Help to Renew Ukraine

Yes, that’s what praise means

REJOICE! Yes, that’s what praise means. Every day, all the time, rejoice, praise The last workshop was a fruitful and spiritual time for all the participants. Several of the men did “examples” of how to lead a vibrant worship service—minus the sermon. Times of singing, times of prayer, times of testimony, times of discussion, times of fellowship. What a blessing for one and all! And a time of growth for everyone as they learn from each other and from Abe. Our documents were all fully processed! Another year in Ukraine secured. Joy! 😊 We had a wonderful few days at our daughter and son-in-law’s—Priscilla and Dan. They live in a very picturesque part of the country and we got to enjoy the outdoors several times with a picnic or just walks! Incredibly warm for this time of year. They live on the Dnipro River which is THE major river in Ukraine. And it was so restful for us. We listened to a sermon online about generosity yesterday. It was so inspiring. And then this morning I saw a message with a chart from the mayor of our city. Five years ago, Ukraine was in 81st place in giving. A blessing of war? Certainly people are giving, giving, giving and helping wherever they can. No, not everyone. But, nevertheless, as we look at the Biblical principles, another opportunity for God to bless Ukraine. (Study by Charities Aid Foundation) PRAYER The most critical prayer request from now until the end of the year is that God would bring forward people who want to be involved in Centers of Hope. As we have said so often, people who have a heart to reach the lost and needy, compassion, and at this point, freedom from being drafted. We have lost some men who were drafted. Abe will be going to a conference on Nov 24-25 to acquaint people with what we are doing and invite them. Other leaders are also involved in trying to find these people. We need couples who have the Holy Spirit’s call upon them. Pray that the Holy Spirit would guide us in making the right contacts, and pray that He will call people, and that they will heed that call. Ukraine continues to fight for freedom in the east. You know, territory is one thing. And legally that territory is Ukraine, which both Russia and the US agreed to honor some decades ago. But our concern is the spiritual impact where Russia rules. Here is a recent update: On 22 September, a court in Russian-occupied Donetsk Region found two priests of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine guilty of violating Russian law on missionary activity. The Judge punished each with a fine of 30,000 Russian Roubles (a little over $300 US—a month’s wages) and "deportation beyond the bounds of the Russian Federation". Russian occupation officials earlier tried to pressure the priests to transfer to the Russian Orthodox Church. Armed men raided two Baptist churches in Zaporizhzhia Region and ordered a third to close. These are just a few things that have been reported by a religious liberties organization. There is no freedom for evangelism in Russia. And churches are monitored closely. We praise God for the years we could minister there, always having been aware that it was a window of opportunity. Pray for freedom for the Gospel—in Ukraine, and in Russia. So, we pray together don’t we? We rejoice in what God has done and is doing. And we pray for His Kingdom to continue to spread through this suffering, sorrowing world. Here is a prayer from Harvest Prayer Ministries that says it so well: Precious Holy Spirit, You give vision and passion to those who long to seek God in prayer for the sake of and advancement of the kingdom through the preaching of the gospel. Thank You that You trust me with the “highest ministry of all human offices” – the ministry of prayer, and may I be courageous and bold as I intercede, so that spiritual eyes are opened and hearts are prepared to hear and the good news of Jesus Christ and respond to His love.

