Greetings!
The Lord is with us, He holds us by the hand firmly – and therefore we must boldly accept the challenges that life sends our way. As long as we are alive, let’s keep sharing His Word with this world; this is the way our missionaries live and is the way each of us should be living.
Let us be grateful while we can have fellowship in the church and study in home groups because Christians in other parts of the world can only dream of such a luxury. If the Lord prompts us to help someone and encourage them through it, we do it because someone is giving their life so that we can be where we are now and do our things here. However, no matter what happens in the world and no matter what awaits us ahead, the Lord tells us: “Do not be afraid!”
Be brave,
it’s me,
don’t be afraid!
Mark 6:50
International Mission
Armenia: Ministry by Word and Deed
“Today, more than ever, there are many people around us who are experiencing various difficulties and losses. As long as the Lord gives us breath, we will use every opportunity to share the Good News!” These words from the letter of our missionaries in Armenia are actually the motto of their ministry.
Sunday services, women’s meetings, Sunday school for children, classes with teenagers, and small groups are aimed at strengthening the faith of Christians and helping those who have not yet accepted Christ to repent and come to Him. In Yerevan, people are mostly invited to general meetings, but in the settlements of Kakhtsrashen, Dekhtsut, and Nshavan they also practice visiting families in their homes. It is especially valuable for people when ministers pray for their needs. By His grace, the Lord answers such prayers – and this affirms their faith.
The ministry to Yazidi Kurds in the mountain settlements of Armenia continues
Thanks to the donations of Christians from various places in the village of S. people repaired the washed-out road to the house of prayer of the church Dawn. The good deeds of Christians cause affection and trust in them on the part of locals. Yazidi parents are willing to send their children to Christian camps. Please pray for a children’s camp in the village of S., a youth camp together with Armenian teenagers, as well as a day camp for orphans and children from low-income families in the city of Vanadzor.
Persian Christian Conference
Through the ministry of brothers Mani Mohammadi and S.A., many Iranians hear the gospel on social media and in person and are converted to Christ. These believers gather in groups to study together the teachings of Christ and receive instruction through communication through various platforms. There are small Christian Persian communities in the diaspora and in Iran itself. Approximately once a year, groups of believers travel abroad to a place where more complete and personal Bible study is conducted for them. Pastors from Ukraine and Poland had the honor of preaching these messages, teaching the basics of biblical doctrine, and also baptizing and marrying Persian believers. It is a great inspiration to hear testimonies of God’s amazing works, and how He saves people in a country officially closed to the gospel.
Thanks to God for the opportunity to establish the hearts of brothers and sisters in how to live out the gospel, how to overcome difficulties, oppressions, and struggle with sin, relying on Christ. Please continue to pray for the underground church of Iran! Many churches are without pastors there, and Christians are forbidden to gather together for prayer and fellowship. Pastoring and disciple-making are very weak, believers need more support and care. We are grateful to everyone who invests in the development of the Iranian ministry.
Evangelism through Sports
A Meaningful Soccer Break
In May, we had pretty nice weather almost like in the summer, and the nature at our campsite in Zalissya has come alive and become amazingly beautiful, so the soccer players of SC Nadia, who spent five days running a camp there, were very happy to be there. None of the 13 boys wanted to go back home earlier. “What’s so special about it?” – you might think. The thing is that it was a camp for the youngest ones, 5-7.
Busy Spring
With spring came a large number of competitions and various events in our Christian Floorball Club “SKY.” At the beginning of spring, a team of teenagers (up to 16 years old) took part in the third round of the championship of Ukraine in the city of Zdolbuniv, Rivne region. It was a special event for us because our club was the organizer of this tournament, and it was the first time we had such an experience. In terms of the game, this tournament was the final one for us in this championship of Ukraine, however, we are satisfied that many parents came to the competition to watch their children play and we had the opportunity to continue building relationships with them…
Ministry During the War
Visiting Military with The Good News
On March 27-30, brothers Arkady Slyoza and Vyacheslav Arterchuk again made a trip to the military in the Donetsk region.
The trip to the East actually began with a trip to Khmelnytskyi, where our friends prepared many treats for our defenders, in addition to what was purchased in the city of Rivne.
The first meeting with the military took place in Pokrovsk – with brother Oleksiy and his comrade Andriy from the 72nd legendary brigade of “Black Zaporozhets”.
Is War a Place of Ministry?
“I talked with you – and now I feel like I have hope…” These were the words heard by one of the military personnel of our mission, who in April had the opportunity to support Ukrainian defenders on the front lines again. The trip was not like the previous ones, because the front line got closer and it was felt in every place where they needed to be.
In order that each of us could live another day, dozens of soldiers give their lives. The price we have to pay for our peace, tranquility, and well-being is exorbitant…
Ministry of Evangelism in Schools
Evangelistic Exhibition of Paintings
Thank God that in many educational institutions of Ukraine, there is an opportunity to conduct activities on spiritual and moral education!
In March, members of the Department of Christian Ethics, Arkady Slyoza and Ruslana Kovalchuk, held an exhibition of paintings “The Life of Jesus Christ in Works of Art” in three schools of the Sarnen community. March 6 — in the gymnasium of the village of Glushitsa and the elementary school of the village of Strilsk (grades 1–4 and preschoolers). March 11 — at the lyceum of the village of Gorodets. On March 13, they visited the lyceum of the village of Kolodenka, Rivne region, with an exhibition.
Young Bible Scholars 2024
“As usual, at the end of each academic year, they sum up the material studied in one or another subject. The subject “Fundamentals of Christian Ethics” was no exception. Many Olympiads and competitions on this subject were held, where my students participated, and in some Olympiads, I was invited to the jury,” says the employee of the mission Hope to People, a teacher of Christian ethics at the Klevansk special school # 1 and the Rivne Lyceum “Ukrainian”, Ruslana Kovalchuk…
Quest “The Greatest Journey”
The end of the study of the Bible in the lessons of Christian ethics in Klevansk Special School # 1 was the quest “The Greatest Journey.” The Lord provided us with good weather: the morning rain had stopped and the event could be held outside. After passing through all the locations and completing interesting and exciting tasks, the students gathered in the auditorium, where they put on their graduation gowns, and then could receive gifts, listen to congratulations and spiritual guidance.
The Last Bell in Svitoglyad!
That day, the schoolyard was filled with festive noise, laughter, and flowers. And in the air, there was a slight sadness and a joyful foreboding of the summer holidays.
The director of the school, Ms. Iryna Kurchenko, touchingly welcomed all those present, summing up the fifth world-view academic year and talking about the achievements of the students and the team.
The teachers recalled the bright moments of Svitoglyad’s school life, and the students entertained the audience with a wonderful artistic program: songs, tuning forks, and guitar…
Our Prayer Requests and Financial Needs
► Please pray for the continued support of the two Arab ministry leaders, and for the health of our older co-worker in Uzbekistan, that the Lord will restore his strength.
► Pray for summer Christian camps for children, youth, and teachers, which will be held in Ukraine and Armenia, for the development of the ministry of the children’s and youth sports Christian Floorball Club SKY in Rivne.
► Pray for additional funds in order to evangelize the military on the front lines and serve the victims of the war on the home front: refugees, people in the liberated territories, orphans and widows, the wounded, and the disabled.
► Pray for funds to be raised for the children of refugees and disadvantaged so they will be able to stay in summer outreach camps and for the education of such children at the Christian school Svitoglyad.
► Please pray for the speedy reconstruction of the house in Zalissya, so that there will be more space to more comfortably accommodate older people whose homes in their native Donetsk region have been completely destroyed, as well as for further ministry and evangelism to these affected people.
