HOPE4KYIV #048 ---- 9/28/06
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
Hope 4 Kyiv
The Monthly Praise and Prayer Letter Of
Bob and Jo Ann Tolliver
Missionaries to Kiev, Ukraine
Number 048
September 28, 2006
Dear Friends, Family, and "In-Pact" Partners:
We were simply shocked when we realized it had been over six weeks since we last wrote. We keep looking for a later letter, but apparently August 8th is the most recent letter we sent. Time has gone by so rapidly that we just didn't pay attention. Please forgive us! Much has happened . . . and not happened . . . since then, but we'll try to be brief.
Updates on Past Matters:
+ Entry doors ---- As we mentioned last time, the front door was finally lowered on the apartment, leaving the big gap at the top instead of the bottom. Because of that work, chips of concrete and powder are left on the floor whenever we go in and out. So, every so often one of us goes out and sweeps up another pile. Perhaps by Christmas the finish work will be completed and our main entry will look as nice as the rest of the apartment. We have requested that the rear door not be lowered because it is for such a small amount, and since the caulking was done last winter we don't get any cold air.
+ Internet service ---- Assurance, promises, misrepresentations, lies, denials, . . . . ad infinitum from the internet company. We're still without decent internet services. Even our friends who are trying to help us are so busy we can't get things followed up. We've essentially just given up. After spending over $300 for equipment and installation, we still have nothing to show for it. Of all the things we face in Kiev, this may be the most frustrating. At this point it looks like our only recourse is to secure an attorney to press the issue, but with no guarantee that we'll get anything back, and the certainty of having spent yet more money on attorney fees. In the meantime, we'll keep looking for alternatives.
Alert Notice! Would you believe that, out of nowhere, guys showed up today to install a high speed internet line to our apartment! Beginning in October, 2005, the company we chose assured us they could give us good speed DSL service. We signed up, paid over $200, and waited. It has been eleven months of promises, lies, denials, and so many such things that you would never believe it. We tried to write you a brief description, but it can't be done. So, here we are sitting with our mouths open in unbelief, stunned, still wondering if a line will actually be available, AND if it will work even after it's hooked up. The techs said a few minutes ago that the computer tech would come tomorrow (or Monday, or someday . . .) and set up the software and the connection on our computers. Who knows? . . . . Maybe, . . . or maybe not. . . . We'll see.
+ Clothes dryer ---- Apparently as soon as the final building inspection is made (probably in November or December) and all the government people were out of the way, the clothes dryer can be hooked up. Keep in mind that it's an American gas dryer that runs on 110 volts, so even if we get it hooked up, we'll have to spend another $150 to $175 for another voltage inverter because we don't think the one for the washer will handle both simultaneously. Electric dryers are actually combination washer/dryer units, and won't fully dry the clothes. So, we have three options ---- buy an electric dryer that doesn't really dry, eventually use the American dryer and incur the additional costs of electrical modifications, or buy a European gas dryer and still wait until all the inspections are done. Or, . . . we could just keep doing what we've done for over three and a half years, and keep using our drying racks scattered around the apartment.
+ More returnees ---- We are thrilled that even more of our people have returned from their travels. Leo and Zhanna are back from Wisconsin Dells where they worked all Summer. Marie H. is back from San Diego and has resumed her excellent inductive Bible studies, this session on Ephesians. Most of our regular university students and other singles are all back. Attendance continues to climb on Sundays as well as in our singles ministries.
+ M.'s Blessings ---- Praise the Lord for His provision for our Persian friend, M.! It's far too long a story, but God provided all documents needed for him to stay in Ukraine, attend university, and get married. Bob officiated at the Christian ceremony three weeks ago as he and Irina committed their lives to each other. It was our second wedding in the church and in the new sanctuary, and was another awesome experience.
+ Statement of Beliefs ---- Bob completed the Statement of Beliefs and Practices and they were presented to the church three weeks ago last Sunday. He is now doing follow-up, preaching on some key beliefs during Sunday services. The day they were presented, he read through the entire statement with little comment, and then spoke primarily on the divinely inspired inerrant Word of God as our foundation for everything else, and also on the issue of salvation through Jesus Christ, the central figure in the Bible. The following Sunday he spoke on the blood of Christ as the only means for forgiveness and eternal life. God moved powerfully in those services as the Holy Spirit apparently captured everyone's attention. People hardly moved during those messages.
