Blessing of influence.

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about the fact that people are the most valuable thing in this world and it is a great joy for me that the Lord has called me to a ministry where I can spend a lot of time with people. Leadership for me has become both a joy and a challenge. Huge scale of Ukraine, 7 teams of staff, almost one and a half million students; and working with people is not always easy - one must love a lot, accept a lot and forgive a lot. And I have to admit I often act in my flesh and it is difficult for me.

However, I believe that since God brought me here, it means that He will help me accomplish this ministry by His grace and mercy. The first two months of my ministry I spent on visits and trips. I visited our teams in the Dnepr, Odessa, Lviv, Kiev. My role is to guide, equip and care for team leaders and other staff to achieve our vision and goals for Ukraine. Here are some photos from my visits to Dnepr and Odessa. 

Our team in Odessa

Women's ministry in Dnepr

After moving to Kiev, I was acutely aware of the lack of my direct influence on students. I am very glad that God uses me in a leadership role, allowing influence on His servants, our staff in CRU. But I prayed that the Lord would allow me to have a ministry "in the field." I wanted to share the Gospel with students, help them grow in knowing God, to understand where students are, what they live for and to see how God works in the hearts of unbelievers. And the Lord answered my prayer, by His grace. 

In July, at our summer project Speak Out, I had an opportunity to get acquainted with twins - Ira and Katya. The Lord opened their hearts to learn more about God and Christianity. They are very open in communication and absorb, like a sponge, knowledge about God, about Scripture. Ira and Katya study in Kiev and participate in Campus Ministry in Kiev now. Periodically, I meet with them, share with them passages from the Bible, and encourage their spiritual growth. Ira recently had a very difficult emotional period; she was depressed at a level that she was sent home for 10 days. This "desert" has become a good occasion to talk with her about what God wants from her, what He is trying to get her attention to. Please, pray for further spiritual growth of Ira and Katya.

I also want to introduce you to my new students from the Musical Academy - Julia and Marina. The girls have been living in Kiev for three year now. Earlier they participated in our movement in Kirovograd. This year, God gave me the opportunity to help them serve the students in their academy. We met with the girls to plan the ministry in their target audience - in the dormitory of the Musical Academy. I also lead a discipleship group for them using the book "How people change". This fellowship enables us to grow together in the knowledge of God and helps me invest in their spiritual growth. Both girls have two other disciples whom they help to grow and learn the skills of evangelism. I see how the principle of 2 Tim. 2: 2 works in practice.

This is their third year at school and they think about where God leads them further in terms of ministry, after graduating from the academy. Pray that they would have the strength to study, work and participate in ministry of evangelism and discipleship.

Thank you for your prayers and support. 

Together I serve with you so that: 

"Spiritual movements are built among the students of Ukraine in partnership with Christian youth"

(this is our vision)