Thank you very much, our dear and beloved by the Lord brothers and sisters in Christ, that you remember and love and never stop helping the small church in Dneprodzerzhinsk. This year has begun for us in a very blessed way. Thanks to your support we conducted our first retreat with ministers team. Our friends from Word of Faith Church recommended us an amazing place at the camp site, which is located in Mishurin Horn village. The camp site is located right on the Dnipro River banks. In winter this place is empty and the management is very glad to have guests.
Leadership Retreat
Retreat was held in atmosphere of worship, prayer, unity, friendship, love and active work. We planned to spend time in studying the topic of personal prayer, reading the new statute of the church, planning church events for 3 months, six months and a year. A very important issue for us was to analyze again the last year camps and to delve into the planned camp activities for 2016. As you can see, plans were grandiose. Of course, we have not coped with all the tasks, but most of them we have overcome.
Tea breaks allowed us to serve one another with a pure heart. These little things, as we think, fastened with invisible threads bonds of fraternal love and team spirit.
Here are some testimonies of those who participated in this important church event.
There were a lot of good things at this meeting, but especially valuable for me and my wife was to live out the understanding from our brothers and sisters at the time when we lost contact with our grandson, and serious commotion came in our hearts. Pastor immediately offered all of us to pray. We prayed for our grandson and for many children with whom our church works. We prayed for their conversion, devotion to God, their obedience to parents and zealous attitude to work of church. God does not cease to surprise us, and in time of prayer grandson called us, and we together glorified our Lord, who dwells in every place and responds to prayer of His people (Fedor and Svetlana).
I was very glad about the opportunity together with pastor to actively participate in the preparation and organization of this trip. I was able to see even more what difficult and very responsible job it was. I want pastor to know and to be sure that he can rely on me and with the help of Christ I will not fail (Paul).
Probably for a long time I will remember me and Sergei trying to start a minibus for several hours. We had really done everything we could, but we never started the car. However, the Lord did not leave us. We still have come to the camp, although there was a great temptation not to go and to hold a meeting in home conditions. Thank God, we have overcome temptations and made it safely to the place, and no one regretted at all. It was an active worship, active labor, delicious food and a great time with friends. It is important for me that I could still spend a good time with my beloved wife (Maxim).
For me it was very valuable to talk openly and confidentially with Tanya. We haven’t talked so for a long time. I think that the whole meeting served a good basis for such an important conversation. We were able to use the truths that were studied in church teaching. This conversation was the Bible applied to practical situations. Thank God! This meeting has helped me to move effectively in ministry to children (Lyudmila).
I read the testimonies of my friends and for all I speak outloud Amen. It was very well. But we came down from Transfiguration mountain, where we all said, “it is good for us to be here”. And now we begin the embodiment of what we have talked and prayed about. Special thanks to the brothers organizers for the sauna. Together with sisters we perfectly improved our health, drank tea, shared some secrets. Alleluia! (Tatyana).
It was very precious to be not in home environment for such necessary for all of us communication. We have never prayed so much and so intensively together. Personal prayer theme is very important to me. I really want to grow in this matter, and I hope that such meetings will motivate us more and more (Julia).
For me, as a pastor, this trip was very important. I have been thinking and praying for a long time about how our team can spend more time together. It is important that we broke out usual conditions and could dive in God, His Word, prayer and lengthy review of life of the church and camp ministry. I rejoice the fact that we have succeeded so much. I analyze why we have failed something. I dream already about the next trip. My heart is filled with praise to God, and special thanks to Him for He has put me (very weak and imperfect man) near such wonderful people who love Him and are willing to serve Him in this year even more dedicated than in previous year. I believe and see that together we will do for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ more and more (Sergei).
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Holiday of UNITY
The next stage of winter ministry to children, adolescents and young people was holding a holiday. This is a great time of several generations’ unity in the Church of Christ.
Festivities begin in children’s room, when the table is covered with goodies that need to be laid on the table nicely. In this process children take an active part under the guidance of adults.
I really like to help. In our church I feel a lot of love and care. In other churches I have not felt such an attitude. Thank you. Especially I like hugs before and after the meetings or club. It’s so cool. Thank you for the warmth (Dasha).
On holidays we prayed, sang and praised God together. Listened to sermons.
It was very nice to recall old Christian songs. Such an atmosphere! It is a pity that we sang from memory and there were no words for children. They enthusiastically sang the choruses. Especially Daniela (Anya).
