Kiev – ‘They Found Jesus: Now What? Tools for Discipling Young People’. That was the topic of this year’s European Baptist Federation (EBF) conference for workers among youth and children held in Irpin near Kiev/Ukraine. Thirty-five delegates from 23 of the EBF’s Baptist unions participated. The central issue revolved around the matter of how best to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the 21^st century. It was stressed that making young people into disciples is no less important than the initial call to faith: ‘Evangelism and discipleship go hand-in-hand.’

The major speakers were the Russian-German evangelist Viktor Hamm (Calgary) and the Canadian Jeff Carter (Prague), the EBF’s Youth Ministry Training Coordinator. Besides lectures, the conference programme featured Bible studies, seminars and discussions. Morning devotions and prayer sessions were led by Ukrainian hosts such as Igor Bandura (Odessa) and Gregory Komendant (Kiev), retired President of the Ukrainian Baptist Union.

The re-elected Chairperson of the EBF Youth and Children Committee, Volkmar Hamp (Elstal/Germany), noted that at times Baptists from Scandinavia, Syria, Great Britain and Uzbekistan are strongly divided by their styles of worship, spirituality and culture. It was therefore remarkable for him that the conference was able to agree on a paper entitled ‘Ten Commitments’. This statement affirms that, despite differences in language and culture, all conference participants intend to treat diversity with respect and will strive for a common expression of their unity in Christ. They intend to learn from and encourage each other and also to share their financial resources. These are seen as vital issues regarding work among children and youth in Europe. After final editing, the resolution’s exact wording is to be published on the EBF Youth and Children’s Committee homepage (www.ebfyc.org).

One guest of honour at the gathering was EBF-President Valeriu Ghiletchi of Moldova. He reported on the newest developments within the EBF community. The Bulgarian Vasil Vasilev was re-elected as the youth committee’s Secretary.