So many prayers have been answered since my last prayer letter that I don’t know where to start! First of all, I want to thank you for your prayers for me and for our church in the Field of Miracles. I think I will start with the most recent answers to prayer and then share what has been happening in my ministry since my last letter!
Grab a cup of coffee or tea and get ready for the adventure!
I thank God for you!
Denise : )
6.15.2010
NEW PASTOR
INTRODUCING OUR NEW PASTOR,
BRONISLAV ZILKOVSKI and WIFE, DINA
On April 30, I had an unplanned meeting with Pastor Bronislav Zilkovski in his office. We discussed how our church plant was coming along and then I asked him what his plans were, since he was stepping down as Senior Pastor for the Odessa Region Churches. He had served two years as assistant to the Senior Pastor and the past eight years as Senior Pastor. After he explained several opportunities that were possible for him, I blurted out, “Would you consider being the pastor of the Ascent Church?”
He looked at me with surprise and said he would pray about it with his family. About a week later, he told me that he and his wife and children were all in agreement to come and serve with us, if it was God’s will.
Praise the Lord! This past Sunday, June 6th, we called Bronislav to be our pastor. Our church and all of you have been praying for eight months for God to send us a pastor. We never thought or imagined that God was preparing for us such a loving, kind and experienced good shepherd.
Pastor Bronislav and Dina have five children – four sons and one daughter. Their oldest son, Arthur, is 23. Reuben is 21. Bajenna is 15 (soon to be 16 she tells me). Mark is 8 and Phillip, the youngest, just turned 7.
Pray with us during this time of excitement and change as we begin to work together with our new pastor and his family. Pray that God’s Spirit will work in us and through us to reach the lost people in our community. Five years ago, in July 2005, Pastor Bronislav asked our church plant team to organize a church in the “’Field of Miracles.” I believe exciting days are ahead for our church.
REMODELING PROJECT
I’ve started to wonder, “Will this ever end?”
While I was in the States we had some workers lay the tile in our entranceway (pic below). We still need to spackle the walls, paint, put in a handrail and have new lighting installed. Wiring needs to be replaced in most of the building and the stove and range top in our kitchen still need to be wired. Please pray that we can find a qualified electrician who can get this work done quickly.
We will need to replace the drop ceilings in several of our children’s Sunday School rooms after the wiring is replaced.
While I was in the States we had some workers lay the tile in our entranceway (pic below). We still need to spackle the walls, paint, put in a handrail and have new lighting installed. Wiring needs to be replaced in most of the building and the stove and range top in our kitchen still need to be wired. Please pray that we can find a qualified electrician who can get this work done quickly.
We will need to replace the drop ceilings in several of our children’s Sunday School rooms after the wiring is replaced.
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
I will travel to Prague on June 13 to process my Ukrainian visa for another year. I am thankful to the Lord for TEAM colleagues in Prague who will pick me up at the airport and provide housing for me for the week.
Please pray that I can receive my passport back in a timely manner and return to Ukraine to continue my ministry.
Please pray that I can receive my passport back in a timely manner and return to Ukraine to continue my ministry.
TEACHING BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES IN SCHOOLS
Last fall I shared with you that God had opened a door for me to share the Bible in school #73 and school #15. When I returned from the States, I was asked to continue my lessons with these students.
I shared the real meaning of Easter and then started sharing core value principles that Cindy Duff, a Bible teacher at Northside Christian School, shared with me. When I started working on the lessons from the outlines she sent me, I understood that I needed to rework the material to share with students who are not believers. I prepared lessons each week with PowerPoint presentations.
We had lessons from the Bible on respect, excellence, responsibility, gratitude, love for God and others, honesty and obedience.
The school year ended on May 31. During the summer months I need to continue preparation for these classes in the fall. It takes me about eight to ten hours to prepare a 45 minute lesson. Please pray that God will give me wisdom as I share the Word of God with these students who have never heard the Gospel and have never had exposure to God’s Word until now.
At my last class, the students and teachers presented me with bouquets of flowers, gifts and thank you notes. One of the teachers wrote, “Thanks for the joy of having you in our classes. Thanks for the light, for God’s Word you bring to us. Having met you once, Denise, you have a special place in our hearts!”
One student wrote, “Thank you so much for everything you have done. Thank you for fantastic lessons. They were very interesting and useful. Every week there was something new and amazing. Every lesson we talked about things which make our life better.”
I shared the real meaning of Easter and then started sharing core value principles that Cindy Duff, a Bible teacher at Northside Christian School, shared with me. When I started working on the lessons from the outlines she sent me, I understood that I needed to rework the material to share with students who are not believers. I prepared lessons each week with PowerPoint presentations.
We had lessons from the Bible on respect, excellence, responsibility, gratitude, love for God and others, honesty and obedience.
