HOPE 4 KYIV
NUMBER 013
October 24, 2003
The In-Pact Prayer Newsletter of
Bob and Jo Ann Tolliver
Missionaries to Kiev, Ukraine
Dear Friends, Family, and "In-Pact" Partners:
Believe it or not, we're actually writing today from one of our favorite places in all the world, the Life Center in Crikvenica, Croatia. Praise the Lord, we were able to catch about three days of rest and relaxation at the beginning of a strenuous four-week schedule of travel and meetings. We had intended to do a river trip in Germany, but when we found we could do this instead for the same amount of money, it seemed only logical for us to return and spend a little time with some of our dearest friends in Croatia.
The weather has been horrible . . . . cold, cloudy, a bit windy, and exceedingly rainy. But . . . . we're having a ball. After arriving around 5:00 following a thirteen hour day of travel, we went to bed at 8:30 and didn't wake up until 9:00 the next morning. Finally got up around 10:00 and had the first of three very relaxing, "do nothing" days. We didn't realize just how sleep deprived and tired we were until we slept over ten hours the second night and then took long naps this afternoon. It's wonderful! Bob brought a few DVD's of music and movies, so we're enjoying just laying around, reading, watching, listening, relaxing. It's been a very long time since we've been able to do that. So far we've had this beautiful place just to ourselves, including no heat, but a group of Christian businessmen began arriving earlier today for a week-end conference, so it will be noisier and busier than before. We just learned that Drazen Glavis and his wife Jody, friends from several years ago, are here with the group. Drazen began this ministry. We hope to see them and visit a little.
We remain here until Sunday morning when we've hired a Christian brother to drive us back to the airport in Zagreb from which we will fly to Frankfurt, Germany for three meetings. We return to Kiev on Thursday afternoon and five hours later leave by overnight train to the L'viv region of western Ukraine for a week-end prayer retreat. As we write to you, it is snowing in the mountains just a few miles from us. We must travel back that way to get to Zagreb on Sunday.
Important Recommendation:
Bob was recently given one of the most outstanding Bible study website's he's ever seen, filled with hundreds of good Biblical resources . . . . all free! So, check out www.e-sword.net and see what all is there. It's great. Any pastor or missionary or other person involved in Bible teaching or interested in Bible study can benefit from many of its downloadable books and maps.
A Very Special "Thank You!:
To our friends at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Belton, MO for the wonderful care package filled with Nutrition bars, coffee, snack crackers, popcorn, trail mix, and such goodies. We know you must have wondered if it ever arrived, because we never commented about it or thanked you. But, it did arrive last week . . . just in time for us to stock ourselves for this trip. Would you believe such fast delivery??? You mailed it July 14th, and we got it October 18th! That's only three months! We're pretty certain by the condition of the box that some of our "friends" at customs probably got a little snack before it got to us, but that's the way it is in this part of the world. However, most of it was there and in good condition. So, . . . thank you, Belton! What a blessing!
What's Been Happening:
God has been unbelievably good and faithful this past month. We praise Him enthusiastically for the following:
1. Kosmos and Diablos (see last month's letter) have been pretty quiet since our landlady visited our neighbor lady. We're hoping that next time we see them they will both have muzzles on.
2. The very first meeting of our Hispanic work was more than expected with thirteen attending the first get acquainted gathering. We've now ordered Bibles in Spanish from the U.S. and are trying to locate locally some witnessing material in Spanish. Everyone is very excited.
3. Our exploratory meeting with our brothers from African countries went well in two ways. First, we found them to be very open and interested in a possible ministry to people from their nations. . . enough so that we have all agreed to pray further and meet again next month. Second, we discovered some of the struggles and almost insurmountable obstacles emigrants and refugees to Ukraine face.
For example, such a person receives no help at all from Ukrainian government, and receives $40 per month from the United Nations. One of our brothers rents a room with a friend for $80 a month, so they basically have nothing left for food and clothing. Another moves from one place to another for somewhere to stay. A third collects paper and bottles in order to have money for food. So, we are trying to work on a plan to help people like that who attend IBC. Since IBC has mostly poor Ukrainians attending, we need your prayer that God will provide both jobs and financial resources for these people.
4. Bob met recently with representatives from 22 different missionary organizations in Kiev simply to get acquainted with each other and look at possible ways of working together on various ministry and evangelistic goals. This was a good first step in bringing a deeper level of spiritual unity, something we feel is essential for the saturation of this region with the Gospel. During this meeting, Bob had the opportunity to introduce the work of International Baptist Church as well as our desire to see a massive prayer network cover the city. His report was enthusiastically received, a number of representatives expressed personal interest in a city prayer movement, and the idea is on the docket for a future meeting.
