Four Baptisms Mark Spiritual Victory in Russia on National Holiday Weekend
Second Omsk congregation celebrates lives transformed by the gospel.
Vladimir Sazhin, Euro-Asia Division, and ANNRussiaAug 1, 2025, 7:41 AM
While the country marked the 80th anniversary of Victory Day with nationwide celebrations, members of the second Seventh-day Adventist congregation in Omsk, Russia, commemorated the occasion in a unique and spiritual way. On Saturday, May 10, 2025, four individuals publicly committed their lives to Christ through baptism.
The baptisms were the result of personal decisions made in response to an appeal by evangelist Ivan Ilyich Velgoshi during a church program held on March 8. After weeks of preparation and reflection, the four men entered the baptismal waters, symbolizing a spiritual victory and a renewed life in Christ.
“They were willing to fight—by God’s power—to overcome character flaws and to seek Christlike qualities in their lives,” said local leaders. The baptisms were described as a personal triumph, symbolizing a desire to live according to the principles of Jesus both now and for eternity.
A Celebration of Faith
The service was accompanied by congregational hymns that filled the sanctuary with joyful praise. Church members and visitors alike rejoiced as each candidate entered the water, affirming their decision to follow Christ.
Some family members traveled long distances to witness the event, while others from Omsk joined to show their support and celebrate what was described as a defining moment in the spiritual journey of the new believers.
As the final hymn, “A Wonderful Land Awaits Us There in the Sky,” was sung, the atmosphere reflected both reverence and joy, participants share.
Church members expressed hope that these baptisms would inspire others to examine their own spiritual lives and continue seeking a deeper relationship with God.
The original article was published on the Euro-Asia Division Russian news site.
Aug 18, 2025
Youth Directors’ Evangelism in Southwestern Philippines Leads to 40 Baptisms in Remote Island
Loreto and Tubajon, two towns in the island province of Dinagat in northeastern Mindanao, Philippines, experienced a spirit of revival as youth directors from the Adventist churches in the Southwestern Philippines region (SWPUC) spearheaded an evangelistic campaign from August 11–16, 2025. The united outreach, supported by youth leaders from youth leaders in the Southern Asia-Pacific region (SSD), SWPUC, and the Northeastern Mindanao regional office (NeMM), culminated in the baptism of 40 individuals who chose to follow Christ.
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