3rd Annual Church Media Conference in Moscow

“O Lord, set a guard over my lips, and protect the door of my mouth.” ~ Psalm 140:3

The first Media Ministry gathering took place three years ago at the Moscow Theological Seminary and was attended by only 50 representatives. This time about 200 people came from all over: Moscow, Minsk, Belgorod, Bryansk, Volgograd, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kostroma, Kursk, Lipetsk, Leningrad, Moscow, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Orel, Samara, Tambov, Tver, Tomsk, Tula, Ulyanovsk, Chelyabinsk region, Kalmykia, Crimea, North Ossetia, Tatarstan, Khakassia, Yugra, Yakutia, as well as Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Stavropol and Khabarovsk territories, who dare to preach the gospel through social networks, newspapers, magazines, radio and television.

Denis Gostev, the coordinator of the event, editor of the Russian UECB website,  editor-in-chief for the “Word for You” website, and the host of Russian Christian Radio, noted that “the conference program has grown significantly both in quality and quantity. Reports and discussions, master classes and personal communication with pastors, Christian literature and gospel cards, as well as delicious coffee breaks and lunches - all created an amazing atmosphere of grace and joy!”

For two days, those with a wide range of journalism experience, and those who just have a talent or irresistible desire to preach the gospel, were in one spirit. They exchanged knowledge, skills, findings and practical examples of how to broadcast the Word of God to the world. Such substantive content benefited every attendant.

The leadership of the Russian UECB took an active part in the conference, with VP Victor Ignatenkov, the Head of the Conference Organizing Committee, opening the conference, and opening of the second day began with a sermon from the UECB President, Peter Mitskevich.

I would especially like to note the musical component of the conference, which was supervised by Kirill Goncharenko. Many Christian hymns were sung under his direction, and the event was opened by the famous baritone singer, Pavel Baransky.

The purpose of the Christian media is education and evangelism. Features of evangelism from historical, legal, financial points of view were reflected in the reports of: Vladimir Romanenko, Alexei Sinichkin, Sergei Chugunov, Dmitry Vatuli, Evgeny Bakhmutsky, Dmitry Lavrov, Igor Popov. What impact do Christian programs in Open AI and ChatGPT have on Internet users (D. Lavrov). How can you create an independent Christian media without money (D. Vatulya). Successful Cult Books podcast created in 2019 with an audience of 30,000 now (I. Popov).

Evgeny Bakhmutsky, pastor of the Russian Bible Church, told how to be heard when speaking in front of a large audience:

"Adapt your speaking style, and use less Christian terminology. You can't say to the first person you meet -" the blood of Jesus Christ will wash you from sins. "We talk about Jesus Christ like high school students! Be sure - develop a strong calm voice. The best  story is when the preacher tells defaming things about himself. Well - you need to be honest with your listeners.”

They said that the cultural mission today is preaching on uncomfortable platforms - in social networks, and it is important to adapt to those to whom we carry the Word. “For, being free from all, I have enslaved myself to all, in order to gain more: I was like a Jew to the Jews, in order to gain the Jews; to those under the law he was as under the law, in order to gain those under the law; to those who are strangers to the law, as a stranger to the law, not being a stranger to the law before God, but under the law to Christ, in order to gain those who are strangers to the law; to the weak he was as the weak, that he might gain the weak. I have become everything to everyone in order to save at least some. I do this for the sake of the gospel, that I may be a partaker of it.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.

We can answer questions about the gospel anywhere. Media workers can use various places, for example, a public sauna or a cafe in a business center during the lunch hour. The hairdresser is also a great option! "Either I'll get a new brother in Christ, or I'll go to a new hairdresser!"

The conference included not only the methodological aspects of sharing Christian values ​​with believers and non-believers, but also the practical nuances of presenting information using artificial intelligence, through video evidence, through photography. In two days, 14 master classes were held under the guidance of practicing journalists, bloggers, social network specialists in audio, video and photo content. In small groups, media ministers wrote Christian press releases, gained graphic design experience, learned how to conduct video interviews on the street and preach the gospel to “difficult people.”

The conference ended with the traditional Q&A session. The most relevant topics: how to keep living further, happiness, family, death. Brief digest of answers: “It makes no difference whether a brother or sister in the church preaches the gospel through the media”; “The youth in the church is the “gas pedal”, the old people are the “brake pedal”, but you cannot drive a car where all three pedals are the “gas”; “A Christian leaflet or a conversation on the street - it depends on the situation, we focus on the place”; “For evangelism, one must have competence, take into account reputational risks and not go beyond the legal framework”; “We operate in our context of time and preach the gospel!”

In conclusion, Peter Mitskevich recalled that “our tongue is “an uncontrollable evil; it is full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). We must remember and understand that there are things we should only tell the Lord. Will our words bring good? You will never regret your silence. You should always ask for forgiveness for those times when you could not keep your tongue. At the beginning of the gospel - be sure to pray! And remember that there is no criteria for effective service. Everything comes from our sincere heart under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”

By: Alla Stambolidi, host of the master class "How to prepare a quality Christian press release"