HOPE4KYIV #056 ---- 7/1/07 .
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
Hope 4 Kyiv
The Monthly Praise and Prayer Letter Of
Bob and Jo Ann Tolliver
Missionaries to Kiev, Ukraine
Number 056
7/1/07
Dear Friends, Family, and In-Pact Partners:
Today we greet you from our stateside home in Collins, MO. We've been here just about ten days and will spend the next month here before returning to Kiev. As is always the case, much has happened since our last letter. We apologize again for it being a week late.
Updates:
+ Our high speed internet service in Kiev has been wonderful, and we've tried to take advantage of it. Bob has been trying to catch up on projects requiring good service. Just before our return to the States, though, the service quit. We think the church staff downstairs didn't pay the bill; and, since the offices were closed, nothing could be done. We don't know if it has been taken care of, but it's not likely. We'll find out when we return to Kiev August 2nd.
+ We are still having some letters blocked. Upon our arrival in Collins, Bob found over 250 letters in the "Junk" file on our local ISP service . . . and over half of them were legitimate e-letters! So, if you didn't hear back from us, that may be why. He's adding many addresses to the "approve" list. Interestingly, the ISP apparently started blocking some stuff back in early May without notifying us that they had made some changes in our settings. Guess customer service suffers here as well as in Ukraine.
+ Have you gone to community.webshots.com/user/KievIBC?vhost=community yet? We've had more than 800 views since we opened this site a month ago. Are you one of those? Bob has added another photo album and hopes to have a fourth one uploaded next week. So far, the three albums are "Ancient Kiev", "KIBC Origin and Strategy", and "KIBC Today". Next album will be "KIBC Firsts and Faces", followed by "Kiev Today". Then we'll start adding specialized albums for our various ministries as time progresses.
+ God moved in awesome power in our services during our "Global Day of Prayer" observance on May 27th. Without exception our people indicated that not only should we do this annually, but we should have a special Sunday set aside for prayer every three or four months. So, we're going to try to link those days to significant dates in Ukrainian history. The Pastoral Leadership Team will begin working on that upon everyone's return in August.
+ The curtains in our worship center are finally up, and they add a measure of elegance to the room, and also serve their primary utilitarian purpose of cutting down on the light for PowerPoint use in our services. We still must figure out how to cover the skylight directly over the pulpit and screen area, but we'll figure something out.
+ We recently did buy the second smaller sound system; the company where we bought the first system gave us an excellent deal again, and we were able to get exactly what we need for movie nights, lecture nights, and times when our work crew is too few in number to set up the big system. One person can set it up in less than an hour, and yet it has lots of power and sound quality.
+ Praise God for "Boxes Of Love, Ltd.", a ministry in Wisconsin who have partnered with us in our language ministries and also in providing shipping for supplies from the States. In a most unusual way, God put us in contact with each other last year when they gave Bibles for our use. Since then, the President has visited us, and we have established an ongoing working relationship where they are helping to provide Bibles for our Chinese, Persian, and Spanish ministries. We praise God for people like this. It is another thrilling example of how we are being both a blessing and being blessed through partnerships. Take a look at their website at http://www.boxesofloveltd.org.
Current Happenings:
+ God continues blessing all the ministries at KIBC. We're seeing people come to Christ in our Chinese, Spanish, and Persian ministries. New people continue showing up in all of them as well as our English worship services on Sundays . . . even during Summer months. Even with a number of our Americans now in the States, and with the permanent loss of our children's ministry coordinator and our worship leader, the hand of God upon us has been obvious. The Timothy and Esther Fellowship groups remain strong as we prepare for a total revamping of that ministry upon our return in August. The Persian ministry has come out of a slight discouraging slump and is now seeing renewed interest by several new people. That ministry is also undergoing some revamping as the leaders gear up for a new thrust in September. Both F. and H. are back in their home country for the purpose of sharing the Gospel with family and friends . . . a very dangerous endeavor that needs your prayers. Some new evangelistic outreach strategies will begin in a few weeks.