I have been visiting Agape House Church not for a long time, but these holidays are just real union with God and with each other. And the kids are just great. I pray that my daughter converted to Christ and could feel what we feel when we get together (Lyudmila).
It is a pity that my mother has not been with us today. Oleg, you are my leader (Valik).
Thank you, Tanya, for small presents with the instructions, which she has made for everyone present here. I already pray that Unity Holidays have become a good tradition of Agape House Church (Sergei).
We all pray about it already.
Thanks to everyone who participated, prepared, organized, and drove people, helped in singing, preaching. Thank God!
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Trip to Kharkiv
Back in August 2015 in the teen club we have talked and prayed a lot about the trip to Kharkiv. I sincerely say our children really wanted to spend time in Aquapark. It was a good opportunity to invite friends, to communicate and to preach the Gospel.
And so, in January 2016, our dream has come true, or rather – God has answered our prayers. We went to Kharkiv. Hurray!!!
The road was quite long and it was a great time of fellowship and worship. We were able to get acquainted closer with each other. Communication, games, songs, the opportunity to recall God’s blessings. GREAT!
God has given us the opportunity to stay in two wonderful apartments (separate boys and girls). In the apartment where girls lived was a large room, which we used for worship and communication. In small rooms we have chats. Accordingly, in the kitchen we cooked dishes with delicious food (sometimes we ate at home and sometimes at the cafe). We would like to mention cutlets and chops, which we our sisters from church cooked.
I was assigned to cook a large number of chops. I was really worried and prayed for God’s blessing. I witnessed how God miraculously answers even that kind of prayers. I have never cooked such delicious cutlets before. Thank God! (Ina).
The organizers of the trip to Kharkiv asked me to make chops for children. And I thought, “why only chops, I will do pancakes with meat to. It is for the glory of God after all. And for children it will be tasty and enjoyable” (Svetlana).
It is very joyful to go into service with such devoted and praying people who in the kitchen ministry see the hand of God and seek His glory.
Continuing conversation about trip to Kharkov, I could write a lot about Worship, Aquapark, Zoo or cool Skating rink. But I want adolescents and young adults to share their impressions themselves.
I help to serve in Bible teenage club and I was very happy to be with our children not just for one night but for two days. I was very glad to get acquainted with Dima, Dasha’s brother. In my opinion, it was very important to talk about lying and the truth of God among adolescents. Great that there were not just sermons, but we managed to organize discussions on given topics. Some children have just opened. Obviously, the theme struck a chord. Concerning the water park and other excursions, it’s better children and adolescents to write (Oleg, 23 years).
Just recently I met Seryozha and church. My younger sister Dasha has been going to this church for a year. She really likes it. She became happier. I have not yet believed, but already I have gotten a task from pastor to read the Gospel of Mark. I have already read once. Powerful thing. We talked a lot about lying. Previously I did not look at this issue from a biblical side. How much is yet to learn!? It is a pity that the trip had few kids of my age (Dima, 19 years).
It was very cool. It turns out an elephant is huge. What a wonderful God’s creation. AQUAPARK!!! I want more!!! There’s a cool jacuzzi and delicious ice cream. Thanks to those who organized everything so cool (Nastya, 17 years).
I’m usually very sick on the road, but God has blessed me and my health was not bad. It is a pity that I injured my leg in the water park, and I could not swim much. I remember how bad was my leg and Sergei carried me on his shoulders. The zoo was very fun (Camila, 9 years).
Really enjoyed. The extraordinary enthusiasm. I rejoice over the possibility to stay with children of Sunday School and the Club. And yet I liked very much to serve the Lord together with Julia. She is the pastor’s wife, a great friend, a great servant. We serve together in Sunday school, thank God for the fact that we can serve together in the camps (Luda, minister).
Unfortunately, I was unable to go because of work, but I saw shining faces of my wife and children, who received great impressions and joy. I pray that I could be more and more involved in camp projects of our church (Max, minister).
Coooool!!! Well, very cool! And when will be the next trip? (Eugene, 14 years).
Before the trip my health deteriorated and I could not go. But the Lord is very kind, and I have not felt bad on the road and in Kharkov. Great, after all, to serve children not only at home but also in various trips. I feel God more, when I’m not at home. Or I just think so??? He is great and gives us strength and desire to serve Him together. Hallelujah!!! (Julia, minister).
That was our trip to Kharkov for adolescents, youth and church ministers of Agape House. We are very happy. We are very grateful to God and to those who helped our church, which is very difficult to go through this time of crisis. But together we remember our brothers from North Korea, and all difficulties are quickly forgotten.
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Sergey Timofeev
