Retreat for ministers in the Carpathian Mountains organized by Christ is the Answer Ministry

The seventh annual conference of the International Ministry “Christ is the Answer” brought together 130 participants from various parts of Ukraine. From October 3rd to 7th, the participants had a time of rest and new experiences for further service to God and people in the picturesque Ukrainian Carpathians. 

The conference was themed around the following Bible verse: “For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power” (1 Corinthians 4:20). 

Among the invited guests were many ministers and pastors of evangelical churches. According to the organizers, special attention was given to those who serve on the front lines and need rest and replenishment. 

“At first glance, a conference, a meeting with friends and the war in the country are mentally opposite things. But people working hard, living in war zones, spending a lot of time and effort helping displaced people and people in war zones, and chaplains among the conference delegates – we all need rest. The conference corresponds to the text of God’s Word when Jesus Christ said to his disciples: “Come away to a desolate place and rest”. This is a good time to really relax, to communicate with friends, to support each other,” bishop Rostyslav Murakh shared his impressions.

The conference program was conducive to relaxation of the mind, body and spirit. Meaningful training seminars, in which speakers shared their own experiences, provided a lot of practical advice. Bishop Mykola Savchuk emphasized that difficult times are hard to go through, but they harden a person and make him or her ready for new challenges. Taras Sen, director of the Christ is the Answer Ministry, told the audience how he was captured by the militants of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” in 2015 and what he went through. 

The audience enjoyed the family meeting, which took place in a cozy, home-like atmosphere. Bishop Rostislav Murakh drew attention to two questions: How to achieve love? How to show love? The minister emphasized that love is a decision and action for the benefit of another person, there is no other way.

The organizers made sure that each conference participant had a good rest. The cozy hotel “Kvitka Zakarpattya” pleasantly impressed with its hospitality: delicious home cooking, therapeutic mineral water, comfortable rooms. And the most important thing – the unbelievably beautiful Carpathian landscape. 

Well-planned excursions also left a pleasant impression on the conference participants. A walk through the ancient Palanok Castle in Mukachevo gave the participants an opportunity to feel the spirit of the era and plunge into the medieval history of the Ukrainian Carpathians. Traditionally, the conference participants visited Hemba Mountain and Shipot Waterfall. But this year’s trips to these places were especially interesting: they climbed Mount Hemba by jeeps, and at the waterfall they tasted porridge cooked over a fire in a cauldron. On the fourth day, some of the participants visited one of the most powerful defense lines of the Second World War, the Arpad Line, and others visited the modern health and recreation center in Kosyno.

“I sincerely thank God and the entire team for the seventh annual conference of Christ Is the Answer International Ministry. In addition to our missionaries who have been and are actively working, we invited dozens of ministers: pastors, bishops and their wives. We did this so that they could rest, get acquainted with the activities of the mission and get new ideas for ministry. But the main goal was to restore their strength for further work. Judging by the comments of the participants, we succeeded. All the guests were satisfied. I also heard from some ministers that this conference was an answer to their prayers. In addition to spiritual renewal, we had good fellowship and rest. In the future, we plan to hold more conferences like this to help those who are working hard for the good of our country,” said Taras Sen, director of the ministry. 

Christ is the Answer International Ministry works in 7 regions of Ukraine and 20 countries. The main areas of work are the preaching of the Gospel and charity events to help those in difficult circumstances. 

Christ is the Answer Press Center.