Under Communism, it was not unusual for believers to baptise new converts under cover of darkness, even in the winter going to such extremes as cutting a hole in the ice. To this day, few, if any churches have an indoor baptistry. The tradition is for baptism to be in the local river or lake where now it is a very public testimony and opportunity for preaching the gospel. That said, it is still unusual today for new believers to choose mid-December, when ice has formed at the water’s edge and a Northeasterly Siberian wind is blowing and the temperature is registering -7 C. However, this is what happened recently, when Alex and Inna were baptised in the River Dnipro. The engaged couple, who are getting married in April, became Christians at an extreme camp, the like of which Hope Now will hold this summer under the leadership of Alexander (Sasha) Malamuzh, who now takes up the story.
Many people came to see the baptism. There were Alex’s friends, Inna’s relatives and the serviceman Alexander who was Alex’s commander when Alex served in the Ukraine Army. Alexander is a Christian, so he often met soldiers and talked about Jesus Christ, the Gospel, and salvation. Alex had argued with him and said “I will never believe in God.” However, Alexander had special confidence in Alex’s salvation. So, when three years later, Alex called his former commander to tell about his faith in Jesus Christ, he was very happy and came to be a witness of Alex’s baptism. This baptism can indeed be called “an ice baptism”, for the rocks on the bank of the river were covered by the ice. Some tried to persuade the guys not to do it; some said “You will catch a cold”, but Alex and Inna had been waiting and were ready to do it in spite of the cold.
Sasha baptises Alex in the freezing Dnipro
After the baptism, all our fellowship met around the table. We had wonderful teatime with a real Russian samovar. We had conversation, sang songs and were very happy. The next day, Sasha Prichodko accepted Jesus Christ into his heart. He had been thinking about his life and his need of Jesus for a long time, but this extreme baptism of his best friend Alex motivated him to repent. Praise the Lord! Sasha Malamuzh
If you are interested in being part of the Extreme Water Camp 16 – 20 August please contact vic.jackopson@mac.com. If you are, or know someone who, is an instructor in kite-surfing or wind-surfing, we would love to hear from you. The camp is designed to test to the limit under expert tutelage and within acceptable margins of safety, but It is not for the faint hearted! Come at your own risk! You must be over 18 to apply.
On the 7th January, Christians from all over Cherkassy gathered at the Palace of Culture to celebrate the Ukrainian Christmas Day and to hear evangelist Stanislav Gruntkovsky, who will preach on the 6/7th June at the Cherkassy Football Stadium.
01.09.2010 For Brenda Greenwood, Val Lyman, Arthur Glinn, Phoebe Attrill and Fred and Gery Hendon who are volunteers at this week’s Widows’ and widowers’ camp in Kompas Park.
01.09.2010 For the Spirit of the Lord to use this last day of the widows and widowers’ camp to minister to the many needs of those attending
02.09.2010 For Vic and Sue as they go on holiday for the next three weeks, that they will be rested and refreshed, to face their final month with Hope Now.
03.09.2010 For Trisha Jackopson-Hendy as she goes to the Isle of Wight to enthuse Islanders to attend the Medina Theatre for the Silver Jubilee concert.
04.09.2010 For Peter and Rosemary Pearson and Bernard and Wendy Downton as they fly out to Ukraine to help at next week’s Widows’ and widowers. Camp.
05.09.2010 For churches to advertise the Silver Jubilee concerts to get maximum attendance to say goodbye to Vic and welcome to Jon as the new CEO of Hope Now.
06.09.2010 For Alla Kostyunina, Frank and Lin Collier and the Kompas Park members of staff as they engage in the last camp of the summer season.
07.09.2010 For Jon Budgell and Brenda Greenwood as they prepare to take on the two key positions at the Southampton office on the 1st November.
08.09.2010 For Dr Alexander Doreshenko and his team of health volunteers as they minister the gospel and heal the sick, via the Mobile Medical unit.
09.09.2010 For the young people at Cornah House and Swindon House pre-independence homes, as they settle into their studies.
11.09.2010 The Teachers and students as they commence a new year at the Cherkassy Centre for Biblical Studies. Pray especially for the new post-graduate course.
12.09.2010 For the final arrangements for the Silver Jubilee tour so that tickets get sold and accommodation found for the team.
13.09.2010 For Margaret Ferguson as she guides the young people in Cape Town to secure places at universities or colleges, in preparation for independence.
14.09.2010 For those young people who are still waiting for sponsorships to start studies at university or to stay at our pre-independence homes
15.09.2010 For Dee Ewart in her struggle with cancer and for Peter to be strong as her cares for her.
16.09.2010 The children and young people in our care especially those who find school and discipline irksome.
17.09.2010 For those ex-prisoners who have become pastors and church planters to receive wisdom, insight and knowledge as they lead in their communities.
18.09.2010 For Vladimir Kuzin, Rector of the Cherkassy Centre for Biblical Studies and Valentina Kurat, the Secretary and teaching staff, as they seek to expand the school.
19.09.2010 For Alla Kostyunina as she writes her report and assessment of Kompas Park summer season and plans for the building of the new staff accommodation.
20.09.2010 For the Silver Jubilee fund to be supported so that Alla will be able to start building and complete the final phase of the Kompas Park development.
21.09.2010 For those children, young people and adults who experienced the touch of the Lord at Kompas Park, to be fervent and persevering in the faith.
22.09.2010 For Frank and Lin Collier as they return to Southampton after a busy summer at Kompas Park and make themselves ready for the Silver Jubilee Tour.
23.09.2010 For Vic and Sue as they return home from their holiday and for Vic as he prepares for the Silver Jubilee tour in the UK and later in Ukraine.
24.09.2010 For Anatolii Perepilitsa and Sasha Tarasenko as they preach in the prisons and minister to the ex-prisoner.
25.09.2010 For Misha Vyshemirskyi as he leads the Hope Now staff, that he may be given much wisdom to make good decisions and vision for the future.
26.09.2010 For Vic as he preaches today at Colwell, Isle of Wight and uses the time there to encourage more people to attend the Silver Jubilee concert at the Medina Theatre on the 8th October.
27.09.2010 For Michael Quicke and David Coffey as they prepare to preach and lead at the Silver Jubilee Celebration at Chatsworth Baptist Church, West Norwood on the 2nd October.
28.09.2010 The Board of Directors as they meet this evening and for Vic and Sue for whom this will be the last board meeting. Pray for wisdom and grace in everything.
29.09.2010 For the church planting and twinning programme to be effective and new churches to be found, willing to twin with a church in Ukraine.
30.09.2010 For Bob and Patti McLeod, John Conner and Tim and Myles Thompson as they fly to the UK to participate in the Silver Jubilee tour.
