The opening ceremony of the 14th national congress of young Ukrainian evangelical Christians took place on July 6, 2011, in the Zhytomyr Oblast. Traditionally, 3 to 6 thousand Christians from all regions of Ukraine gather at the youth forum. This year there are delegates from Russia, Belarus, Latvia, Poland, Germany, USA, and other countries.

Supporting government initiatives, in particular the parliament’s resolution “On Marking the 450th Anniversary of the Peresopnytsia Gospel at the national Level” from May 12, 2010, the congress this year is called “The Gospel is God’s Power to Save!” the Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith of Ukraine (CCEFU) press center reports. 

Among the honored guests of the opening ceremony were clergy and representatives of the local and national government.

The youth forum will last until July 14. The program includes divine services, lectures, debates, panel sessions, and roundtables, as well as artistic, musical and sporting events. There will also be presentations of social, charitable, and missionary projects and organizations.

The congress is set up as a camp, with different areas representing separate cities and regions of Ukraine.

According to the organizers, the goal of the congress is to promote Christian values among Ukrainian youth. “This year, considering that it is the year of the gospel in Ukraine, we plan to fully demonstrate the importance and power of God’s Word in all spheres of human life and society in general,” says the Rev. B. Levytskyi, chairman of the Organizing Committee.