BUSY! WARM! GOOD! EVEN RAIN!
I say “rain” because for the last 24 hours we have had what we would call “an off and on again sprinkle,” but here it is “RAIN!” It is a very, very rare thing to have any such indication of rain and it is a double miracle for it to happen in the summer. This region is a desert on the side of the Andes toward the Pacific Ocean. Even in what they call their “rainy” season, it does not rain but only mists, mists and mists some more. They are all surprised and talking about it.
Today was a full day of activities here at the retreat site. “SITE!” Did I say “site”? YUP! I mean at the home of the Pastor! In his house. In his yard. In his Church facility. In his mother-in-laws sports arena (she has a large pool, a volleyball court, a small soccer court, a basketball court! This woman is in her seventies and at least once a week she holds court for her friends to play volleyball. She is the owner of a large wood processing and distribution factory. The wood is beautiful – I know I should be able to tell you the kind of wood, but my brain is “woody” and I do not know. Anyway, back to today’s activities.
Up at 7; devotions at 8 (Marilyn got drafted ten minutes prior to do the ladies devotions); breakfast at 9 (a Peruvian crusty roll with avocado) and a cappuccino (better than “fivebucks”; first service ast 10 (I spoke); lunch at 1; sports at 2; seminar session at 4:30; supper at 6:30; service at 7 (I spoke); hot dogs and Peruvian sausages after; devotions at 11 (Marilyn just got drafted again and this time without preparation time) and now time to allow it all to settle down, write this blog and then finish my message for 10:00 tomorrow.
It has been very interesting to see the new faces of the youth of Nuevas Fuerzas (spelled correctly today, but not in the first blog from Peru – sorry but my Spanish needs more work (if that is what you call it, but is more like a miracle). We found out that many of the youth here at this retreat are not really a part of the local Church, but come here to be fed, be accepted and recognized as valuable. You cannot tell by looking who belongs and who does not. That is beautiful to watch and be a part of.
There is so much to do and so many people to see and the time is moving too fast for me. I can see that it will necessitate a return to Peru probably two more times this year or more. We now have eighteen (18) schools in operation and more in the wings. Chile is opening and another country but I cannot remember which one even though Marco Aroni (our Peruvian coordinator) told me. There are at least two schools I promised to return to be there to hand out their first year certificates and others who are standing in line with the same request.
We found out that one pastor is taking the courses by himself under Marco’s direction and because of that wants to take it to his churches in Chile. This is exciting and we thank God for the reception and the privilege of being able to train workers for the harvest.
Signing off for today and requesting your continued prayers,
Dr D & Marilyn
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Thursday, February 12
SUMMER IS HERE (Not at home!)
Today has been a day of preparation for the youth retreat that began this evening. It is hard to be prepared before you arrive. Things seem to change. There seems to always be a new twist. More than not it is in your own perceived understanding of what your host desired. So you arrive with thoughts and then sit down to get prepared. And so I - we - have been doing this all day.
I will be sharing a three part series called: The Priorities of Love. I Love God. I Love Me. I Love You. It is based on Mark 12:28-31 and the scribe’s question to Jesus: “What is the greatest commandment?” Two of those are finished and the third is struggling.
And then in the middle of it all, we have to have two sessions with the youth over 20 and up to ??? (I really do not know except that they are single and want to shed that label.) Guess what the subject is? You are right if you said, “sex” – well it is a major issue due to the legalistic vs. the liberal points of view that these youth have been involved.
Our assignment is to bring them back to middle with Godly restraints to guide them. So PRAY - PRAY - PRAY!
So what more can I offer today, other than we have been busy on the computer. And wouldn’t you know it but my computer has a mind of its own! There must be something wrong with the keyboard – loose or ?. Because it will do all sorts of strange things. It will even begin to type in the small box, upper left, where it tells you the font you are using. Then it may just get mad and erase one who section if one is not careful. Frustrating to say the least!! I guess it doesn’t like getting old. It is forced to work sometimes 12-16 hours per day because its owner will not let it rest.
You can tell I do not have more to tell you, can’t you? Well, here is the END!
God bless,
Dr. D. & Marilyn
Today has been a day of preparation for the youth retreat that began this evening. It is hard to be prepared before you arrive. Things seem to change. There seems to always be a new twist. More than not it is in your own perceived understanding of what your host desired. So you arrive with thoughts and then sit down to get prepared. And so I - we - have been doing this all day.
I will be sharing a three part series called: The Priorities of Love. I Love God. I Love Me. I Love You. It is based on Mark 12:28-31 and the scribe’s question to Jesus: “What is the greatest commandment?” Two of those are finished and the third is struggling.
And then in the middle of it all, we have to have two sessions with the youth over 20 and up to ??? (I really do not know except that they are single and want to shed that label.) Guess what the subject is? You are right if you said, “sex” – well it is a major issue due to the legalistic vs. the liberal points of view that these youth have been involved.
Our assignment is to bring them back to middle with Godly restraints to guide them. So PRAY - PRAY - PRAY!
So what more can I offer today, other than we have been busy on the computer. And wouldn’t you know it but my computer has a mind of its own! There must be something wrong with the keyboard – loose or ?. Because it will do all sorts of strange things. It will even begin to type in the small box, upper left, where it tells you the font you are using. Then it may just get mad and erase one who section if one is not careful. Frustrating to say the least!! I guess it doesn’t like getting old. It is forced to work sometimes 12-16 hours per day because its owner will not let it rest.
You can tell I do not have more to tell you, can’t you? Well, here is the END!
God bless,
Dr. D. & Marilyn
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday & Wednesday February 10-11, 2009
WE GOT THE “GREEN LIGHT” AGAIN!
If you have never been to Peru you will not understand this, so let me explain.
First you go through immigration. Then you pick up your luggage from the carrousel, load it on a cart and head for the exit. One last step faces you. You hand your declaration document to the attendant. He says, push the button. If you get a red light, that means you have to take your luggage and run it through the x-ray machine. There they can inspect each piece of luggage and ask questions about anything inside. It can mean they charge you tax for anything found therein.
However, if you get the green light, you zip on out to meet your party. Now the excitement is because you have packed many items for your missionary. Things like, cooking pots and pans; dishes – many – many – many; silverware; stirring utensils, cooking spoons, spatulas, etc. Well, you did not but your wife did – you know the woman who loves to go to thrift stores to see how many bargains she can get for our missionaries. Include with these items are such things as expensive cell phones purchased through E-Bay by a pastor from Peru and sent to your house for you to bring to Peru, as well as special ink for printers; an expensive bulb for an projector and other various and sundry items.
To top this off, in your carry-on is a 500 GB hard drive DVD/CD duplicator! This alone would raise eyebrows by the Peruvian Tax Police, even if it is used and for the College.
So you pray for the “GREEN LIGHT” You step forward as your turn arrives, hand your declarations document, reach forward carefully and push the button. You think - almost aloud - with the amount of luggage someone will push a secret switch and cause us to go through inspection. There is a delay .... your heart races and then that BEAUTIFUL GREEN LIGHT APPEARS! You begin to sing to yourself, “Free at last! Thank God I am free at last!” (You do it quietly because if they heard you singing you’d be in more trouble than for the items you have in your suitcases.)
There is nothing more exciting than seeing the faces of those waiting to see you enter through the security doors with a smile on your face and the first words out of your mouth are: “We got the green light again!” Their response is, “Really! Wow!” And so you traipse off into the darkness to find the van and head to your bed ...well, sort of. Why?
Because you know they want to see what awaits them in those heavy bags. Heavy you ask? Sure everyone weighed the maximum - 50 pounds. And even your carry-ons were over-weight! Mine alone was 48 pounds (24 is the limit). (It had the DVD/CD recorder and had to be protected.)
Whoops! I forgot to confess one thing! I had pulled both of our carry-ons through the Miami airport (the most of the time) — remember they were heavy! So my back was not all that good. It gave me an idea. So I approached the gate agents and asked is I could get on early because of my back. I expected that I might be allowed on with the early borders. She said sure, lets go now! So I did and it gave me time to put my heavy carry-on overhead without looking so conspicuous as I lifted it with all that weight. Wow! Another trave tip to remember.
Pastor Agustin met us with a young man from his church and with great appreciation took us to his home where we will make our headquarters on this trip. On the way he explained that the youth retreat would take place at his home – the church, Nuevas Fruerzas (New Strength) also meet there – in their yard, under a tent. It isn’t a normal tent. It has a fabric cover but with aluminum trusses, lights, fans, and a very expensive wood floor made in 12/12 tile like sections.
The girls would be sleeping in the room we normally used and the guys would be sleeping in the Church. Our home was to be the bedroom of their oldest son, Clemente. It is a great room having our own bathroom, twin beds, and twin work desks with a light for each. SUPER DUPER!
We crashed after just before 1:30 AM Wednesday morning, having put away the majority of our clothes and work supplies. Sleep came easily but did not last long enough as the door bell sounded and we knew that Marco Aroni, our Covenant Life University coordinator was arriving to take us out to David and Ceci Hodges for a few hours. So we had to stir around, get the bags ready to take to them the “collection of cooking tools, etc. for their newest project – a restaurant on the property.
I am going to permit Marilyn to explain the restaurant. So, “Marilyn, come here and tell the people about the entrepreneurial missions project. Now please, so I can finish this. Thanks!”
Restaurants in Peru aren’t and can’t be compared to a restaurant in the United States. Anyone can set up a roadside stand or have tables set up outside their house and call it a “restaurant.” The area where David and Ceci live is growing – it is hard to believe and those who have been there (like our work team) no doubt are wondering - why? But it has grown considerably since we were there last. There are also factories and businesses being established in the area.
Ultimately, they would like to obtain contracts from the businesses in the area to feed the workers. This would be a guaranteed income for them. Other ideas would be to “pre-sell” lunches for children to take to school. It is still in the planning stages and yet to be determined the details of when it will be opened and how they would pursue the clientele.
The thought is not only to generate income for David and Ceci but possibly provide a means of income for someone in their Church. For $3,000, they can build 32 x 19 wood structure on a slab and acquire all the necessary things to begin and give them start up costs. This building can also be used for Church functions so it will serve a double function.
“Thanks Marilyn!”
The schedule for this trip is to say the “least” - full! The youth retreat begins Thursday evening, Friday morning, afternoon, evening and the same for Saturday. I will be speaking three times and twice with Marilyn at this retreat. Then Sunday morning here at Nuevas Fruerzas, eat a quick meal and travel to Jicamarca to speak at Iglesia Vida for David Hodges.
We will spend Monday through Wednesday with the Hodges - no more speaking engagements and then return to the Pastor Agustin and Jessica Ciccia’s home for the remainder of this trip. Marilyn will be sharing with some ladies on Wednesday evening. Thursday and Friday evenings we will be doing a marriage seminar at different churches. Sunday I will be speaking twice and then, “That’s all Folks!”
We get to rest Monday, except for packing and heading to the airport for our flight back to the US which departs at 11:50 PM arriving in Miami on Tuesday at 5:20 AM.
So until you read the next blog—JUST KEEP ON PRAYING! We appreciate it!
Dr. D. and Marilyn
If you have never been to Peru you will not understand this, so let me explain.
First you go through immigration. Then you pick up your luggage from the carrousel, load it on a cart and head for the exit. One last step faces you. You hand your declaration document to the attendant. He says, push the button. If you get a red light, that means you have to take your luggage and run it through the x-ray machine. There they can inspect each piece of luggage and ask questions about anything inside. It can mean they charge you tax for anything found therein.
However, if you get the green light, you zip on out to meet your party. Now the excitement is because you have packed many items for your missionary. Things like, cooking pots and pans; dishes – many – many – many; silverware; stirring utensils, cooking spoons, spatulas, etc. Well, you did not but your wife did – you know the woman who loves to go to thrift stores to see how many bargains she can get for our missionaries. Include with these items are such things as expensive cell phones purchased through E-Bay by a pastor from Peru and sent to your house for you to bring to Peru, as well as special ink for printers; an expensive bulb for an projector and other various and sundry items.
To top this off, in your carry-on is a 500 GB hard drive DVD/CD duplicator! This alone would raise eyebrows by the Peruvian Tax Police, even if it is used and for the College.
So you pray for the “GREEN LIGHT” You step forward as your turn arrives, hand your declarations document, reach forward carefully and push the button. You think - almost aloud - with the amount of luggage someone will push a secret switch and cause us to go through inspection. There is a delay .... your heart races and then that BEAUTIFUL GREEN LIGHT APPEARS! You begin to sing to yourself, “Free at last! Thank God I am free at last!” (You do it quietly because if they heard you singing you’d be in more trouble than for the items you have in your suitcases.)
There is nothing more exciting than seeing the faces of those waiting to see you enter through the security doors with a smile on your face and the first words out of your mouth are: “We got the green light again!” Their response is, “Really! Wow!” And so you traipse off into the darkness to find the van and head to your bed ...well, sort of. Why?
Because you know they want to see what awaits them in those heavy bags. Heavy you ask? Sure everyone weighed the maximum - 50 pounds. And even your carry-ons were over-weight! Mine alone was 48 pounds (24 is the limit). (It had the DVD/CD recorder and had to be protected.)
Whoops! I forgot to confess one thing! I had pulled both of our carry-ons through the Miami airport (the most of the time) — remember they were heavy! So my back was not all that good. It gave me an idea. So I approached the gate agents and asked is I could get on early because of my back. I expected that I might be allowed on with the early borders. She said sure, lets go now! So I did and it gave me time to put my heavy carry-on overhead without looking so conspicuous as I lifted it with all that weight. Wow! Another trave tip to remember.
Pastor Agustin met us with a young man from his church and with great appreciation took us to his home where we will make our headquarters on this trip. On the way he explained that the youth retreat would take place at his home – the church, Nuevas Fruerzas (New Strength) also meet there – in their yard, under a tent. It isn’t a normal tent. It has a fabric cover but with aluminum trusses, lights, fans, and a very expensive wood floor made in 12/12 tile like sections.
The girls would be sleeping in the room we normally used and the guys would be sleeping in the Church. Our home was to be the bedroom of their oldest son, Clemente. It is a great room having our own bathroom, twin beds, and twin work desks with a light for each. SUPER DUPER!
We crashed after just before 1:30 AM Wednesday morning, having put away the majority of our clothes and work supplies. Sleep came easily but did not last long enough as the door bell sounded and we knew that Marco Aroni, our Covenant Life University coordinator was arriving to take us out to David and Ceci Hodges for a few hours. So we had to stir around, get the bags ready to take to them the “collection of cooking tools, etc. for their newest project – a restaurant on the property.
I am going to permit Marilyn to explain the restaurant. So, “Marilyn, come here and tell the people about the entrepreneurial missions project. Now please, so I can finish this. Thanks!”
Restaurants in Peru aren’t and can’t be compared to a restaurant in the United States. Anyone can set up a roadside stand or have tables set up outside their house and call it a “restaurant.” The area where David and Ceci live is growing – it is hard to believe and those who have been there (like our work team) no doubt are wondering - why? But it has grown considerably since we were there last. There are also factories and businesses being established in the area.
Ultimately, they would like to obtain contracts from the businesses in the area to feed the workers. This would be a guaranteed income for them. Other ideas would be to “pre-sell” lunches for children to take to school. It is still in the planning stages and yet to be determined the details of when it will be opened and how they would pursue the clientele.
The thought is not only to generate income for David and Ceci but possibly provide a means of income for someone in their Church. For $3,000, they can build 32 x 19 wood structure on a slab and acquire all the necessary things to begin and give them start up costs. This building can also be used for Church functions so it will serve a double function.
“Thanks Marilyn!”
The schedule for this trip is to say the “least” - full! The youth retreat begins Thursday evening, Friday morning, afternoon, evening and the same for Saturday. I will be speaking three times and twice with Marilyn at this retreat. Then Sunday morning here at Nuevas Fruerzas, eat a quick meal and travel to Jicamarca to speak at Iglesia Vida for David Hodges.
We will spend Monday through Wednesday with the Hodges - no more speaking engagements and then return to the Pastor Agustin and Jessica Ciccia’s home for the remainder of this trip. Marilyn will be sharing with some ladies on Wednesday evening. Thursday and Friday evenings we will be doing a marriage seminar at different churches. Sunday I will be speaking twice and then, “That’s all Folks!”
We get to rest Monday, except for packing and heading to the airport for our flight back to the US which departs at 11:50 PM arriving in Miami on Tuesday at 5:20 AM.
So until you read the next blog—JUST KEEP ON PRAYING! We appreciate it!
Dr. D. and Marilyn
Monday, October 20, 2008
Monday, October 20
All good things must come to a close and this trip has been good and is coming to a close. I’ve finished everything I need to do except had a final few words with Eugene.
I’ve made the necessary and important last minute phone calls to special friends to say, “Goodbye, see you next trip.” I’ve sent some text messages to others to encourage them. I have completed packing all that I can pack until morning.
I've taken my stomach on a special trip to allow it to indulge in American food -- TGI-Fridays! However, I treated it with gentleness and only ate a chicken, BLT with fries and an appetizer of onion rings and a diet coke (two times). Well, you know, I must get it started on eating American food. In reality, when I start thinking about packing and going home, my stomach always puts in its request and I honor that request. I mean what else can you do -- what would you do?
So what else can I say? It is all over but crawling into the seat of the airplane and trying to get comfortable for 13 or 14 hours of air time. Just a word to Northwest Airlines: YOU BETTER HAVE MY AISLE SEAT AND NO ONE NEXT TO ME!
Flying in the middle of the week normally provides me more opportunity to have a vacant seat beside me which certainly allows for a more comfortable flight.
So until I see you all face to face or see you via the blog – God bless and keep you.
I am going to try to keep some information posted in the blog in-between trips about what is happening in missions – so keep checking and I’ll do my best to keep writing.
Thanks for reading and praying.
God bless,
Dr. D.
I’ve made the necessary and important last minute phone calls to special friends to say, “Goodbye, see you next trip.” I’ve sent some text messages to others to encourage them. I have completed packing all that I can pack until morning.
I've taken my stomach on a special trip to allow it to indulge in American food -- TGI-Fridays! However, I treated it with gentleness and only ate a chicken, BLT with fries and an appetizer of onion rings and a diet coke (two times). Well, you know, I must get it started on eating American food. In reality, when I start thinking about packing and going home, my stomach always puts in its request and I honor that request. I mean what else can you do -- what would you do?
So what else can I say? It is all over but crawling into the seat of the airplane and trying to get comfortable for 13 or 14 hours of air time. Just a word to Northwest Airlines: YOU BETTER HAVE MY AISLE SEAT AND NO ONE NEXT TO ME!
Flying in the middle of the week normally provides me more opportunity to have a vacant seat beside me which certainly allows for a more comfortable flight.
So until I see you all face to face or see you via the blog – God bless and keep you.
I am going to try to keep some information posted in the blog in-between trips about what is happening in missions – so keep checking and I’ll do my best to keep writing.
Thanks for reading and praying.
God bless,
Dr. D.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Sunday, October 19
Finished! The trip is all but completed. All I have to do is finish some details with Eugene, the Ukrainian Dean and pack for departure on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. from the flat and 11:45 a.m. from Borispol Airport – then sit in the airplane and reflect on what God has wrought.
Today was a highlight, not because of being granted the honor of preaching in a Church running 10,000 but to have the privilege of spending some time with the pastor prior to the first service – well at least prior to the time to deliver the Word.
He is a visionary and is using great and unique ways to accomplish the vision God has given him. His vision is to reach the Muslim world. He is an African, with a Ukrainian wife, pastor a large Church in Kiev, another in Moscow (he flies there on Friday, preaches on Saturday and flies back to preach two times here at the mother Church on Sunday. Then Monday through Wednesday he is either here or is involved in crusades through out Ukraine. He has a midweek service on Thursday and then spends most of the day Friday with his family and departs of Moscow.
Today, a few minutes after I began to minister he departed for Pakistan. He was supposed to go last week, but a call from a secret believer in the know advised him to put it off until things settled down there. The man called him a couple of days ago and said, you can come if you believe God will protect you, but I cannot guarantee your protection. So today Pastor Henry Madava and fourteen team members departed to hold a pastors’ conference and a crusade Friday and Saturday. They expect 150,000 people in the Saturday night meeting.
The Church is training born-again people from Moslem countries to be missionaries to the Moslem world. The they send them back and support them to accomplish the work of God. They are doing this not only for the Moslem world but also in India, China and other eastern countries.
One of his burdens are the families of pastors in Viet Nam and the surrounding countries. The pastors have been killed and no one cares for the children and wives who remain. One son relayed to him, that his father died preaching the gospel and now where is Jesus and His people to help him, his brothers, sisters and mother. Because of their father’s death they children get no education and are able only to beg and try to survive.
Pastor Henry told me that he is using some unique ways to spread the gospel in Kiev. The Greek Orthodox and Catholic Churches have trained their people to go to confession. So Victory Church has established many “Confessional Booths” throughout the city where those who are accustomed to them can come and request prayer. There they are given the gospel message and told that they can pray directly to their Heavenly Father. This method is not looked upon by some Churches as “proper,” but it is successful and is reaching many for Christ.
His goal is to establish 5,000 Churches in the next 5 years. The Mother Church establishes a Church and the daughter Church is expected to begin another Church in one year and each new Church has the same commission.
Not only do they use that method, but whenever anyone moves from Kiev and leaves the Mother Church they are given extensive training about starting a new Church. They are expected not to attend another Church but to start a new Church.
These Churches are not left to their own devices. But Pastor and teams of people from Victory here in Kiev travel to the new Churches which are small and hold crusades. They do street witnessing and pass out invitations to the crusade, but only to new converts. No invitations are given to the general public who pass by. But each person is required to lead people to Jesus, then give them the invitation to the crusade. The crusade has an emphasis on healing. Pastor Henry is used mightily by God and they are seeing many miracles as a result. When they depart, the Church there is left with sometimes hundreds of new converts, as was demonstrated by the video they showed Sunday about the crusade in Chernigov, which is a few miles from Chernobyl.
An additional goal is that of sending out 300 teams of 10 in various countries of Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe with the purpose of each one leading one to Christ each day. Just think of that! Get out your calculator and do some figuring.
And they do not do anything “second rate” but only with “excellence!”
With that kind of vision, can you imagine the response one gets when ministering to his people! They are with you throughout the message!
Today the altars were filled with believers who had experienced emotional or physical abuse; with those who had been rejected by a father or mother; and those who had been abandoned by relatives. I cannot even begin to put a true number on those who came in each service. Conservatively, I would guess that there were 200+ in the first service and 150+ in the second. More that ten (10) received Christ in the first and seven (7) in the second.
Each service lasted about three and one-half hours. I was allowed one-hour and twenty minutes for ministering the Word and an altar service.
The staff of the Church we very gracious, very hospitable, very helpful and very sweet. I enjoyed my day with those from Victory Christian Church.
And to top it off, the Administrator, Kata, relayed a message from Pastor that I was welcome in Victory Church anytime it would work into both our schedules. She told me that Pastor is very cautious about who he allows to speak in the Church and specifically when he is not there. So I count it an honor to have had the privilege of speaking two times when the pastor was not there – even though he introduced me today in the first service, stayed for a few minutes and then departed for their flight to Pakistan. O yes! Pastor also extended an invitation to join him on one of his overseas crusades and be one of the team.
Thank you Life Church for permitting me to be your apostolic missionary to the nations of the world. This special opportunity is because of your faithfulness to be a missionary church by responding to the command of Jesus to go into “all the world”..
God bless and remember to pray for my return trip,
Dr. D.
Today was a highlight, not because of being granted the honor of preaching in a Church running 10,000 but to have the privilege of spending some time with the pastor prior to the first service – well at least prior to the time to deliver the Word.
He is a visionary and is using great and unique ways to accomplish the vision God has given him. His vision is to reach the Muslim world. He is an African, with a Ukrainian wife, pastor a large Church in Kiev, another in Moscow (he flies there on Friday, preaches on Saturday and flies back to preach two times here at the mother Church on Sunday. Then Monday through Wednesday he is either here or is involved in crusades through out Ukraine. He has a midweek service on Thursday and then spends most of the day Friday with his family and departs of Moscow.
Today, a few minutes after I began to minister he departed for Pakistan. He was supposed to go last week, but a call from a secret believer in the know advised him to put it off until things settled down there. The man called him a couple of days ago and said, you can come if you believe God will protect you, but I cannot guarantee your protection. So today Pastor Henry Madava and fourteen team members departed to hold a pastors’ conference and a crusade Friday and Saturday. They expect 150,000 people in the Saturday night meeting.
The Church is training born-again people from Moslem countries to be missionaries to the Moslem world. The they send them back and support them to accomplish the work of God. They are doing this not only for the Moslem world but also in India, China and other eastern countries.
One of his burdens are the families of pastors in Viet Nam and the surrounding countries. The pastors have been killed and no one cares for the children and wives who remain. One son relayed to him, that his father died preaching the gospel and now where is Jesus and His people to help him, his brothers, sisters and mother. Because of their father’s death they children get no education and are able only to beg and try to survive.
Pastor Henry told me that he is using some unique ways to spread the gospel in Kiev. The Greek Orthodox and Catholic Churches have trained their people to go to confession. So Victory Church has established many “Confessional Booths” throughout the city where those who are accustomed to them can come and request prayer. There they are given the gospel message and told that they can pray directly to their Heavenly Father. This method is not looked upon by some Churches as “proper,” but it is successful and is reaching many for Christ.
His goal is to establish 5,000 Churches in the next 5 years. The Mother Church establishes a Church and the daughter Church is expected to begin another Church in one year and each new Church has the same commission.
Not only do they use that method, but whenever anyone moves from Kiev and leaves the Mother Church they are given extensive training about starting a new Church. They are expected not to attend another Church but to start a new Church.
These Churches are not left to their own devices. But Pastor and teams of people from Victory here in Kiev travel to the new Churches which are small and hold crusades. They do street witnessing and pass out invitations to the crusade, but only to new converts. No invitations are given to the general public who pass by. But each person is required to lead people to Jesus, then give them the invitation to the crusade. The crusade has an emphasis on healing. Pastor Henry is used mightily by God and they are seeing many miracles as a result. When they depart, the Church there is left with sometimes hundreds of new converts, as was demonstrated by the video they showed Sunday about the crusade in Chernigov, which is a few miles from Chernobyl.
An additional goal is that of sending out 300 teams of 10 in various countries of Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe with the purpose of each one leading one to Christ each day. Just think of that! Get out your calculator and do some figuring.
And they do not do anything “second rate” but only with “excellence!”
With that kind of vision, can you imagine the response one gets when ministering to his people! They are with you throughout the message!
Today the altars were filled with believers who had experienced emotional or physical abuse; with those who had been rejected by a father or mother; and those who had been abandoned by relatives. I cannot even begin to put a true number on those who came in each service. Conservatively, I would guess that there were 200+ in the first service and 150+ in the second. More that ten (10) received Christ in the first and seven (7) in the second.
Each service lasted about three and one-half hours. I was allowed one-hour and twenty minutes for ministering the Word and an altar service.
The staff of the Church we very gracious, very hospitable, very helpful and very sweet. I enjoyed my day with those from Victory Christian Church.
And to top it off, the Administrator, Kata, relayed a message from Pastor that I was welcome in Victory Church anytime it would work into both our schedules. She told me that Pastor is very cautious about who he allows to speak in the Church and specifically when he is not there. So I count it an honor to have had the privilege of speaking two times when the pastor was not there – even though he introduced me today in the first service, stayed for a few minutes and then departed for their flight to Pakistan. O yes! Pastor also extended an invitation to join him on one of his overseas crusades and be one of the team.
Thank you Life Church for permitting me to be your apostolic missionary to the nations of the world. This special opportunity is because of your faithfulness to be a missionary church by responding to the command of Jesus to go into “all the world”..
God bless and remember to pray for my return trip,
Dr. D.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Saturday, October 18
Finally! The best night’s sleep since arriving in Ukraine. The problem however is this: Three nights and I go home – and face another adjustment! But that’s life in the overseas apostolic ministry. Maybe the success of it is found in “late to bed and late to rise” – well 12:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.
I was able to finally determine the message for today, edit it, print it and then complete some other work. And eat another Ukrainian meal. Today it was: first course - soup (a mixture of various vegetables); fried potatoes and then trout. Before you jump up and down and say that sounds great, let me tell you that the trout was prepared during the week that we were in Chernivtsi, that’s two weeks ago. Well it was prepared to eat raw. Lena’s mother did it on her way through Kiev back to Moscow where she lives. I was told that it is very expensive and was done in a special way. What I do not know. So I did my best and ate two one inch wide by six inches long. Not bad, but I declined any more with the comment that I needed to treat my stomach carefully and not create a problem since I had to preach this afternoon and two times tomorrow.
O yes! I did my final load of laundry, put it in the dryer, took it out only to discover that I used the wrong settings and it was still very damp. I decided to put it back but the dryer rejected it saying that the drum was empty and it would not do any further drying. So I just took the clothes and spread them around my room to let them air dry.
The service at New Time Church was exciting. Why? Because I was the preacher! Why else? You should know that by now!
However, the exciting thing was two testimonies. Both are the result of what happened when I ministered there in April. A lady had severe back problems. Her back was in such bad condition that she could not stand for more than 20 minutes. And because of it she was bent over and always in pain. Her testimony is that God healed her and she now is able to stand, do her work and has no pain and is not bent over.
The second is from a young man (I say that but he is probably in his late twenties, I guess or early thirties. I remember the pastor asking me specifically to pray for him because he had just recently returned to Christ and was in bad financial situation. I’d forgotten exactly what I did until I heard his testimony of how I told him to get his wallet. I took it and prayed for God to fill it and to bless him and change his life.
He said that he went home and began to pray for money. But God told him to stop and pray for a change in his mind. Then he said that the Lord told him to go look in his wallet. He said, “There was money in it that I did not have before.” His story continues as he related that God also told him to use his mind to design. He was employed as a driver for a marble plant. So he began to design things that required marble. His boss, a believer, saw it and gave him a promotion and he is now a designer for the company and gives God the thanks for the financial blessings that have come his way.
These are just common people who have taken God at His Word, exercised their trust in Him and walk by faith, just like you and I.
The testimonies came just before I spoke. They were a confirmation of the message that God had laid on my heart: The Making of A Miracle or What Does It Require To Have A Miracle? I can hardly wait to hear what God has done through the people who were in the service. The challenge was to use their hands, as the hands of Christ and lay hands on the sick for their healing. If what happened at the conclusion is any way related to what will happen we should hear some more great testimonies.
Well it is time to finish this and say....
God Bless and thanks for your prayers,
Dr. D.
I was able to finally determine the message for today, edit it, print it and then complete some other work. And eat another Ukrainian meal. Today it was: first course - soup (a mixture of various vegetables); fried potatoes and then trout. Before you jump up and down and say that sounds great, let me tell you that the trout was prepared during the week that we were in Chernivtsi, that’s two weeks ago. Well it was prepared to eat raw. Lena’s mother did it on her way through Kiev back to Moscow where she lives. I was told that it is very expensive and was done in a special way. What I do not know. So I did my best and ate two one inch wide by six inches long. Not bad, but I declined any more with the comment that I needed to treat my stomach carefully and not create a problem since I had to preach this afternoon and two times tomorrow.
O yes! I did my final load of laundry, put it in the dryer, took it out only to discover that I used the wrong settings and it was still very damp. I decided to put it back but the dryer rejected it saying that the drum was empty and it would not do any further drying. So I just took the clothes and spread them around my room to let them air dry.
The service at New Time Church was exciting. Why? Because I was the preacher! Why else? You should know that by now!
However, the exciting thing was two testimonies. Both are the result of what happened when I ministered there in April. A lady had severe back problems. Her back was in such bad condition that she could not stand for more than 20 minutes. And because of it she was bent over and always in pain. Her testimony is that God healed her and she now is able to stand, do her work and has no pain and is not bent over.
The second is from a young man (I say that but he is probably in his late twenties, I guess or early thirties. I remember the pastor asking me specifically to pray for him because he had just recently returned to Christ and was in bad financial situation. I’d forgotten exactly what I did until I heard his testimony of how I told him to get his wallet. I took it and prayed for God to fill it and to bless him and change his life.
He said that he went home and began to pray for money. But God told him to stop and pray for a change in his mind. Then he said that the Lord told him to go look in his wallet. He said, “There was money in it that I did not have before.” His story continues as he related that God also told him to use his mind to design. He was employed as a driver for a marble plant. So he began to design things that required marble. His boss, a believer, saw it and gave him a promotion and he is now a designer for the company and gives God the thanks for the financial blessings that have come his way.
These are just common people who have taken God at His Word, exercised their trust in Him and walk by faith, just like you and I.
The testimonies came just before I spoke. They were a confirmation of the message that God had laid on my heart: The Making of A Miracle or What Does It Require To Have A Miracle? I can hardly wait to hear what God has done through the people who were in the service. The challenge was to use their hands, as the hands of Christ and lay hands on the sick for their healing. If what happened at the conclusion is any way related to what will happen we should hear some more great testimonies.
Well it is time to finish this and say....
God Bless and thanks for your prayers,
Dr. D.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Friday, October 17
This was another busy day in the office – my traveling office. It – my office just seems to follow me everywhere I go. I’ve tried to lose it but it keeps finding me. So I have to utilize it and work it for all its worth. The problem is my secretary. He doesn’t want to work (that “he” is “me”). But when I add a little pressure, such as, “If you don’t the work will pile up and you will never catch up, so get busy!” All it requires is a little pressure and “he” responds.
Now if my computer will respond correctly all will be well. But that is a “horse of a different color.” My keyboard seems to have developed a will of its own. Sometimes it will just automatically erase a couple of sentences, or jump back up (it just did it again) a couple of lines and begin to insert the letters I just typed in previous sentenc(again)e – and then it erased half of the paragraph (but I got it back). It is time to take it to a computer chiropractor and gets it adjusted.
Tonight I taught a group of leaders from Andre and Ira Ivanov’s Church – Abundant Life, and about 12 students of our Kiev College. The subject was “leadership” (how about that since it was a group of leaders – what else do you expect.) Anyway we keyed in on David, his call to leadership and his schooling in Bethlehem, Adullam and Hebron. There are great lessons there, but you will have to attend my class on leadership if you want more. (I know – that’s rotten – but that’s the way I am!)
The trip to the facility where the class is held is the story of the evening. Eugene told me we were leaving at 6:30 but at 6:15 we departed. I always get ready early and expect to leave late – that is the norm. He had to get gas and as he passed the way we normally go I called his attention to the traffic in the lane going the opposite direction – the one we were going to be in after getting gas. So he decided to go a different way – much to our chagrin. The first five blocks went great. Then it stopped – the traffic that is and we would go about five to six car lengths and stop. This continued for twenty minutes and he recognized that we were not going to make it on time. The class started at 7:00, it was not 6:45. So he called and had Roslan (his assistant) alerted.
Seven o’clock came and we were not there. Now I am getting nervous. My assignment was to teach three sessions a group of lectures that normally requires five to six hours anyway. I could prophecy that there was no way now that I would even come close. We arrived at 7:25. Nothing was set up! Plus, I had to set up my computer, hook up my overhead projector to it, unpack my microphones (I carry a wireless unit with two mic – one for me and the other for my interpreter). It always requires a lot of patience when I hand them receiver and ask, “Which set of wires to you need?” I carry a combination that will allow me to hook up to almost any amplifier in various ways.
Finally we - my Ukrainian helpers and me accomplished the task. I was ready! But nothing else was. They had to finish setting up their sound system. Go find a screen. Then when all of that was done, they had to wait to get the video equipment set up. By this time I could have been steaming, but I kept my cool (go ahead and pat me on the back) and waited patiently until I got the high sign. I was just glad they did not take time to have a prayer meeting and worship service as they have in times past.
The blessing of the evening was my interpreter, Luda. She is a piece of dynamite. She will allow me to get started and then while I am talking she begins and keeps up with me and I pause to give her time, but I don’t think she needs it. I think she is has a “time delay mechanism” in her and my words are delayed, stored and then come out her mouth. She doesn’t miss a beat. She was one of two interpreters Marilyn and I had the first time we were in Chernivtsi. I have not had her for a long time and forgot how good she is or has become. Thank God for people like her and my secretary in Chernivtsi who can do likewise. I appreciate them both.
No I did not get finished. I only made it through one and three-quarters of lectures. I felt sorry for those there, but they will all have the ability to get a DVD or CD of the entire lectures. These were recorded about two years ago so they will not miss anything. This is the norm. When I teach a new class, we video it and put it on DVD and CD so that we can bicycle it throughout Ukraine to the various campuses of Zoe University.
We returned home about 10:30 to a cheese omelet Ukrainian style, with chocolate candy and tea to top it off. And now I am writing this blog before I go on-line to check my emails and respond to any that are necessary before I turn in.
Saturday, I have a 3:30 Sunday worship service. Yes I typed it correctly. Many churches meet Saturday. It all depends upon the type of work of the majority of the congregation and the availability of an auditorium for the to use a their sanctuary.
So before I get sleepy and the “z’s” begin to show up in repeated fashion, I sign off with....
God bless and thanks for your prayers,
Dr. D.
Now if my computer will respond correctly all will be well. But that is a “horse of a different color.” My keyboard seems to have developed a will of its own. Sometimes it will just automatically erase a couple of sentences, or jump back up (it just did it again) a couple of lines and begin to insert the letters I just typed in previous sentenc(again)e – and then it erased half of the paragraph (but I got it back). It is time to take it to a computer chiropractor and gets it adjusted.
Tonight I taught a group of leaders from Andre and Ira Ivanov’s Church – Abundant Life, and about 12 students of our Kiev College. The subject was “leadership” (how about that since it was a group of leaders – what else do you expect.) Anyway we keyed in on David, his call to leadership and his schooling in Bethlehem, Adullam and Hebron. There are great lessons there, but you will have to attend my class on leadership if you want more. (I know – that’s rotten – but that’s the way I am!)
The trip to the facility where the class is held is the story of the evening. Eugene told me we were leaving at 6:30 but at 6:15 we departed. I always get ready early and expect to leave late – that is the norm. He had to get gas and as he passed the way we normally go I called his attention to the traffic in the lane going the opposite direction – the one we were going to be in after getting gas. So he decided to go a different way – much to our chagrin. The first five blocks went great. Then it stopped – the traffic that is and we would go about five to six car lengths and stop. This continued for twenty minutes and he recognized that we were not going to make it on time. The class started at 7:00, it was not 6:45. So he called and had Roslan (his assistant) alerted.
Seven o’clock came and we were not there. Now I am getting nervous. My assignment was to teach three sessions a group of lectures that normally requires five to six hours anyway. I could prophecy that there was no way now that I would even come close. We arrived at 7:25. Nothing was set up! Plus, I had to set up my computer, hook up my overhead projector to it, unpack my microphones (I carry a wireless unit with two mic – one for me and the other for my interpreter). It always requires a lot of patience when I hand them receiver and ask, “Which set of wires to you need?” I carry a combination that will allow me to hook up to almost any amplifier in various ways.
Finally we - my Ukrainian helpers and me accomplished the task. I was ready! But nothing else was. They had to finish setting up their sound system. Go find a screen. Then when all of that was done, they had to wait to get the video equipment set up. By this time I could have been steaming, but I kept my cool (go ahead and pat me on the back) and waited patiently until I got the high sign. I was just glad they did not take time to have a prayer meeting and worship service as they have in times past.
The blessing of the evening was my interpreter, Luda. She is a piece of dynamite. She will allow me to get started and then while I am talking she begins and keeps up with me and I pause to give her time, but I don’t think she needs it. I think she is has a “time delay mechanism” in her and my words are delayed, stored and then come out her mouth. She doesn’t miss a beat. She was one of two interpreters Marilyn and I had the first time we were in Chernivtsi. I have not had her for a long time and forgot how good she is or has become. Thank God for people like her and my secretary in Chernivtsi who can do likewise. I appreciate them both.
No I did not get finished. I only made it through one and three-quarters of lectures. I felt sorry for those there, but they will all have the ability to get a DVD or CD of the entire lectures. These were recorded about two years ago so they will not miss anything. This is the norm. When I teach a new class, we video it and put it on DVD and CD so that we can bicycle it throughout Ukraine to the various campuses of Zoe University.
We returned home about 10:30 to a cheese omelet Ukrainian style, with chocolate candy and tea to top it off. And now I am writing this blog before I go on-line to check my emails and respond to any that are necessary before I turn in.
Saturday, I have a 3:30 Sunday worship service. Yes I typed it correctly. Many churches meet Saturday. It all depends upon the type of work of the majority of the congregation and the availability of an auditorium for the to use a their sanctuary.
So before I get sleepy and the “z’s” begin to show up in repeated fashion, I sign off with....
God bless and thanks for your prayers,
Dr. D.
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