5. Last week our deacon, Vitaly Babych was appointed as "Associate Pastor" to partner with Bob in the transitioning process to a Ukrainian pastorate. God is certainly in that appointment, and Bob is excited about working together with Vitaly.
6. Also last week, our Church Leadership Council approved Zhenia Shatolov, a fourth year student from Kiev Christian University to come as "Pastoral Ministries Intern" and join the pastoral team, also as part of the transition process. He is experienced in preaching, cell church, student work, and worship, so we are very excited to see some significant areas of our church life strengthened while he is continuing his training under Bob's mentoring.
7. Bob concluded his series on salvation, although he will preach a couple of important follow-up messages. Most believers in Ukraine, as seems to also be the case in the U.S., think of salvation simply as forgiveness of sins, escape from hell, and heaven someday. If that were all there is to it, that would be enough. But, there's so much more. According to Romans 1:16, "Salvation" is the supernatural power of God dynamically and dramatically released into the lives of people in such a way that they are forgiven, cleansed, reconciled, redeemed, made just as if they'd never sinned, set apart, delivered, healed, and a whole bunch more. It is evident that this doctrine is greatly underestimated in the Church today.
8. Attendance and the spirit of our worship services both continue to grow. We've added some elements to the services, including a short "Moments of Encouragement" mini-sermon by either Vitally Babych or one of our members (it is a common practice in Ukraine to have three to four sermons in a service that lasts two to three hours), and also a special time of prayer ministry when we really bring our praises and our petitions to the Lord. People still talk enthusiastically about these times.
9. Jo Ann's leadership class has numerically settled into a group of about six adult women and two teen-aged girls. It is a good group and they are growing rapidly in their faith. Bob's leadership group has not yet begun, but after an announcement two weeks ago during English classes, he has 28 people signed up; he will begin in late November.
10. The Tuesday English classes continue growing with lots of new faces. As the result of some recent training, we have several nationals trained to teach. We may soon add a class for children. Jo Ann has concluded her class and has turned that level over to IMB missionary [REMOVED]. Jo Ann will probably add another "Intermediate" level class beginning in February after all our travels and holiday seasons are behind us. With Jason and Keri on the field by then, we may also add a professional class on Business English.
11. The Tuesday optional Bible studies in English and Russian also remain strong. Much of the Russian study has to do with scripture memorization in English, focusing on evangelistic passages out of Romans. The English class continues in the Gospel of John. Bob recently concluded three weeks of teaching out of John 14,15 and 16 on the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
12. Intensifying Battle:
Many of us on our IMB team have agreed that we are, for some reason, under strong attack from the enemy. We are certain of it. More and more missionaries have faced physical problems, family crises, or other disconcerting situations. Within the last year just in Ukraine alone, we've had three families that had to leave the field for physical or family reasons, we've had two that have relocated for other reasons, and we've had many instances of unexplainable physical problems that have cancelled, delayed, or diverted significant ministry needs.
Most of our families have had a rash of colds and flu-like symptoms even during Summer months. A few months ago Joel Ragains began to have unexplainable problems with his vision, only to learn recently that he had a detached retina. He is in Frankfurt, Germany as we write having undergone successful surgery. Then day before yesterday the doctor discovered that the retina in his other eye was doing the same thing. As far as we know, he had surgery on that eye probably today. All of this is after they both have had various colds and stomach problems and Mary Ellen broke her ankle a couple months ago.
Dan and Mary Ellen Johnson have had a rash of stomach illnesses, and, to our shock, last Friday during language school, Mary Ellen, in her mid 40's, had a heart attack and is in the hospital in Kiev waiting the next step.
There is no other explanation for these physical problems. When we all came to the field, we were as healthy as any group. The regional Medical Advisor for IMB acknowledged what many of us were suspecting . . . . the missionaries in Ukraine have an inordinately high number of serious medical problems, higher than any of the 27 countries in this region. So, whatever else you do, we need you to go to battle against the destroyer in our behalf. This epidemic upheaval must be stopped.
Upcoming Schedule:
Since we're currently in Croatia until Sunday, here's what things look like from there on through November.
Oct 26: ---- Fly from Zagreb, HR to Frankfurt, DE
Oct 27: ---- EBC new pastor orientation and fellowship.
Oct 27: ---- EBC annual Evangelism Conference (27pm-28pm)
Oct 28: ---- EBC annual meeting (28pm-30am). Bob speaks the 29th.
Oct 30: ---- Fly to Kiev early am, arriving early pm. Travel by overnight train to L'viv, UA
Oct 31: ---- IMB Kiev team prayer retreat/conference (10/31-11/02). Bob speaks the 31st.
Nov 02: ---- Travel by overnight train to Kiev, UA, arriving mid morning.
