Teenage preacher wins Christian converts
Published 13 January, 2008, 07:07
In a small village in Russia's Nizhniy Novgorod region, a 15-year-old boy holds regular church services and explains the basics of Christianity to the locals.
The young preacher's tender age doesn’t seem to bother the more mature worshippers. Besides, if wasn't for teenager Yaroslav Tikhovodov, they would have to go to the regional centre for the evening service.
For many years the village of Usta didn't have a church. As a small child Yaroslav Tikhovodov used to pray in the woods by himself. To stop this, his parents built him a place to worship in the back garden.
More and more children joined Yaroslav for prayers and discussions. Inspired by this unexpected spiritual interest, the grown-ups decided to build a proper wooden chapel.
Gradually, parents and grandparents began attending the services.
But not everybody in the village accepts Yaroslav’s unusual interests.
There are those who don’t understand him or his ways. They think he is fooling around.
But his long-term followers remain loyal to him.
Yaroslav holds regular services and explains the basics of Christianity to his classmates. He even keeps track of his pupils attendance.
It is still too early to say whether Yaroslav’s enthusiasm will stay the course of time. But it has certainly inspired his neighbours and converted many others.
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