It was a “new concept” to the Ukrainian Pastors. I had spoken to several over the past two years and asked them what they thought about having an “Idea Exchange.” I tried to tell them what it was all about. I told them it was not geared around sessions that would give them new programs, nor around preaching sessions, but around the pastor himself/herself.
Yet it was a struggle to get through this first Ukrainian Idea Exchange. Was it a success? Yes! Allow me to bring you up-to-date on the events. I said very little in blog #2 about what was happening.
Pastors are often closed and protective and isolationists. They have met so much opposition and struggles with their people and often from other pastors that they approach many things with fear and self-protective measures in place. They often wear “masks” to cover up what is really going on. They have had to walk before their people and present a “front” that is almost “false” because it is “expected” of them.” They must be “perfect!” They “represent” God and therefore they must be as God – without faults, and without change.
The truth of the matter is far from that perspective and it is a “killer” in the lives of pastors. Add to that pastors who are almost the front line – first generation – in a country without many “spiritual fathers.” This dynamic along with the cultural, religious and political pressures creates men who love God but walk alone, afraid to relationships.
This was the goal of this Idea Exchange – to break down the walls and introduce those who attended to the concept of relationships. We approached it by presenting the prayer of Jesus in John 17:20-26 – in which Jesus prayed for His people to walk in unity as “one” for their maturity.
The closest and most necessary relationship is of course with God. So we asked them in the first morning session this question: “What is God saying to you? To your Church? To the Church of Ukraine? And to your nation?
It was like pulling teeth to get responses and then to keep them on track. The tendency was to get onto their “work,” their “ministry” rather than to what they were hearing God speak to them personally. By the end of the session I was able to point out to them the theme of the morning – from their words to the rest – all focused around their personal relationship with God.
Tuesday evening, we gave them opportunity to share and then addressed them with a devotional: The Pastor/Preacher as Counselor who gives people a reason to live. As we walked to our room Marilyn and I wondered if anything was happening. We had also opened our afternoon for personal counseling, questions and whatever – but we had no takers. It was hard to read them, though our interpreter, Oksana tried to convince us that she knew everything was making an impact and their response was typically Ukrainian.
Them comes today! We separated the women and men so we could address issues specific to each. By the time I finished at 11:30 I could tell an impact was moving and their defenses were beginning to fall. Immediately upon finishing, the interpreter, a pastor, along with another pastor who did not speak English approached me and requested a meeting immediately in a secure place where no others would be around.
As we walked to the room, I went over what God had directed me to talk about after we spent more time requesting those who had not shared what God was saying to them. I challenged them to guard them selves against the three major pitfalls for pastors: Improper use of their time; greed (money); and women - sexual issues. So I knew I was in for a heavy session as we continued our way to his room.
He needed to someone with whom he could “confess a moral, spiritual failure” as the Word declares, “confess you faults to one-another that ye may be healed.” He had already been confronted by God and had repented but needed to share it so he could be held accountable and also by that confession be “healed” and set free. Needless to say, he did, we prayed and God did!
I’ll let Marilyn share about her experience with the ladies but we – in case you forget – we is “two” – met with a couple who had been presented with a request to pastor a Church and they needed advice on how to approach it and how to determine the will of God and also what they needed to do to come to a “unified response.”
The final session, began with prayer and then spontaneous worship, then a word of knowledge regarding a child of one who was critical at this moment. Sure enough one pastor had just received a phone all and was told his daughter had a very high temperature and the wife/mother did not know what was wrong with her. That was just the beginning and ministry flowed for the next hour.
I concluded the evening with a shortened message to challenge the pastors to be a “confronter” of sin in a generation when it isn’t popular to be a “confronter.” As the evening concluded and they began to move to other areas for fellowship, drink, etc. one pastor whom I had never met but was invited by a friend I do know said to me, “Thanks for the time here. I needed the fellowship. I have never been to a meeting where this kind of fellowship was available.”
Another pastor, a close friend, but one whom I wondered what his thoughts were came up to me. I had not been able to read him and he even missed the morning session. His words were, “This is what we Ukranian pastors need. When are you going to hold another one of these meetings?”
And so we wrapped up the evening watching fellowship take place, relationships being built, personal information being exchanged, hugs of appreciation being given to one-another. I left Marilyn sitting with a large table surrounded by ladies and passing the Sauna and the Billiards room I discovered both were being occupied by the men and relationships growing.
I sit here at the computer and without any personal “back-slapping” but with brokenness of spirit I can hardly keep from weeping. Thank you Father for Jesus and His prayer for us. It is happening! Pastors can become supporters of one-another across union/denominational barriers, even though they are miles apart.
Yes! It is worth it!
Thanks, Life Church – you invested in untold thousands of life as Jesus tarries.
Thank you owners of Equator – may God return your investment into the pastors of your country multiple times over and over!
With love and appreciation,
Dr D and Marilyn
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