“And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
The Lord our God continues to give us an opportunity to serve Him during these hard times. God reminds us that everything is in His hand and under His control. This understanding inspires us to pray and to trust Him more and more. We invite you to join to our prayers and our ministry of Jesus Christ,
Who is worthy of all glory.
We are thankful to God for your devoted hearts, that you keep praying and providing financial support. Be reminded that you invest in the imperishable and that God has promised to give back exponentially to those who sacrifice for His ministry.
This newsletter provides news and the ministries’ prayer needs for the last month.
Education
Rivne Biblical College
The Lord has blessed us to organize one more study session in the Rivne Biblical College “Word of Grace”. On the 15th of February, a new class of twelve students has started its second academic course “Practical Apologetics – Faith Defense”, which is being taught by Ivan Kundarenko. Our brothers and sisters need good theoretical and practical preparation to defend their faith in the context of modern society.
Please pray that God would bless every student with good understanding during this study session and also the teacher with God’s wisdom and necessary strength.
Biblical Preaching School
The Biblical Preaching School has finished its 3rd academic session on the 10th of February. 37 students from different regions of Ukraine, Belarus, and one from Germany, came to study “Systematic Theology” in Rivne. Andrey Raugas, the minister from Samara, taught how to systemize the fundamental doctrines of the Bible. The brothers have been filled with the Word and received lots of homework. We are grateful for the opportunity to prepare ministers who encourage and serve the body of Christ. (Eph. 4:11-16)
Christian Ethics
The educational department of IPO “Hope to People” continues to cooperate with the departments of education in Rivne, University “Ostroh Academy” and the Institute of Postgraduate Teacher’s Education on the topic: “Spiritual education of younger generation”.
The Institute of Postgraduate Teacher’s Education initiated Rivne’s phase of the 5th All-Ukrainian Competition “Young scholars of the Bible”. The goal of this contest is the increase of interest in students toward the Bible, to raise spirituality, and to inform parents and the public about the subjects within spiritual direction.
Students of grades 1-11 in Rivne schools took part in the contest. From 150 participants, the jury chose the winners who will continue to the final stage of 5th All-Ukrainian contest, which will take place at the National University “Ostroh Academy” on 29-30th of March. The workers of the educational department of Hope to People, Bondarchuk O. and Kovalchuk R., are invited to participate in the preparation and conduction of the contest.
Magazine: Word to Teacher
Since June 2011, the magazine “Word to Teacher” was published through the renewed contract between “Hope to People” and a private owner. That was the plan for 2012. Even the subscription for the magazine of 2012 was finished in December of 2011.
The change in the legislation of Ukraine was a big surprise for us. Since January 1st, it is forbidden for a private owner to publish and distribute printed materials.
For this reason, we are in negotiations with another Christian organization which agreed to help. However, we do not yet have a final decision from them.
We are asking you to pray for God to give wisdom in this situation, and for Him to bless the preaching of the Gospel through “Word of the Teacher”.
Orphans’ ministry
Students, who live in Bondarchuk family had guest over. During the meeting, they were studying Bible, guys were sharing about their studying, prayed together about needs. Friendly meetings were held with the small group of Volodja and Angela Chudovets. Bright testimonies of mature Christians give an opportunity to think about important choices, which we make in our lives.
In January 2012, presents “Samaritan Purse” were gifted to children-orphans in the Mizoh’ orphanage. Gift boxes were filled with toys, pencils, paints, sweets, personal hygiene items and other little but important items. Eyes of children were shinning, when they were opening their presents.
We are thankful to God for the opportunity to serve graduates of orphanage of Mizoh’, for organization and conducting of charitable event for orphanage in Mizoh’, for warm mittens from Memphis church.
Please pray for arrival of dental team, for funds for sewer system in the house for orphanage graduates, for repentance of the students, for organization and conduction of summer Christian camps.
Missionaries and their ministry
Ministry to the Roma people
Aleksej Bezkovarnyj continues to serve among the Roma people in Stahanov. This is the city which in Soviet times was showing productivity records and the entire country was following its lead. We hope God will continue to use His ministers there, who will be an example to us.
Every Thursday a new Bible study group has started to meet in Stahanov. Most of the group members are unbelieving Roma people. Some of them listen attentively and don’t reject the Word.
However, the other part of the group does not agree with Biblical passages that contradict their traditions and pressure Christians who preach the Word of God. Culture and traditions are very important and valuable for the Roma people.
Tuva
A troubling event has happened to Victor Zagvozdkin’s family. His youngest daughter Agata fell from a bunk bed and hurt her head. She was hospitalized.
Ten days passed since Agata fell from the bed. She had to receive shots in addition to other medical procedures. During the last week, her condition became much better. She became happy, started to run around, and began to eat normally.
God has wonderfully looked after this situation. The head of the neurosurgery department was very friendly and had a helpful attitude toward their family. The hospital helped with free medicines. They allowed the family to take their daughter home for the weekend. The doctors are amazed by how quickly Agata is getting better. According to the latest information, Agata was sent home from the hospital.
Agata’s re-examination is being planned in the early spring. Therefore, they need our continuous prayer support. Praise be to our Lord, in whom we put our trust.
Kalmykia
The Church of “Christ Savior”, where Eduard Badmayev ministers, is in the process of merging with the church called “New Life”. They have already agreed to cooperation. During the first Sunday of February they had joint worship. One church has many people, but no place to meet. The other church has the opposite situation: they have a place to meet, but few people.
They still have an urgent need for education. Brothers and sisters are waiting for the family of Zhenja and Nadja Begletsov to move to Kalmykia, to start to systematically study Bible.
Crimea
The Yura and Olesya’s family went through blessed adventures on the way to Crimea after the conference in Rivne. When they came to the Crimea peninsula, they had to stay overnight in Krasnoperekopsk because the roads were blocked by snow. They saw God’s hand and His lead in the situation. They got to stay overnight with an unusual half-Muslim family, and God was working through them.
This family has lived in Crimea for 8 years now. The husband is Arab, and his wife is Bashkir. They live and dress according to their religious heritage, but they are not practicing. Some time ago, the husband started to read the Bible. Even though he believes that Jesus is Lord and God, his theology is still in the formative stage. We hope that God who has started a good work in this family, will continue to work in their lives. After warm goodbyes, the next day the Jura and Olesya’s family got home safely.
Central office of Hope to People
The central office of Hope to People is on the last stage of becoming fully operational. Governmental organizations have kept our documents for a long period of time. They are either trying to find some mistakes or just buying time. This is one of our office’s prayer needs. Please also pray for resources to support the staff. Also pray for us to stay productive and do a quality job on time. There is a minimum amount of employees, but the same amount of work.
We are grateful to the Lord for all His blessings and mercy towards us! We put all our needs before His throne for everything happens by His mercy and grace towards us, people! May His Name be glorified in us and through our lives!
We ask you to pray for all the aforementioned ministers and their ministries. Unfortunately, many of them, especially the ministers from Middle Asia, have only partial support. If the Lord touches your hearts to support one of the ministries mentioned in this newsletter, you can do it through our bank information, or through our friends abroad.
