Team Kharkov Praise May 13th-19th

"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.  We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).
     I would love to be able to put into words how the Father answered our prayers for the labor of love by the Mississippi team in Zmeeov, Balaklaya, and Christian Life Church (Kharkov) this past week.  Amanda and I are still processing all the answers to prayer that unfolded throughout the week, the encouragement that was granted to our Ukrainian brothers and sisters through this team, and how the Father received glory for all He did!
     The team left Kharkov at 10:55 p.m. Friday night traveling by train to Kiev where they spent the morning today.  As I write this, the team is in Amsterdam, preparing for their flight to the states tomorrow (Sunday) morning.  
     Throughout the week, the medical team saw 338 people in Zmeeov, Balaklaya, and Christian Life Church.  There were 19 professions of faith during the week....19 new brothers and sisters born again into the Kingdom of God.  
     The gentleman in this picture has come for 3 years to the medical outreach in Balaklaya. For the first 2 years, as the team shared the love of Christ and the plan of salvation with him, he said "no."  But the Holy Spirit has been working in his heart through your prayers, and the church in Balaklaya to continue "plowing, planting, and watering" the seed of the Gospel.  This year he said "yes," coming before the Throne of Grace in repentance and receiving eternal life through Christ!

      The construction team worked diligently throughout the week and accomplished more than we could ask or imagine in the "House of Prayer" in Zmeeov.  Below are pictures that give an example of the "before" and "after" in the church.  Pastor Yuri, his wife Olga and their children were overwhelmed, encouraged, and blessed by all these men accomplished.  

House of Prayer, Zmeeov, March 2012

House of Prayer, Zmeeov, May 2012

     We give all glory, honor and praise to the Lord for what we witnessed this week!  Thank you for your commitment and faithfulness to pray for Team Kharkov, our Ukrainian and American partners, and the people of the Kharkov region of Ukraine.  God is answering in ways that bring joy and encouragement to our hearts, and glory to Him alone!
     Please join us this week in praising Him for all He has done, is doing, and will do in the future in all of these churches.  Pray for Amanda and I as we visit in the coming weeks with Balaklaya and other churches in the Kharkov region, seeking to know where He is working, and how we might join in that work in the future.  We look forward to sharing more pictures from this week, and more of the testimonies of how He moved by the power of His Spirit!


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