+ Our flight to Springfield last Tuesday was completely uneventful, relatively comfortable, and without incident . . . . Until we saw Dallas standing there waiting for us! Normally he drops our car off for us and we drive home. As he and Mary had pulled into the airport parking lot to leave our car, it caught on fire! After frantically working to extinguish the flames, they had it towed 30 miles back to Bolivar, rushed back to Collins to get our little Taurus, and brought it back to Springfield to pick us up, arriving just minutes before we did.
Since we had made reservations to spend the night in Springfield for a good night's rest, Dallas drove back to Bolivar and returned the next morning to get us. When we got to the motel, . . . and After Dallas had already left . . . we discovered that the on-line agency that had booked the room for us had reserved it for the previous day. So, we were listed as a "no show", having to pay for the unused room. Fortunately the motel had another room available and they gave us a decent rate. We'll probably have to pay for both nights.
The next day Dallas returned and drove us to Bolivar to check on the car. The mechanic had already found the problem and repaired the car . . . apparently the brake lining on the left front wheel had locked and the trip into Springfield got everything so hot that the plastic cowling protecting the brake rotor had melted and caught fire and had also destroyed the wheel bearings. But, instead of a potential "total loss" of the car, it ended up being about a $300 expense. So, counting all costs including the motel room we'll have to "eat", we think we came out for about a $400 expenditure.
+ It's absolutely w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l to sleep with air conditioning again! And that "country quiet"! . . . it's awesome! We never realized just how much pressure we've been under, 24/7, while in Kiev. Even when we sleep at night, we're facing 4:00 am to 10:30 pm daylight during Summer months, constant sounds of the city, ongoing activity in the church building where our apartment is located, and the reality that we are never "disconnected" from ministry. There's no "private space" where we can totally unwind and catch our breath. We really are "on call" all the time, and there is simply no time to disconnect and decompress. So, when we come to Collins, we take huge gulps of country air, listen to the beautiful noise of silence, and feel like we want to sleep for days. Being here at this time is especially refreshing, and we're glad we are.
+ Our time is both far too long and far too short, . . . depending on perspective. We already miss our friends terribly back in Kiev, but we also realize that a week and a half has already transpired of the six we have available to get important things done. The purpose of our trip has nothing to do with vacation, as some have assumed. We'll be extremely busy for the duration, and actually only have about four weeks of actual work time to take care of some legal papers, process a number of household items and collectibles from our own possessions as well as the estate of Bob's parents, do some reporting to a couple supporting churches, and have some long overdue physical exams and medical tests. Then, two weeks before our return, three of our four children and their families will visit us before we take the final week to travel into Iowa and Wisconsin for about five days. We'll be joining Trinity Church in Reedsburg where Bob pastored for nine years as they celebrate their 30th anniversary. Then we travel back one day, finish packing the next and head to Springfield for the night before flying back to Kiev on August 1st.
The Future:
+ We find ourselves in an intriguing situation at this stage in our lives. In some ways it is the age of "Elastic Encounters" . . . a time when, on the one hand, we need elastic waistbands to Compensate for growing waistlines, but on the other we need elastic wraps to Control swelling ankles. In one instance, we need to make room, and in the other, we need to restrict. Frankly, we're not sure we're ready to enter this phase of life. Through it all though, this time has become one of Intensifying Motivation. What is it that is motivating us at this point? It seems to be a series of factors that make us to want to slow down on the one hand, and at the same time speed up. For example, . . .
> Our own aging process intensifies the need to do More and do it Faster while we can. We know our bodies won't last forever. Certain minor tell-tale health symptoms seem to be telling us that health will eventually make demands that may restrict or eventually terminate missionary ministry. To ease your minds, these are basically things most people eventually face; it's just that we're becoming more aware of those symptoms moving our way.
> Our family responsibilities also make us sometimes feel like we've neglected our children, grandchildren, and great grandchild. We want to be with them more, although living back in the States would not likely change the frequency of get-togethers. It's probably not so much frequency as it is availability. At the same time we know our kids understand; they're all believers, they're all active in ministry either in a volunteer or vocational means. They know that the call of Christ is always stronger than the call of family, creature comforts and conveniences. They know that our lives are not our own to do as we may selfishly wish. Nonetheless, we feel that responsibility.
