Smila, Ukraine

November brought overcast skies and colder temperatures to Ukraine. But that did not deter the sixth Family Aid International ministry team this year.

Team members accompanying me this trip were Barry Reed of Knoxville, TN, Joe Lehman of McAlester, OK, and Rex and Kathy Brace of Louisville, KY. Assisting the team with interpretation were Tanya Kikalenko and Svetlana Kofanova of Kiev. Pastor Nadya Belonozhko of Kiev assisted with organization and also ministered with us.

The team kicked off the ministry in a city called Smila, located about three hours East, Southeast of Kiev. I met pastor Zhenia (Eugene in English) and his wife last year when they traveled to Chernihov to meet us as we conducted a breakthrough conference. I instantly liked this pastor, there was something about him that I liked.

After I arrived in Smila, I found out what it is. Pastor Zhenia ia also a businessman as well as leading the church.

Anyway, the ministry time started off with a bang in Smila. Barry Reed ministered the first night, several people received the Lord and many others made their way to the front to receive prayer for healing. The Presence of the Lord was present and many testified to receiving healing in their body.

The following morning, I conducted a Business seminar hosted by Pastor Zhenia. What a delight I had when I took a poll among the 75 people or so in attendance. Most of them did not attend any church and did not profess to be Christian. Once again, I received witness the Christian Business Seminars are a highly effective tool to not only teach the Christian in practical business skills, but they are also effective in drawing unchurched people.

After I finished teaching, I asked Pastor Zhenia to give a short Gospel message and follow it up with an alter call. Several adults responded and prayed the prayer of repentence.

Joe Lehman taught in the afternoon, delivering a powerful message to the church. Joe is a blessing to the churches, God has gifted him as a Teacher in the Body of Christ. His delivery is soft and simple, yet it packs a powerful punch of the anointing of God. All the churches he has ministered in Ukraine have asked me to have him return.

That evening, Barry Reed continued ministering along the line of Divine healing and miracles. Many were blessed and Pastor Nadya assisted him in ministering to the sick. I am continually amazed how God causes these servants to flow together in a common purpose. The conference ended and we stayed up late into the night in fellowship in my room.

Not far from Smila is a city called Cherkasy. In September, a new church was planted in the city by pastors of the Embassy of God church from Kiev. Rex and Kathy displayed their willingness to be flexible and accompanied the new pastors to their church and ministered all evening on the subject of Marriage and Relationships.

Flying to Simferopol

Early the next morning it began to snow as we left Smila to return to Kiev in order to catch our flight to Simferopol where our next conference was scheduled. I was glad we left a little earlier than planned as the roads became slick after a short while. We arrived in Kiev with just enough time to eat lunch then proceed to the airport.

Those of you who've been in an airport or airplane since September 11th know how security has tightened up, right? I have to tell this story, I cannot reist.

As we were entering the Kiev airport, Svetlana casually mentioned she had never flown on a plane before. She was quite excited and somewhat nervous as we boarded the plane. As she sat next to Joe Lehman, I noticed he was doing his best to calm her fears. Fortunately, the 2 hour flight was smooth and without incident.

When we were about 30 minutes from landing in Simferopol, Svetlana asked the steward if she could see the cockpit of the plane as this was her first time flying. Much to my surprise, she was escorted beyond the door and into the cockpit with the two pilots and navigator.

Obviously, this would never happen in America, but I thought, "Great, Sveta's getting the royal treatment on her first time flying." After a while, she came out and got Tanya, our other interpreter and took her to the cockpit also. The Americans on the team are commenting on how incredible this is. Finally, Joe unbuckles from his seat and declares he has to get a photo of this.

By this time, the plane is descending in the dark sky, we occasionally can see lights below as we break through the heavy cloud cover. I keep wondering, "When is Svetlana and Tanya coming back to their seats?" Our descent contines.

I cannot believe it, I hear the tires hit the tarmac and the sudden screech and were rolling down the runway, and still our two interpreters are in the cockpit of the plane!

Finally, as we come to a complete stop in front of the terminal, our two girls appear from the cockpit of the plane, smiling "bigger than Dallas." We couldn't believe it, they were allowed to stand in the cockpit of the plane as the pilot landed the craft. Only in Ukraine!

Conference in Simferopol

Pastor Anton and his crew met us at the airport and escorted us to the hotel in downtown Simferopol. It took three cars to hold us and and all the luggage. But you have to keep in mind the typical car in Ukraine is the size of our sub-compacts here in the USA.

The next morning, we Pastor Anton and his small army of cars picked us up at the hotel after breakfast for an excursion. We headed south out of Simferopol and we quickly found ourselves winding up a mountain side. I was so impressed with the view, the tops of the mountains were covered with snow and it reminded me of the Rocky Mountains near Estes Park, Colorado. I had no idea the mountain in Crimea were that high.

After about 45 minutes, we crested the pass and headed down the southern slope to a city called Alushta. Now Alushta sits on the Black Sea, with these tall mountains to the behind. Embassy of God has a church here and Joe and Barry ministered here on Sunday morning.

We spent a couple hours here, walking along the sea shore and purchased some souvenirs to bring home. We returned to Simferopol as the conference began that evening.

Barry Reed kicked the conference off, once again preaching on Divine healing and following the message with prayer and laying on of hands for any and all that were sick. The next day, several testified of receiving healing.

