It took a little less than half a century since he, as a young family man and his wife went on a mission to Italy. Over 13 years of service in a foreign culture not only their 4 children were born, but also from nothing was organized the Church (70 members), on the basis of which were later created 4 more communities. The study of Italian language, history and culture was necessary and effective tool in God’s work, though not the only one.

For the first time he visited Ukraine in 1985. According to him, despite the current difficulties, a lot has changed. Economy, food, clothing has improved. And, moreover, there is more hope in the eyes of people. But one thing remains unshakable for sure – God controls everything and continues to carry out His redemptive purpose.

This time, Dr. George Murray has come to Ukraine as a chancellor of Columbia University (USA) to be the main speaker of the missionary conference in Rivne.

However on the eve of this event was hold a small seminar with his participation, where he shared his rich experience of service, based on God’s Word. During this seminar Dr. Murray expressed his great desire for Ukraine: “…the missionary potential in Ukraine has not started its implementation yet. My irrepressible desire is to transfer the vision that you start the missionary work”.

His sermons had a lot of useful, exemplary and motivating information.

Firstly, the statistics that shows the numerical growth of Protestant Christianity. In 1945, the number of believers does not exceed 80 million people. This was 3 % of the total population. Today there are 800 million believers that make up 12 %. However we should not only rejoice. Nine out of ten people in the world are spiritually lost. Two of three people have never heard a clear explanation of the Gospel. One of this three does not even have true Christians around, who could tell about Christ, nor the means of communication, which could be used to contact them. Interestingly it turns out that we are here, waiting for the Second coming of Christ, when other people have no idea about the First one.

Secondly, brother George’s family life is very instructive too. For 45 years every day (when they weren’t separated by distance, i.e. travel) he along with his wife has been reading the Word of God and meditate on it. Nothing has changed, even when children have born. Although it took a big effort to stay true to their decision. Every evening after dinner has been reading the Word. And then, after reading a little more from the book “Operation peace” about other peoples, the family proceeded to prayer. So God’s view of the world was binded to children.

Thirdly, the very interpretation of Scripture and mission in it has produced a strong impression on the audience. It will not end with the impression only, for sure. It was a calling to pray, a calling to sacrifice, a calling to GO. The church itself and its infinite perfection within itself is not the ultimate goal. An equally important part of its mission and is in communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people (1 Pet. 2: 9; Eph. 3:10). But evangelism and missionary work have their differences, as well as similarities. Evangelism – reaching people who do not believe in Christ. A missionary work – reaching people who are not even aware, that Christ exists, in whom to believe.

Christian doctor Henrieta Myers, known mostly in the United States, wrote: “The Bible does not speak about hundreds of different topics, it speaks about the same topic in hundreds of different ways.” And this is the theme of redemption. Redemption is the work of God in bringing Christ into the world, because it needs Him… While the missionary differs from the redemption only of two words. At the end of the definition “add yourself”, i.e. missionary work is God’s work in bringing Christ into the world, because it needs Him through you.

Artem Pristupa