UECB Moscow Church "Golgotha" is 30 years old!

The celebration was led by Peter Mitskevich, the Senior Pastor of Golgotha ​​Church, the Russian UECB President. Christian brothers and sisters from different churches of Moscow and the surrounding region gathered for the feast that day. There were congratulations from the Baptist Union and wishes of a blessed path for the Golgotha ​​Church for the Glory of God.

“The joy that fills our hearts today is universal joy. “For you are our glory and joy” (1 Thess. 2:20). Together with you, we offer prayers of gratitude for you and your ministry. “Your labor is not in vain before the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58). … Let the light of the Gospel shine in your church for all people, thanks to your fidelity, unity and love for God,” spoke one UECB leader. The ​​Church also received a congratulatory letter from the Government of Moscow represented by the Department of National Policy and Interregional Relations of Moscow, where it was noted the importance of the social, charitable activities of the church over the years, the importance of working to strengthen spiritual development and preserve traditional values ​​in our society. 

Over the years, the church family has grown to 360 members, and on April 2014, the present building was consecrated as a Prayer House. In honor of the anniversary, youth music groups, families, and children's choirs praised the Lord. Testimonies were heard - memories of the life of the church in different periods of its history. Pastor Sergey Belov, who helped lead the completion of the construction, Pastor Alexei Buzenkov, and Amir Usmonov, who led the Music Ministry for a long time, and others shared their memories. Various ministries of the church were presented, such as: Outreach, Musical, Prayer, Youth, Family, “Compassion” ministry, Fundamentals of Faith, Sunday School, etc.

The history of Golgotha ​​Church:

Golgotha Church was formed by brothers and sisters of the Moscow Central UECB Church in the early 90s. The first service was held on February 10, 1991. Alexey Bychkov became the first pastor of the church and led this ministry from 1991 to 1997. From 1997 to 2004, Alexei Buzenkov served as pastor, and since 2004, Peter Mitskevich has been the head pastor of the church. In 1996, the Moscow Government allocated a plot of land to the church in the Bibirevo area, in the northern part of the city. In 1997, construction began on the Prayer House designed by architect Vasily Belov. The construction was headed by Anatoly Khomenko, and in 2008 Sergei Belov was invited to complete the construction. In 2013, construction was completed and the building was commissioned.

At the solemn divine service in honor of the 30th anniversary, the first presbyter of the Moscow Central Church of the ECB Sergei Nikolayevich Zolotarevsky greeted everyone and shared his memories of the time when the Golgotha ​​Church began its path, led by God himself.

“ Christ said: “The one who reaps receives his reward and gathers fruit for eternal life. And he who sows and he who reaps will rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true: one sows and the other reaps. I sent you to reap what you have not labored for. Others labored, but you entered into their labor” (John 4:36-38). The Anniversary of Golgotha ​​Church is a blessing! It’s a remembrance of the work of our predecessors.

Today, Golgotha Church has a very active life. There are Sunday schools for children and adults. A course on the foundations of the faith is being conducted. On Sundays, married couples gather to discuss issues related to the relationship of spouses, raising children, etc. Compassion Ministry deals with the care and concern of widows and singles. Prayer is an important part of church life. Those who want to pray for their families and relatives come to prayer meetings. Adult, youth and children's choirs take part in worship services. Charity concerts of organ music with the participation of famous Russian organists are regularly held. Christian youth meet regularly to fellowship and discuss topical issues. There is an organized traveling evangelistic puppet theater, which has become an adornment of many children's events. Brothers and sisters attend children's boarding schools, in which students are provided more than financial assistance.

Today, Golgotha ​​Church is a spiritual center where, in addition to worship, various educational and social projects, conferences, family meetings, sacred music concerts, creative exhibitions and children's holidays are held. The ministry of the Golgotha  Church is a testimony to this world about the love of the Lord, where the joy of God's family, the peace of God, and the greatness of His glory are felt.

https://golgotha.ru/about/

They shared their wishes:

Senior Pastor Peter Mitskevich

- Is 30 years for the church just the beginning of the journey?

30 years for a church that is part of the universal church is a small part of history. The Church of Christ was born in the first century, 30 years after the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, for 2000 years the church has been spreading God's Word, the Gospel, calling people, working as an influencer of God's dynamics in society. Of course, we are very grateful to the Lord that we are in Moscow, in Russia, and can see how the Lord works miracles, bringing people to Him, transforming each of us. This is a matter of spiritual transformation! May the Lord bless.

– What does the administration of your district of Moscow feel about Golgotha ​​Church?

We have very good relations with the local authorities of our district, as we pray for those in charge, for the President of the country, the Prime Minister, the mayor of Moscow, for everyone who works in that difficult bureaucratic business, because we need to take care of people. We want churches to be free to do the work of worshiping God. A congratulatory letter addressed to our church was received from the Government of Moscow. We were congratulated on our 30th anniversary and wished to continue to serve for the benefit of society. Of course, it is very important that the department, which deals with the national policy of interreligious relations in Moscow, noted the activities of our church. It is very important that the state pays attention to our church and wants us to continue the active social work that the church is doing. The authorities also expressed their gratitude to the leadership of the Russian UECB and our church. It is very pleasant to receive such words from the government.

- What is your wish to the churches of the Russian UECB?

Be faithful to the Lord. The Lord will guide you through times of blessings and trials. He wants us to grow spiritually, to be mature, neither teenagers nor babies, but mature ones. To be those who can spread the Gospel, share their faith, who are not embarrassed and not afraid. It's an honor to be in the church of God. These are blessings! May the Lord strengthen all our churches and those ministering in them!

Sergei Nikolaevich Zolotarevsky, Senior Pastor of UECB Moscow Central Church

- Is 30 years for the Kingdom of God a lot or a little?

It’s nothing compared to eternity. And what the Golgotha ​​church has is a huge blessing, of course. I believe that the Church was born and lives according to the will of God. For me, it is a joy to be an instrument in the hands of God at a time when Golgotha church began its journey. 

- A wish to the brothers and sisters of the Golgotha ​​church?

May the Lord grow Golgotha with new members and so His kingdom would come through this.

Zoya Bardina

Photo by Sergey Melnichuk