“We should grow where we were planted” — that was the topic youth pastor Vladimir Batalov talked about on 1 November at the meeting of the church “Philadelphia”. God blesses us where we are, in the church and ministry we are in, if He doesn’t have other plans for us. Instead of looking at greener pastures of other people we should be faithful to God and follow His direction. We shouldn’t switch ministries, going from one church to another. We had better ask God where He wants us to be. “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, "The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him"  (Psalm 90:14-16).

Sometimes we want God to solve something in a period of time we choose. When this period is over and there is no answer, we start accusing Him. Senior pastor Pavel Zhelnovakov talked about the ways to avoid such a situation.

There are many examples in the Bible when God didn’t answer right away. How long did Job suffer? Being already blessed to rule David went into hiding. Problems we come across sometimes only seem to be big. They become bigger when we look at them all the time instead of looking at God and trust Him. The Prophet wrote about such periods in the following way: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights” (Habbakuk 3:17-19)

At the meeting there were several announcements. The church approved of sending the letter to the president of the Russian Federation Dmitri Medvedev asking for not letting make amendments to the law of freedom of consciousness and religious organizations. According to these amendments all evangelism is forbidden but for missionary work of people trained in this. Pavel Zhelnovakov suggested adding this issue to the prayer list.

There was a happy event at the meeting: senior pastor’s elder son Maksim Zhelnovakov and Inna Bakhareva were blessed for the pre-wedding period.

Next Sunday there will be a holy communion.