February 19, 2022, Kremenchuk Evangelical Seminary:
Peace be with you, dear Brothers and Sisters! Greetings from Kremenchuk, Ukraine!
I am grateful to all of you for your many prayers, encouraging messages, and your financial support.
With each passing day, the situation in Ukraine is becoming more and more complicated and tense. Many of you know from the news that there was a lot of shelling in eastern Ukraine today. Several soldiers were killed and some seriously wounded.
Tomorrow in many cities, Christians will pray not only in churches but also in city squares.
We believe that God can work miracles and stop any army in this unstable world.
"He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my high tower; I shall not be moved. With God is my salvation and my glory: The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times, ye people; Pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us" Psalms 62:6-8 ASV
Despite all the threats, this week we began training a new group of pastors and preachers in eastern Ukraine, in Severodonetsk. We are glad that we can equip ministers to build up God's church. This is a wonderful group of faithful brothers. Pray for our teachers Pastor Radislav and Pastor Albert that they will return safely to Kremenchuk tomorrow, and pray for all the Christians and ministers who remain only an hour away from the war zone.
Thank God with us:
- That God still keeps us from a complete invasion by Russia.
- That most of our employees have already recovered from COVID.
- That a teacher from Germany, Willi L., has come to Ukraine to teach in the Master's program.
- That our students in Kropivnitsky have completed their training in children's ministry.
- That we have a new group of students in eastern Ukraine and can support churches and ministers there.
- That you and I can help and support Christian families in Ukraine with food.
Please continue to pray:
- For peace for Ukraine, that God would stop Putin and Russia from attacking.
- For our students and faculty.
- Especially pray for our students who study at our branches in eastern Ukraine (Balakleya and Severodonetsk), not far from the border and war zone. Next weekend we have a plan to have training for students in Balakleya.
- For our master's students who will begin their classes in Kremenchug on Monday.
- Pray for new partners for our seminary, and that we have enough resources and finances.
- Pray for wisdom for the right steps in this difficult time. That in spite of the circumstances, we will remain faithful to Christ and fulfill our mission effectively.
Prayerfully,
Ivan O.