> Political doors are increasing factors that call us to plant and harvest while it is day. We know that the day may come when we can't do what we're doing at this time. Today we can do it; tomorrow we may not be able to. The special called elections on September 30th could turn out to be a major factor in the future of missionary activity in Ukraine.
> Financial resources create a sense of urgency for us. Policy changes with a couple of supporting churches and personal decisions with various supporters create sometimes hard decisions regarding how much longer we can financially do this. While our expenses increase as we try to do more, our resources have been slowly shrinking as people change minds or forget our needs. And, when you have a support base consisting of only two churches and about 30 individuals, even the loss or reduction in one area becomes significant to our future ministry. We are still consistently running about $600 per month below what we should, and we face insurance renewals while we're home. Because most insurance companies won't cover us overseas and Bob's Medicare won't cover outside the country, we have to purchase some of the most expensive travelers' insurance everytime we go back to Ukraine. Gratefully, the Lord knows, and will provide.
> Needs in other places stir in our hearts. Not that we want to move to other fields, but that we feel the burden to Add other fields and ministries. There are a number of countries and Ukrainian cities who are heavy on our hearts. We have a passion to visit those places and minister to the people there. But, until we have a stronger and more stable leadership core, such ministries are not feasible or practical.
+ We realize that many are wondering how much longer we'll do this, as we noted in last letter. We don't know any more now than then, but we do know that until the Lord releases us, we must keep returning to Kiev and KIBC's ministries. However, during and since our return to Collins, we have noticed an increased sense of urgency in our minds. There are some things that must be addressed, including the following:
> Time is of the essence, and the church is not yet ready for a change that would include our departure. Upon our return to Kiev we must concentrate on such plans and preparation for future leaders. We can't wait until just a few weeks or months before our work there concludes. Even though we personally both feel the Lord will probably keep us in Kiev another one to three years, we have to begin getting ready now.
> Refining and restructuring some current ministries must take place in the next several months so that ground gained will not be lost during such transition. We must complete our constitution and bylaws, procedures policies, and other things. We need to review our fundamental strategy and statement of purpose, checking every activity against them. Of particular focus will be our worship team since we're losing Brent July 8th, and the Timothy and Esther Fellowship groups which we intend to turn into "by invitation only" groups with a clearly defined "curriculum" of study and training.
> New ministries must be quickly initiated beginning in August and reaching into next year . . . namely Strategic Prayer, Evangelistic Bible study class in English, a new ministry to the Jewish community, various mission projects to certain villages and orphanages, and sports evangelism.
> Planning needs to begin for when the church will have to begin paying rent for the use of the facilities. The money we put up front for completion of the sanctuary will carry us through to sometime around the end of 2009 or early 2010. The money and new furnishings we provided for the apartment takes us through February, 2009. However, we cannot wait until then to begin preparing for significant expense increases.
> Intensifying our focus on leadership development must play a major part in our future ministry. This is why the Timothy Fellowship and Esther Fellowship groups are so vital. In addition, we must train and send small group leaders into more and more language groups. We must intensify our focus on the Ukrainian populace as well, and equip leaders to take charge of those areas. We must continue strengthening the Pastoral Leadership Team so that each person is capable to lead the church, especially during times when some Team members are absent.
+ Mr. Bob Jolliff will be spending some time with us as he explores a possible new job in Kiev. A Californian, Bob is a teacher and consultant who has lived in Cairo, Egypt, for several years where he served as a member of the worship team and as a leader in the Maadi Community International Church's small group ministry. Bob will be leading our worship while he is in Kiev. His enthusiasm is contagious. He is experienced in many forms of music, plays guitar and banjo, and "a little fiddle".
+ Other individuals and families will also be visiting Kiev this Summer, and, upon our return, we will be meeting with some of them to explore possible ministry connections. Some of them are missionaries, others are lay people searching for God's will for them. Interestingly, more and more such people are hungering to serve the Lord in special ways and are taking the risks necessary to "step out of the boat" and onto the promises of God.
