1. Discipleship course.

2. Central common service.

3. Prayer life of the church.

The discipleship course

  Every Christian needs to grow spiritually. Even school children are taught according to a clear and consistent curriculum. God revealed to pastor Philip a system of the spiritual growth represented in 4 books forming a discipleship course. The principles of this discipleship course consist in the profound spiritual program, a transition of the spiritual growth and practical skills of an instructor to a disciple.

  The books written by Pastor Philip contain his practical experience and will help many pastors to get a vision for the renewal and growth of their churches.

  The first book called “Being born again – Discipleship #1” prepares a newly-converted person for water baptism and membership in a church.

  The second book called “Newly-converted becomes a winner – Discipleship #2” teaches how to overcome problems and helps to grow spiritually through changing a person’s character.

  The third book called “Developing a leader – Discipleship #3” is a practical manual for converting a member of a church into a leader.

  The fourth book called “Ministry of pastor – Discipleship #4” prepares a leader to become a pastor.

  The fifth book called “Developing a Levite – Discipleship #3-A” is a practical manual for the preparation of singers, musicians and sound technicians for the praise & worship ministry.

  «Once, at night, I prayed very fervently for our church. At that time it was small and there was neither spiritual nor numerical growth. I prayed and cried, and suddenly I saw a vision – many people dresses in white clothes are going to a church service. I asked the Lord: “Who are these people?” God answered: “These are the new believers who would be born again soon. So, prepare everything needed for their spiritual birth, just like it is when a physical child is going to be born, in other words: nappies, bottles for milk, cradles, etc.”     The Holy Spirit induced me to come to my office and there He gave me the revelation about the discipleship course. In less than an hour I wrote a list of the main subjects of the first and the third book on the discipleship, and then the same for the second and the fourth one too. Here they were, the “nappies, bottles and cradles”. But the most important thing is that the people, hundreds and thousands of them dressed in the white clothes, have really come!  Thousands of copies of the books on discipleship have been distributed in many countries of the world. So many people have repented, renewed and grown spiritually! Only God knows the exact number. I have fulfilled what God had charged me with, making my contribution to the ministry of the Church of Christ”. 

Philip Savochka, the senior pastor of “Salvation” church

Central service

  The central service of “Salvation” church is an important part of its system of the spiritual growth. It is held in the church’s temple every Sunday in two so-called “currents”, i.e. twice: the first one begins at 10.00 a.m. and the second – at 1.00 p.m.

  At the central service the whole church come into God’s presence through the praise and worship, get inspired for the everyday life with God and taught by the powerful and practical preaching.

  Adults and children, youth and aged people participate in the central service, for “Salvation” church is “a family which has a room for everybody”.

  The Communion is held at the central service on the first Sunday of every month. And on the last Sunday of a month there are usually the water baptism service and dedication of children to the Lord. Besides, wedding ceremonies and blessing of young couples who want to get married take place at the central service quite often.

  Every month in “Salvation” church has its subject (for instance, a “Month of healing”, “Month of family” or a “Missions month”). As a rule, all services meet a subject of a month they are held in. However, every service is held distinctively, because the ministers of the church together pray and search for God’s revelation for each week before a service takes place. As a result, God shows what He wants to see in a specific service.

  Another pledge of blessing of the central services is a Saturday prayer for it. Every Saturday, from 9.00 p.m. till 10.00 p.m. “Salvation” church pray at homes asking God to fill the hall with some new people, and also for the praise and worship, all participants of a service, the protection of a service by the blood of Jesus Christ, outpouring of the Holy Spirit, an anointed Word from the Lord, healing and deliverance, profound repentance and great joy of a service.

The telecasts of the “Salvation” church called “Time of answers” (the interviews with the senior pastor) are weekly broadcast on “Kyiv” TV channel. Besides, the weekly services of the church are broadcast on the local TV channel.

Prayer life of the church

  One more component of the system of the spiritual growth of “Salvation” church is their prayer life.  It consists of few important components:

-         a special morning prayer and a family evening prayer;

-         a monthly prayer service;

-         a monthly church fasting;

-         away fasts of the ministers;

-         prayer marathons;

-         Saturday prayer for a central service.

  “Salvation” church has a purposeful and practical teaching about the significance of the personal prayer and contact with God. The church teaches that a Christian needs a regular prayer life just as breathing. It is especially vital for the ministers. Every minister of “Salvation” church takes the responsibility to have an everyday morning prayer for at least 30 minutes, and also an evening prayer with the family.

  The monthly prayer service is held on the first Friday of a month and begins at 7.00 p.m. During the prayer service the church is informed about needs for a common fasting and a month’s prayer. Every day a part of the church (it is usually 2-3 regions) pray and fast for the needs. So, the fasting does not cease even for a day.

  The fasting of the particular regions is held for twenty four hours. It begins at 7.00 p.m. and finishes at 7.00 p.m. of the next day. It is recommended to keep from eating completely or partially (i.e. no eating of meat or sweets – so-called “Daniel’s fasting”). The fasting begins with a prayer of blessing for needs and finishes with a prayer of thanksgiving. During the fasting people are to forgive each other and do good things. The main point of the fasting is a prayer which is held at the beginning of every hour except the time of sleep.

  The needs for a fasting and prayer change every month. At a prayer service the members of the church are given the “prayer sheets” with a list of new needs printed on them. As a rule, the church pray and fast for 3-4 needs during a month. The first need never changes. It is a prayer of blessing for the senior pastor and other church’s pastors (for their ministry, families and health). The second need usually meets the subject of a month. For instance, if a month in “Salvation” church is called “Month of healing”, then the church pray and fast for healing. The third and fourth need, as a rule, applies to the most urgent problems of either the church’s or social life.  

  In moments of emergency in a social life the church holds “prayer marathons”, when there are prayer services every day, and the church pray and fast with a special fervency for the stabilization of a specific situation. Such a “marathon” was held by the church during the presidential elections in 2004.

  “Salvation” church also holds some away fasting for the ministers several times per a year. They usually last for three days. The pastors, deacons and ministers go out of the town for the whole time of fasting and prayer (to a holiday home etc.). There were 3 fasts like this during 2006: a renewal fast (in May), an affirmation fast (in September) and a vision fast (in December). Every away fasting brings into the church some spiritual strengthening and new revelations.

  The above-mentioned system of the church’s prayer life proved its efficiency and effectiveness in practice. God answers the requests and meets the needs of His children through the fervent prayers of the church.