Legendary recording artist John Schlitt — former lead singer for the Grammy Award-winning Christian band Petra and mainstream rock band Head East — is slated to be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Russian Gospel Music Association conference (EMA). The EMA will run from May 12-15, 2010
During the conference, Schlitt will perform at various locations throughout the city of Moscow, including an open air concert in Gorky Park, the prestigious “Radio City Moscow” night club and the closing EMA ceremonies.
Schlitt will also conduct master classes for aspiring Russian musicians, designed to stimulate professional growth and personal development.

The event was founded by Nikolai Pankratz, formerly of the Christian band Ruscha, who grew up in the former Soviet Union. His family was exiled to Siberia, where his father accepted Christ after reading just one page of the gospel of John. Nikolai said that if he ever got out of Russia he would spend the rest of his life sharing the gospel.
“I am very excited about being a part of EMA and sharing my knowledge and experience with the people of Russia,” says Schlitt in a press release.
“Nikolai, having grown up in the former Soviet Union, told me about the times the secret police would storm into a meeting, confiscate Bibles and break musical instruments. Pastors were taken to jail, and his grandfather was arrested and killed for believing in God,” Schlitt continues. “It’s amazing how times have changed; I feel that the Lord has major plans for the week and I’m very honored to be a part of it all.”
You can learn more about John Schlitt and his latest solo project, The Grafting, on his website.
I don’t know much about the EMA event; the website is in Russian! But you can learn more about Nikolai and the work he’s doing in Russia – feeding people through a rehab facility, a farming project, a greenhouse, a bakery and other projects in Russia – on the Ambassador For Life website.
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