+ God has put it in our hearts to begin a ministry to the Jewish community in Kiev. Earlier this Summer we began to sense this and, just a few weeks before we left for the States, a couple of members came to us with the same burden. Then, as we reported in our May letter, a Messianic Jew from the States visited us, reinforcing the vision. A couple weeks later a missionary colleague told us of a man in his church, a Messianic Jew, who was interested in possibly ministering somewhere with the Jewish community. Bob has written to him, but has received no word. But, already, God has begun opening doors of practical ministry. Hopefully, some of our people will be part of a group going to a village to clean up an old Jewish cemetery in memory of the 65th Anniversary of a holocaust genocide in which several thousand Jews were executed by Hitler's forces. More than one million Jews were killed in Ukraine during World War II. Today more than 150,000 live in Kiev.
+ The Joshua House Life Center in L'viv is another ministry we are seriously considering as part of KIBC's missionary outreach. We don't have space to tell you everything, so go to their website at http://www.JoshuaHouseLifeCenters.org. Begun several years ago by Jim and Sandy McCann following the death of their infant son, Joshua, the McCann's have become "Mom and Dad" to scores of orphaned children. Featured this Spring on the "Life Today" daily television program, a new million dollar facility is being planned in order to expand the amazing work the McCann's are doing. We want to consider partnering with these wonderful people. You can also go to http://www.lifetoday.org and get still more information. You might even want to be involved yourself.
+ We cannot describe the excitement, joy, and anticipation we feel regarding the future! This continues to be the most awesome "ride of our lives". We have been enriched beyond human description. We can't imagine doing anything else at this time. One of the questions that we keep asking ourselves is, "What in the world would we do if we were back in the States???" We can't think of anything in ministry that would be as exciting, enjoyable, and fulfilling as this.
How we wish you could know some of the incredible people we know and love! God not only has given us hearts that embrace the world, but He has filled them with people from many of its parts. We still find it hard to believe that some of our dearest friends are from places like Cuba, Ukraine, Croatia, India, Iran, China, Canada, Germany, Peru, Dominican Republic, and other countries. It's unbelievable. And the prayer and financial undergirding from people like you make it possible.
MAJOR Prayer Requests:
+ Financial and Prayer Support of our Chinese Pastor: One of our greatest blessings has been that of Pastor Feng and his wife becoming part of our team. The personal stories of him and his wife are amazing. We've never met anyone any more zealous for the salvation of his own people. Even though he had no personal resources, they moved to Odessa, Ukraine, several years ago. A little over two years ago they moved then to Kiev after having planted a growing church in Odessa. Shortly after their arrival in Kiev, the two missionary supporting agencies that brought them cut off all funding. It was about that time that we learned of their ministry, and the Lord brought them to be part of our team just four months ago. Since then, more than 40 Chinese have been saved and many of them baptized.
But, the greatest need is for their personal finances. They need about $1800 a month for ministry and personal support. Each of our language ministries is responsible to provide financial responsibility. KIBC supports them as well, but cannot do them all, and cannot cover the entire amount. Please pray that God will put Pastor Feng and our Chinese ministry (over 10,000 in Kiev, and mostly students) on the hearts of believers in America. Pray that they will see the vision of how China can be impacted as these precious people come to Christ here and then return to become part of the exploding evangelism movement going on in the country. Pray that they will sacrificially respond both in intercession and in finances.
+ F. and H. as they share the Gospel with friends and family in their homelands. H's family has some strong Christian influence already. One member is a leader in a subterranean group. Pray for their safe return to Kiev, and for safety and success in their homelands.
+ Timothy and Esther Fellowships as we do a total revamping of those ministries when we return in August. They will become much more "hands on" in terms of both training and leadership. Pray particularly for the non-Americans who are in the groups, because some of them will quickly become key leaders in the church.
