Team Kharkov Requests June 17th-24th

"Since ancient times, no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him" (Isaiah 64:4).

How often have I "grown weary" of waiting for the Father to work in His way, in His time? Even living for 13 years in a culture where waiting is just part of life, I have not yet learned to do this with joy.  However, this passage promises those who wait for Him to answer our petitions in His way, in His time will see Him act in ways we as humans cannot begin to comprehend.  

Do I believe the promises of Christ:  "Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete (John 16:24b);"  "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours" (Mark 11:24).  He does not instruct me to believe when I see, but to believe when I ask that he is now working to answer.   Thank you for joining alongside Team Kharkov to ask the Father, in the name of Jesus, to work in the hearts of the people in the Kharkov region of Ukraine - that multitudes would enter into a personal, eternal relationship with him.  May we pray, then "let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23).

Amanda and Oleg presented before the church

Sunday, June 17th  Thank you for your continuing prayers for Amanda and Oleg.  They have begun the process of applying for a fiance visa for Oleg in preparation for a wedding in Alaska in late October or early November.  Pray for them as they wait upon the process, and upon the Lord's timing for approval.  Ask the Lord to grant them knowledge of his will in the months following their wedding.  (They have begun a blog of their "journey" together at http://olegandamanda.blogspot.com for those of you who would like to keep up with how the Lord is working in their lives.)

Monday, June 18th  Praise to the Father for what he is doing in the life of Vika, a young woman for whom you have prayed over the past year.  We (Linda and Vika) continue the Breaking Free study together each Monday.  Please continue to pray for Vika to allow the Lord to reveal the places in her heart that have been broken, and for his healing to flow into her life.  

Tuesday, June 19th  For the past year Amanda has worked alongside youth leaders at Christian Life Church in Kharkov.  Please continue to pray for Christian Life Church as they seek to strengthen and grow their youth group (some of whom are shown in the photo below).   

Amanda & Oleg with friends from Christian Life Church

Wednesday, June 20th  Although no more games will be played in Kharkov, Euro 2012 football tournament continues, with thousands gathering on Freedom Square in Kharkov to watch the games on huge screens.  There are some evangelical groups handing out tracts and seeking opportunities to share with the fans.  Please continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to work in and through the lives of his people throughout the country who are using this as an opportunity to share Christ with their communities and people from all over Europe.

The FanZone at Freedom Square in Kharkov

Thursday, June 21st  The Book Club english group has ended for the summer, but I met last Thursday with two of the women who have been coming for six years.  As we have waited on the Lord, we have seen him work in both their lives.  Yet I understood through our conversation last week that at least one of the women has not yet chosen to accept Christ as Lord and Savior.  Please pray for all those who have heard the gospel through The Book Club, as the Holy Spirit continues to work in their hearts and minds.  Intercede for them that his Word would bring each one to the place of repentance.

Friday, June 22nd  Amanda and I will travel to Donetsk today to meet up with our colleague Joe Ragan in preparation for a prayerwalking seminar in another city tomorrow. Pray for joy in the journey, and hearts renewed and refreshed by our time together.  

Saturday, June 23rd  We praise the Lord for the opportunity to share with believers in the southern city of Mariupol about prayerwalking and the power of praying God's Word today.  Pray the Lord would go before us, preparing our hearts and the hearts of all who attend to encounter the Lord as we engage the enemy through prayerwalking.  Ask him to grant us eyes to see and ears to hear how he is working in this city.

Sunday, June 24th Pray for Amanda and I as we travel back to Kharkov today from Donetsk.  Intercede for our journey to be filled with a sense of his presence.  Ask the Lord to grant us sweet fellowship with him, and with one another.

We praise God for compelling Southern Baptists to continue to give through the IMB international missions (Lottie Moon) offering!  It was announced this week that $146.8 million was given to support missionaries around the world.  At times Ukrainians ask how we can live here (financially), and I love to share with them how the Lord has united the hearts of Southern Baptists to give sacrificially so we can can serve wherever he leads.  Thank you to all our SBC brothers and sisters for your faithfulness and obedience to give!

Impacting the Kharkov region of Ukraine with the love of Christ!