Night Prayer in Kiev

I flew to Kiev on January 29th, with a full schedule for the next 10 days. Upon arriving in Kiev, I caught a few hours sleep that afternoon in order to have enough strength the attend the Night Prayer service at Embassy of God that night.

We arrived just before 11pm at the church and it was bustling with activity, I estimated around 2,000 people were present fot this prayer service that would last until 6am Saturday morning.

It was an exceptional service, the Presence of the Lord was strong and I received a "vision" from the Lord. It was during a time of extended worship in the Spirit and I saw, not with my natural eyes, but in my mind and spirit, fireballs or bolts of light shooting out from the stage area.

Shortly after that, Pastor Sunday, who had been lying prostrate on the platform for some time, began to share what the Lord had been revealing to him. He said, "From this time forth, the ministry of Embassy of God will be like fireworks", I believe he even used the "explosive". It was a real confirmation to me for I had seen something similar in the "vision" the Lord had given me.

Several moments later, Pastor Sunday had me come to the platform and share with the congregation the impact their ministry was having upon the USA. He then asked me to share with the church on Sunday morning the same basic message.

The Ukrainian church is experiencing a Presence and move of the Spirit of God that we in the west are not accustomed to. Nor are most American Christians even aware of it. Most Ukrainians think what they are enjoying is normal around the world. Well, it should be the normal, but it isn't, especially in North America.

Miracles are very common in Ukraine. I was in Kiev the first week of January of this year and I heard a testimony in a church of an older woman being raised fromt he dead. A week before, a lady had gone to visit her mother, upon entering the apartment, she found her mother had died in bed. She prayed for her mother and the Lord raised her from the dead! The testimony was given by the pastor of the church who had verified it had indeed happened.

Anointing Service, Embassy of God

On Sunday morning, approximately 9-10 thousand believers packed the hall for the morning service. During Pastor Sunday's message, he invited me to come to the platform and share my observation and experience of the church in America. It was awesome to stand before that many people and speak. After the service was over, we left for the airport to make the 2 hour flight to Uzhgorod, located in the extreme West end of Ukraine.

Business Seminars in Uzhgorod

The church in Uzhgorod had everything prepared for our visit. We stayed in wonderful accommodations at a Christian owned Hotel and Busines Center called Nehemiah. In a later newsletter, I will tell you more about this phenominal business. Trust me, though, it was one of the finer experiences I have had while ministering in smaller cities in Ukraine.

I conducted two business seminars downtown, with more than 300 people in attendence each night. I was so impressed with the hunger of the people to know more about how to start and operate a business.

I met a fine older gentleman from the USA in Uzhgorod, Woody Cunningham, who is living there as a missionary with the United Methodist church. I was able to help him secure a plane ticket home and assisted in obtaining a visa to return to Ukraine, as his was about to expire. Even being 6,000 miles from home, I'm able to sell airline tickets! It must be my calling.

On Wednesday morning, we said goodbye to all our new friends in Uzhgorod and boarded the train for L'viv. It was a beautiful 7 hour train ride north through the Carpathian Mountains. Stunning views of tiny hamlets and villages lying in snow covered valley floors, with steep mountains rising on both sides took my breath away. I believe it was one of the most scenic trips I have ever taken. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to experience Your creative beauty.

Business Seminars in L'viv

Pastor Alyesa and her assistant met us at the train station in L'viv, it was much warmer and there was no snow on the ground as compared to Uzhgorod. The Embassy church in L'viv is just a few months old, in fact, they haven't received their official registration from the government yet.

Interestingly, another church in L'viv has been renting a building for the new Embassy church to meet until they become "legal" with the Ukrainian government. This action would be practically unheard of in the USA. Churches in Ukraine tend to support one another in a more practical way than what we're accustomed to here in the West.

Thursday evening, the small hall we had rented for the seminar was packed with an overflow into the hallway. Those who arrived late had to stand against the walls, as there were no chairs available in the hotel to set in the hallway. I remember commenting to Tanya Kikalenko, my interpreter, that in the USA, the local fire marshal would never allow such a thing.

Teaching on the 7 Principles of Business Success, the crowd sat quietly, taking notes, as I shared my personal experiences in starting a small business and the trials I went through. I brought with me 40 copies of my book, "Don't Be Afraid To Start Your Business" and as I was standing there teaching, money was being passed forward to purchase the books. By the time the seminar was over, all 40 books were gone as well as half of the cassette tapes I brought also.

