It’s been thrilling to see the growth of a truly locally-led orphan care movement in Ukraine and the surrounding countries. As we often express, the ultimate desire of CAFO is to see the local church in every nation rise as the primary answer for the orphans in their midst.
Today and tomorrow, a tremendous expression of this vision is taking place in Ukraine. A major conference for pastors and church leaders throughout Eastern Europe and Russia began this morning. The Eastern European Summit for Pastors seeks to call and equip the local church to take on adoption and orphan care as a response to God’s love. You can tune in live via webstream at BOG.TV. (See details below).
Many CAFO members have pitched in to support the work of the Eastern European believers who are leading the conference. From the Commission for Children at Risk, to Hope for Orphans, to Compassion International, many excellent U.S.-based groups have come alongside the remarkable local team to encourage and aid. Our prayer is that similar expressions–efforts that are truly locally-led yet also humbly supported by Western believers—will continue to expand worldwide.
Times below are 7 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time, so catching earlier session would require very early rising in the U.S. (Presentation in English are marked with an * .)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6
11:00 a.m. – 1:15 p.m – Plenary Session 1: Together for Children
Address from Heads or Representatives of the National Churches
Address from several government officials
Panel Discussion – “The Church, Transforming Society”
* “Too Small to Ignore”, Wess Stafford – ENGLISH
*2:45 – 4:30 p.m – Seminar: “Children, Church and Mission” Dan Brewster – ENGLISH
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. – Plenary Session 2: A Child in Our Midst
“Become like Little Children”, Andrey Nagirnyak
“Heart of the Father”, Rustam Fatulaev
Panel Discussion – “Calling in the Life of a Child”
“Who Will Intercede?”, Alexander Shevchenko
*“Adoption: Gospel Not Religion”, Josh Moody – ENGLISH
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Plenary Session 3: True Religion
“Responsibility of Those in Ministry”, Nikolay Ponomaryov
Video Message from Rick Warren’s message
Panel Discussion – “The Challenge to the Church of Spiritual and Social Orphanhood”
*”The Boy Who Came Back” (Mentoring), Peter Billingam – ENGLISH
* The Gospel and God’s Heart for the Orphan, Rick Morton – ENGLISH
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Plenary Session 4: A Country & A World Without Orphans “
Ukraine Without Orphans: A New Horizon”, Roman Korniyko
“Testifying to the Ends of the Earth”, Gennady Mokhnenko
*Panel Discussion – “The Path to a World without Orphans” – ENGLISH
“Ministry Without Borders”, Rostislav Radchuk
*Touching a Child, Changing the Future, Wess Stafford – ENGLISH
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Seminars
*Seminar: “Solving Behavior Problems, Making Disciples” Jon Bergeron – ENGLISH