NEWS from Ukraine, November 2002
by David Tinney
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Leaders and Believers Conference Successful in Chernihiv
On the first of November, we hosted a team comprised of 8 Americans from Arkansas, Missouri, Texas and Tennessee to Ukraine. I asked team members to write their impression of the trip, team members Rita Sherman and Vladimir Gurinenko, who also interpreted, share with you their experience. Pastor Anatoliy Belonozhko also gives his summary of the ministry trip.
Vladimir writes:
There are not enough words to express the feelings and impressions of the November’s trip to Ukraine with the Family Aid International team. What I have received there occurred to be far more than what I was expecting from this mission trip.
It was almost a year ago when I first found out about the opportunity to come and minister in Ukraine. At that time, I was overloaded with the issues of my freelance business and just the “daily life”, and I felt a real need for renewal in my spiritual life more than for anything else. When David invited me to come over and be an interpreter at the conference, I was not just excited, but rather more than ready to take off and fly to Kiev immediately. It was quite a test - to be patient and wait until November 2002.
I felt myself just like home when we joined the ministry team in Slavutich Hotel and went to the Embassy of God Church. How would you feel yourself when after being in groups of 1 to 200 people you would appear in the midst of about 10 thousand people worshiping God? That’s quite a power! I loved the worship and the service! It takes an entire separate story to describe it, yet I would rather recommend you see it for yourself when you come to Kiev with a ministry team :-)
Following the Service of Anointing, we took off for Chernigov to become a part of Pastors and Believers Conference. That was the main part of our ministry program, and that was the top of my impressions during the entire trip to Ukraine.
"God wants you to use your sword, the Word of God!" proclaims Debi Olive as she illustrates her message, The Armor of God.
It’s been a long time since I had seen something like that! Specifically, I remember the testimony of one young lady, who had not been a believer and just “accidentally” walked by the community hall where the conference was held. She walked in and appeared to be in the middle of worship. She was healed there, got saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit; next evening she came up to us to give the testimony. What an “accident”! Can you imagine this? …I myself got fever at the end of the first day of the conference and felt quite bad when we got to the hotel. David, Pastor Anatoly and other team members prayed for me and anointed me with oil. At the moment, I felt no change. But at 4 o’clock in the morning all fever suddenly was gone, and I didn’t even take any fever reducer! Hallelujah!
Although I have been a Christian since 1994, this mission trip was a breakthrough for me. It seemed obvious to everyone that I was one person when I came to Kiev, and when we were leaving, there was a completely different Vlad. There have been many prophecies said into my life, but most of them seemed to be stuck somewhere. During the conference, I felt in the spirit that many of the doors that were closed now opened. I felt freedom, new refreshed vision. And that was a joy of the returned first love to the Lord!
Mission trips seem to be totally fruitful. They are not only the opportunities to minister to people, but also the opportunities to make new friends and partners - for ministry, business, and life. From the time that I got on the train to go to Kiev, I met so many people involved in the area of business close to mine and interested in partnership, that it opened me brand new opportunities that I didn’t know even existed.
The conference is over, and I am riding my train on the way home, looking through the window. Over 1000 miles are yet to go. Trees, posts and railroad flash before my eyes. Everything is covered with blanket of the first, fluffy snow. What a beautiful picture! I am totally impressed by the conference and the entire trip; the pictures of the events flash again and again in my mind, and in the midst of those I see March of 2003, when we will meet again for another great event in Konotop, Ukraine.
Rita's words:
We were involved in a Pastors Conference which was held in Chernihiv Sunday through Thursday evening. This conference was coordinated by David Tinney and Pastor Anatoliy Belonnozhko, who pastors Word of Grace church in Kyiv.
The time we spent in Chernihiv was very powerful. Afternoon meetings were held for teaching to the pastors, to encourage and build them up. Evening meetings were for the entire church. Barry Reed, from Knoxville, was the primary evening speaker. Hilde Sergeant, from Houston, also spoke one night as well as taught at a local Bible School and in the afternoon sessions along with her husband, Bruce.
The people responded well to the messages, beginning with Monday night and continuing to the end, there were testimonies of deliverance, healing and God's faithfulness. The crowd grew every night (average 3-400), even though there was little heat, if any, in the old theatre where we met.
Our group had three translators, each one special in their own way. Sophia is a 19 year old university student in Kyiv. Like her name, she has much wisdom and a servant's heart. Tanya, a 23 year old resident of Kyiv, is an amzing interpreter. She translated for every evening service, implementing her drama and expressiveness. Vlad is a 26 year old young man from Siberia. We learned that his Ukrainian grandfather was exiled to Siberia from Ukraine under Stalin's dictatorship. He is a computer whiz and has a great sense of humor. Both he and Sophia have spent some time in the United States.
Our trip to Ukraine and seeing the move of God there has given us a new burden for America. Please pray with us that the Christians of this nation will develop a new passion for God and the lost. Like our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, we need to bind together in unity for the cause of the Kingdom of God.
Anatoliy summerizes:
In the beginning of November an American team of 9 people under the chief of David Tinney came to Ukraine. We held 5-day long conference in the city of Chernigov where many people repented and got healed. 200-400 people were present at this conference every day. Also David Tinney and I held 3 business seminars: 1 Kiev and 2 in Borispol. Besides we preached at 2 churches in Browary and in one of the villages of Kiev region where we have a daughter church. Also we visited the city of Bakhmach. We met with the city mayor and gave him 42 winter jackets for orphans and $400 for food for the same children. After it David and I went to the city of Konotop. We met with the main doctor of dentist clinic there and passed him a blessing of dentist equipment and medicine from Stan and Audrey Crawford.
Comments from some of the other team members:
Tanya Kikalenko, Kyiv, "I have never felt more a part of a team than this one, thank you for making me feel special."
Debi Olive, Grove, OK, "It was awesome, put me down for next year!"
Sharon Williams, Bentonville, AR, "Coming to Ukraine confirmed to me what it means to worship God in spirit and truth. I have been changed forever!"
Bruce and Hildie Sergeant of Houston. TX. This couple also are directors of Love of God School of Ministry and minister in several nations overseas.
Sarah Sherman, Bentonville, AR, was a great asset to the team. Being a teenager, the Ukrainian youth were drawn to her like a magnet.
Also ministering with us was Brian Moomey of Mt. Vernon, MO, who taught in one of the local Bible Schools and every afternoon in the Pastors Conference. Sharon Williams, Rita and Sarah Sherman, also of Bentonville, AR, participated each day in the praise and worship services as well as special presentations in the evening of drama and interpretive dance. Bruce Sergeant taught daily in the local Bible school as well as teaching in the Pastors Conference. Barry Reed preached 4 of the evening services and he and the rest of team prayed for those who wanted prayer ministry each evening. Debi Olive of Grove, OK, preached an illustrated sermon in the Bible School and evening service as well as ministering in prayer to the sick.
I would sum the trip up this way. It was an incredible time of fellowhip with the Lord and other believers, American, Ukrainian and Russian. We witnessed the Hand of God move in a powerful way in response to simple faith of the people who would believe His Word. Over 100 people received the Lord, which is impressive because the meetings were only advertised in the churches. Over 75 testified of receiving healing or deliverance. Others testified of receiving financial blessing and employment from the Lord also.
FAI Team Members, November 2002
Sitting, front row: Vladimir, Sarah, Tanya and Barry.
Standing, 2nd row: Rita, Nadya, Sharon and Hildie. Rear: Debi, Bruce, Anatoliy and Brian
Family Aid International will be hosting another team from America in February. Odessa and Kherson, near the Black Sea, will be the location of similar Conferences as the one in Chernihiv.