Sorry but no time to write today, just wanted to post some photos from the last few days of ministries, GOD bless!! Please keep us in your prayers.

REAL FREEDOM - Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36

Today was national Children’s Day in Ukraine and we were so blessed with such a beautiful day. We went to a kids program in a popular park in Poltava called Liberty Park (Freedom Park) it’s kind of a small amusement park with several rides, an amphitheater, fountains, and beautiful places to walk around.

We were able to take part in children’s ministries there with the children who were visiting the park with their parents or various schools to celebrate children’s day. It was a real blessing that the park administration let us set up there openly. We helped one of the ministers at the Church we attend here in Ukraine (Salvation Church). Please pray for him as he ministers all around Ukraine and even sometimes into Georgia. His name is Vladimir or (Vova).

First we had several kids’ games and played with a giant parachute that we use often. Then after that we split up into different 20 minute stations where the children did drawings, painting, and made crafts. We ended with prizes for the top three crafts and drawings. Then Vova shared the Gospel again with all the children and parents who were present.

Please pray for all the kids and parents as you look at some of the photos posted below. Pray that they will come to know the true freedom that comes from JESUS alone. The Freedom Park is a beautiful place to visit in Poltava but the Spiritual Freedom that comes from CHRIST alone is the only freedom that is truly real. Until a person experiences HIS freedom they are forever enslaved by the presence and power of sin in their lives but if the SON makes us free, we are free indeed!

Please pray for . . . .

1.  The freedom to see – for those who have heard, that they would see their need for CHRIST.  That the HOLY SPIRIT would remove anything that’s blinding them from the Truth of who JESUS is.

2.  The freedom to surrender – (that those who see would completely surrender to their lives to JESUS, not just a onetime prayer or emotional experience, but a real Biblical lifelong commitment to follow HIM. (For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.  Mark 8:35)

3.  The freedom to serve – For the Ukrainian believers here, that they would continue to have open doors to serve the LORD in various ministries and plant Churches without strong opposition.  That they would use the freedom they have been given wisely.  For us that we would use our time this summer very wisely.

Children's Ministries today 5-31-2012 / Orphanages and Children's Hospital

Felesha and the ladies from the pregnancy center in Poltava.  Please pray for the ministry here as they battle against abortion and share Christ with each woman who comes into the Center.  Pray especially for women to be drawn to the Center. In Ukrainian culture they face more difficulties with openness on moral issues like abortion than we do in the U.S.A.  The culture is generally very inward.  Also please pray for these ladies as they share in local schools with information about abstinence, pregnancy statistics, and show these fetal models to the students, sharing about when life truly begins.  Last year there were around 500 abortions in the city of Poltava according to government statistics but these statistics are very questionable.  Most abortions performed here are done privately and never reported.  They also ask us to pray for Christian Doctors to refer women to the pregnancy center and cooperate with them in caring for women and babies.  There are only 10 Christian Pregnancy Centers in all of Ukraine.  That means one center for approximately every 5 million people.  There are around 48 million people in Ukraine.



The first few days . . . .

Students from the English Plus school

 

Hello and GOD bless!  Our first few days back here in Ukraine have gone very well.  Most of our time has been spent getting readjusted to the time difference, preparing the apartment, changing money, buying groceries, getting our Ukrainian cell phones back going ect . . . just taking care of all the basic things we need to be able to operate here with our ministries.

We have been able to be in have about six classes over the last two days and participated in one English club.  Please pray for all these opportunities the LORD has given us.  HE has also allowed us to already have many ESL classes booked for next week and we should be able to begin many of our children’s ministries.  Here are some that we would like to ask you to pray for; the state run children’s orphanage / rehabilitation center, a rehabilitation center for children with scoliosis, a community called (translated) “the red way” just on the outskirts of Poltava, a village ministry in a village called “Za Vorskyla”, one village ministry at Chutiva, and also several days of sports ministries that will be connected with the Euro 2012 soccer matches.  We are praying and planning to make these areas our main focus for evangelism.

LORD willing we will also continue to teach ESL classes at one local private English schools through June.  We have been so blessed to meet two ladies from Chicago who are here working as English teachers at the “International School” here in the city of Poltava.  They are both strong believers and are attending the same Church we partner with here “Salvation Church”.  They are having an English club on Saturdays at 3pm so please pray that the LORD will draw many of our students from classes to this club, where they will hear the GOSPEL and be connected with Ukrainian believers.  Please pray for Kara and Jennifer from Chicago as they teach daily and are involved in many various ministries. 

Again, thanks for all your prayers and support.  We are so thankful to be here in Ukraine again for another summer.  We are so thankful to JESUS CHRIST for all the blessing HE has poured and continues to pour out on our lives.  To HIM be all honor and glory, GOD bless!

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Col 1:15-17 (NKJV)

Made it!  We arrived here yesterday about 4pm Ukrainian time.  So thankful to be in Poltava again.  Today we are unpacking and getting our apartments in order and shopping ect . . .  getting ready for our first ministry which is tomorrow.  Thanks so much for your prayers, please continue to pray hard.  GOD bless!!!!  Will begin regular updates soon.

Leaving today, LORD willing

Pleaae pray for us as we will begin our journey back to Ukraine this afternoon.  Thank you all so much for your prayers and support!  We are very excited about this summer and looking so forward to being back in Poltava.  Please pray specifically for our connections, flights, baggage, ect . . . and please pray for this years team.  The Rowland family, Robby, Felesha, Tuesdae, Page and Mary Margret Gunn.  Also Taylor Clark, who will be joining us in late June.  Most of all, pray that the LORD will use us to do HIS will and share HIS GREAT GRACE with all people we come in contact with from here to Ukraine.