Team Kharkov Requests June 24th-30th

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way" (1 Timothy 2:1, 2 ESV).

We have used this passage often - yet it is even more urgent that we pray for the people "who are in high positions" in the city of Kharkov, and the country of Ukraine in these days.    Corruption is a way of life in Ukraine, a country that consistently ranks high as being corrupt (in Transparency International Corruptions Perceptions index in 2011 Ukraine was ranked 152nd out of 183 countries assessed - http://transparency.org/).  While for most Ukrainians it is simply seen as a way of life to pay "incentives" if you want to get something accomplished, in the hands of the enemy of Christ it is more and more often being used against the evangelical church.

Almost all of you who have been in Kharkov have walked the steps to Blagodat (Grace) / New Hope church.  This building was begun in 1995, and for 15 years at least 2 congregations (and as many as 4 or 5) have met here to worship.  Last year the churches paid a substantial amount of money to bring all their documents up to date, and were "judged" as owners of the building and the land.  However, in the past few weeks, the court has decided that those documents are no longer valid.  On Thursday, the appeals court ruled that the church does not "officially" own this building or the property and it reverts back to the government.  Pastor Vitaly Sorokun, who is pastor of New Hope International church and a lawyer, said they really have no recourse at this time.  "They could come in today and bulldoze the building to the ground and we could do nothing."  

I give praise to our Father that he is not taken by surprise, nor is he unable to accomplish his purposes in the Saltavka region of the city of Kharkov.  Your intercession for those in authority, as well as for the body of Christ that meets within these walls is urgently needed.    Ask the Father to grant those in church leadership peace as they navigate this time of uncertainty.  Pray the body of Christ will grow even as the enemy desires to "put it to death." 

We leave this morning (Friday) for Donetsk, then travel tomorrow to the city of Mariupol on the Azov sea, to lead a conference on prayerwalking and spiritual warfare through prayer.  We will return to Kharkov from Donetsk on Sunday.  Please pray for our time of fellowship with the Lord, with one another, and with the church in Mariupol.  

Throughout the coming week:  
- Please pray for our journey back to Kharkov on Sunday - for a time of refreshing, renewal, and fun on the trip.

- Intercede for Living Hope (Pastor Sergei Datsko's church) as they hold an evangelistic outreach and children's VBS this coming week at a park near their church.

- Pray for me (Linda) as I begin to schedule visits to churches during my stateside time from October to January.  Ask the Lord to make clear his plans for my time there.

- We continue to teach Breaking Free (Amanda on Tuesday night with Natasha, Linda on Wednesday evening with women from New Hope church).  Please pray for the women involved in this study to have lives changed by the power of the Holy Spirit - their own lives, as well as the lives of family and friends who are struggling with addictions.

- Many Ukrainian believers are anticipating problems in the economy as well as in society in general when Euro 2012 ends the last week of June.  We are already experiencing changes in visa laws and registration that affect us personally.  Pray as our company seeks to understand and implement these changes for each of our personnel.  Ask the Lord to grant each of us favor with those in authority as we work toward getting new visas and registering in our respective cities.

Thank you as always for coming alongside us through your prayers, your giving, and your "going."  I am prayerfully seeking how the Lord would desire to use volunteer teams in 2013 to go out into the Kharkov oblast alongside our Ukrainian brothers and sisters in Christ.  Pray my heart, mind, eyes, and ears would be focused on our Lord and Savior, that I might know and understand his plans.

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