eurasia news>archives>may 2006>youth grow together at cis conference

Youth Grow Together at CIS Conference

By Simone Finney
Eurasia Region

Volgograd, Russia––To call the trip to Volgograd “long” would be an understatement. It’s an 18-hour train ride from Moscow, plus another eight from St. Petersburg. From Ukraine, it’s almost 24 hours by bus, and coming from Kazakstan, it’s easier to just count the train travel in days (three). From Armenia it’s only two hours––but you have to fly.

Geographically, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is the largest field in the world, and the distance is one of the challenges that local youth leadership has been praying through in recent months.

But the 150 youth from across the field who converged on a campground outside Volgograd May 6-9 for the 4th CIS Field Nazarene Youth Conference (NYC) didn’t come half-heartedly. Between worship sessions, seminars, group discussions and games, the students enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to deepen their relationships with God and with one another.

“This week, people were opening themselves to God and were not feeling ashamed,” said Artyom Korotkov of Kazakstan. “I liked the prayer, the worship at the evening services, and especially the sermons. It was a really spiritual time—so many people came into the presence of God.”

Carl McCann, NYI Co-Vice President for Eurasia, preached each evening on the conference theme, “To see God, to hear God, to know God.” Most of the participants named these services as the highlight of the event.

“I started to cry [one evening], but I couldn’t because I had to translate,” said Korotkov. “[Carl] was talking about freedom, about purifying, cleansing. They were almost the last words of the sermon. I was crying not only for myself, but also for others, because I know we really need this message. I know many Christians that go to church, but do not believe in God personally.”

That personal relationship is exactly what leaders hoped to reinforce at the event, a goal that many students said was achieved in their lives.

“The purpose was to help young people understand God, and if they’ve somehow lost their relationship with God, to find God again in their lives and renew that relationship,” said Igor Rybalko from Ukraine, NYI Field Representative and one of the organizers of the conference. “It’s not just about seeing God, but responding to him.”

Daily seminars provided teaching and discussion on issues like prayer, compromise, relationships, creativity in ministry, and leadership. Each of the churches contributed creatively to worship services, and the youth of the CIS found ways to worship in their own style through dramas, worship teams, videos and a choreographed flag presentation. They came together for small group discussions and games and for a late-night bonfire.

“Here, I felt like everyone was one body,” said Rybalko. “It was great, it was amazing—it was God working through their lives.”


The final service closed with youth writing individual prayers to God and nailing them symbolically to a cross. The group celebrated the Lord’s Supper together, then carried on with the evening worship until 1 a.m. Several of the students stayed up talking for the rest of the night. Since tradition has been to gather for events like these once every two years, every minute to spend time together counted.

“I met people at [the last NYC],” said Vika from Kazakstan, “but this time I really made friends.”

As for sleep?

Well, there was still the trip home.

For more photos from the CIS NYC click here.