Ukraine STC

News from our trip to Odessa, Ukraine! As you know, I traveled with my board of directors, Glenn Dunn and Gus Supan. We were blessed beyond measure, with more than enough provision for the trip and more opportunities to serve our Lord and the people there than we could imagine.
Let me give you a brief report. Before we were out of the states, Gus had led two people to Christ! When we arrived in Odessa, our missionary contact (and the director of our BCI Satellite Training Center) Mark Huffman and three staff members transported us to our lodgings. Two of us would be staying with mission interns John and Patti Sharer, and one with the students at the Missionary Training Center.
For seven days we taught our course one in Biblical Counseling to seven students, ranging from 20 to 32 years of age. They were outstanding students, really sold out to Jesus, very serious about learning all they could to bring the gospel to other cultures, win souls, and then be able to disciple them and help them overcome problems. They were at various degrees of skepticism about trusting the Bible alone for counseling all non-organic problems, including Filemon, who has just finished his master’s degree in Psychology! By the end of the training, they were all solidly and joyously confident in the sufficiency of the scriptures. They were even more excited about the Bible than before, as they became aware of just how much more it contains than they had thought.
Alongside this assignment, we were scheduled to address students at the Christian Open University (founded and run by Christians, but open to all students), of which about 80% are unsaved. After meeting the director and head professor of the Theology department, it became a two-conference assignment! I lectured on solving problems using the Bible, and the focus was evangelistic as well. The lecture was followed by three workshops, led by we three preachers from America far! It was well received both times. You can hear it or download it free here. It explains why Christ should be the focus of all counseling.
An evangelistic group meets weekly at the University, hosting an English speaking class. We guested, and did a mock radio program to demonstrate our live broadcast for their edification and enjoyment. They enjoyed the topic, “What the Bible says about dating.”
Ukraine is still suffering from its domination by the Soviets, even though it became free in 1990. It is a very dark and despairing land, economically beaten and without hope. You can see it on the faces of everyone, except the Christians. This is as it should be. The brothers and sisters we met there are holding up the candle faithfully and boldly letting their lights shine.
It was a great privilege for us to strengthen their arms and encourage them. And your prayers and gifts made it possible. You will share in whatever rewards are coming, because there would have been no trip without you.May you be encouraged and rejoice with us. We may be going back, or to another country the next time. It all depends upon the Lord’s plans, and the love and obedience of His faithful servants, like you. Thanks so much for partnering with us.
(see Ukraine ministry photos here.)