+ Safety and welfare of Internationals: You cannot imagine the danger our dark skinned friends face every day. Everything from verbal intimations to physical harassments and attacks, robberies, beatings, and even sometimes death. Our hearts break everytime we hear of occasions such as one of our Chinese ministry leaders, Louis, when he was recently attacked and beaten in broad daylight. We grieve deeply when our Persian or Hispanic friends have to leave early and travel in groups for their own safety and welfare. "White supremacy" bigotry and hatred is strong and growing in Kiev.
+ Corruption like a fast cancer is penetrated every strata of society in Ukraine, and especially in Kiev. Righteousness, honor, and integrity, is rare, particularly among the law enforcement agencies and the political circles. Pray that God will convict and bring to justice all who practice such evil. Pray that God's people will take a stand and declare that righteousness and justice must be the standard of life.
+ Our personal finances. Pray that we will be able to continue some personal ministries funded by us and not by the church. Pray that we always keep our eyes on the Lord as our source, trusting Him to call those of His choosing to be the channels of support. Pray that all immediate stateside expenses will be covered as we purchase supplies for Kiev and as we have our medical exams.
+ M. and his wife as they continue trying to secure a permanent Ukrainian passport for him. Pray that others will be interested in helping cover the $5,000 cost. Pray for them both as they continue faithfully serving us and the Lord as translators, members of the worship team, leaders of our Persian ministry, and as part of our leadership development ministry. He is in a precarious position that can be permanently remedied if he can get a Ukrainian passport. Pray for their peace, financial provision, and a rapid and successful resolution of the challenge.
+ Bob Jolliff and his transition to Kiev, and for the transition in our worship ministry. Pray that God will reveal His plan in all of this, providing Bob a good job offer if that is His plan, and giving our worship team the grace and patience to go through a time of transition. Bob arrives July 13th and will lead worship beginning the 15th. Pray also for our fantastic worship team as they "re-group", and for Brent as he returns to West Plains, MO on July 10th, and as he considers his next step of ministry.
+ Jewish and Joshua House Ministries: Pray that God will give us wisdom and direction as we try to discern just how He wants us involved in these areas. These areas burn deeply in our hearts; we will be sharing these opportunities with the Pastoral Leadership Team soon after our return to Kiev, and then with the entire church.
+ Pray also about possible involvement with an orphanage filled with mentally and physically handicapped children who have essentially been abandoned by family. Our Spanish group has been going there for a couple of years, and we learned last month that "Boxes of Love, Ltd." also supports them with supplies. Pray that God will show us "if" and "how" we at KIBC might need to be involved there as well.
+ Pray for our Pastoral Leadership Team as we all serve and lead the church. None of us are salaried by the church . . . nobody is. Vitaliy has a job with an international computer peripheral company, Stan and his family of ten are missionaries with another organization and must raise their own support (please pray for major financial needs that they have), M. is a married student and translator whom we personally employ to translate, Jim is with the U.S. Embassy in Kiev, and Bob is, of course, . . . Bob. Pray that the guys will give wise leadership and direction to the church as both servant leaders and as examples in lifestyle. They have lots on their plates right now, and are facing a number of very important decisions in the next two or three months.
+ Volunteers! As we write, we can use longer term volunteers in at least four major areas. We need helpers! The harvest is truly a "bumper crop", and we need workers to help bring it in. Consider coming to help us for a year or more. Maybe your church could financially support someone to come. We need people.
Finally:
The longer we are in Kiev, the more doors of opportunity we see . . . and the more intense we become concerning this ministry. We've already shared something of our personal struggles and challenges in this report. We don't expect you to fully understand the passion we feel . . . we don't even understand it. All we know is that we believe God has called us "for such a time as this", and that we absolutely Must be diligent and faithful in labor while it is still daylight and while we are still able. All we ask of you is your faithfulness in encouraging us, praying for us, and considering ways to undergird this work materially.
And, of course, we'd always welcome a visit.
Again, we must thank you from the depths of our hearts for who you are, for your interest in this ministry, and for your undergirding in prayer and/or finances. We could not do what we are doing without you.
In His Bond, By His Grace, and For His Kingdom,
Bob and Jo Ann
The Tollivers
Missionaries in Kiev, Ukraine
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