My Road To Damascus

By Bishop Sergey V. Ryakhovsky

God has honored me to serve in positions which carry huge responsibility in the Kingdom of God.  I am currently the Chief Bishop of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians (Pentecostals), a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, a member of the Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation, co-chairman of the Advisory Council of the Heads of Protestant Churches of Russia, Council of ROSHVE.

There is no greater responsibility however than that of senior pastor of the Church of God in Tsaritsyno, Moscow. 

It seems natural that I would be called into ministry.  I was born in the village. Zagoryanka Shchelkovo district, Moscow region March 18, 1956, the eldest of 10 children of the Bishop of the Church of Evangelical Christians, Vasily Vasilievich Ryakhovsky.

In 1978, I was ordained deacon and in 1985 became presbyter.  In 1991 I was ordained as the senior presbyter of the Moscow church of the Christian Faith of the Evangelical, from 1994 - bishop of the United Church of Christians of the Faith of the Evangelical and from 1995 - national bishop of the Association of Christians of the Faith of the Evangelical "Church of God", from 1997 to the present - Bishop of the Russian Union of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (Pentecostal).

As a fourth generation clergyman in The Evangelical Christian Faith serving God and serving people in need has been my entire life.

Feeling a need to reach out and provide compassionate care to the less fortunate and forgotten, in 1999 we formed the charity called “The Ark”.    For over 20 years “The Ark” has been reaching out to a category of people that very few attach importance. 

One of our most significant programs is "Christmas Tree Angel" which has been held annually from 2008 to 2016.   In this program volunteers from“The Ark”visit the womens colony to share the love of God.  Moms wrote letters to their children and pointed out the gift they would like to give. People who wanted to participate in this action bought gifts and brought their mothers to the children along with the letters.

"Christmas Tree Angel" - was held annually from 2008 to 2016gg. The people of the foundation went to the women's colony, they communicated with them. Moms wrote letters to their children and pointed out the gift they would like to give. People who wanted to participate in this action bought gifts and brought their mothers to the children along with the letters.

Throughout all these years, “The Ark” has reached out in compassionate care to prisoners, drug addicts, veterans, and their families.  We have provided material assistance in the form of food, hygiene products, clothes for children, diapers, shoes and even baby cots and mattresses. 

But with all the wonderful work that has been accomplished through “The Ark” I have had a Damascus Experience. 

Before the Apostle Paul became a Christian, he was a ruthless persecutor of those who followed Christ.  One day on the road to Damascus he met the risen Savior Jesus Christ, in such a brilliant demonstration of the glory of God that in knocked him off his horse and left him blind.  That Damascus Experience changed the Apostle Paul from a persecutor of the church to the greatest Apostle and Christian Ambassador to ever live.  

Seeing the horrific needs and genocide taking place in Syria, I felt directed by God to go personally to Damascus and Alleppo Syria to distribute material relief to the multiplied thousands who were suffering in that region. 

In all we distributed 77 tons of food and medicine to those who were suffering from the ravages of war. 

And there is where I had my Damascus Experience. 

When I saw how the children suffered it changed by life forever.   I returned to Russia with a promise to God that I would spend the rest of my life standing up for the Persecuted Church around the world and to focus on the children who suffer the most an die first.

Please pray for the persecuted church and thank you for your support. 

About

Bishop Sergey Ryakhovsky has a doctorate in theology and currently operates as the Chief Bishop of the Union of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals), a member of the Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations, Co-chairman of the Advisory Council of the Heads of the Protestant Churches.