B r y a n s k – Life as a Christian includes many joyful experiences, but there are also difficult experiences. This truth was made clear at a Baptist conference in Bryansk in southern Russia. The meeting with the theme “Real life – We are chosen and sent to go and bear fruit” took place from July 26-29. With about 4,000 predominantly young participants, this was the largest Baptist conference in Russia. Hundreds of people, young and old, came forward in response to a call for a decision to give their lives over to Christ, for the first time or anew. During one plenary discussion, the newly elected mayor of the Russian automobile producing city Togliatti, Baptist Sergei Andreyev, spoke of his Christian and political commitment. He is the first protestant since the czarist era to be elected to a position of political leadership in Russia.

Among the main speakers were the vice president of the Ukrainian Baptist Union, Igor Bandura (Odessa) and Brazilian revival preacher Wander Gomez (Rio de Janeiro).

In his greeting, the president of the European Baptist Federation (EBF), Hans Guderian (Dallgow near Berlin), spoke about the situation of oppressed Christian in the Middle East and about the coexistence of East and West within the EBF. In his closing words, he became very personal, expressing an unexpected request for forgiveness: “For many here in Russia, the name Guderian is connected with the memory of the Panzer general Heinz Guderian and the devastating, tragic Russian campaign of the German forces during World War II. As a member of our family, I would like to pay my respect to the many victims, for their suffering and the shedding of innocent blood. I bow before God and ask for forgiveness.” His words clearly touched the hearts of his listeners, as nearly all of them silently rose from their places as he spoke. Afterwards, many thanked him for his words, which they found to be beneficial and sincere. The Panzer general was a distant relative of Hans Guderian.

In addition to consideration of the theme “Missions”, the program of the conference, which resembled a large family reunion, included a children’s celebration, a youth festival, concerts, seminars, sports, games and morning and evening worship services lasting up to four hours. All kinds of music were represented: from rock and pop to folk music, from brass instruments to balalaika ensembles to large choirs and whole symphony orchestras. The closing worship service included the participation of orchestras and soloists from the national operas in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Classical music, including pieces by Rachmaninov accompanied the Lord’s Supper.

The conference takes place every four years at the outdoor venue Mayak near Bryansk. Families, youth groups and church groups camped in tents on the approximately 25-acre site.