“It is with great pleasure that I declare this fantastic place for the friends here… opened!’’ Trond Eriksen, a representative from Brunstad, along with hundreds of friends from across the globe, has come to Ozerne, Ukraine to celebrate the opening of the new conference center.
On Saturday, April 29, 2012, approximately 300 friends from Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Romania, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Canada and the United States assemble outside the new meeting hall for an exciting ribbon-cutting ceremony.
"The perfect place for us"
Members of Youth Exchange Program (), along with the young people from Brunstad Christian Church in Ozerne, have worked together to build what Vitalii Balika, 22, describes as "the perfect place for us here!"
There is no doubt that this is the ideal place for the friends in Ukraine. But why did they need a new center?
Vitalii Balika talks about how the friends first began to meet in the home of the church leader. “We came together in a garage that was very small and extremely hot during the summer and cold during the winter.”
Later they purchased an old house with a room that was a little bit bigger, which they used for their meetings. “But the church grew quickly, you know, and so it was decided that we should build a new place. That was very good news for us!” Vitalii continues.
Samuel Iakob, the leader of the fellowship in Ozerne, describes the main purpose for the new center as a place for building fellowship and coming together to be edified.
Along with regular church meetings on Sundays with the 120 friends in Ozerne, the center opens up new opportunities for the youth and children get together for various activities.
Samuel adds that the plan is to have children and youth conferences in addition to regular conferences for everyone, which will include eight churches in southern Ukraine and Moldova. "The friends will be able to come together and be fortified in their spirit!"
"The friends will be able to come together and be fortified in their spirit!"
“We have been looking forward to this for a long time! We needed a place for everyone!"says Daniela Balika, 20, one of the many youth who are enthusiastic for the new conference center. She tells about finally having space for volleyball, soccer, barbeques, bonfires and games with the children.
During the opening feast, Trond Eriksen talks about how the point of all the activities in the church is that the hearts of the disciples can be strengthened. “It is God who has opened these possibilities for us, that we can be together with the young people and win their hearts so their hearts can be opened for God’s word.”
“The future is fantastic for us here!” concludes Vitalii.