—joys and sorrows, falls and rises—and the attitude towards this history from those who shared it. We rejoiced with them and cried with them. Rarely has there been an event in our fellowship that allowed us to get to know each other so well and feel like one cohesive whole.

What did we learn at this seminar? Today, I would answer: the main thing we learned is to love. Love each other even more. Love God even more. Trust Him. Rejoice in Him! What did I take away from the seminar? New acquaintances, gifts, prayer requests, and gratitude, many reflections, answers to my pressing questions, a sense of unity, and the understanding that the success of the church depends not only on leaders but on every member. I now have a desire to start a new ministry for sisters – an online group where we can develop and strengthen our faith together, share experiences, and support each other.

Thank you to each seminar participant! You became a part of me. Each one of you changed me, and I returned home not the same as when I left. Thank you for your warmth and love, for your advice, for your support! Special thanks to the organizers who made this seminar possible. Thank you for your tireless diligence and attention to every detail! All of this created a special atmosphere in which we could fully immerse ourselves and enjoy every moment of the seminar. Praise God for everything! As we concluded the seminar, we saw the extensive list of congregations that no longer exist. Listening to the stories of these congregations, we saw how many we have lost. And that is our grief.»

Elena Korlukova, Grodno, Belarus

"Somebody asked, 'What is the purpose of sorrow?' Indeed, what is the meaning of this state—a profound experience of grief, the loss of someone dear and precious? In other words, why did the Lord allow this feeling to exist? These questions became relevant as we began to recall the history of the Church of Christ. Over the past twenty years, dozens of congregations have disbanded, and the remaining ones have almost all diminished.

We have lost many brothers and sisters. There are relatives by blood, and there are kin by the blood of Christ. Not everyone understands this, even fewer feel it, but the fact remains—we have someone to mourn. The lamps have gone out in some cities. The saints no longer send greetings. Beloved voices no longer exclaim, 'Amen!' Sorrow. It is a necessary condition for humanity. Because this experience allows us to realize the meaning and significance of those who are no longer with us. Usually, people speak much better about a deceased person than before their death. This happens not out of human hypocrisy, but because death, that is, sorrow, allows us to recognize the best aspects of the departed's personality, while the negatives often fade away.

The process of realization, that is, experiencing sorrow, can be turbulent, emotional, or calm. It can be brief, or it can last for years. The mourner suffers. And they will continue to suffer until they accept reality. And the reality is that death took the person away, but their meaning remains. Thanks to the experiences, it has become vivid, substantial, and real. Until a person sheds enough tears, until they erect an appropriate gravestone, until they fully feel the sorrow, they cannot rejoice, they cannot move forward. They cannot create meaning.

Our goal is God, a relationship with Him. The symptom of God's presence in our lives is profound joy, the experience of closeness and love. Often, modern Christians forget that joy is preceded by sadness, weeping, and grief. The prophet Jeremiah spent years advocating for morality and truth among liars and evildoers. He suffered unbearably, foreseeing the suffering of his people. And he wrote an entire biblical book that we know as 'Lamentations.' Pouring out pain, shedding tears, he composed scriptures where the prophet's sorrow and the Lord Himself hide.

By weeping, Jeremiah fulfilled his ministry and predicted days of joy for the people, describing beautiful relationships in a new way (see Jeremiah 31). These reflections are necessary for us to understand that it is right and natural to want to commemorate our history. Photographs have turned past days, the stages of church development, into a monument. We look at the faces of the departed and mentally assign dates—the day when a dear person appeared, the day when I lost them. In one way or another, we cannot be together now. But can I, do I have the right to grieve, to understand the meaning and significance of that church, that brother?

Even if a miracle happens, and congregations reappear in all the cities where they disappeared, it will be a different meaning. These will be different people. New relationships. And let them appear. But for this, it is necessary to let go of the past. For this, one must agree that only everything new lies ahead. Life lies ahead. That's why we need to hold a funeral for memories. That's why we need to 'sing a requiem.' That's why I mentally create a gravestone for our past. Let smiling photos be there. Let there be dates. Let flowers lie. Let grand speeches sound. So that we can move forward. So that a new history can be written.

Perhaps that's why one of the significant symbols for the spiritual life of a Christian is burial and resurrection. Burial allows us to part with what is no longer capable of life. Resurrection allows us to feel the joy of Eden again, the joy of the presence of Life. Glory to Christ that He allowed us to experience this metaphorically, while He Himself literally underwent this metamorphosis. His sufferings led to joy. His sorrow allowed us to speak better of us than we seem. His sorrow allowed love for the prodigal son, who was dead but came to life.

It was a good seminar. However, maintaining spiritual balance was a considerable challenge. Let's try, based on this experience, to find spiritual balance."

Alexey Pronskih., Biysk

"The seminar exceeded my expectations by revealing the sincere concerns of church leaders for the future of their existence. It was heartening to witness Christians who, even when very young, stood at the roots of our congregations and, despite life's challenges, remained faithful to Christ, and to their brothers and sisters. Additionally, seeing the numerous pictures of faces of beloved missionaries from the USA made me more aware of their dedication and selflessness in serving our Lord, serving as a great example and inspiration for me."

Margarita Ponamoreva, Barnaul

"It was interesting to listen to each participant; every church's story was fascinating, and I tried to remember everything. Besides the presentations, the exercise led by Stas Sushkov was valuable, as was the limited but impactful interaction. I managed to clarify the questions that troubled me in discussions with brothers from other cities. At the seminar, I reaffirmed my belief that everyone in the church matters; we need to listen and hear each other, pay attention to different ideas and suggestions without dismissing them outright, support the initiatives of others, and not instill our fears and doubts in them. An intriguing thought was presented about pragmatists and aesthetes; I had pondered this before, but here, the idea was articulated in a clear text. Plans for the future: continue doing my part, not giving up, and striving forward."

Anastasia Dorofeeva, Omsk

"Considering the seminar's theme, I thought it would be something like reports with dry facts, such as 'formed in... year, the church had... members, and now... Fortunately, the presentations were very lively, providing an opportunity to learn about the life of the churches and the experiences of the ministers, not just facts. Since it was my first seminar, 99% of the people were new to me. Most participants were welcoming and friendly. I received a lot of positive emotions, feeling the warmth of Christian love from strangers. The Christian simplicity in sociability displayed by the organizers and seminar leaders was very pleasing: these busy people sacrificed time for socializing. This indicates that for them, the main focus is not the seminar but the people. Praise God! In addition to the presentations, there was precious and dear live Christian fellowship. Inspiring joint worship. The amazing performance by the Church of Christ choir on the Neva—life flowing into service, and service flowing into life.

The more mature a Christian, the more open they are to spiritual communication and accepting 'others,' people who are different. Moreover, they are open to communicating not only with people 'at their level' but also with weaker, 'less interesting' individuals. Thank God, there were many mature individuals! Plans for the future: I'm adding a new expense category, 'seminars, conferences.' I will set aside funds for new trips, if God permits. I will remember other churches of Christ in prayers because now they are not strangers to me. I am convinced that such inter-church meetings are vital. Otherwise, we might stagnate in our 'swamp.' Exchange of experiences, joys, and sorrows is a necessity in the life of churches."

Tatiana Danilenko, Voronezh