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Hope4KYIV #042 ---- 2/16/06
#1 · February 17, 2006, 11:13 am
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
Hope 4 Kyiv
The Twice-Monthly "In-Pact" Praise and Prayer Letter Of
Bob and Jo Ann Tolliver
Missionaries to Kiev, Ukraine
Number 042
February 17, 2006
Dear Friends, Family, and "InPact" Partners:
Much has happened since our last letter, and we want to share a brief report and some prayer requests. We're trying to start writing twice a month, or at least once every two or three weeks.
Update:
+ Still no gas in the apartment, and now they are saying there will be none until it warms up enough that the utility workers can work outside. With the frigid weather we've been having, that could be up in March sometime . . . or later. Who would have ever believed that, when we moved into the apartment last August 30th, we'd still be without the use of stove, oven, or dryer nearly six months later.
+ Work is progressing very slowly on the auditorium. Again, who would have believed that the auditorium that was promised to be ready by the September is still at least a month away from being able to use it . . . maybe even longer. However, all mud and taping is done, over half the sub-flooring is down, and the beautiful tile has been laid in the "stage" area. It's beginning to look nice. Wish you could see it; it has a wonderful open and spacious look to it. We can hardly wait!
+ Still no progress on internet service, so we continue using pre-paid cards for dial-up connections. A friend contacted the company that had provided service for us and discovered that, because our building is not serviced by them, it would cost a minimum of $3,000 and a two-or-more months' wait before they would decide whether or not to run the line and IF we could get service. So, . . . we're still looking. Therefore, we continue asking that you NOT send us large attachments without asking us first. A simple 60K file, for example, can take up to 15 minutes to download. And, IF you're going to send pictures, please reduce the file size first.
These "non-developments" are examples of things that make us want to yell, scream, throw things, chew people out, and pull our hair. Most of the time there is no good reason, and a feeble excuse at best, but excuses and insufficient explanations are all we get. Between an over abundance of legal holidays, sometimes poor work habits, bureaucratic red tape, disregard for promises made, poor planning, a lack of respect for others' needs, and an occasional desire to take advantage of Americans on the part of a handful of people (many of whom seem to have congregated around this particular church project), progress on anything is exceedingly slow.
+ Other apartment needs still go unattended . . . speakers to be installed, doors to be lowered and sealed, trim to be installed, internet and television cable wiring to be encased into the walls, heated floors to become heated, painting to be completed, . . .
BUT . . . ! In spite of all that, we are blessed to work with some of the most considerate, sweetest, and kind people we've ever known. They are some of our choicest friends, and we value their friendship far more than we value conveniences.
+ We do have television back! . . . Just in time for the Olympics. Praise God for little "non-spiritual" blessings. It turned out to be snow and ice on the dish on top of the building, but it took over four weeks to get anyone to check it out and fix it.
With only one hour difference between here and Turin, and the fact that one of the few English channels we get is ESPI sports channel, we can watch the Olympics 24/7; but we don't go that far. While we don't get as much coverage of the American athletes, the British commentators are pretty fair and give Americans a good report. That's a far cry from CNNI and EuroNews. BBC news is also pretty fair. Bob has actually hooked our video data projector up, so we watch it all on a wall above the piano, almost five feet across. Since our television is so small, it's a great joy, especially to see all the beauty of the Italian Alps.
+ No progress of any kind of the evangelistic aerobics and exercise class. We don't know when, or if, that will ever happen.
Other News:
+ The two of us are currently leading a weekly "dating/marriage" workshop with the Spanish church. What was supposed to have been a two night and one morning seminar has changed to an open-ended weekly workshop every Tuesday evening during the Spanish church's weekly midweek gathering. This week we had 22 young adults, mostly single, from Venezuela, America, Peru, Iran, Pakistan, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ukraine, and Russia. Some of them are so hungry for truth and practical things that work that it almost shocks us. We would pray that this type of hunger could be found in the hearts of singles in America.