The school year ended on May 31. During the summer months I need to continue preparation for these classes in the fall. It takes me about eight to ten hours to prepare a 45 minute lesson. Please pray that God will give me wisdom as I share the Word of God with these students who have never heard the Gospel and have never had exposure to God’s Word until now.
At my last class, the students and teachers presented me with bouquets of flowers, gifts and thank you notes. One of the teachers wrote, “Thanks for the joy of having you in our classes. Thanks for the light, for God’s Word you bring to us. Having met you once, Denise, you have a special place in our hearts!”
One student wrote, “Thank you so much for everything you have done. Thank you for fantastic lessons. They were very interesting and useful. Every week there was something new and amazing. Every lesson we talked about things which make our life better.”
CHURCH LIFE
For the past 8 months, Yurie Aksyutin has acted as our interim leader. He and his wife, Olga, have shown love and care to our church members and we are grateful for their service. During this time without a pastor, we lost three church members. We have a new family, Alexander and Nina, who are attending week-day services and on Sunday. They are hearing God's Word and are searching for answers. They told us they are not ready to repent. However, we see that God is doing a work in their lives. Pray for their salvation.
We have been praying with one of our sisters in the church for the past three years that her son, Igor, would come to know Christ. He repented recently and was at Bible study this week at church.
Pray for Igor to find a place where he can receive the help and encouragement that he needs in his life. He is a former drug addict and is struggling with an illness.
One of our sisters, Anush, took a position on a passenger ship as a medical nurse and will be gone for eight months.
Our brother, Oleg, is finishing his preparation for baptism and Lord willing, will be baptized in July or August. I’ll send you the details later.
Currently our church has Tuesday evening Bible study, Wednesday evening prayer meeting, Friday evening Bill Gothard’s Video Seminar and Sunday morning worship.
We have been praying with one of our sisters in the church for the past three years that her son, Igor, would come to know Christ. He repented recently and was at Bible study this week at church.
Pray for Igor to find a place where he can receive the help and encouragement that he needs in his life. He is a former drug addict and is struggling with an illness.
One of our sisters, Anush, took a position on a passenger ship as a medical nurse and will be gone for eight months.
Our brother, Oleg, is finishing his preparation for baptism and Lord willing, will be baptized in July or August. I’ll send you the details later.
Currently our church has Tuesday evening Bible study, Wednesday evening prayer meeting, Friday evening Bill Gothard’s Video Seminar and Sunday morning worship.
SUMMER VBS IN LOUBATAIEVKA
Some of my Bible study ladies and I will be having a Vacation Bible School August 2-6 in the village Loubataievka. I want to thank the Calvary Church Bible study ladies who are sending boxes with craft supplies and daily take-home gifts for the children. We are using one of the programs that the Calvary ladies used two summers ago with our church. It is called “Son Harvest County Fair – Growing the Fruit of the Spirit.”
Pray for each person who will be sharing the Bible lessons, participating in the skits, sharing the animal-of-the-day, leading songs, leading games and organizing the crafts. Pray with us that we will be able to work together as a team and share the love of Jesus with the precious children in this village.
Pray that some of the children would make a decision for Christ and that many seeds will be planted.
Pray for each person who will be sharing the Bible lessons, participating in the skits, sharing the animal-of-the-day, leading songs, leading games and organizing the crafts. Pray with us that we will be able to work together as a team and share the love of Jesus with the precious children in this village.
Pray that some of the children would make a decision for Christ and that many seeds will be planted.
STATESIDE MINISTRY
I was encouraged and blessed by seeing so many of you face-to-face during my visit to the States from January 15-March 21. I traveled on 18 planes, slept in 13 different beds, traveled through 9 States, visited 9 churches, saw family, personal friends and made many new friends.
I tried to take pictures of everyone I visited. However, sometimes I forgot. I'm sorry I didn't get everyone's picture!
Go to: http://flickr.com/gp/ukraineministry/c893B3 to see my friends, family and ministry with my churches. Enjoy!
TWO VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE!
Pastor Vladimir Parfenenko, the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Odessa, had brain surgery on February 16 and is at home recovering. He has seen many dark and difficult days and really needs your prayers for healing. Pray for God to raise him up so that he can continue to minister at the church. I have been friends with Pastor Vladimir and his wife, Jane, since 1994.
Olga Pasmeetna is our sister in Christ from the village of Loubataievka. Olga (below) had tumors removed about six years ago. However, the cancer has returned. She had a mastectomy a few weeks ago and is also at home recovering. She will soon be returning to Odessa for treatments. Pray for God to heal her and restore her health.
Olga Pasmeetna is our sister in Christ from the village of Loubataievka. Olga (below) had tumors removed about six years ago. However, the cancer has returned. She had a mastectomy a few weeks ago and is also at home recovering. She will soon be returning to Odessa for treatments. Pray for God to heal her and restore her health.
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