+ Our Chinese friend, Monica, did return to China and has gone back to her home city. Fortunately, we were blessed to help her make contact with believers there, and she is already witnessing and fellowshipping with believers. She has already shown the Jesus film to a number of people, and her mother has indicated her desire to attend church and learn more about Jesus.
Recent Events and Developments:
+ The Timothy Fellowship is still growing. Believe it or not, after some nine months, they are nearing completing the study on the doctrine of Salvation. Bob's syllabus now exceeds 35 pages of outline, and will probably hit 50 or more by the time he finishes. It is a comprehensive study, some of which is being used in the States and also in two or three other eastern European countries by missionaries. Last night he finished the study on the blood covenant, and will probably conclude the overall salvation study in the next three or four weeks by dealing with repentance, faith, and why some people are not saved.
So far he has taught on what salvation is (an "umbrella" term incorporating many aspects ---- atonement, sacrifice, forgiveness, redemption, justification, deliverance, healing, sanctification, etc.), how long it lasts (eternally), assurance and eternal security, requirements for salvation, problem texts, what it means to be "In Christ" (II Cor 5:17), birthmarks of salvation (evidences that show a person is saved), blood covenant, and other topics. It has been quite an exciting adventure. Last week when he finished his initial presentation on the blood covenant, Stan (one of the Pastoral Leadership Team members) simply replied, "Wow!" That was a great encouragement to Bob, because Stan has his doctorate in systematic theology.
+ Jo Ann has finally begun her equivalent of the Timothy Fellowship for young single women. For several months a number of gals have asked Jo Ann to meet with them to study the Bible together. After lots of prayer and considering the options, Jo Ann has agreed, and led the first session last night at the same time the Timothy Fellowship does. She had four attend. When she contacted them, one of them wrote back, "At last!". Since the purpose of the group is to develop leaders, it is by invitation only at this point, but will surely expand in the future to include "all comers", just as Bob's group has.
+ The Persian Bible study continues reaching new guys as M. and F. lead under Bob's mentorship. Last week two new guys came for the first time. Bob has been meeting Wednesdays or Thursdays at 5:00 and doing an overview of a chapter in Mark, and then the guys share it with the entire group each Thursday at 6:00. A young American missionary, Paul, has become involved with M. and will begin teaching conversational English at 5:00, followed then by M. and F. doing the Bible study., Some of the guys have started attending Sunday services, where M. translates for them.
In addition (don't get confused here!), one of our Hispanic girls has a new roommate who is Muslim. She has visited in our home, and is very sweet. M.'s wife, who speaks five languages, is burdened for the Persian women, and is rapidly learning M.'s language so she can befriend these new girls and share the Gospel with them. Muslim women are essentially cast offs in most cultures. M. and his wife have a vision to minister to that group together as a couple. These developments are very exciting.
This is a ministry of strategic importance, and we hope you will constantly pray for us and for this ministry. Partly as a result of what's going on in the Middle East, thousands of Iranians, plus other thousands from other Islamic countries, have moved to Ukraine because it's easy to get in. Most of them are in Kiev. Currently it is reported that there are over 13,000 Iranians living in Kiev, compared to about 6,000 this time last year. So, you can see just how vital this ministry is.
+ Our new ministry to Chinese students is slowly coming along. This is an interesting ministry because we know some of these kids are also involved in other churches, several of which are in a major Chinese dialect. But, we think we are "connecting" with a number of them. Jeannie is actually starting from scratch with her Saturday Bible study, and is seeing a steady increase in attendance. Most Sundays there will be a half dozen or more of them in our services. Friday, October 6th, is a Chinese holiday celebrating a new moon, and we are having them over to our apartment for the evening. We were told yesterday that there will be at least 20 or more attending! Several will come at 4:00 to begin cooking Chinese food, and then we'll spend the evening together. Pray that the two of us survive, and that our apartment will dispel the aroma of Chinese cooking in time for our Sunday events. <{[:-)
+ The singles ministry also continues to grow. Several of our regulars are bringing their friends. Some of them travel up to two hours by train to attend not only on Sundays, but also other events a couple times a month. Most are either university students or missionaries, mostly in their 20's and 30's. Everytime we are with them, we come away refreshed. It is a blessing to be their friends, and sometimes their parents or grandparents (although none of them would admit they see us as grandparents . . . "thank you!, thank you!, thank you!").