27 Oct

I’m sure all of you can preach the topic of praise

PRAISE I’m sure all of you can preach the topic of praise and how we need to praise and thank God—and how we struggle to do that when things are difficult. We had a most beautiful Thanksgiving service last Sunday at our church. It was powerful! Not ignoring the war and the suffering but offering thanks up to God for the country of Ukraine—and for His goodness and His blessings. On the one side of the platform was a memorial to the war, to the soldiers who have laid down their lives, and the living who are fighting the battle for the freedom of Ukraine. At one point a video played in the background showing bombing and devastation and suffering while a group sang “I thank you, God…” and proclaiming who He is in the midst of it all. I am putting a link to the full video of that service, and it is all in Ukrainian, but if you go to 19 minutes, it lasts for 3 minutes and will give you a fresh picture of Ukraine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuJh6BtkOZQ I could not help but cry, and I saw many people wiping away the tears. On the other side of the platform was a simple display representing harvest and God’s goodness. A children’s group sang in part of the program, and one of the things we thanked God for were our children. This fight that is going on—it is for them, for their future to have freedom to worship God. We left the service deeply touched, and deeply grateful. We can praise God and thank Him even in the midst of war! PRAYER Abe and I leave tomorrow morning early (Saturday) to hopefully finish up the whole visa process, picking up a document on Saturday and going to another place Monday morning to register them there. Then Monday afternoon another workshop will start. I will go on to the eye clinic for probably my final checkup since my surgery in June and will stay in Kyiv and take care of some other things while Abe leads the workshop. Then we will go on to Dan and Priscilla’s to be with family for a few days and celebrate Dan’s birthday. We don’t have many opportunities for family celebrations and we love it when we can get together! And their whole church is like family to us as we have watched many of them grow and develop through the years. Pray that the documentation process will be smoothly finalized. Pray that the travels hither thither and yon would be blessed. Pray also for Diane’s health with the travel as she has been struggling with an infection and it is slow to react to the antibiotics. Pray for the men and women coming to the workshop, as they share what they are doing, as they learn, as they have fellowship, as they account for their time and ministry. It is all a learning and growing process. PRAY—ALWAYS—with THANKSGIVING

28 Sep

For a very restful week in Kyiv

PRAISE For a very restful week in Kyiv reminiscing about our 33 years living in Ukraine, enjoying walks in the parks, sermons on the computer, no pressure to get up in the mornings! It was very refreshing in body, soul and spirit. Out of the window of our hotel we could see what used to be the Lenin Museum the first year we lived in Kyiv (building on the right). As soon as freedom came, his statue was torn down (as it was all over the country) and the building has served different purposes through the years. Up in the distance you will see golden cupolas which belong to St Michael’s cathedral. That was totally destroyed under communism and in a few years time after Ukraine’s independence was reconstructed according to the original. For a new financial assistant! What a gift from God. The work is growing and Maria has been bearing the whole load. We began to feel the need of bringing someone else in so that if anything happens to her life can go on! And she won’t feel the stress. Ben is 21 and studying for his Master’s in economics. And we have known his family from before he was born! For an incredibly beautiful and mild September! It has been in the mid or upper 70’s all month. Meaningful for people all across Ukraine and the men fighting as far as physical warmth and comfort is concerned. We have usually turned our furnace on in September. For the season when many churches celebrate Thanksgiving Day or Harvest Day and some of our Centers of Hope are participating in that right now. One of them near the city of Dnipro had 60 unchurched people they shared a meal with and the goodness of God. PRAY For Maria, one of our very faithful workers, who is now in Germany visiting her husband who has been there for several months receiving treatment for cancer. A difficult separation. We are so happy she can finally go. For the next workshop taking place Oct. 2-4. The workshop will be divided between honing preaching skills (or just learning some!) and discipling new believers. Most of the Center of Hope leaders are just willing people who want to serve the Lord and reach people. So experience is on the low end. Abe and Vera are seeking to help them move from Centers of Hope to church bodies. Not traditional churches, but churches who are community focused. For meeting present financial needs. The cost of living has increased almost 30% over the last year. Usually we can stay astride these things because it is a matter of Ukrainian currency losing value. But we are seeing the increases personally also. So we need to increase salaries and funds for workers, and need wisdom to do it wisely. For the people of Ukraine as we enter another season going into winter with no cessation of hostilities. People are fearful and worried. Soldiers on the front lines are disheartened as they watch their fellow soldiers fall and see little progress in taking back territory. Russia is again targeting infrastructure across the country. Even when we were in Kyiv Abe heard explosions in the early morning, which turned out to be missiles/drones being shot down. That ALSO produces damage with people injured etc. And our neighbors told us a drone had flown overhead visible from our street while we were gone. Our son-in-law Daniel recently took a trip to look at the situation near the front. If you have that interest the link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGriIjGvQ20 The latest hero in this war is Roman Kornichuk, a well-known believer in our city, leader of a platoon, serving in the war since February. 35 years old. As I write this believers are gathering at one of the churches for a memorial service for him. He was also a pastor’s son. It isn’t numbers. It’s individuals, real people who are giving their lives for their country. Yes, often our hearts ache. All you want is for it to all be over so that life can go on. But when it is over—life will never be the same for millions of people. Some will not return to Ukraine. Others are maimed or a son or father or husband or brother is missing. Destruction that is unimaginable in the east. At the same time, life does go on. Children still laugh. Young people are still getting married. Babies are still being born. Our comfort is in the Lord. I encourage you not to grow weary in praying for these requests, all of which are centered around the need in Ukraine. Yes, it’s hard to persevere when we don’t see answers. But God does hear. He is listening. Your prayers are valuable to Him. They do make a difference for eternity. Our hope IS in the Lord.

