Another convention of the Pacific Coast Association’s churches of ECB has come to an end. Every convention is not just an experience for the local churches, but it is also a continuation of the history of the Association. The conventions during which voting happens are even more special.
Despite the difficulties related to the pandemic, the long-anticipated convention finally took place. It had the needed quorum and therefore, the right to decide on the presented issues. The representatives from the missing eight churches who are far from Sacramento are those churches with less than 50 church members. Some of them are experiencing difficult times in their development, leadership, resources, and vision. In fact, one church was unable to attend and unable to send any delegates due to the church COVID-19 quarantine. The Association should be attentive and try to help such churches. God didn’t place these churches in various cities and states of the U.S. by accident. He gave the church a specific goal of fulfilling the Great Commission. Unfortunately, the harvest field and the size of the Slavic churches are not always consistent. Sometimes the biggest missions’ fields have only a few Slavic churches.
The convention is a time to evaluate the work that was done, and to plan for the future ministry. Almanac of the convention became a good indicator of the various ministries of the Association and emphasized that these ministries are always constantly growing. Some leaders are stepping up, there are various re-evaluations of what is being done, but the most important goal of effective ministry to the Association’s churches has always been the same. The Association’s ministries are resources with practical help for the Association’s churches regardless of whether these churches are located at the center in Sacramento, or far from it.
During the convention, there were some changes to the Association’s executive committee. About half of the committee was replaced. After the two-year break, the delegates missed live fellowship (not over zoom) and wanted to see each other face to face. During the business part of the convention, there was an atmosphere of affirmation of the main direction as well as the challenges that the churches are facing. Some of those issues include: the problem of migration, developing of the family ministry and providing help for the young parents, investing into the leaders of the second generation in the Association, and much more. Many of these questions were addressed by Ivan Mileyev’s presentation of the future plans for the Association. He was re-elected as the Association’s President with an overwhelming support (95%). This was in itself a demonstration of trust and support of those changes which were presented in the past, as well as a plan for the future. May the Lord bless us all in ministering together for His glory!
During the convention, there were themes of building of the defensive walls, the readiness to stand firm in the faith, accepting the challenges of our time, going against the current, being ready during the difficult times. The main speaker of the convention was the Chairman of the Russian Union of ECB, Peter Valterovich Mitskevich. The program was also saturated by the choir ministry, Communion, the prayer of dedication over the new executive committee of the Association, and much more.
Many thanks to the leadership and organizers at the Slavic Baptist Church of Bryte for their hospitality, planning, delicious food, and wonderful singing of choirs during the convention!
President of the Pacific Coast churches of ECB, Ivan Mileyev
