We continue each day with training on how to effectively communicate the teachings of the Bible. It has me energized, to approach some of my acquaintences and see if they would like to more about the Christian faith.
One of the speakers was from Ukrain. The Ukrain is in the CEEMed region where we will be serving. CEEMed stands for Center/Easter Europe and the Mediteranian. Pastor Pyotr and Tamara Rodoslavov from the Ukrain where on hand, and Pastor Pyotr spoke.
Amazingly, just 20 years ago in the Ukrain, many Christian churches were still meeting secretly in the woods and pastors had been placed in jail. Both Pastor Pyotr and his brother served prison terms for being Christians, and Pyotr's church was bulldozed down twice by the government.
Then laws were passed to provide freedom of religion. This presented unprecidented opportunity and challenge. It was about that time that an ABWE missionary, Michael Loftis (now president of ABWE), came to meet with Pastor Pyotr and others, offering to work with them in partnership. ABWe brought in fresh ideas and a process for planting more churches and tell many others about the hope of Jesus Christ. They were thrilled and agreed.
It takes time for a mission agency to mobilize a team of missionaries, but Pyotr and the other Chrisitans were to excited about the Lord Jesus Christ to wait for them. They took what they had learned from ABWE and started using it. Many many people were hungry for the hope that Jesus offers, and there were many that put their trust in Jesus. When the first ABWE missionaries arrived the work was already underway, and new churches were being started before enough pastors could be trained.
ABWE has helped this group with church planting and with training new pastors. What an exciting work. Such a thrill to see the truth of Jesus going forward all over the world.
Adam
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