EQUIPPING
Evangelism and church planting
Church Planting & Equipping.

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Church life is alive and well in many of the villages around Cherkassy.    Having spent 5 days visiting several villages, progress was evident in many of them.    Seven years ago the village of Yasnozirya had one elderly believer, and had just acquired a derelict house in which to commence a church.    On Ascension Day this year I spoke to a group of 14 people from the village, including a lady for whom it was her first visit, and which also included a local councillor who brought greetings and spoke warmly of the church’s influence and activities.

Four years ago when I visited the church at Lebadyn the people were chopping down trees and digging foundations prior to erecting a new worship centre.    Lebadyn now has a very impressive building seating around 100, and with a “cry room” for mothers and babies, which enables them to see and hear what is happening in the church, and with plans for a library, kitchen and accommodation for visiting teams.

New believers are still being added to the churches – one church will soon be baptising 7 candidates, and another has 3 people waiting to be baptised.    All the churches visited were engaged in reaching out to their communities and all had a vision for extending their premises in order to do more evangelism with better facilities.    A major focus for all the churches is to provide activities for young people, as there is very little in the way of sporting or recreational activities in the villages, and the churches put a lot of energy and manpower into children’s’ and young peoples’ camps in the summer.

While the people are very enthusiastic, most are hampered by lack of equipment and finances.    One church needs its roof repaired, 2 need fencing around their buildings as they are open to villagers wandering in and taking building materials which are lying around, and 2 or 3 are wanting to extend their existing premises.    Many pastors only have a bicycle, and if pastors do have a car, they are often untrustworthy and not really safe.

While it is important that Hope Now continues to help with finance for many of these projects, the pastors and people would also value personal visits of church teams to help lead a camp, to teach crafts, and to give encouragement by sharing in fellowship and interest.     If any churches in the UK feel they could “twin” with a village church and would like more details, please let me know via the Southampton office – I know it would be a great blessing on both sides.

Valerie Reddaway




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 News, updates
22.02.2011   
Church Planting & Equipping

Once students have completed their studies at the Bible School, a number of them go out into the surrounding villages to serve as the local pastor.

08.07.2009   
Old preachers never die

On the 5th July Vic Jackopson went to the village of Makiyivka to present Alexander Vyshemirskyy, father of Misha, Hope Now's Ukrainian director, with an award. This was in special recognition of the contribution he has made to the preaching of the gospel for over 62 years.

18.06.2009   
Building a twin

On 29th May a team of six from Martock Christian Fellowship travelled to Chervona Sloboda (Red Village) in order to spend a week helping the local Baptist Church with its ongoing building project.

31.03.2009   
Kolyadkyi in Koochkivka

Recently, our church buried Olga. She was only 17 but she died of cancer. When I heard about it I thought, God has left me on the Earth because He still wants me to do something for Him.

Hope Now is a UK Registered Charity No 1072038
PRAYER DIARY
01.02.2012    Pray for Alla, Lena, Ksenya and the team presently working in Calcutta for another two weeks with Tear Fund projects

02.02.2012    Pray that the Mission Fund, which undergirds all that is done both here and in Ukraine, will have the finances to meet all our obligations

03.02.2012    Pray for all the older people that came to our Christmas party in Cherkiassy, that the Lord will bless them whatever their situation or background

04.02.2012    Pray for those who had a well installed last year, that as they share their water they will get opportunities to share their faith also

05.02.2012    Pray for all those who are attending the Bible School that they can give adequate time to studying, working and being with their families

06.02.2012    For all the foster parents of children supported by Hope Now, that they will have patience as they have to deal with problems that occur from time to time

07.02.2012    Our auditors visit the Southampton offices today to audit our accounts – pray that all will be in order as figures are checked

08.02.2012    Give thanks for all the volunteers that come into the office and give of their time so sacrificially, doing jobs at times without even being asked

09.02.2012    Pray for Frank and Lin as they plan for the summer at Kompas Park, and visit churches to speak about the varying areas of service possible

10.02.2012    Pray for Misha and all the staff at the Ukraine office as they consider all the requests from those asking for help

11.02.2012    Pray that all the plans for the Annual Weekend Away next month will come together well, and that people will register early while rooms are still available

12.02.2012    Pray for Alla Kostyunina, Director of Kompas Park, that she will be given wisdom in her decisions and management of the Park

13.02.2012    Give thanks that the young people in South Africa are doing well with their education, and pray for wisdom for Margaret Ferguson as she guides and directs them

14.02.2012    On this St Valentine’s Day, pray for the students we support who are in relationships, that they will be sensible and keep up their studies

15.02.2012    Pray for David and Valerie Reddaway as they oversee the Bible School, and the Church planting and twinning programme

16.02.2012    Pray for Jon as he attends a Men Meet meeting in Milford on Sea this evening

17.02.2012    Pray for Jon and Ali as they travel to Buckinghamshire to attend the Vetinerary Christian Conference this weekend

18.02.2012    Pray for Maria Shevchuki of Kuchkivka village as she celebrates her 86th birthday today

19.02.2012    Pray for the Directors and Staff of Orphanages we are involved with, that they will look after their children with love and dedication

20.02.2012    Pray for the young girls in Swindon House, and boys in Cornah House as they learn new skills which will prepare them for their futures

21.02.2012    Pray for Jon in his many responsibilities, that he will have wisdom in each decision that he has to make

22.02.2012    Pray for Lidia Savelieva and her vision of a sheltered home for older people to be realised, and pray for finances to come in for this project

23.02.2012    For Larisa Vovk in her work of overseeing the work being done with children in the orphanages and cottage homes

24.02.2012    Pray for Jon and Ali as they travel to Carlisle for the Northern Vet’s Christian Conference

25.02.2012    Pray for Cyndee and Darrell Knight and the work they do in the American Office for Kompas Park

26.02.2012    Pray for the Food Programme in Ukraine, especially through this winter time, that all those in need will receive help and no-one will be overlooked

27.02.2012    Pray for Vitaly and Ludmila Sidenko in their work with the African Students at 2nd Baptist Church, and Ludmila’s work with the deaf community at the same church

28.02.2012    Pray that we may be able to assemble a team of dentists and nurses to treat the children in the internats

29.02.2012    Give thanks for all our supporters who pray regularly for the work of Hope Now, and give sacrificially month upon month – pray the Lord will bless them as they bless the people of Ukraine