January / February 2023
Much of our last year has been shaped by the events that unfolded on the morning of February 24th a year ago. This week I sat with workers in a seminary in the heart of Kyiv recounting the events of that first day and how the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ changed as war drew near to their front door.
Anton and Bogdan remember the day vividly as the distant rumbles grew louder and louder. They are affectionately called “the brothers” by those they work alongside. Bogdan is deceptively strong, yet gentle and humble. Someone who makes you feel welcome from the moment you meet him. Anton loves to serve others, honest; ready to tell you what he thinks, but yet gracious and kind. Together their infectious joy and determination despite the circumstances that surround them is a testament to the hope they have found in Christ.
Bogdan remembers the first day of the war well, “I could hear them coming, but I couldn’t see them, I was like, where are they? So, I called Anton.” Anton lives on the 7th floor of an apartment complex situated on a bluff on the outskirts of the city. He has literally watched the war unfold through his living room window. Most of us wake up to the chirping of birds and the distant rumble of traffic, but he regularly wakes up to drink his morning coffee to sight of incoming missiles being neutralized by the air defense systems over Kyiv.
Bogdan cut the tension of that day with a little humor as he greeted Anton on the phone the morning of February 24th, “You still alive? Can you see them?” Anton greeted him back with “Yes! I can see them; they are right outside my window!” Over the coming weeks, they watched and listened as the battle for Kyiv raged. There were many times hope seemed to be fading, but then new hope would rise and eventually the threats to their area of the city were repelled.
As it became safer to move around both men were confronted with a decision to make. Should they stay and work for the good of their city, or flee west to the relative safety of a new place removed from war? In the end, they had to decide whether the circumstances they were now facing had changed their call to the city God had placed them in.
The decision they made is why I admire them so much. They didn’t allow the circumstances that surrounded them to distract them from where they knew God had called them. They were more content to stay in the tough place then run to safety, because they were more sure of God’s promises then their own fears. Their testimony bears witness to where true peace is found.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 26:3
They are two of many that have chosen to stay and keep watch over God’s people and to call new brothers and sisters to the light of the gospel. Even though it seems like the enemy is closing in, they do not fear. They have found a fortress in the middle of the hostility that surrounds them and have decided that the place of greatest safety and comfort is being exactly where God has placed them. Like David, they are reminded that:
You, O Lord , laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision. O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress. My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
Psalm 59:8-10
Ultimately, what they have found is something that we all are after, but seems so elusive, a peace that surpasses all understanding. It’s a peace that you can’t run to, but a peace that you must rest in. It is a peace that watches vigilantly and waits on our God to move. A peace that casts out all fear, because we find our refuge in Him and this enables us to inhabit even the toughest of places, so others may know the grace that He freely offers.
May we order our steps in this same way and be determined to hold fast in the places of unrest. To be peacemakers in the toughest places, so that we may herald the good news that God has made peace with mankind through His Son and has made way for the ceasing of hostilities by the blood of the Lamb for those who would put their hope in Him.
Ministry Update
You may wonder why we are taking such a risk to drive into a war zone and the reason goes back to the reason why we are here in the first place. It is to go after those in harm’s way with the good news of Jesus, because we believe it is this message that meets people in their darkest moments.
When the opportunity arose to help local brothers and sisters at the European Bible Training Center in Berlin take supplies into the toughest hit areas in Ukraine, we saw this as an open door for helping fellow believers meet people in their moment of need. EBTC has been a lifeline for gospel workers as they minister to the elderly, disabled and volunteer soldiers on the front line of the war. The network of churches they are partnering with in Ukraine are regularly on the front line ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of those who no one is reaching. In essence, they have created a life-line that runs from Berlin to the Donbas region in East Ukraine, which supplies food, clothing, medicine, bandages, generators and other essential supplies.
I help organize a team from our church every couple months to help drive in supplies. This past week our team was able to take supplies into Kyiv and encourage the staff there by cooking them a meal and being present with them for a short time. We are humbled every time we are with these brothers and sisters by the work going on there and those risking their lives daily for the sake of the gospel.
We are also continuing our work with refugees in our city who have fled from wars. While those who have fled from Ukraine have dominated much of our outreach over the past year, we are still seeking out those who have come from the Middle East and hope to resume more regular outreach with people from Syria, Iran, Afghanistan and other restricted-access countries this spring.
In Berlin, our church is preparing for an upcoming evangelism course as we head into Easter. This course will coincide with many outreach opportunities over the coming months, which will culminate Easter weekend with a city-wide outreach being organized by a fellow worker in the city. We are thankful that our home church in Berlin continues to grow and that we have seen great growth in our church plant in Potsdam in the past two months. We are continuing to gather people regularly in our home and work toward building a culture of discipleship with those around us.
As we approach the one-year anniversary of gathering believers in Potsdam, we are preparing to launch into a new phase by seeking to secure our own meeting place. We have currently raised two-thirds of the commitments needed for the first three years to move into this new phase, but still need to secure the last third to cover our expenses for this period.
If you would be interested in partnering with us in this project, we would be honored if you would review the proposal below and consider praying or contributing financially to the ongoing work in this city. If you have any questions I would love to talk with you more about the strategic position of this church plant in gaining a foothold for the gospel in a really difficult place.
Thank you once again for all you do to help us be ambassadors of Christ and for your partnership in the gospel.
Family Update
This past month I was able to take Quinn on a short trip to Finland. It was a great time spending time with just her and was a trip we will never forget. We’ve has some wonderful times together as a family over the past couple months and are thankful for God’s grace to us.
Prayer Update
Please pray for us as we search for a location for our church plant that would put us into proximity to those we are trying to reach.
Please pray for us as we continue to work with refugees and that we would have wisdom for how we can meet physical needs, so that the door will be opened for meeting spiritual needs.
Please pray for the Holy Spirit to move in our congregation as we call them to understand how they can proclaim the gospel wherever God has placed them through our evangelism workshop in the coming month and planned outreaches.
Please pray for our family in a busy season ahead and for wisdom in how we can balance our discipleship of others with discipleship of our own family.