Dear Partner in Hope, The authorities in Prison 62 have turned to Hope Now for help. When, nine years ago, Hope Now built the church in the prison, it included, to the rear of the building, an education wing. The
From classroom
prison officers would like to convert three of these rooms into a counseling suite where prisoners can come for help. Over the past few months, I have worked with the governor and a designer to create a concept of multi-sensory décor and equipment to provide a relaxed and peaceful environment in the rehabilitation centre. This will stand in marked contrast to the grey harshness of the prison barracks where prisoners are cramped together in tri-level bunks with barely enough room to stand between them. Prisoners will be free to come to read, listen to music, and share their concerns with sympathetic officers, who are committed to preparing prisoners for release.
To a multi sensory suite
When, in December I met Andrii Strizhov. the deputy chief of prisons for the Cherkassy Region he agreed to write something himself to encourage you to give to this project. This is what he wrote.
“There is a city in Ukraine called Cherkassy, and within its boundaries there is a prison, number 62, to which the Lord in His way brings many people, because of different circumstances. Those who do not put cross of burden on themselves, reexamine their lives, and come to conclusions by taking a sober view of things. The ways of the Lord are not finished, they lead a man further: fist of all to a religion (for one can’t be without it), and then to knowledge, work, and so on. For those who made the first steps, the administration met them halfway and favoured the building of churches. There are now two churches meeting in Prison 6, a House of prayer, (Freedom Church, built by Hope Now) and an Orthodox church of saint Anastasia that, with God’s help, will be finished in 2010. As the Orthodox Church is not yet finished, the number of the visitors to service varies. However, the House of Prayer is “mature” so to say, and has regular services, where it gathers more and yet more new Christians around the saving hearth. The House of Prayer territory includes additional buildings such as the center of physiological work (from study to prayer, from prayer to work). There are computer classes in the rehabilitation centre where both administrative workers and prisoners have a chance to study. Charitable organizations “Insight” and “School of Health” are doing health-education work there. There is now more understanding and confidence between the administrative workers and the prisoners both in religion and physiological-training.
A place for group inter action
For the last few years there have been more prisoners going the way of reformation, than for the last decade. 70% of these are Christians. That is because of the work of prison officials, pastors, visiting preachers and priests. Praise God He gives a chance for the lost to come into the light out of darkness. May God give happiness and health to all those, who helped in building the House of Prayer, in building new Orthodox church and now the new rehabilitation center and to those who stand in prayer.”
With such a ringing endorsement of the power of the gospel to change lives, I would encourage everyone to pray and, those who are able, to give something toward a project which can only serve to create an even greater level of trust between the authorities, the prisoners and worker such as Anatoly Perepilitsa and Sasha Tarasenko. The total amount needed is between £3,000 and £4,000, depending on the quality of the equipment, which includes DVD/TV, Music centre, aquarium, special lighting and power point projector.
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...
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.
Yet again, Close to the Heart, has had a very successful tour of the England and raised a significant sum of money toward the development needs at Kompas Park and the Mission Fund.
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
