|
|
|
|
|
|
Christ is Risen!
Easter is coming up this Sunday in Ukraine (a week later than most of the world). While we're still gearing up, we hope you all had a wonderful celebration of the eternal hope we have in the risen Christ! Below we'll share a recap of some of this winter's events as well as some prayer requests at the end. We are so grateful for those of you who are part of God's work here through your prayers, encouragements, and financial support. We couldn't do it without you!
|
|
CC Svitlovodsk
As some of you may remember, we expanded the hall we are renting right before Christmas (in January here in Ukraine). And it's a good thing we did as we had 110 people on Christmas, including kids! (pictured above) We are humbled to see how God continues to bring people in and restore them through the Gospel of grace.
This winter we finished our study through the book of Isaiah and repeated our church's vision series as we do after most books. The timing was good as we've had a significant number of newcomers lately and this gave them an opportunity to get acquainted with what we're all about. Quite a few have now confirmed their membership in our church.
While the larger main hall has opened up greater opportunities, we're now feeling the pinch in our Sunday School classes (pictured below) which are getting very overcrowded. In short, we need to get into our new building! (More on that below)
|
|
City to City Ukraine
City to City Ukraine is continuing to see preachers and leaders rooted in and transformed by the Gospel. We held yet another preaching lab in Kiev in February (pictured above and below). We're doing another one in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv in a couple weeks which will bring the total of preachers who have gone through the training to almost 100! We continue to pray for them (and invite you to as well) as they go back to their churches to give the people Jesus in all of Scripture! Here's some of the feedback from this last lab:
"I really enjoyed this training, including the pre-session reading and video material. It was very helpful and imparted practical skills. In contrast to standard trainings or homiletics lessons, I received real tools and a philosophical basis for constructing a Christ-centered sermon. Thank you." -Zhenya, a preacher from Kiev
"The accent on the sermon being Christ-centered was very valuable for me. I didn't even realize how often I had been slipping into moralism. I think understanding better how to deal with idols in my own life now will be transformative. Thanks for this wonderful training." -Anatoly, a pastor from Cherkassy
Translation of CTC's flagship church planter training program, Incubator, is underway and we're hoping to launch the introductory module this summer! We've already got a number of church planters excited and looking forward to taking part in the program.
We're continuing to coach a few church planters (in both Kiev and Odessa) as well. It's been encouraging to watch them progress forward in their journeys and wrestle through how to be a church for the city. Please pray for these new church plants (more details in the prayer request section).
|
|
CCX Ukraine (IFES/InterVarsity)
I had the privilege to start the winter out by  leading the CCX Ukraine staff retreat. It was a great time of refreshment and a wonderful opportunity to meet the other CCX staff I hadn't met before. We spent time, among other things, looking at the temptation of rooting our identity in ministry rather than in the Gospel. I believe it was an important encouragement for those present.
Also, after a season of consideration, I decided to accept the proposal to join the board of directors for CCX Ukraine and as of early February, I have the honor of serving this strategic and impactful organization in yet another capacity, in addition to being a regular speaker at events. You can find my thoughts on accepting this position on the board's page here.
|
|
Building Update
Our church building spent the winter closed up, waiting for the warm weather to renew construction. Winter has FINALLY ended and we are starting things up again this week.
We are amazed at God's faithfulness. We finished the winter with our building fund mostly usedup but God has brought in enough to continue the work this spring. We are so thankful for those of you who have partnered with us! As Paul wrote, "Your generosity results in thanksgiving to God." (2 Cor. 9:11)
We still need to raise around $20,000 to bring the building to the point where we can move in. Our desire and prayer is to move into the building by the end of fall 2018, so please PRAY!
Also, please prayerfully consider partnering together with us in this project and making a donation, whether thats $10, $100 or $1,000. Every bit helps! You can donate by using the button below. All donations go specifically to the building fund and are 100% tax-deductible.
|
|
Family
As you may remember from the last newsletter, we switched from public school here to homeschooling at the beginning of the academic year. We are loving it (as you can see below left) and the kids are learning more. This winter our little dude, Isaac, also turned 9—though he tends to think he's already 15 (and is practicing 415 for New Year's below).
I was also able to attend the eastern European CC leaders' conference in Budapest at the end of January. It was a great time of encouragement and fellowship with friends from CCs in other countries whom I don't get to see very often.
Lastly, though we don't mention it in most letters, we are still below our long-term support goal. The amount of traveling for ministry with C2C and CCX also means that our expenses are higher than they were. Would you prayerfully consider becoming a partner with us in the ministry here through regular financial support? Whether that's $10, $50, $100 a month or more, every bit helps. You can donate to our family (separate from the building fund) by clicking the button below. There is also an option there to set up regular automatic donations. Info for donating by check is at the bottom of the newsletter.
May the power of the risen King fill your lives with hope this season.
in our Papa,
Benjamin, Lena, Abby and Isaac
|
|
Prayer Requests:
- For UKRAINE: for God’s peace and order to come, an end to bloodshed and war, an end to systemic corruption, people to turn to Jesus and for His kingdom to come, new churches to be planted in the conflict zone!
- For our church building: Pray that God provides the rest of the funds necessary to finish construction and move in by the end of fall 2018. If you feel led of God to donate to our building fund, you can do so at: http://bit.ly/ccbuilding
- For God to raise up more leaders in our church, especially teachers. For Him to use the leadership course we're going through now to grow the participants.
- For Levi and Nastya Brinkerhoff and their family who are in the States until the end of May. Pray for a fruitful time of sharing there about the ministry in Ukraine and safe travels.
- For City to City Ukraine: that God would continue to draw church planters and pastors who have a desire for training in Gospel-centered ministry. Pray for the timely translation of the Incubator course and God to bring the right participants for a fall 2018 launch. Pray also for the next preaching lab in April 2018. Pray for church planters we're coaching in Kiev (Kostya and Sasha) and in Odessa (Radion), that through them God will raise up strong, Gospel-centered church for their cities.
- For God's provision for our family. We are still need to raise another $800 in monthly support to reach our long-term goal. If you'd like to become a partner in giving, click the donation link below.
- For the name of Jesus to be glorified in our city and the lost to come to Jesus both here and across Ukraine!
|
|
|
If you would prefer to donate via check, please make it out to:
“Horizon Ministries”
Leave the memo line on the check blank with a separate note enclosed: either “for the Morrisons”, or "Svitlovodsk Building Fund" depending on where you would like your donation to be directed.
Send to:
Horizon Ministries
7702 Indian Lake rd.
Indianapolis, IN 46236
All donations are tax-deductible and 100% of your donation goes to us!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
