Odessa Mission
November 2005 Newsletter
Nasha Veedena Rosheerayetsa! (Our Vision Is Expanding!)
In 1923, Elena Nikolaevna was born in Feodosiya, Ukraine. When she was six
years old she made that long walk down the old country road to the schoolhouse
in the dead of winter, sometimes falling down because of the weather conditions.
Once, unable to get up, she lay there until a horse and buggy arrived and the
driver rescued her. That would be the last time papa allowed his daughter to
attend classes at the schoolhouse and as a result, Elena never really learned
how to read. However, like her parents, she held to a firm belief in Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior throughout her life. In 1989, Elena's little 10-year
old granddaughter, an unbeliever at the time, would come to visit and read the
Scriptures to grandma Elena and her friends, all of whom were struggling with
illiteracy. Today, that granddaughter, Iryna Vladimirovna Murphy, leads the
worship service at KRCC. God is truly AMAZING!
This past month, God really broadened my perspective regarding the possibilities
available for our new congregation and I've taken several chances to share my
new vision with the folks at KRCC. Right now, since Rayeesa is still working
amongst the Gypsies and apparently making some progress, I'm thinking that it's
about time that I joined her at least once a week for the purpose of preaching,
teaching, and offering communion. There are a few Gypsies other than the four
who have already been immersed into Christ who have recently made decisions to
be baptized so we definitely see the potential for a church plant there.
In fact, it may actually be the only church among the Gypsies in this
entire area, which is also a major plus. Perhaps we might even be able
to turn KRCC into a multi-site church through this project, which is
essentially one of our primary objectives anyway. (A multi-site church
is one that establishes a variety of branches in different neighborhoods
in order to reach a greater number of people. However, for that to
become a reality, it takes capable leaders willing to be sent out in order
to minister.) To pull this Gypsy project off, though, we'll probably have
to cut out at least one of our weekly activities in order to succeed. So,
regrettably, starting in December, Sunday morning worship services at
KRCC will have to be eliminated (just kidding of course).
I briefly considered canceling our Friday night video program but changed
my mind because while it doesn't succeed in getting new people to KRCC
on Sunday mornings, it does occasionally give us the chance to meet new
people. So the evangelistic aspect appears to still be present. However,
that's not really why I decided to retain this ministry. What I'm beginning
to like more about the Friday video program pertains more to its effect on
our own people. So, I plan to shift its focus from being an evangelistic
ministry to that of a spiritual growth one, which will be more in line
with our long-term multi-site church goals. So what program will have
to go? Since we plan to change the face of our video program, our
evangelistic outreach each Thursday, which is really linked to it,
will be cancelled. Please do keep all of these changes in your prayers
as we continue to seek His perfect will in all of this.
Arguably, one of the most influential victories KRCC has ever experienced
occurred at 12 a.m. on Saturday morning, October the 29th, because it was
then that we began our all-night prayer services. (These services are
tentatively scheduled for every third Saturday morning.) We only had a
handful of people present, but it's a start. However, we are extremely
excited about how this ministry will expand and affect our surrounding
community as well as the world at large. There's just no telling what
God will do in and through a small group praying big prayers.
Ira and I would really like to thank all of you for praying to help
facilitate this process because the members of KRCC are definitely
starting to see Jesus work in their lives like never before. And that
goes for us too!
With Love in the Lord, John and Ira
Kind Road Christian Church