You already know the main news of the recent weeks: we are no more hostages of the property in the territory occupied by Russia! We have experienced the fulfillment of the promise “I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten” (Joel 2:25). The long-waited relief came so unexpectedly! Not only did we sell our Apologetics Center we were not able to use, but also despite the enormous real estate cost difference between Crimea “gray zone” and Kyiv metropolitan area, we managed to purchase the facilities of the same worth (see the pictures attached). It was mainly because the new facility requires an interior renovation and needs the furniture and appliances. Otherwise, it would be twice more expensive! The building has everything we need: a gathering hall (for the training courses, retreats, fellowships, media production, etc.), conference room, office space, study room, a guest room for visiting partners, separate storage chambers for the books, equipment and food supply, a large garage, a two-bedroom residential area and even half an acre of land for the outdoor activities. May the Lord be praised! We hope to be able to complete the renovation and move into the facilities by winter. Please join our prayers for the necessary resources.
We carried on with the ongoing ministry in the quarantine formats for most of the month – teaching and preaching online, developing media resources for YouTube, and publications for various social media platforms. We also used any opportunity to visit the IDPs living in a village we mentor.
The month’s climax was the softening of the quarantine restrictions right before our long-planned mission to Kremenchuk. The trip’s main focus was the very final session of the Christian Leadership Master program at Kremenchuk Evangelical Seminary (see the pictures attached). We dreamed and prayed about doing it offline, and it actually happened! It was a joyful time of exploring God’s guidance in developing the next generations of faithful servants of the Lord. Second Timothy 2:2 approach in action: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also”! Please pray with us for the multiplication of the workers at the field of the Lord in our part of the world!
The students of the course are involved with international missions as well as various ministries across the country, including the foster families’ movement. We were so glad to supply such families with the Christian textbooks on science that shape the worldview according to the instruction: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 21:6 – see the picture attached ). May these children abandoned by their physical parents rejoice in the arms of their heavenly Father because of His faithful servants who care about every one of them!
Finally, we had a very fruitful online round table with the Christian Master programs deans on the current challenges of Christian education in the former Soviet Union countries (see the pictures attached). It was an extremely productive exchange of ideas and experiences. Thanks to the Lord!
The month in total was so full of exciting news, events, emotions, and praises! Hard to express all of them with words! Thank you so much for your constant, faithful care and prayers!