Where we live . . . .

For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:13-14 . . . . . So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

Prayer request – There are still many, many people living in these buildings who have never heard the true GOSPEL of HIS Grace. These are some photos from around our neighborhood, Sa’di A’din (means Gardens One) There are thousands and thousands of people just in this one district of Poltava. We live in one of the apartments here in this district and have built many friendships with the people here over the last five summers. Please pray very hard next week for this district and also another area of Poltava called Levada. There will be an Upward soccer team coming from the states to do a week long soccer camp for all the children in these areas. Please pray especially for Mike Ray, Erin Brassart, and Pasha (Paul) as they have already been hard at work preparing for this team. Please pray for the hearts of the children, their parents, the team members, the locations (fields – that there will be no problems using them), for the translators, the weather, and most of all that the Lord’s Spirit would move in unbelievers hearts to draw them to saving faith in HIM. Also pray for our team as we assist in this ministry and just try to fill in the gaps. GOD Bless!

This week in Poltava

So far this week has been a very good week. We have been helping with English practice every day in one of the private schools here in Poltava. God has blessed us very much with this open door and we have been able to invite the children to the Upwards soccer camp that will be going on all next week and the older youth and adults to our English club that will begin soon. These students are anywhere from 6 years old to adults and all ages in between. Please pray for Mindy, Felesha, and Tuesdae as they work with ages 12 and under. Also pray for Kayla, Page and me as we work with 13 year olds to adults. Also one of the pictures is from our Church, Salvation church; this is the Church we partner with and where we worship most Sundays. This verse of scripture in Ukrainian is in large print on the back wall of Salvation Church. I’ll translate it for you here:

. . . . but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Cor 1:23-24 (NKJV)

Please continue to pray for us as we attempt to do exactly what this verse says, to preach Christ crucified, the only way to GOD, eternal life, and abundant life. Miss ya’ll and GOD bless.

Tuesdae, Mindy, and Kayla made it here fine. Praise the LORD! thanks so much for your prayers. Pray for them as they adjust to life here. God bless! Will update more tomorrow. We just got back to Poltava and we want to get them settled in.

Today we had class with a group from the Poltava Teachers University. These students are preparing to be the next generation of teachers in Ukraine. Ukraine is trying to catch up with their educational system. This year’s (2010) high school 11th graders will be the first class of students to go through 12 grades from what I understand. In the past Ukrainian high schools have only went through the 11th but starting this next school year they will go through the full 12 just as students in the U.S.A.
Please pray for these future teachers in Ukraine. (Pictured above) Just think how many lives they can possibly touch over their career's, just think of the Spiritual impact they could have on Ukraine if they themselves become true believers in HIM. Our class with them went very well today. The students were very open and very appreciative. We were able to share a lot with them about our country, culture, and also about some of our upcoming ministries. Please continue to pray for us and for more open doors like the one we had today. GOD bless!

Made it!

Thank the LORD we are finally here after a few delays. We have been in Ukraine now for six days and so far everything is going very well. We have been in classes every day except for one, which was a national holiday. We just got our internet on today (about 30 minutes ago) so hopefully we can keep ya’ll updated from now on. The photos are from some of the classes we have been in this week. We go into the classes to help the Ukrainian students with their English lessons, build relationships with them and invite them to our English clubs, Bible Schools, and Sports ministries where they will have the Gospel shared with them and be introduced to Ukrainian believers who can also start building relationships with them. Please pray for all these students and their teachers. The students in the photos are anywhere from fifth graders to University students in several different schools. PLEASE pray for us and for the rest of our team who will be coming soon. Tuesdae (our daughter), Mindy, and Kayla. GOD bless!

Springdale Baptist Church mission team to Poltava, Ukraine

We are so thankful for all the support our Church family has given us and so blessed to be a part of such a mission minded Chruch. Thanks again to all of you who support us, pray for us and a very special thanks to our home Church, Springdale Baptist Church in Ripley, Mississippi. We will miss you all very much over the summer.

Mindy & Kayla

As many of you know Mindy and Kayla will be going to Ukraine with us for the summer! We are so excited to have them on our mission team! This will be Mindy's second summer in Ukraine and Kayla's first, please pray very hard for them. The LORD uses these two young ladies SO much at our home Church, Springdale, and I'm confident that HE is going to use them in a powerful way this summer. These two girls mean so much to my family and I, I have been their youth pastor for over 8 years and it is such a blessing to see how CHRIST is at work in their lives. Again, GOD bless and please pray for all of us as we prepare to head to Ukraine very soon, please pray for our families back home as well.