Jo Ann prepares lunch for them each Sunday, using a series of "easy-to-fix" dishes (mostly salads, casseroles, sandwiches, and soups), and we almost always "have comp'ny for dinner" every Sunday. This past Sunday there were sixteen of us sitting around the dining room table and the service counter. We can't describe the enjoyment that brings us, and we think it does them as well. Sometimes a few of them will stick around until 5:00 or after.
In addition, we have a "food, fellowship, and movie (or games) night" a couple times a month. This coming Friday we'll probably have a dozen or more here for pizza and a movie. Now that M. and Irina are married, it will not be just "singles". But, what a feeling of richness and satisfaction to see these kids sit around and interact with each other, huddle up in a corner to pray together, laugh, and simply relax. We wouldn't trade that for anything.
+ Brent Holt, our worship leader from West Plains, continues doing a great job of forming a worship team. We especially appreciate the approach he is taking. His criteria for involvement in the worship team is not just musical ability and enthusiasm, but is primarily commitment. Beginning with perhaps as many as eight or ten people who were part of the original rather fluid group, it has narrowed down to five who really believe God wants them there, and they are willing to pay the price of preparation and faithful attendance. Even though he came for a year with us, we hope and pray he will extend; he's an amazing blessing. He and Bob meet regularly every Tuesday evening to talk, plan, relax, and then end the night usually with us all watching a movie or a music video.
+ Our shepherding ministry to other missionaries is an unplanned blessing and not part of our original vision; but as we rubbed shoulders with colleagues, we realized that these co-laborers sometimes need an "oasis" of refreshing or a "safe haven" where they can decompress and shed the "barnacles" of weariness, disappointment, and struggle. It is our honor and joy to spiritually, emotionally, and relationally come alongside these soldiers as they face the challenges of their respective ministries. So, we are seeing an increasing number of missionaries either attend regularly when not out in the field somewhere, or stop by periodically just to have a fresh drink from the fountain. We are blessed beyond words to have this privilege.
+ Not everything has been pleasant, unfortunately. Without going into unnecessary detail, the end result was that one of our men took offense with Bob over some clear misunderstandings and erroneous conclusions, and rejected attempts at reconciliation. The situation intensified over the past two months and ultimately required the Pastoral Leadership Team to inform the brother that the ministry he was providing us was terminated. This situation played heavily on us, especially on Bob. The distraction is actually one reason why we didn't get a praise/prayer letter to you earlier; we've just been so enveloped in trying to work through this situation. But, as far as we can tell, it's over even though the brother still rejected reconciliation.
+ God has also blessed the church financially so that we began purchasing our own sound system this past Monday. The two of us and Brent went with a Ukrainian brother from Pastor Phillip's church to begin the process. Up until now we've enjoyed the use of a borrowed system until we could buy our own. It is possible but not probable that the system will be operational by this Sunday, but almost certainly by the following. We must purchase a sound mixer board, amplifier, condenser and filter, six microphones and stands, two main speakers and stands, two monitor speakers, a hand-held microphone, a head mount microphone, a cassette/CD player, a mounting rack, all the cables and patch cords, and a large projector screen for our data projector.
God has used people both in America and here through our church offerings to provide just over $12,000 of that money. We praise Him for that. However, we are still in need of another $2,000 to enable us to buy everything. The store our Ukrainian brother took us to is one where he used to work, and the owner/manager is a believer and member of the Calvary Chapel church in Kiev. He volunteered to give us a good discounted price, so we're going to end up with quality equipment. Incidentally, if you'd like to help with the remaining $2,000, that would be wonderful. You can drop Bob a note at lifeunlimited@pobox.com for instructions on how to send it to our stateside account which can be accessed in Kiev via our ATM card.
+ Our plans to request affiliation with the International Baptist Convention have concluded. The Pastoral Leadership Team sent our formal request for Associate Membership (a one-year "probationary" membership) last month, and it was approved for recommendation to the Convention at its annual meeting in Paris the end of October. While we are truly functioning as a non-denominational church, our beliefs and our vision of church planting fit like a hand in a glove with that of the IBC. There are about 65 English language international Baptist churches throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East making up the IBC. We would really like to go to the Paris meeting, but probably won't because of financial costs and simple weariness.