14 Sep

The conference last week was very blessed

PRAISE The conference last week was very blessed. Abe felt that God moved in the hearts of many people and that there will be long term benefits, not just in the Centers of Hope, but in churches who are seeking better ways to reach their communities and youth. Thank you so much for praying! Attendance was good, but not as large as what Abe had hoped. But then, that is always the desire, to see more people participating. Praise God for the people who took the time to both learn and be blessed. And God was taking care of things we didn’t even know about. Abe’s laptop looked like it was cracking open even though he hadn’t dropped it or banged it. He asked our tech guy to look at it right after the conference. Of all things—the battery was swollen—and with that the potential of exploding!! But it held together and now a new battery has been installed. (Rather old for a laptop, going back to 2016 or 17.) We receive many testimonies of people whose lives have been touched by Abe down through the years. One man came to him not long ago and said he heard Abe speak back in the early 90’s and it moved his heart and he responded to God’s call to plant a church which now has over 200 members. It isn’t Abe. It is God. And that is what we are looking for now during all of these sessions and the people who come. For God, His Holy Spirit, to use our limited human efforts to speak and give direction and encouragement and ideas to prosper God’s Kingdom! PRAYER Right now Abe and I are taking another week of vacation (well, most of the time!) before the responsibilities of the autumn really press in. But Abe and Vera know that the direction now is for most of the leaders to back off of evangelism and focus on discipling the new believers. There is a nursery full of them! But babies need care. Without that they will not thrive, and some might not even survive. So pray for Abe and Vera both as they plan and focus on this area. And pray for these new believers to become thriving lovers of Jesus, growing and maturing. Pray for the believers in Russia. Abe spent so many years training leaders there and working with them. One of the former presidents of the Baptist Union, whom Abe knows well and worked under and admired as a very Godly man, has been forced to flee Russia. He has been outspoken against the war with Ukraine from the beginning. You can read the full article if you desire at: https://www2.cbn.com/news/world/exclusive-prominent-christian-pastor-narrowly-escapes-russia-hunted-opposing-war-ukraine