+ God is so good! This past Tuesday night following the "dating'marriage" workshop, "Rick" (not his real name), the Iranian young man we asked you to pray for accepted Christ as his Savior. What a time of rejoicing we had. He laughed, he cried, he sat with mouth open, he shook, . . . Several times he said, "Don't touch me; I'm in another world." This is the third single adult who has prayed to receive Christ in our apartment in the past five weeks. At least two others are on the verge of doing the same thing. We have several who come each week who have virtually no serious religious foundation of any kind, . . . and are they ever open to the Gospel! What an awesome God we serve!
+ Attendance has started picking up in Sunday services, we've had several new visitors (both Ukrainian and non-nationals), and the spirit continues to intensify in several good ways. Our praise and worship team is slowly taking shape, although we still have difficulty getting everyone together to prepare. As a result, we're having to do without some people whom we'd love to be included.
+ Bob's Timothy Fellowship continues to grow, although jobs, school, and sickness seem to keep everyone from being there at the same time. Last night he had another first-timer. The guys are beginning an intensive study on the subject of "salvation" and related topics. There is so much confusion over things like "how" to be saved, what all salvation includes, whether or not it lasts, whether or not you can lose it, whether or not baptism or some other form of works is required, . . . that Bob feels this issue has to get nailed down firmly in the hearts of the guys who will someday be key leaders in the church. Consequently, he's working on about a 15-page outline syllabus of the subject that the guys can use for reference and study.
+ It amazes us that KIBC is such an attraction to young people. And we two are dumbfounded over how, at our ages, we are so graciously and respectfully received. It is one of our great delights to share our hearts and love with these young men and women. They make us feel so incredibly young!
+ Jo Ann hasn't felt prompted to do any evangelistic cooking classes lately, primarily because of the lack of gas in the apartment. Also, she feels it would be easy for her to be spending her energies with members of other churches and people who really don't need to be involved; her goal is to develop relationships with unbelievers. So, at this point, she's going to offer the classes "by invitation only" as she feels the time is appropriate.
+ We've added a monthly "movie" session on the third Sunday afternoon of each month. It follows our "Come and Stay Awhile" format. Last time we watched the animated cartoon, "Robots". Attendance was small for the first time, but it was lots of fun. This next Sunday we'll watch a "sweetheart" special, "A Vow To Cherish" which illustrates what true love really looks like. We'll also show it to the Spanish group (it has Spanish voice-overs as well as subtitles) near the end of our "dating/marriage" sessions.
Coming Up:
+ This coming Monday night we'll have our first "Praise fest" as we try to provide our people an opportunity to learn more and more choruses, praise songs, and hymns. We want KIBC to be known for joyous and refreshing worship that is free, God-centered, and covers a very broad spectrum of music styles. This monthly gathering will help us accomplish that.
+ We have a young man from West Plains, MO coming next week to spend about three weeks with us. Brent is 22, is active in a local church there, and is an accomplished musician and youth leader. His church has about 250 teens every week. He used to have his own Christian music group, and he plays several instruments. So, as he and we seek the Lord's direction, this will be an important time for us all. he will be with us from February 24th to March 17th. We, of course, served on staff at FBC from 1966 to 1968.
+ We're into our personal celebration months this time of year. January 29th was our wedding anniversary. We celebrated with a hamburger at McDonalds a few days later (since it was on a Sunday), and then got to Reprise's (a favorite "atmosphere" restaurant) a few days after that. Then we managed to celebrate Valentine's Day with another hamburger at McDonalds. But, we really did it up big! We also ordered cappuccino, and then went to the store and bought each other chocolates.
On Valentine's Day Bob asked Jo Ann if she'd like some flowers. She said not really, but then decided that maybe he should get her some so that the Spanish group that night would see how thoughtful he was . . . as an example, you know. Well, by the time we left the store and went by the outdoor market (yes, even in February!) to buy some oranges and mushrooms (don't ask!), we both forgot about the flowers. The Spanish group got a good laugh when we told them the story. Now they know we really are getting older.
