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.

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  • 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. 

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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.

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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.

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