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He Giveth, and Giveth and Giveth Again! … (November 2017 Update)

November 4, 2017 by tri.org@gmail.com

He Giveth, and Giveth and Giveth Again! … (November 2017 Update)

One of my favorite hymns is “He Giveth More Grace” by Annie Johnson Flint.  Many times when I am troubled or when God has supplied unexpectedly, I find myself singing some of the verse of this great song.  It was written by a woman who lived all her life in adversity but continued to trust in the Lord.  The song concludes: “For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!” (Full song is at the end of this Update).

As I think about Thanksgiving this month, I am brought back to this song – He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again! I have so much to be thankful for … a wonderful family, both here in Ukraine and in the states… dear friends that are as close as family even though we are separated by geography and by time… a warm house and a full garden… wonderful opportunities for teaching… seeing students who are living the lessons they have been taught.  But most of all, we are grateful for Jesus and the change He has made in our lives!  We are so blessed to be part of His family and even more blessed that “He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!”  Here are some of those blessings from this month…. Continue Reading »

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Here I Stand … (October 2017 Update)

October 5, 2017 by tri.org@gmail.com

Here I Stand … (October 2017 Update)

October 31, 2017 will mark the 500th Anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation.  It was on October 31, 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenburg, Germany.  His theses started the debates that would lead to the Reformation and ultimate separation from the Church in Rome. His goal was not separation but reformation.  He wanted to bring the church back to its doctrinal foundations found in the Bible alone.  The Roman Church had grown so corrupt and powerful that something needed to be done.  Luther’s 95 Theses began the Reformation.

Ultimately the reformation of the Roman Church failed and a conflict ensued between the Protestants (protesters) and the Roman authorities.  At the Diet of Worms (1521), the break with the Roman Church was finalized when Luther refused to recant his teachings.  At the tribunal to convict him of heresy, Luther stated:

“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Holy Scriptures or by evident reason…. I consider myself convicted by the testimony of Holy Scripture, which is my basis; my conscience is captive to the Word of God. Thus I cannot and will not recant, because acting against one’s conscience is neither safe nor sound. Here I stand. I can do no other. So help me God. Amen.”

So Luther stood only on the Word of God and the Reformation continued. Luther’s stance, along with many others who joined him, resulted in the separation of the church into Roman Catholic and Protestant.  It resulted in a return to the Word of God as our sole authority. It returned to the doctrine of salvation by faith alone.

This Reformation has changed the map of history, but more importantly, it has changed the lives of many people who came to see that Christ’s death was sufficient for them, apart from the traditions and rituals of the church.  Churches and missionaries around the world minister on the same basis as Luther did in 1517: Our conscience is captive to the Word of God.  We are here in Ukraine for this one reason: to teach the Word of God to ministers in Ukraine so that they too might have consciences bound to God’s Word alone.  So, while we miss our homes and families in the states, we can say with Luther, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God.  Here I stand, I can do no other. So help me God!”  Thank you for standing with us so that the gospel of His grace might be spread to the people of Ukraine and the former Soviet Republics! Continue Reading »

Posted in Jim Ehrhard |

Redeeming the Time … (September 2017 Update)

September 3, 2017 by tri.org@gmail.com

Redeeming the Time … (September 2017 Update)

Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time.” That sums up our August here in Ukraine!  While we had planned to make August a rest and recover month before the start of classes, God had other plans for us. We had planned to head west to the mountains for a vacation time, but we had to stay in Kiev to work on documents and some other things around the house.  That opened the door to a number of ministry opportunities that we did not expect. Continue Reading »

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Family Blessings … (July 2017 Update)

July 3, 2017 by tri.org@gmail.com

Family Blessings … (July 2017 Update)

John said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 4). John was speaking about spiritual children in this passage.  But the same is true about our earthly children.  There are few blessings better in the world than having a wonderful family!  I have really been blessed with great children who have great families.  I have watched them go through many difficulties and walked through them honoring the Lord and coming out stronger.  It has also been a great joy to see how they have served the Lord in various capacities.  One of my great joys has been watching Sean and Meredith serve as missionaries through the Traveling Team in the US.  We were able to have this joy doubled as they came to visit us in Ukraine under the month of June.

Also, one of our greatest joys is to see our students walking in the truth as well!  It is an amazing experience to work with students for 4 short years and then to see how God is using them in their ministries.  We get to see this often and it is a real encouragement to us.  It is a struggle to know we miss so much time with my physical family (kids and grandkids) in the states, but that sadness is replaced when we see our students ministering here in Ukraine!  “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” Continue Reading »

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Bearing Fruit … (June 2017 Update)

June 9, 2017 by tri.org@gmail.com

Bearing Fruit … (June 2017 Update)

Colossians 1:10 says that we are to walk “in a manner worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” May is a month for classes and also for graduation.  It is a time when we get to see some of the fruit of our labors at the seminary.  Colossians also reminds us of the central important of helping these students grow in knowing God better.  We pray that our labors will be fruitful for God’s kingdom – not only this year but for many, many years to come! Continue Reading »

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