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Final Ukraine Update

We completed the last of the 3 Jesus Film Flannelgraph Training sessions today at a church in Kiev.  This was the largest class of the week with 30 teachers and 1 teacher’s assistant in attendance.  This group of dedicated children’s workers represented 20 different churches, and had influence in the lives of over 1500 children in their ministries!  Several of them also had outreach ministries beyond the walls of their churches. Some had ministries to homeless children, several to orphanages or foster children, one to Gypsies who lived in her rural area, and one traveled to the Chernobyl area and ministered to those who have been all but forgotten by the rest of society in Ukraine.  Needless to say this was a group that understood the call to serve like Christ would.

They each took their turn to practice different lessons, and were quick to help others see some things they could do differently to improve their presentations skills.  They worked tirelessly and while some of them had other commitments beginning around 5:00PM, they were so appreciative of the training they were getting that they stayed the extra 40 minutes until we were finished and received their certificates.  We closed our time in prayer for them to remain faithful to our Lord and His calling and to continue to go after “the harvest” in their areas.  And we asked God to bless and keep them for His purpose.

It was a wonderful conclusion to a very challenging and incredibly rewarding week of Ministry and service.  Thank you for your prayers and support to this work!  May God bless each of you as well.

For the Kids,
Mike Young
Kids Around the World

   
Update 2
The trip here was pleasantly uneventful and after another 8 hours in the car we arrived at our host’s home at about 2:00AM.  The interesting part of today’s travels were the visual reminders of the prior Communist occupation in this area.  The closer we came to the Russian border, the more common were the security gates that very likely once manned armed Soviet Guards.  I also noticed that many intersections of the more traveled roads had policemen standing there.  I do not yet understand why, but only once this week have we been stopped by a roadside policeman to ask the driver questions.

The training took place at the village’s church. The people are full of love, hope and concern for the things of God!  It has been a pleasure to meet them and work with them.  There were 8 teachers present. There were 8 or more adults watching the training along with 12 children. I have had fun playing with them and including them in the lessons.  It made for a very successful training for the teachers to be able to see how the children interact with the lessons.

Right now the children are crowding around me to read what I am writing.  They read English very well, far better than I speak Ukrainian or Russian.  Their laughter and smiles have been a big encouragement to me.

We completed the final exam with four presentations. Having the children there for these was a wonderful effect.  The children were even able to provide feedback regarding what they understood the lesson’s purpose to be. The teachers received immediate feedback from their target audience that will help them develop their skills even further.  They all did a very great job!  But throughout the day I wondered what it was that caused God to change our original plans.  I did not understand, until just before we left.

Nadia came to me and asked if we could donate the last kit we had with us to the host church. They are very poor and cannot afford even the least expensive kit that we offer.  Of course I said yes, and we presented the kit to their teachers.  The mother who hosted us accepted the gift with tears flowing down her cheeks.  In the presentation and acceptance comments I learned that they had been praying since 1998 that God would give them a flannelgraph and the training they had heard about!  Isn’t our Lord INCREDIBLE!!  What a privilege it is to serve Him in this ministry!  I have to sign off now and go wipe away some tears of my own.  Until Saturday night after our next training…

For the Kids,
Mike Young
Kids Around The World

Update 1
I spent last evening with 13 Pastors from the Kiev/Brovary area.  They spent most of the evening sharing stories of conversions at their churches and encouraging the group to develop a strategy to reach the lost by using much group prayer and fasting, and establishing times to visit friends and family of those members of their churches to share Christ.

They asked me to share something, so I greeted them on behalf of Kids Around The World and shared my testimony.  Then I felt led to remind them of our Lord’s words from Rev. 2 & 3.  In those sections Jesus sends letters to the 7 churches (the perfect number that I believe covers the entire Church of Christ from His ascension until He returns.)  To all seven churches He has one common theme – that the believers will be “overcomers” in order that they may reach their eternal reward.

I reminded these Pastors that they have a calling from God to be overcomers themselves and not to fall away or to yield to our enemy, (as they confessed this is a problem in Ukraine, just like it is in America). I encouraged them by sharing that we, the people of the church are dependant upon them. Their walk with God must be foremost, and that they continue to spend time with Him daily, in His Word, teching and prayer..  I thanked them for their service to the Kingdom and prayed that they would remain strong.  This message was well received and the group thanked me for my visit and the work of Kids Around The World.

Today I met up with some of the leadership team from Grains of Wheat ministry in Kiev.  Every summer they organize over 30 youth camps all over the country. They utilize mostly volunteers to complete their task (much like KIDS!).  They will be our partner under the direction of Victor Kulbich, in the training that we will be doing in 3 cities over the next 4 days.  Thank you all who are praying for this work. Please pray that God will lead and direct as he works in and through me to teach what is expected to be over 100 teachers this week!  To God be the Glory!

For the Kids,
Mike Young
Kids Around The World