+ Our attendance has steadily grown since August. During the Summer we were running consistently in the 40's and 50's. But, now attendance continues increasing. The past four weeks we have been in the upper 60's and low 70's. Last Sunday we had at least 74 . . . AND that was without at least 20 regulars absent. We figure that if everyone had been present, our attendance last week would have been near 100! And that is awesome! God is certainly doing something special here.
Personally:
+ The stress of the offense we mentioned, previous hot weather, and the increased burden of ministry opportunities have left us weary and generally sleep deprived. Most of the time we each get between five and six hours of real sleep a night. Bob seldom gets to bed before 12:30. Even though Jo Ann will usually go to bed sometime after 11:00, she normally won't go to sleep until Bob comes to bed. Then we begin waking up sometime between 5:00 and 6:30. Between late nights, bladder limits, and aches and pains, we generally operate tired during the day. But, God is faithful to give us periodic breaks during most days where we can put up our feet, drink a cup of coffee, and maybe take a short semi-conscious snooze.
One of our biggest drains comes from having to do grocery shopping three or four times a week. While our fruit and vegetable market is still nearby, the "supermarket" we used to go to is closed for three to four months for new ownership and complete renovation. What used to take us an hour or less via foot and a handy taxi ride home now requires a 45 minute "Marshryutka (either a short bus or a maxi van) drive of traffic delays, hard bounces and jerks, to a supermarket that has what we need, and then back again burdened down with plastic bags of groceries and a 1/2 mile walk to the apartment. We now take up to three hours or more, two or three times a week. And, the more people Jo Ann feeds, the more times we do it.
+ Jo Ann continues having recurring problems with her feet, and Bob re-injured his back last Sunday helping move our keyboard into the sanctuary. It usually takes him a two or three hours each morning to get limber enough to feel comfortable. When Jo Ann makes the grocery walks, she's essentially in constant foot pain the rest of the day and all the following day. (It's terrible getting old!!!) But, we continue learning to modify our schedules to provide us recuperation time. We don't go to the other side of the river very much at all . . . maybe once every couple of weeks. When we do, we always try to include lunch at either TGI Friday's or Reprise's and hopefully make a trip to our favorite market where we stock up on turkey, our favorite bread, and cheese.
We would really like to find a reliable driver who could take us to do some of this stuff. Fortunately taxi's are still not too expensive. At the same time, we really desperately need the walking exercise to combat lethargy and weight. It's like being "betwixt a rock and a hard place".
+ Our kids have been facing their own challenges. Cindy's are still holding faithful in Medellin. She is home schooling Christopher again (and he's enjoying it), and has increased ministry load as well. Kevin has had problems with blood clots again, and also has taken on an enormous increase of ministry responsibility as the interim director of the Bible school while at the same time directing the future construction of a building for the school. They appreciate our prayer.
Debbie's gang is still in Ft. Worth, although Abby is now a freshman at the University of Missouri in Columbia. She makes an occasional trip up to "Aunt Dee's" in LaGrange where she can get free laundry and food (just like her Grandpa T. did when he could). Debbie's health has worsened and, after more than five years, they still will not diagnose her as having MS although all the symptoms are there. She still has lots of pain and has serious vision problems. Financially they are strained. We praise the Lord that their church and also Jeff and Pam are constantly available to help in various ways. Their faithful service also relieves our worries and stress in her behalf.
Cheri's are doing as fine as a family with four energetic teens still at home can do. Anya has bought her own car and is anticipating graduation in May. She's already taking several university classes as she carries a light load in high school. Roma lives in Northwood, IA and is making Bob and Cheri grandparents (and us great grandparents!) we think in March. The battles that Christian teens face are frequent, and most of the time the progress is forward and upward. They are all faithful and active in a very supportive and mission minded church.
Deanna's are doing well still in LaGrange. Recent reports indicate they've been able to minister to several families and have seen several conversions to Christ. Jim and Deanna have been ministering to another family with a Trisomy 18 baby. The baby died just a few days ago at we think two months of age. They all went to watch a Cardinals baseball game on Michael's birthday. Jim continues writing great e-letters of insight and encouragement, and they all seek the Lord's leadership in present and future ministry.
