Teaching Resources International

Knocked Down but Still Going! (November 2015 Update)

In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, The Apostle Paul speaks about the many difficulties he was facing: “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.” October has been a difficult month for me physically but very rewarding in ministry.  Certainly my difficulties are nothing compared to those that Paul was facing on every side.  But the physical difficulties I’m having this month have made this verse very relevant to me!  We are certainly “perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit.” The ministry is too important to those we serve here in Ukraine.  More about the health problems later in this update …

Teaching Ministry in Lviv …

The Worship and Prayer class I taught in Lviv at Ukrainian Baptist Seminary went especially well.  I really enjoyed being part of this new school.  Every morning, they begin with a chapel worship time.  It is good to begin each day with worship!  Then we have 8 hours of class (with a lunch break, of course).  Every evening, I had papers to grade and class to prepare for.  I was so busy that I did not have time to leave the seminary building during the week.  But the class was great!  The students had very good, practical and theological questions and we covered many important topics for their local churches.

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New School Year – New Opportunities! (September 2015 Update)

Classes began a week ago and I have already been through one class. The first class this year was a Worship class with our 4^th year students.  It is always a special joy to be with the 4^th year group.  They have learned so much and they are already applying what they have learned in ministry.  This class was a worship class taught by Sergey Bochko.  The class was entirely in Russian so I really had to concentrate to catch everything.  I think I understood almost all and was able to participate (in Russian) in the many discussions that we had.

My next class will be in Lviv in Western Ukraine.  I will be teaching Worship and Prayer at the newly formed Ukrainian Baptist Seminary that Katya and I helped with last year.  We are both looking forward to being back in Lviv and seeing the students firsthand.  Be praying for me as I finish up the syllabus and work on PowerPoints and lectures for this class that comes in the middle of October. (more…)

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We Have Hope! (August 2015 Update)

On July 13^th, Nadia Ehrhard entered the world. She seems to enjoy her new-found freedom from her mother’s womb and enjoys seeing mom, dad and sister, Kristina, face to face. We struggled to find a name that would “fit” our new daughter as well as be one that could be understood in English, Ukrainian, and Russian. We also wanted something that would have a good message. We finally settled on Nadia (Надя) which means “hope.” It reflects the hope we have for the future of Ukraine and well as the eternal hope that we have in Christ alone. So… we have hope – our new baby girl – and, most of all, we have “a hope laid up in heaven” (Colossians 1:5). And we hope Nadia will be a constant reminder that the hope we have in Christ is one that will last forever and ever (“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” – Hebrews 6:19).   (more…)

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My Summer Vacation … Sort of (July 2015 Update)

Normally at this time of year, we are starting our summer vacation in the US.  But this year is totally different.  First, we’ve already had our “summer vacation” this spring while we were in Arkansas to see Meredith and Sean’s new baby, Haven, as well as visiting friends and family.  We had a busy but wonderful time there!  Then, at the beginning of June, we headed back to Kiev to have our real summer vacation…sort of. (more…)

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Grace and Blessings Abounding! (May 2015 Update)

The Blessing of Fellowship

What a joy it has been to be back in the US seeing friends and spending time with family!  We have been to Fayetteville, North Little Rock, and Cabot in Arkansas.  We have visited with dear friends in Memphis, TN, Phenix City, AL and Atlanta, GA.  And we are still on the road, on our way down to Florida to visit with friends and family there.  (more…)

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