I could summarize this in three words: “A FULL DAY” and it was but sometimes preachers – at least this one when writing blogs – just uses a lot of words so why should I stop now! It began at 10:30 AM and ended at 10:15 PM when we returned to our home here. But, not only was it “a full day,” but it was a “great day.”
Three services: 11:00 - 3:00 - 5:00 with only a lunch break before the 3:00 service. Word of Life has a “Seminar Sunday” once a month in which they focus on very practical life teachings. And so it was very easy to adapt to their schedule.
We were led by the Lord to minister on the subject of Healing in the 11:00 service and saw the healing power of God displayed in the lives of many – more hands were raised testifying to healing than I could count quickly – so we will leave the numbers to God and rejoice in the display of His power in the lives of the people. But the direction of the challenge from the message was to “take the power of God to the streets and homes of their friends.” It was a continuation of the theme set on Friday evening from 2 Kings 17 – “Covenant People In Troublesome Times”.
The 3:00 service continued the theme of everyone involved in ministry as I shared on: “The Relationship of Kings and Priests” which exhorts the non-five-fold – the congregation to recognize their position and responsibility in the Kingdom of God.
The final service at 5:00 focused on the individual destiny in relationship to the corporate destiny of Word of Life from Psalm 139:13-16 – “You Have A Blueprint For Greatness” – which emphasizes the involvement of God’s planning for their lives as believers.
And the crowing part came as the pastor expressed that the Word was in alignment with his vision and what he had been imparting to the people.
And of course, no “full day of ministry” is complete without food and fellowship. So we had a good time in the home of a couple of the Church setting around a table of typical Ukrainian food.
The day ended, with the satisfaction that God has blessed our efforts and we “plopped down” in our beds to enjoy a night’s rest.
Tonight, a men’s meeting and a women’s meeting.
Thanks for your prayers and for presenting the privilege for us to represent you in Ukraine.
Dr D and Marilyn
Monday, April 29, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
UKRAINE MINISTRY LOCATION NUMBER 1: Chernivts
UKRAINE MINISTRY LOCATION NUMBER 1: Chernivtsi
After battling a Kidney Stone for 10 plus days, the trip over was a “breeze,” even though it required 48 hours from crawling out of bed on Tuesday until we arrived here in Chernivtsi. (It is located in the south-western part of Ukraine close to the country of Moldova.
The first leg was air and took only 19 hours flying time to get to Kiev; 7 hours layover waiting on our train and then 14 hours to get to Chernivtsi. It was not bad, because we had “beds,” better “bunks” (and that is using the term loosely.)
Then it was time to get all things in order and discover that our schedule had another service was added to our schedule – making it 3 on Sunday – 11:00, 3:00, and 5:00. But that is the “perilous joy” of this kind of ministry. And it does make time go fast!
Our first schedule was a Thursday evening service with Pastor Dmitry and Natasha Nemchenko at Word of Life. And on Friday evening we had another service. I thought it was to be a communion service, but when I looked and there were no communion elements in sight I decided to inquire. Thank God I did! Even though it was there monthly communion service, the communion was postponed. So I turned immediately to God and asked for the direction. It was interesting. I had been trying to discover why even though I was prepared for a communion service as was previously stated, I had another message burning in my spirit. So a quick switch with my trusty iPad Mini and I was all set. Well, after changing the scriptures in my Kindle Fire for Oksana Smertina, my secretary here in Ukraine and interpreter.
When the service was complete, Pastor Dmitry approached smiling from ear to ear and the top of his head shinning (it is like mine - all ready for the glory to descend with nothing to dull the cloud). He began to tell me how he and the assistant pastor, Vitaliy Pavelenko has spent over three hours discussing the chapter I used as a my text just a couple of days previously. Isn’t God Good?
Then today, Saturday, at 4:00 until 7:00 I became a “teen leader” again. (Do not laugh - I was once s youth pastor and I know all their tricks!) Anyway it was great to see the youth again. The past two years I have been involved with them at picnics and parties. One of the greatest thrills was to see two of the youth who were in the orphanage and to whom Word of Life has ministered, involved in the youth ministry, even though they are no longer in the orphanage.
And of course, there is always the time set aside just to fellowship with the pastors. There is nothing more thrilling than having this privilege.
Marilyn will have a session with the ladies on Monday evening and I have a cell group meeting on Tuesday. Man am I privileged to share the Word with God’s special people here in Chernivtsi.
So tune in again to the blog – watch for notification if you are a friend on Facebook of Marilyn or me.
God bless and thanks for your prayers and for sending us to do this ministry.
Dr D and Marilyn
After battling a Kidney Stone for 10 plus days, the trip over was a “breeze,” even though it required 48 hours from crawling out of bed on Tuesday until we arrived here in Chernivtsi. (It is located in the south-western part of Ukraine close to the country of Moldova.
The first leg was air and took only 19 hours flying time to get to Kiev; 7 hours layover waiting on our train and then 14 hours to get to Chernivtsi. It was not bad, because we had “beds,” better “bunks” (and that is using the term loosely.)
Then it was time to get all things in order and discover that our schedule had another service was added to our schedule – making it 3 on Sunday – 11:00, 3:00, and 5:00. But that is the “perilous joy” of this kind of ministry. And it does make time go fast!
Our first schedule was a Thursday evening service with Pastor Dmitry and Natasha Nemchenko at Word of Life. And on Friday evening we had another service. I thought it was to be a communion service, but when I looked and there were no communion elements in sight I decided to inquire. Thank God I did! Even though it was there monthly communion service, the communion was postponed. So I turned immediately to God and asked for the direction. It was interesting. I had been trying to discover why even though I was prepared for a communion service as was previously stated, I had another message burning in my spirit. So a quick switch with my trusty iPad Mini and I was all set. Well, after changing the scriptures in my Kindle Fire for Oksana Smertina, my secretary here in Ukraine and interpreter.
When the service was complete, Pastor Dmitry approached smiling from ear to ear and the top of his head shinning (it is like mine - all ready for the glory to descend with nothing to dull the cloud). He began to tell me how he and the assistant pastor, Vitaliy Pavelenko has spent over three hours discussing the chapter I used as a my text just a couple of days previously. Isn’t God Good?
Then today, Saturday, at 4:00 until 7:00 I became a “teen leader” again. (Do not laugh - I was once s youth pastor and I know all their tricks!) Anyway it was great to see the youth again. The past two years I have been involved with them at picnics and parties. One of the greatest thrills was to see two of the youth who were in the orphanage and to whom Word of Life has ministered, involved in the youth ministry, even though they are no longer in the orphanage.
And of course, there is always the time set aside just to fellowship with the pastors. There is nothing more thrilling than having this privilege.
Marilyn will have a session with the ladies on Monday evening and I have a cell group meeting on Tuesday. Man am I privileged to share the Word with God’s special people here in Chernivtsi.
So tune in again to the blog – watch for notification if you are a friend on Facebook of Marilyn or me.
God bless and thanks for your prayers and for sending us to do this ministry.
Dr D and Marilyn
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