We are blessed beyond measure with four great daughters, sons-in-law, and twelve amazing grandkids (one of whom is in heaven).
+ Our plans call for us to be in the States around December 14th for several weeks of rest, family time, Christmas, and some speaking engagements sharing our story. We'll at least be at our home church in Eldorado Springs one Sunday, at Wellspring church in Bolivar, and probably in Jim's and Deanna's church in LaGrange. We still haven't heard back from a couple of other churches who have expressed interest in our sharing with them. We also hope to see a number of very special friends and supporters. Because of the need to get some important things done around the house and also see some supporters, we're considering a possible extension by another week or two.
Prayer Requests:
+ Pray for our physical and emotional weaknesses and needs. We're coming face to face with our own mortality while at the same time facing the increasing vision and need of our ministry to which God has called us. Pray specifically for wisdom, clarity of insight, energy renewal, and physical endurance and stamina. We struggle often between our willing commitment to more years here, but also the evidence of our physical limitations that seem to slowly increase. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.
+ Pray for the PLT that we'll constantly return to the closet of prayer and the well of refreshing as we make decisions and provide leadership to a people with unbelievable possibilities. The ministry is so awesome and strategic, and the needs are so numerous and so enormous that we know we can't meet them all. We have to depend on the Holy Spirit to pick and choose only those that are part of God's plan both for us and for this church. We can't afford to be distracted, misled, or get off course. Pray that God will keep us on course, and that we will hear, heed, and obey Him.
+ Pray for our people in KIBC . . . for missionaries who need your encouragement and support, for nationals as they grow and mature and share the Gospel with Ukrainians, for students as they witness to their peers, for our Persian and Chinese ministries as they penetrate deeper and deeper into their respective cultures, for people from the nations, for possible future ministry to orphans, Hindi's, teens, and Jewish residents.
+ Pray for the nations in Kiev. "When you touch Kiev, you touch the world." Over 13,000 Iranians, over 10,000 Hispanics, over 12,000 Chinese, over 25,000 homeless children, over 20,000 expatriate English speakers, thousands of Jews who are returning to Kiev to join the 80,000 to 125,000 already here, more than 4,000 Pakistanis, 4,000 gypsies, 4,000 Palestinians, 2,000 Afghani's, 2,000 Lebanese, . . the list goes on with people from African nations, Europeans, and other Asian and Middle Eastern countries. For various reasons and in unexplainable numbers they are coming in droves. And, that's why we are here, and that's why we formed Kiev International Bible Church.
+ Pray for the deteriorating political conditions in Ukraine. The advances made during the Orange Revolution and ensuing government have been largely wasted and diminished. While many of the politicians want true democracy, others are not willing to abandon the old socialist methods or give up the ideologies of lucrative cronyism. The collision of ideologies and the partisanship of political sectarianism are eroding what advances were gained. Current Ukrainian policy conflicts and contradictions as verbalized by the Our Ukraine presidency and the Party of Regions with its Prime Minister's ambitions are causing western nations, the European Union, and NATO to back away and again lose interest in Ukraine's future, while the internal political maneuvering tries to shift Ukraine back toward Russian interests and Ukrainian citizens increasingly lose hope in any real democratic changes taking place. We are not here for political purposes, but political conditions will impact the future of missions and evangelism.
+ Pray for us as we seek to focus development on a strategic prayer ministry and an important small group ministry of Bible teaching, relationship building, outreach, and witnessing. The very nature of our work demands both a powerful underpinning of prayer and a decentralized strategy of reaching and ministering to people. Pray especially for such ministries that seem to be developing within the embassy communities.
+ Pray for our American families who face the same problems and challenges you do, only complicated by separation and a different culture. Several of our families have faced health problems, deaths, family crises, and so forth. Don't forget them.
Finally:
Again, be sure you realize just how important you are to the two of us personally, and to our ministry. The longer we are here, the older we get, and the more we see the needs, the more obvious it becomes that God has called us to an impossible ministry that cannot happen apart from the faithful, fervent, and focused praying of people like you. Whatever else you do, please pray for us. Intercede for us at all cost.
And drop us a note from time to time.
In His Bond, By His Grace, and For His Kingdom,
Bob and Jo Ann, the Tollivers
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