28 Aug

Natalia and Leonid had a beautiful Silver Anniversary

PRAISE Natalia and Leonid had a beautiful Silver Anniversary celebration on the 16th. Natalia thanked us again on Sunday for coming and for all Abe did and prepared to make it a special celebration. The picture shows them with their 4 children and Abe doing an adaptation of the unity candle, including the children. They also repeated vows for their commitment to each other and took communion together. Every part a meaningful aspect of what marriage is about with Christ in the center. There were a number of refugees and unchurched people there whom they minister to regularly. While we were enjoying our week of vacation in Kyiv, friends came to stay at our house again, just to have a break from their difficult living circumstance. And they took advantage of the opportunity to have some refugees in for a Sunday meal. So many people taking opportunities to touch lives during the ongoing stress of war. And what joy! We went to our own church this past Sunday for the first time since my surgery! We moved down to the very front as it is a very large auditorium and in the middle where we usually sit I can no longer read from the screen. But I could participate again and it was wonderful. Nothing like fellowship with God’s people! I’m basically working fully on my computer now with a few adaptations to suit my present vision. But…it’s good to process almost all 200 emails that have been piling up!!!! PRAYER I will just give you one pressing prayer request. Abe has a huge meeting coming up next week September 4-6. He is expecting and hoping for 200 people or more, but we just found out that the center where he always has the meetings have another group coming in at the same time. So they only have place to sleep 100 people! We already have 130 registered plus our own team which will be double in size this time because of the extensive presentations he will be making. Vera is diligently combing the city to find other accommodations. The meetings are in Irpin just outside of Kyiv—a city that was bombed at the beginning of the war. It is a large city but many businesses are closed because so many people left. Pray that God will open up options. It means that the cost of the whole conference will also increase considerably, but…we just need to find lodging. And pray for all the final preparations this week which includes finalizing many things and printing a large amount of materials. Some of this has been on hold as we and others took vacation time. Your prayers are valuable—and effective. Don’t ever doubt that. Our hearts are often lifted up by the knowledge of the prayer community that surrounds us.

14 Aug

EYES. Yes, thank you for praying

PRAISE EYES. Yes, thank you for praying. My left eye continues to improve and from the sight I now have it is obvious that it will be better than in my right eye. Still a ways to go, but that’s okay. God is good. REST. We have already been able to make a couple short breaks here and there keeping the work flow down to necessities, and it has been very good. We leave tomorrow for a whole week of vacation and really look forward to that! This time to Kyiv. It has been a long time since we have done more than pass through. (Even though I talk about Abe’s meetings in Kyiv, that is for simplicity sake. He actually meets with people in a neighboring city where the Baptist Union has it’s headquarters.) We are so grateful for this opportunity. PRAYER Pray for our friends, Leonid and Natalia, who are celebrating their 25th anniversary today. We have known them just a few months short of those 25 years as they applied to become missionaries serving in Russia with us. They served there for about 9 years and then returned to Ukraine and took a pastoral role in the church we attend here. Now they are deeply involved reaching out to the refugees in our city, holding Bible studies with them, inviting them to meals. And this anniversary even will actually include a large number of refugees in a hope of touching their hearts again for the Lord. About 20 couples will be there, plus others, all people they have an active relationship with. What a beautiful thing to do! And Abe will be speaking and participating in the celebration. Pray that people will see the beauty there is in a faithful marriage with Christ in the center. And pray for the Center of Hope ministries. The work goes on. This time I will include a few pictures just so you can “feel” people. Providing physical bread Transforming communities CENTERS OF HOPE—Reaching communities for Christ. Bringing transformation inside and out. Reaching Kids Feeding the spiritually hungry! The war seems endless to us and discouraging when we concentrate on the physical, material, economic devastation, but God wants to do great things. As you pray, be assured those prayers are not lost. One of the most difficult things for us to grab hold of in intercessory prayer is the fact that it doesn’t appear to be doing anything. We want to make something, do something that we can see. The hardest thing to get past when trying to understand intercessory prayer is that it somehow seems we aren’t doing anything. Most of us want to do something for God. The Scriptures teach us something amazing about the activity of intercessory prayer. Remember Moses holding up his arms during the battle with the Amalekites? He wasn’t down there fighting, but he was interceding. What an old man does with his arms on top of the mountain shouldn’t have any effect on the battle in the valley below. But it does in the kingdom of God. And what you do sitting in your homes and churches while praying for the needs in Ukraine shouldn’t seem to have any effect logically, but it does in the kingdom of God. Father, help me to trust that when I intercede on behalf of Your plans and purposes, You are moving in power. Let me continually be aware that this will always be the most effective “doing” I can engage in throughout my life. (Thoughts from Harvest Ministries)

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