Then, Jo Ann's birthday is the 27th of this month, and Bob's is the 19th of next month. And, we're enjoying it all.
+ We have a volunteer team from Cairo, Egypt, coming in April to work with us. This team is led by John Tucker, a long-time friend who as a student member of the very first team we ever took to Croatia in 1996. He subsequently served two years in the Cairo church, returned to the States to get a Master's degree in Cross-Cultural evangelism, returned to SBU to direct the volunteer team program, and then went back to the church in Cairo. So, it will be great to have him and his team. One of the ladies in our church used to attend that church when she lived in Cairo.
Very Special Needs:
+ We are facing the immediate need to expand the sound system we are currently using. Belonging to one of our American missionaries who works with us, it needs to immediately be expanded with some sound monitors and additional mike inputs. When we move into the other big auditorium, it will need extensive expansion. Music stands, an additional electronic keyboard, more speakers, and more microphones are all things we need to purchase very soon. We are really limping along, and some of our musicians cannot hear themselves because we're not able to provide monitors so they can hear. Our media people are doing the very best possible, but because of the room configuration and the way we have to position our musicians, it is extremely difficult.
+ As God has opened doors for us to work with so many university students and with refugees, we have heard some heartbreaking stories. We in America are so insulated from the rest of the world, and we are so calloused from what we see in television reports, that things like poverty, the issue of suffering for your faith, and other such things don't move our hearts very much. Several young people who attend our church actually live on bare subsistence and often in danger because they chose to follow Jesus Christ. They fled to Ukraine because it was an easy country to enter as a refugee. Once here, however, things change. If they have dark skin, they are ridiculed, often harassed, and sometimes beaten . . . or even killed. Because they are refugees, they get almost no help (usually a maximum of $40 a month) from UNHCR and nothing from the Ukrainian government. Because they are Christians, their lives are often in danger even here because others from their home country might betray them.
One such need is a young man we'll call "Mark" from an "Islamic State" country. He began searching for God at age five, trained in the Koran to such a level that he was asked by his teachers to explain its teachings to others, spent seven years studying the other major religions of the world. Through a series of strange twists and turns, he met another Christian, they secretly studied scripture together, and he accepted Christ at age fourteen or fifteen.
His family was a wealthy and influential family; one of his close relatives was a high-ranking government official in charge of national security. During a family celebration "Mark" revealed that he had become a believer in Jesus. He was committed to a mental institution, as a young teen ager, where he was injected with all kinds of medicines in an attempt to rehabilitate him and convince him to renounce his faith in Christ. His health deteriorated to the point that the hospital administrator released him before he died. His health improved, and he moved to Ukraine to study at university. At this point he was only seventeen years old.
During the first year of our tenure in Kiev he showed up in our church services. We did not know until this week that it was the first time in his life he had ever been inside a church. He developed some close mentoring relationships with some of our single missionaries, and lived here for a couple of years before his finances finally dried up after his family cut him off completely. By this time both of his parents have died "accidentally", and the remaining leaders of the family have become extremely hostile toward him. He has had no contact with his family for over three years, and his financial resources are now gone.
After spending a year in another Asian country, he returned recently to Kiev to continue his studies. In the meantime, while there, he met other missionaries who continued mentoring him and training him in evangelism and church planting. He worked with Buddhists and Muslims a great deal, planting at least one small church and helping with others. The training he received there, and the strong personal spiritual growth he experienced, has raised up a knowledgeable, courageous, and motivated young man who now works with us in trying to reach people, particularly from Middle Eastern and North African countries.
There's just one problem ---- he has no money. We don't know how he survives, but he testifies that God provides, and he has full confidence.