On Saturday morning, I taught on Christian Business principles to approximately 100 people interested in starting a business or already involved in private interprise. A couple weeks after we returned from this trip, I received this email from Simferopol:

"After your departure we had one business meeting where pastor Anton shared a Word and we could share our problems with each other. Besides some people have more success in their business after you visited us. We have also started business with my husband and it goes quite well. We thank God for you." Sincerely, Natasha & Sasha Piterova

Saturday afternoon, Pastor Anatoliy Belonozhko delivered a powerful message concerning advancing the Kingdom of God in Simferopol. Following the service, he met with the area pastors who were in attendence and gave an update of the events happening in Kiev concerning the government and Embassy of God.

God is concerned with the small things, too

On Saturday evening, Joe Lehman and Barry Reed tag team preached and then ministered to the sick in prayer. Barry, who flows freely in the word of knowledge, said by the Holy Spirit that God was healing a finger. Now that sounds pretty insignificant, right? However, the next morning in the service, a lady testified that on her way to the previous evening service, she caught her hand in the door of the public bus and one finger was smashed, cut and bruised. She continued on to the meeting, despite the pain, keeping her bleeding finger wrapped in a handerchief.

She was holding the injured hand in her coat pocket and as Barry spoke the word of knowledge, she pulled her hand from her coat pocket. Instantly, the pain left, the bleeding stopped and the cut was closed. God loves us so much, He is willing to heal even the seemingly insignificant things to show us His great love.

Embassy of God recently planted a new church in Sevestopol, which is about an hour drive west of Simferopol. Pastor Ivan asked me to come over on Saturday night and teach on Christian Business principles to his new congregation. I was happy to do it and was glad to get to share with another group of people what God is doing concerning business and finance. I returned late Saturday night to the hotel

I returned late Saturday night to the hotel but the rest of team were still up, waiting for me in the room Barry and I was sharing. We all talked about what God was doing in our midst into the wee hours of the morning.

Sunday morning dawned clear and cold and the team once again fanned out into different churches to minister. Joe and Barry went back to Alushta, Rex and Kathy traveled an hour north of Simferopol to a city called JonQuoy and I stayed with Pastor Anatoliy in Simferopol. That afternoon, I met with approximately 50 people who were interested in business and held a question and answer session for approximately 2 hours. I believe we sowed good seed in the excellent soil of Simferopol and the surrounding cities.

Late Sunday afternoon, we boarded the train, arriving in Kiev the next morning. After returning to the FAI office for lunch, the team headed for the airport to catch our flight back to the USA.

This trip was a stretch for me personally. Pastor Anatoliy who has always accompanied me, was busy in Kiev with affairs concerning the Embassy churches. He could not attend the conference in Smila and came to Simferopol by train for the last 2 days of that conference. But we got along fine, his wife, Nadya, filled in and kept things running very smoothly. We appreciate Anatoliy and Nadya, they are an integral part of the FAI operation.

You and Your Pastor...

Someone asked me the other day what my relationship was to Pastor Sunday Adelaja. It's a long story, so I will save it for another newsletter. However, let me say that it was a Divine Appointment that I met this man and am in relationship with him and his organization. Family Aid International is a part of their Missions department and they are my spiritual covering. Pastor Anatoliy Belonozhko, Bishop of the Embassy of God churches and Director of FAI in Ukraine, is my pastor and he is submitted to Pastor Sunday. My life and ministry has dramatically changed since I came in relationship with these men in 1999.

Pastor Sunday Adelaja is not only one of the most dynamic ministers of our time, but also a prolific writer. He has authored nearly 40 books in less than 10 years. A few of his books are now available in the English language and I have more than 100 copies of his new book, "You and Your Pastor", to distribute in the USA and Canada.

I believe every member of a church in America needs to read this book. Pastor Sunday Adelaja says, "Christians often misunderstand the area of relationships in the body of Christ and lose many blessings. By teaching the church to acknowledge, appreciate and rightly receive the governmental gifts that Christ gave the church, every Christian and local church can enjoy a greater dimension of anointing and blessing."

You can order this book online here: www.SundayAdelaja.com Or, mail me a check for $15.00 (US funds) and I will mail you a copy of this extraordinary book. Be sure to include the address you would like for me to send to.

Do yourself a favor and order a copy for yourself and your pastor, too.

You're Invited...

Family aid International and Embassy of God Church in Kiev invite you to attend their historic 10th Anniversary Celebration in Kiev, Ukraine, March 30th thru April 6th, 2004. Embassy of God 10th Anniversary Celebration

Embassy of God is the largest church in Europe with more than 20,000 members and is impacting the world through missions and city church planting that are having powerful effects in more than 15 nations.

Be my special guest and experience this dynamic ministry, you'll meet key individuals who are changing nations. If you are involved in any type of ministry, I strongly encourage you to come to Kiev with me for this event, it will change your life, I guarantee! The reservation form is located here.

Web Site improvements

Several pages have been updated. My favorite addition is a "weblog". For the internet savvy, you know it as a "blog". What is a "blog"? Well, it's a running log that can be updated on a continual basis. When we are overseas, I will update the "blog" from Ukraine and you'll be able to read the messages on the web site. It'll be easier than trying to send email, I will "log" one message, everyone can read it at their leisure on the site: http://www.familyaidinternational.com/blog/blogger.shtml

Opportunities to go to Ukraine in 2004: