Team Kharkov Requests January 22nd-28th

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)

“What does “a living sacrifice mean?’”  This was the question posed by one of the women who has come for the past 5 years to The Book Club after we read the first few verses of Romans 12 last night.  Our group had significantly fewer folks than usual due to several other events for the evening, which gave Amanda and I an opportunity to go more into depth on what a “living sacrifice” refers to, and why we would choose to present our “bodies as a living sacrifice” to God. 

The more we discussed, the more I was convicted of my need to choose daily to lay my own plans, my own rights, and my own will at the feet of my Savior as an act of worship and thanksgiving for His abundant mercy.  Pray for us as Team Kharkov as we seek to be instruments in His hands, being transformed into the women of God He created us to be.

Larissa and Zhenya

Sunday, January 22^nd  Mosphanovo is a small farming village about 80 kilometers south of Kharkov.  We have worked alongside Zhenya Molodchy and other members of Christian Life church in Kharkov to reach out through health clinics and evangelistic events to those living in village that 80 years ago had a church with over 300 members, but is now slowly dying out.  Larisa (shown in the photo) is a 35 year old woman with Down’s Syndrome whose mother travels from another village to be a part of this body of believers.  She is now living in an orphanage, blind from eye problems.  Zhenya asked us to pray for Larissa and their church as they seek to raise the $500 necessary for surgery on one eye that would enable Larissa to continue living in her current situation.  Without the surgery, she would have to be sent to another facility and housed in much less favorable conditions.  Join us in praying the Lord would show Himself mighty on behalf of Larissa through His people in the Kharkov region as they are asked to provide. 

Monday, January 23^rd  Praise the Father for opportunities for Amanda to use her giftedness with crafts, specifically quilting, to build relationships with others in Kharkov.  Pray for the Lord to draw other women into a small group that is beginning to form to meet once a month for a time of quilting.  Ask the Father to draw women deeper into a relationship with Christ through their time of fellowship around the table.

Tuesday, January 24^th  Amanda continues to meet each Tuesday with 3 young women individually as the Lord has granted her opportunity to disciple, study (Experiencing God) and share the Word through relationships.  Petition the Lord to grant each of these women a desire to continually seek and know Him even as they come to know one another. 

Wednesday, January 25^th Pray for the New Hope International Church women as they continue to study Breaking Free, meeting every 2 weeks to discuss what the Lord is teaching them.  Intercede for the Lord to work through the power of the Spirit to set each heart free to receive His love, healing, and wholeness.

Thursday, January 26^th  Ask the Lord to grant us wisdom concerning the future of The Book Club.  Our desire has continually been to see a new church born from this group that has gathered together not only to practice English, but also to read the Word, some for over 5 years.  Pray the Lord would raise up a Ukrainian brother with a vision to be used by the Lord to help in transitioning this group from English, to a body of believers.

Friday, January 27^th  Amanda and I will travel today to Donetsk in preparation for leading a Prayer-walking conference at Gethsemene Church in Donetsk on Saturday.  Pray for times of sweet fellowship with Him, and with one another as we meet with our colleague Joe Ragan who serves in Donetsk. 

Saturday, January 28^th  Pray the Lord would prepare the hearts of each of us for our time of catching a vision for taking prayer to the streets in the Donetsk region of Ukraine as we meet today for the conference.  What was originally a conference for women has now expanded to include some of the brothers and youth from the Donetsk region.  Intercede for me (Linda) to speak His words, and not my own, as I lead during this time.

May we continually seek to join our hearts in prayer for one another, and for all we encounter each day as we are “thrust” into the world beyond our doors!  Praise, honor, and glory to the One True God who is faithful to answer the cries of His people!

IMPACTing the Kharkov Region of Ukraine with the love of Christ!