Why do we share this story with you? Because we'd love to be able to help him financially, enabling him to continue his education and increase his availability to help us in our work. Even a few hundred dollars a month would make an enormous difference to him. No single amount is too small. Deep in our spirits, in totally unexplainable ways, we believe he is a critical piece of the puzzle to reaching many people for Christ. Just recently he was asked to speak in a seminary class to talk about how to witness to Muslims. He is one of the most brilliant young men we've ever met. God is going to use him in powerful ways in the Kingdom, and we believe much of it will be here in Kiev.
Because the policy of our mailing server does not allow any type of fund raising or solicitation, we cannot say much more than this. But, if you're interested and will drop us a note to our personal address at lifeunlimited@pobox.com, we'll be happy to give you more details.
Prayer Requests:
+ Praise the Lord for the Vistoso Community Church in Tucson, AZ, becoming part of our "InPact" Support Team. We rejoice.
+ For new believers, "Rick", Paola, and Nandi, that they will grow in their walk with the Lord, and will be highly persuasive in drawing their friends to Christ.
+ Our friend, "Mark", that God will provide for him financially, will give him good health, will keep him safe, and will empower him with boldness, wisdom, and great effectiveness in reaching people from the Middle Eastern countries.
+ Another friend from a Communist country in the Western Hemisphere who fled her country because of religious persecution, and, as a refugee, lives on minimal subsistence. We'd like to help her as well.
+ For Keri as she leads her "Beauty For Ashes" single gals' Bible study, and as she works with the Spanish church. Pray for her and Igor (from Venezuela) as they try to overcome political obstacles that would keep him from getting to the States in June for their wedding. This is a very complicated process involving three nations and three languages. We need God to intervene and clear the way.
+ Completion of the work on the apartment and the new sanctuary; the longer it takes to get into the sanctuary, the more the momentum can deteriorate.
+ The "dating/marriage" workshop we're conducting each Tuesday night with the Spanish group. Close to half are not believers, and are clearly asking themselves some very serious questions about their relationship to God. Pray for open minds and receptive hearts, and for their soon salvation.
+ Bob's Timothy Fellowship and their spiritual growth. Pray that they will be knowledgeable, wise, and capable leaders.
+ The development of a "what we believe" study, a week-night Bible study, and the preaching schedule for Sundays. Bob will begin a mini-series about "Worship" on February 26th. Stan and Vitaly, along with guest preachers, will also preach periodically.
+ Brent, as he comes to spend three weeks with us to consider joining our team. We must have wisdom and clear understanding as to God's will. He will have to raise his own support. Pray that we will allow only the Holy Spirit to guide us all in related decisions; we cannot be led by emotions, ambitions, or personal preferences.
+ Bob, Vitaly, and Stan, as they lead the church. Pray that they have wisdom and clarity of mind as they lead the church and make important decisions.
+ The two of us that we will have wisdom and insight, as well as physical and emotional stamina, as we continue developing relationships, lead the church, and try to do what we can to get the work completed on the apartment and the sanctuary.
+ For significant finances by which to purchase much needed audio equipment, music stands, and other furnishings so badly needed.
If You Are Wanting To Send us Anything:
If you have anything (letter, "goodies", etc.) that you'd like to get to us, we have three different people coming to Kiev in the next few weeks, one as early as next Friday. If you'd like to try to send it with one of them, contact us immediately and we'll send you an address. You'll need to tell us what it is so we will know who might have adequate space.
Finally:
The Holy Spirit will also call things to your attention about which you need to pray. And, we are recognizing more and more that God has us here for a reason that is far greater than we currently understand. It has to with not only pastoring a new church, but with reaching nations, with helping bring unity to the Body of Christ in Kiev, and with seeing the presence and power of God hover over Kiev as the Holy Spirit hovered and "brooded" over the waters of the deep in Genesis 1:2. It's hard to explain, but we are compelled by this awareness. This is a "really big" thing that is developing.
Thank you for being a part of it. Pray that God will draw many more to be "in on what He's up to" here in Kiev, Ukraine.
Don't forget to write to us.
In His Bond, By His Grace, and For His Kingdom,
Bob and Jo Ann
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