Friday morning, an excursion into the old city L'viv was scheduled. It's a beautiful old city, old world architecture and narrow streets. L'viv was established as a city around 1300 and has flourished as the economic center of Western Ukraine. The city was spared destruction for the most part during WW II, as the advancing German army moved so quickly through the region, the city escaped the destruction most other Ukrainian cites endured.

Speaking of WW II, a little known fact is of the 20 million casualties Russia suffered, 12 million were Ukrainians, the largest number of any one nation involved in the conflict.

Arrangements were made for a larger hall for the meeting Friday night. Almost all the 500 seats were full as I began teaching on the subject's "How to aquire new customers" and "Customer service". I turned the seminar over to Pastor Alyesa after I finished teaching, who gave an invitation to receive Christ. Several people responded, including a young lady who we had met the day before who worked for a Christian company that manufactured and installed water heaters that we had visited.

Early Saturday morning, we arose and caught our flight back to Kiev. Pastor Alyesa and Valodya, the young man who co-owned the water heater company we visited, accompanied us to the airport. I'm pictured with him to the left, he's holding two of my books he purchased at the seminar.

Sunday morning, I preached in Pastor Anatoliy Belonozhko's church, Word of Grace, which I've been a member of for the past 3 years. Teaching from John 15, I explained that Jesus calls us His friends, not servants. This speaks of the level of relationship He wants us to have with Him. Jesus said, "Servants do not know what the Master is doing. But I call you my Friends." The inference is that because of our relationship, we are to know what the Master is doing.

Pictured to the left is sister Ira. She is a member of the Word of Grace church in Kiev and secretary of the church as well. Besides these duties, when I am in Kiev, she cooks all my meals. I was complimenting and thanking her the other day for the wonderful food she had prepared for me and she said, "David, I only cook exclusively for you." Questioning her further, I discovered she didn't cook at home, she lives with her parents, and her cooking duties for me is considered a ministry to me. Thank you, sister Ira!

If you look closley at the picture, Ira is standing in my room, the plate on my desk is a dish she concocted which was incredibly delicious, called "bliny". It's very similar to a crepe, a very thin pancake usually filled with sweetened cottage cheese and topped with jam. However, Ira prepared this "bliny" with a combination of diced mushrooms and ground meat which was cooked first in a skillet then added as filling. The word for delicious is "vcoosna". But you say it fast and you don't have to pronounce the "v" sound. That's my secret to pronouncing Russian words, say it fast and they don't notice the little sounds you cannot pronounce. At least I think they don't notice it.

Seated to the left is sister Alyona. I am not sure what her official title is, but in practical application, she is Pastor Anatoliy's personal assistant. She handles all the appointments, errands, arrangements, advertising/design and probably anything else that needs to be done for FAI in Ukraine. She has a servant's heart and spends long hours, and I mean long hours, helping with the ministerial duties of Pastor Anatoliy and myself. I recognized her publicly in the Sunday service for her unselfish labor to our ministry and I could tell she was embarrassed, which further confirmed my belief she has no selfish motives for serving. She is a blessing to FAI, Pastor Anatoliy and myself, "Spasebo (thank you), Alyona, for your unselfish ministry to us".

Books by Pastor Sunday Adelaja

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 copies of his new books, "You and Your Pastor" and "Pastoring Without Tears" to distribute in the USA and Canada.

Pastoring Without Tears

I brought several copies home with me of Pastor Sunday's book, "Pastoring With Tears". Every Christian who has a desire to be involved in any type of ministry should read this book, its not just for pastors, but for anyone in leadership.

I could not put it down, here are some of his comments from this extaordinary book....

"God doesn't want your ministry to wear you out, He wants you to enjoy doing His work."

"God doesn't call you to be a minister who worries, suffers, and weeps. He calls you to accomplish whatever He's called you to by His grace, with thanksgiving."

"If you have really given your burden over to God, then soon your ministry will bring great joy."

"Nobody can truly become a leader unless he has performed feats for God. It is only possible to ascend to spiritual heights in the Kingdom of God, if you fully pour yourself out for God."

You and Your Pastor...

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."

Every Christian should read this book, unless you learn how to receive and relate to the Gift God has given to you in your pastor, you will miss the blessing that God has intended to give you through that Gift.

You can order these books online here: www.SundayAdelaja.com Or, mail me a check for $13.95 (US funds) for You and Your Pastor, $18.95 for Pastoring Without Tears and I will mail you a copy of the book of your choice. 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.

It's not too late, 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: