Ukraine Challenge UPDATE #7:  

July 25 – August 1, 2004

“…a glorious day of celebration at the church”

 The last week of July brought hot summer days to Ukraine .  Buddy and Janada worshipped on Sunday, July 25 with the congregation in Irpin.  After the worship service was over, the church family was invited to stay for all-age Bible study.  This church is one of many following this format now.  The Irpin youth team under the guidance of second pastor Constantin continues to go each Sunday afternoon to Ozera and direct a program for children.  (Pray for funds to finish the enlarging of the Irpin sanctuary and a better meeting place for the group in Ozera before winter.)   

 The Irpin youth team along with Beth Nichols, Pastor Valeri and his wife Luba held a children’s camp in Rubezhovka.  Invitations were extended to the members of AWANA, a ministry of this congregation that meets on Saturday during the school year at the school.  The children were encouraged to invite their friends to the shady yard beside the house church.  The week was a glowing success with an average attendance of fifty and another notch of confidence gained in the service belt of these wonderful Ukrainian young people.  (Pray for this church as they leave the mother church in September.  Pray that Valeri will be bold in his leadership.  Pray for the Irpin youth team.)

 The Shaw team from NC continued their ministry in western Ukraine .  They visited a church in Uzhgorod and extended their encouragement.  The pastor gave them a tour of some of his work including a large home for at-risk teenage boys and young men.  This group did some significant work but also returned to Kiev with many funny stories—like how disruptive it can be when an American man and his chair fall through a concrete floor during a camp worship service!  Also, ask Pastor Jim Shaw what happens when you fall asleep in the back of the van while the rest of your team is out.

 Ukraine Challenge will continue to provide help for the children at the orphanage in Nova Zalessia as well as some needy village children during the coming year.  Gift bags full of hygiene items will be waiting for them when the new Sunday school program starts.  (Pray for Tolik, the young university student, as he leads the work here.  Pray about the need to provide a healthy snack for the children each Sunday—about $10 a week.)

 Sunday, August 1 was a glorious day of celebration at the church in Zdvishivka.  The congregation gathered at 7:00 a.m. to greet 12 baptismal candidates and hear their testimonies.  The mother of one of the candidates interrupted to come before the church to present herself for baptism, also.  After this time, everyone walked to the spring-fed pond.  Dressed in white, each candidate, accompanied by a deacon, walked down the flower-lined steps cut from the sand to meet Pastor Kolya and Buddy in the water.  The ladies choir sang for each person.  When the baptism was over, everyone returned to the church for a prayer of dedication for each candidate.  Each person was presented a Bible, hymnbook, devotional materials and flowers.  A worship time of singing, preaching and observing the Lord’s Supper climaxed the morning. (Pray for Pastor Kolya as he leads this church in meeting spiritual needs, operating the bakery and building a home for at-risk children.  Pray for the young people who were baptized and the potential they hold as future Christian leaders in Ukraine .)

 A full report of the Troy Meachum team will be given in Update #8.  Ricky Oldham team will be arriving in Ukraine August 14. 

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