Nov 03: ---- Dinner meeting with fellow missionaries with Missions To Military.
Nov 04: ---- Office work, appointments, meetings, and prep for next trip (4-7)
Nov 08: ---- Fly from Kiev to Prague, Czech Republic for New Missionary orientation (8-15).
Prayer Requests:
It is clear that your prayer in our behalf is critical. As we see the things going on around the world, it is increasingly evident that many events moving from various vantage points toward an ultimate intersecting of strategies and cultures. Situations in the Middle East, South America, Europe, and especially in former CIS countries such as where we live, are setting the stage for the return of Christ. Ethnic polarizations, political agendas, economic maneuvering, cultural collisions, and religious fanaticism are all at work setting up scenarios that will ultimately lead to Biblically predicted events.
While none of us knows exactly what will happen or when, it is clear that certain things are going to happen. And, we're living close enough to their enactments to feel the winds and sense the vibrations of these movements. Just as we find ourselves personally living in an area that first heard the Gospel less than 30 years after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, we also know we live in a region of the world that could, with a single phone call or the simple stroke of a pen, put it in the middle of the final phases of cultural, military, economic, and religious explosions.
Because of that, we covet your prayers not only for us, but for all our colleagues with IMB and other Great Commission ministries. Pray especially for . . .
1. Our health and physical well being. Bob has especially having increasing back problems . . . . the worst he's had in ten years. Just about the time he thinks it is clearing up, there is a recurrence. It's been a roller coaster experience for about two months now. Although her blood pressure is more stable, Jo Ann is experiencing some discomforts, sleeplessness, and other nagging problems since terminating the use of some prescription medication.
2. The continued development of our prayer ministry at IBC. Sometimes it seems to stall simply because there are not enough hours in a day to do proper planning and implementing. We still need a strong leader figure in the church.
3. A unifying partnership with our new pastoral team. Both IMB leaders and our church members are very excited over this development. It will ease some of the burden of responsibility on us because both men can preach, and each will take certain areas of responsibilities that will enable us to devote needed time to other areas of ministry not yet developing.
4. Pray for Mary Ellen Johnson and her husband Dan as they face an uncertain future regarding her heart attack. Pray for wisdom regarding treatment. Pray for fast recovery and healing of the damage that her heart received. Pray that God's peace that passes all human comprehension will stabilize them and will drive them deeper into His sufficiency. Pray for the team in Odessa that was planning on them coming down to serve as Strategy Coordinators. Pray for Mick Stockwell, Strategy Associate for our area, as he tries to discern the Lord's direction in light of this development.
5. Pray for Joel Ragains and his wife Mary Ellen as he recovers from surgery on both eyes for retina repair. The report is good on the one eye, unknown on the other. Joel is Director of Practicum Ministries at Kiev Theological Seminary, and is also working in the area of worship, his area of expertise. They are critical to what God is doing in Kiev. Pray that Joel will have peace while he lies motionless for several more days while the retina's begin to heal. Pray that God will use this time to deepen his intimacy and times of worship, and that God will use them both in greater ways than before.
6. Pray for Mick Stockwell and his wife Dalese as they travel in the U.S. for the next month, attending meetings, speaking, and mobilizing churches to link with our work here. Ukraine is the most wide open country in the former CIS countries, currently having the most religious freedom. The evangelical church here has been around many years, but it is fragmented from misunderstanding, distrust, and division. Pray that God will use Mick and Dalese to lead us here and also motivate others in the U.S. to come and help us bring unity and healing to this part of the world.
7. Pray for our continued physical, emotional, and spiritual refreshing. Pray that we make wise decisions, and that we are selective in doors that appear to be open for us. Pray for us as we pass the half way mark in our assignment time. Pray that pastoral transition can be completed. Pray that we will discern the will of the Father for our future role here. Facing that half-way mark came as a surprise to us; we feel like we've just arrived.
We love you, and praise God for you. Thank you for being one who lifts us to the Father faithfully and remembers us in your heart lovingly.
In His Bond,
Bob and Jo Ann
IBC - Hope4Kyiv
Bob: lifeunlimited@pobox.com
And www.reachukraine.org/kiev for the general work in Kiev.For weekly spiritual encouragement and current stories of our work here,
subscribe to "Shoulder To Shoulder", a letter to "lift up hands that
For Back Issues of . . .
For Other Ministries in Ukraine:
www.hope4cee.org for IMB work in central and eastern Europe. Links to 24 countries by clicking on the flags.
www.reachukraine.org for information about IMB work in east Central Ukraine (Dnipropetrovsk, etc.) including another related virtual prayer walk.
Secular News on Kiev and Ukraine will give you interesting views at . . .
Some More Good Sites:
