Great move of God in Crimea and Kherson, Ukraine.pdf
We were taken half way by Bishop Vasiliy from Zaporizhia and picked up by Pastor Daniil from Crimea in a large industrial type van (without air conditioning). We bounced along the Crimean roads, passing a couple of open air fish markets with dried tiny salted fish hanging on strings, and then veered off onto narrow country roads. We arrived with just enough time to change and prepare for the service. The presence of the Lord was strong and people entered into worship despite the uncomfortable heat. The worship was powerful and the Lord worked in a powerful way at the Love of Christ Church! Pastor Daniil and his family were great hosts to us.
The Love of Christ Church was started about 20 years ago. Daniil’s parents and entire family moved to this area from Belarus during Communist times, let by the Lord to establish his work. There were only a handful of believers in the entire region. The area had a large chemical plant, that was built by prisoners on good behavior at the end of their sentence. One of our teachers, Pastor Vasiliy Zavgorodiniy, was imprisoned for working as a Youth Minister in Odessa and ended up here building the plant at the end of his term. The believers were persecuted and Daniil’s family would hide their Bibles underground in the garden, as their home was often searched and Christian literature would be confiscated. Many times the police would park their vehicle right in front of their house to prevent them from gathering for a home meeting. Despite the oppression, they pressed on and started the church in Armyansk, which recently celebrated it’s 20th anniversary. We met Pastor Petr, Daniil’s father, and other leaders from Crimea, while ministering in Kherson, and started to support the work there and elsewhere in Crimea. Then the Lord led to start the church in Krasnoperekopsk and we arranged for a crusade with our colleague, Evangelist Tony Abram, who also gave great support for the work. Many souls were saved and a vibrant church was started. Pastor Peter went to be with the Lord and Daniil carried on. Churches have since been planted in a number of cities, towns and villages. Crimea has a beautiful coastline on the Black Sea, but the majority of people have lived in poverty and most of them do not know the Lord. We have supported, with your help, the rehab centers, children’s home and outreaches here. We have provided motor scooters and vehicles for pastors and evangelists, purchased buildings for churches, and trained many, many for the ministry. We are preparing for another BIble School starting in November.
No wonder the enemy tried to attack our finances with a situation on our home front while we were here ministering. Being wakened in the night after ministry, with the news was an immediate indicator that the enemy did not like what we were doing. We are standing in faith, believing God will turn this into a blessing as He has promised. The Bible says “no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is the vindication from me, declares the Lord.” Isaiah 54. 17 (NIV) We as and thank you, in advance, for standing in prayer of agreement with us.
While in Crimea, Pastor Daniel was gracious to take us to Yalta for a day to see where Nina’s parents once lived. We visited the site of the Yalta Conference where Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin met in 1945. As we observed the table, set up the way it was for the conference, we were reminded of all the harm that followed the agreement, through the expansion of Communism over a large portion of Europe. The Iron Curtain that was created as symbolized by the Berlin Wall, and persecution came on the church. We thank God for the freedom that has since come to this part of the world, and for the ability to preach the Gospel to those who had never heard. Crimea has been a battleground in many wars, including WWII. Today there is a spiritual battle for the souls of men. The political and religious climate is tense but the harvest is ripe. We must not lose this opportunity to do what is possible to point people to the only Hope, Jesus Christ, while this window of time is yet open.
On the return, we had the opportunity to visit and encourage a pastor whose spouse had recently gone to be with the Lord. We got a chance to also see the Children’s outreaches with the use of Bounce Houses we helped to obtain, with your help. You should see the the joy on the childrens’ faces in these towns and villages where they have nothing to play with. In some villages the local authorities organize the events and ask the church to come and to do Bible Stories and worship songs and with intermissions of bounce house play. The parents are thrilled to see someone take an interest in their children and open up to the Gospel as they see the presentation. We brought help for the purchase of church buildings in the area and dresses that were made by Rae Zarghami and the ladies at Rolling Hills Christian Church in El Dorado Hills, to be given out to poor children in these villages.
What an outpouring of God in Kherson! Pastor Vitaliy and his family warmly welcomed us to their city and their church. They had a banquet ready for us. The Lord had His banquet ready as well. The presence of God was so real, the 1000 or so in attendance could not stop praying! The church has gone through many challenges in the process of building their new facility. Much opposition. After 10 years of going through the permit and authorization process, someone broke in and stole their documents. When they went to the city, they were missing there as well. But God through His redemptive power gave them the breakthrough to build, howbeit on a much smaller piece of land and with much difficulty. They pushed ahead as quickly as possible to raise the structure before someone could stop it. They put most of their money and resources and efforts into this and were exhausted when we arrived. They had been able to only raise the smaller hall structure up to the roof. We felt we needed to encourage them. And, at the end of the service I felt to call Pastor Vitaliy up and to pray for him and the construction of the new church building. The Lord’s power descended as a mighty rushing wind and people began to pray out loud in one accord all over the auditorium and continued for some 20 minutes. There was such an awesome presence of God that was indescribable. One thing I can say is that there was a definite breakthrough in the spiritual realm. Our gracious hosts once again treated us to a meal fit for royalty. Please pray for Great Commission Church in Kherson.
From Ukraine we went on to Czech Republic. God has opened great doors in this, the most atheistic nation in Europe. We will share what happened in the next newsletter!
Please see the attached newsletter with photos of the ministry in Kherson and Crimea. You who have prayed and partnered with us, have had a part in all of these outreaches. We could not have done it without your support!
Please pray for us and the many outreaches. We are preparing for the Bible Schools in Russia, Ukraine and Armenia. Please pray for us and all the teachers, visas and travel arrangements necessary to complete the task. We need spiritual strength, God’s protection and large financial provisions to do this and much, much more which God is leading us to do!