This past month, I began my 21st year teaching in Ukraine! It is still difficult to believe that I have been teaching here this long. But in September, as classes resumed, I realized that we still have much ministry ahead. Here are some of the ministry opportunities we have coming up.
English Clubs …
Last Wednesday, we had 685 students register to take English classes with us (Campus Ministry at Shevchenko National University)! We interviewed many of them and the Campus ministry team is in the process of selecting 250-300 students that we can work with this semester. We begin a 2-week intensive English Club this Monday. We will be meeting with these students in groups of 25-30 for 3 hours each evening (after they have been in classes all day at the university!). The first hour, we will focus on a topic and practice some English vocabulary related to the topic. The second hour, we have a Bible passage that we read together and discuss. The third hour has various speaking and relationship building activities. Be praying for me as I teach these students for the next two weeks.
Following the English Clubs, we try to meet with any students one-on-one for spiritual conversations. We also invite any who want to participate to an English Bible study that runs for about 8 weeks. This follow-up is an essential part of building bridges to be able to share the gospel. This is an exciting opportunity that we have been part of for the last 4 years! We also have another English Club in the Spring, usually with about 300-400 students also. So there is so much more ministry ahead!!!
New Student Interviews …
In the beginning of September, we conducted interviews for prospective students for this year’s incoming class for Kiev Theological Seminary. The students I interviewed were mostly chaplaincy and pastoral ministry students. I was most impressed with many of the chaplains. Some of them (still dressed in army fatigues) were merely on a rotation from being on the frontlines in Eastern Ukraine. They have about 6 months off before they will return to the front and they wanted to take some classes to help them better share the gospel and minister to their fellow soldiers! Unlike chaplains in the US armed forces, these men are not paid for their services. They are regular soldiers who volunteer as chaplains in addition to their regular duties!
I was especially moved during one interview. I asked the student if he liked to read (because there is a lot of reading in seminary). He said he loved to read so I asked him what he read most recently. He said it had been nearly 2 years since he last read anything besides the Bible. I thought that was strange for someone who liked to read. But the Director of our Chaplaincy program interrupted and explained that this soldier had been in a bunker for the last two years and it was nearly impossible to read in a bunker being shelled almost continuously. Wow! These are the kind of students God has given us the opportunity to train – so I am excited that there is so much more ministry ahead!
Teaching Ministry …
I have already been involved in classes this month. I helped with a Worship class in early September and have sat in on a number of others. In one class from our Biblical Counseling Master’s program, the professor was dealing with the issue of drug dependency (especially pain killers and anti-depressives). He did an excellent job to discussing the concerns and the problems but what he shared at the end of the lecture was really right on. One asked how we could accomplish our goal of getting people off drugs. He told a story of a war veteran who was on so many drugs that he had become a zombie. They worked with him over a number of years helping him find Christ and find confidence in Christ alone. He told how much this man had changed but said he was still on some drugs but not like before. Then the professor said, “We need to remember that our goal is not to get people off drugs but to help them to structure their lives so that they can glorify God.” What a great answer!
Also, this month, I have been preparing for my up-coming classes. I will be teaching in Lviv (Prayer and Worship) in October and then I will be teaching at Kiev Theological Seminary in November (Church History). These will be very busy months but I am excited because I know that there will be a lot of students equipped for Christ because of the time invested.
House Update – God’s Provisions …
As we mentioned last month, we are almost completely out of money for building. But God continues to show us ways that He provides. Last week, Katya called and said the builders needed 5000 UAH (about $200) for materials. We had posted some things to sell on the internet and I told her, tell him that we will have money when my planer/joiner sells today. Sure enough, God provided a buyer and we were able to sell the planer/joiner and have the money we needed when we needed it. We are in the process of selling anything we can to keep building, so pray that we will have buyers for these items!
Right now, we are in need to money to cover some major expenses. We have cabinets that need to be done but the cost to get our kitchen in is about $5000 for everything. Then the bathrooms will also be about the same amount. Every month, we are able to use about $1500 of our own money to cover work and materials but for these larger items, it will be difficult for us. Be praying for our finances so that we can finish this spring and save money on rent like we planned.
If you want to give a gift of any amount to help just designate it to 1700–Housing and we will use it for completing our house in Ukraine. Any amount would greatly help us out!
The weather is turning cold here already (down near freezing at nights) and nearly all the fruit is off the trees. But we thoroughly enjoyed this summer with all the fruit. The girls loved it too. And we preserved some fruit for the winter. We hope next year we will be able to do much more when we have more space in our own home.
Christmas in America …
It looks like we will be returning to the states for the holidays again this winter. My son, Todd, is getting married in December and we want to be there for the wedding. We will be spending time in Cabot with Joy and also in Fayetteville with Sean and Meredith. Joel and Alyssa will be up for the wedding and the holidays so we look forward to seeing them too! Our time will be short but we hope to see many of you then, even briefly.
The War in Ukraine …
The war continues in Ukraine but there has been some let-up. It seems like, every time there is a major European meeting about sanctions on Russia, Putin increases the pressure. After the meeting passes, some of the pressure relaxes. But we still never know for sure what will happen next with Putin. Be praying for peace for Ukraine. We are grateful that we have students serving in those areas as pastors and chaplains who are ministering to people even during the conflict. We also have others who are working with refugees in Kyiv and other places. Difficult time mean more ministry opportunities. Be praying that the gospel will shine during these dark days for Ukraine!
Thank you for your prayers and support! It is a blessing to be able to serve here and to touch so many lives. Without your support, it would not be possible. Thank you again for allowing us to minister in Ukraine!
By His Grace,
Jim and Katya
Kristina and Nadia
Teaching Resources International 