PRAISE

  • A large group attended the Celebration of Prayer and found it refreshing and uplifting. Many of them took home the resources so that they could use fresh prayer ideas in various groups and meetings, and possibly share them with other leaders. Always a joy to have people pass on what they have learned and experienced.

  • We have just finished doing a huge print order which includes prayer walking booklets, some discipleship materials and many other resources so that we are prepared for the whole year. And Ivanka, our faithful coworker, through her diligence managed to save us $2,000 in costs by finding other printers who would maintain a high quality but do it for less!!! A blessing on two counts!!

  • Daniel, Priscilla and Ellie arrived safe and sound in Australia and are enjoying the warmth of being in the southern hemisphere. A well-deserved break ahead for them! After the hiccups before the journey with Priscilla’s passport, the Lord blessed their travels with peace.

PRAYER

  • We may be coming to a time of discernment with the Centers of Hope. Our main focus will always be on bringing people into the family of God and building His Kingdom with Christ followers. But people quickly move to “secondary” ministries with children’s programs or sports programs. All good. But if no one is coming to Christ… This is not a criticism. It’s a matter of where God has called us to invest. Pray for understanding among the leaders that they need to be committed to talking to people personally and presenting the Gospel to them and bringing them to a decision. And that must be the first priority of their ministry—and then they can add the other things. But, first you need to have a foundation of people being born again, discipling them, and, actually, then letting them minister in the other areas. Otherwise it is a busy ministry with one couple doing it all, and losing the tangible focus on souls. Does that make sense? There is a harvest to be reaped. Pray that every leader will be impressed by the Holy Spirit with the need to seek out people who are spiritually ready, and bring them to Christ—our Hope. And yes, much of the prayer time last week was focused on the harvest.

  • Pray for me (Diane) as I study and review a multitude of materials on counseling. We want to be able to put tools into the hands of the leaders to help people to deal with the trauma of war. We want to have a counseling approach that is based on prayer and helping people to find in Christ their ultimate Counselor/Comfort/Refuge/Immanuel. And it needs to use basic principles that a layman can use. It is an area of high interest for me having always been interested in psychology, but a lot of discernment is needed. Pray that the Lord will guide me, give me His wisdom, and help me not to get bogged down in dead ends.

  • And yes, the trauma of war continues.

 

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This billboard near our home is a prayer: “Lord, heal the physical and spiritual wounds of Ukrainians!”

 

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The above is a memorial to about 100 men that was put up on our city square on the 1-year anniversary of the war. And those are men just from our area. And something else came poignantly to my attention a few days ago. I was talking to a friend whose brother is listed as “missing in action”. And what does that mean? Is he a prisoner? Does he live? Will his body be found? He’s a godly man with a family of several children, a couple who are already in university. But Kostya said the hardest thing for the family is not knowing. Not knowing.

And then the soldier I saw yesterday—without a leg. The hospital here that is being renovated to provide rehabilitation for men like him.

And yet, life continues. A couple got married in our church. A widower. A soldier, who will again go back to battle on Thursday. Yes, people must go on with life. Even in uncertainty.

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And so all of us continue to pray that the war will end—and sooner rather than later. That people can pick up the pieces of their lives and again look to the future. And we pray mostly that thousands and thousands will come to understand the truth of Psalm 62:6

“{God} alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.”(NLT)

 

In Him we have a secure future, whatever this world may throw at us, however we may be disappointed or betrayed or suffer. I have often clung to this rock, have sheltered in this fortress. A couple verses later it says “Trust Him at all times”. Even when the world goes crazy. We are safe in His hands. Even if the boat sinks. He knows. He is there. His love surrounds us even in the midst of evil.

Live in that assurance, that comfort, that peace, that joy.

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