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For all the people who are pressing forward in the Lord’s work even during war.
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As you know our task is to open Centers of Hope and we hope to target large cities in areas where there are not churches. Abe has actually been working on the Center of Hope concept for the last 5 or more years. He has held workshops regularly working with men on evangelism and church planting. One of the men opened a church 3 years ago and just celebrated that this summer. It is called “Center of Hope”. 😊 It is a joy to see. But the further news is that this man, Dennis, has trained another man, who has just opened another church in another area. He has called is “Center of Living Hope” so that they can distinguish them! Dennis is an example of a man who took all the training and followed through and passed it on. May the Lord continue to bless them!
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Abe received wonderful reports of how the Baptist Union is distributing humanitarian aid provided by the World Health Organization. Of course they have a huge network, and they appointed a man who has come on board to direct and coordinate all the efforts with the provincial superintendents. Aid is being distributed effectively and with the Gospel as well going out to all these needy people. What a joy to know that across the country physical needs are being met, but spiritual help is also being presented to people. Hundreds of churches are participating.
Abe left this morning on the first of what will most likely be a number of exploratory trips across Ukraine. These meetings are set up by the Baptist Union to meet with superintendents and some of their key men to encourage, explore, define needs, and make contacts. This week it is central Ukraine.
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Pray for these travels: it includes Vera, Vasyl Furta (vp of pastoral care), and Andrei the translator. Protection on the road, health, wisdom in connecting and understanding situations.
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Pray for the people they meet with that it will be a good time of inspiration for them. And pray specifically that hearts will be moved to embrace the concept of Centers of Hope.
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As I write this we again have warnings to stay in shelters. Another interruption of plans. Continue to pray that this evil will stop. Putin has asked for a truce so he can “reorganize” to continue in February???? Several main cities are being pelted with drones carrying bombs as infrastructure continues to be targeted.
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And continue to pray for the millions of displaced people. The numbers are overwhelming. Some are seeking to return but others are still fleeing especially as winter approaches and they have no means of heating.
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A friend sent this photo from a trip in New England. It has actually been 237 days of war now. But we keep praying. God sees us. God hears us. May He show mercy upon Ukraine.
I am laughing this morning. Well, my heart is laughing! I’m not actually laughing out loud!! Last night I was feeling quite downhearted and I knew it was because Abe was leaving this morning and would be gone two days. Actually this isn’t unusual for our lives at all. But you have to realize that since the war started we have basically been together 24/7 with about 3 exceptions the past 7 months. I didn’t know how that was going to go at first! But then, war interrupts your life and there are a lot of adjustments that have to be made. So we did fine those two months here in Ukraine and then the 5 months of travel.
But now I need to go back to my “old” lifestyle where Abe is gone about a third of the time, and last night—I didn’t feel like it. I tried to write a prayer update because I like these trips to be covered with prayer before they start, but I just couldn’t get it together. And so, I stopped. Some encouragement I had yesterday was “try softer”. We all know about “try harder” but sometimes we need to let go and not keep pushing, so I let it go.
This morning when I awoke and as Abe was leaving I started my morning routine of quiet time. I follow a year’s plan from the Bible app, YouVersion. But quite often I add another short devotional (from the same app) just for some extra encouragement. I had just started one a few days ago and this morning the thought was “Don’t take yourself so seriously”. It made me laugh! And the whole message made laughter well up in me! Yes, Lord! The world doesn’t spin around me. I just need to laugh. Just from the joy of the Lord and how He is working still. Wars notwithstanding. And so He has down through history. I’ll share the link. I know some of you might enjoy this 14-day plan to encourage your heart and draw closer to the Lord. It is unusual in that it has a video each day. And meanwhile the Lord has lifted the burdens of the world from my shoulders and refreshed my soul.
https://my.bible.com/reading-plans/32165-first-thoughts-john-ortberg
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