Business Seminar in Brussels

I had met Pastor Jean-Paul Lupemba in April at the 10th Anniversary of the Embassy church in Kiev. It was there he invited me to come to Brussels to teach as he wanted his church to be exposed to our ministry. His brother-in-law and sister pastor a church in Odessa, Ukraine and we had done two seminars for them last year.

So Stan Crawford and I traveled to Brussels August 10th and to conduct a 3 day business seminar with Light for the Nations church, pastored by Jean-Paul Lumpeda. We had a great time with this Belgian church, the hospitality was excellent as well as ministry time in his church. They were so hungry to learn how to be more effective in business for God’s Kingdom.

Stan taught principles from the book of Nehemiah while I concentrated on teaching the role of the business person and their strategic importance in the expansion in God's Kingdom.

We capped the seminar off the last night by anointing with oil and praying for all those who desired to be “anointed for business”. It was an anointed time, everyone was blessed, including Stan and myself.

Kingdom is growing in L'vov

After the conference in Brussels was over, I continued to Kiev and Stan returned to the USA. On Sunday, August 15th, I flew to L’vov, Ukraine, which is in the western sector of Ukraine, near the Polish border, to conduct a 2 night business seminar with the Embassy of God church. This church is really special, it was started 10 months ago and is doing very well. The pastors, Sasha and Aleysa, are doing a terrific work and have a special grace upon them to reach business people. Because of this, I feel I need to work closely with them, conducting business seminars as often as possible.

This was my third trip to L’vov this year. The seminars went well and were well attended. I used the same format as we did in Brussels and on the last night, I anointed with oil all those who desired to be ordained for business. The result was the same we experienced in Brussels.

Some unusual things happened while I was in L’vov. First, when Pastor Aleysa met us at the airport, she told me the most influential businessman in the city had come to pick us up and transport us to the hotel. I imagined a man in a large black Mercedes, dressed in a fine suit with his bodyguards standing around. You know, like what you see in the movies. I was so surprised when we walked to the parking lot. It was an older Russian made car and the driver graciously took our bags and placed them in the trunk, then opened our car doors for us. Pastor Aleysa kept smiling at me, this man was serving us as if he was a taxi driver! I was so amazed by his servant’s heart.

After we arrived at the hotel, I asked her if she was sure this was the most influential businessman of L’vov. She replied he was indeed, the man called her and asked if he could serve me in this way. I believe Pastor Sasha and Aleysa have the favor of God resting upon them to reach people in high levels of business in the region.

Another interesting incident happened. A young lady by the name of Aloyna is a part of Pastor Aleysa and Sasha’s ministry team in L’vov. She accompanied them from Kiev to start the church and has successfully started an alcohol and drug rehabilitation center in L’vov. In fact, so successful, that she is known as “Aloyna, the Great” among the drug culture and law enforcement in the city because of the dramatic results of getting people off substance abuse. But that is another story for another newsletter.

Aloyna sells Mary Kay cosmetics to support herself in the ministry. She felt she was supposed to sow something into our ministry, but she has very little money, only enough to survive on. So she gave me two tubes of lipstick to give to my wife Judy as an offering to our ministry. At the first night of the conference, a stranger came up to her and gave her 200 GRN, the currency of Ukraine. After the meeting was over, ladies were approaching her, placing orders for cosmetics. It was a very profitable time for her. She told me she felt God has given her a breakthrough in her financial life.

As I pray for business people, the Lord will often give me special words of encouragement to them. As I prayed for Vasiliy, a man who owns a dress factory, I sensed the Lord saying, “Germany, I am going to use Germany to bless this man’s work.” So, I simply spoke these words to the man, as from the Lord. Later, after the service, Vasiliy accompanied us to a nearby cafe for pizza and juice. He told me that recently he had made arrangements for a company in Dusseldorf, Germany to represent his line of dresses in all of Western Europe. Of course, I knew nothing of this, but the Lord did and used these words to encourage and confirm his decision to cooperate with the German firm.

While I was in L’vov, I met pastor Andrey Stepanov from Poland who was passing through on his way to Yalta. He had met Pastor Aleysa and Sasha last year and just stopped by to say hello. He was so surprised to meet me, as he has read my book I published last year and teaches the businessmen in his church from it. He invited me to come to Warsaw at my earliest convenience to teach business principles as I have done in Ukraine. As of now, we are planning a February 2005 visit to Warsaw.

On Wednesday afternoon, we flew back to Kiev. Upon arriving at my office, I was greeted by Pastor Anatoliy and Nadya Belonozhko. Even though I had been in Ukraine since the previous Saturday, this was my first chance to see them as they had been out of town when I arrived from Belgium. We spent the evening catching up on all that was happening.

Back to Chernigov

Thursday morning, we drove two hours north to Chernigov for a lunch meeting with five pastors and to conduct a business seminar that evening. This city is very special to me. These five pastors are in unity with one another, spending time together, encouraging and supporting each other in the ministry. In 2001 and 2002, our ministry spent a lot of time, energy and resources in this area, assisting the pastors in their respective outreaches to the city. We also took 3 teams of Americans to the city during this time period to minister. I believe I have been to Chernigov nearly 20 times to minister since 2001. I say all that to underscore the fact it is a very special and strategic city.

Our lunch meeting lasted 3 hours, discussing what the churches were doing and how they could be more effective. I really have a desire to return and help these pastors over an extended period of time again. I see many opportunities for ministry and assistance that we can provide.

For instance, Pastor Vladimir and Natasha Lazuka have just purchased a building to meet in. It was built in 1913 and has much potential. However, it is great need of repair and will require much to bring the facility to an acceptable level for use. This pastor will use the building for church offices and center for his Bible school as well as the central meeting hall for his church.

I told the pastor I would form a construction team from America to come and assist in the project. It is rare thing for a Ukrainian church to own their building. This is a significant step of faith and progress for this church and the other churches for that matter in the city.

If you are good with your hands and have some time to serve, pray about coming to Chernigov to help restore this building for church use. I will be forming at least one work team to come and minister in their work clothes in 2005. Contact me if you would like to be a part of this team.

After lunch, we visited one of the local orphanages in Chernigov. My wife, Judy, took a clown team there about 15 months ago. With tears in her eyes, the director practically begged me to bring Judy and the clowns back, she said she had just taken that job when they came and was so overwhelmed and did not know what to do. The clowns encouraged her and she also said it has been the highlight of her tenure there. She said it was most satisfying time in her career the afternoon they came and made the children laugh.

The business seminar in Chernigov was held downtown in an auditorium I have rented in the past. I would estimate around 175 people were in attendance, most of them were members of the 5 churches we are cooperating with. I asked Pastor Anatoliy, who accompanied me to Chernigov, to speak to the people before I took the platform. He spoke for about 30 minutes on the subject of 4 pillars of success. He then introduced me and I spoke for about and hour and half about business principles.

Afterward, I also anointed with oil and prayed for anyone desiring to commit their business life to the Lord’s use. I prayed for nearly one hundred people. One man in particular stands out. As I prayed for him, I sensed the Lord encouraging him to develop his character as many people in the workplace were watching him and the Lord desired to use him as a leader at the firm he worked for. When I finished praying, the man said it was exactly the same word I had spoken to him 2 years previous when I conducted my last business seminar in Chernigov.

What does this mean? I believe it confirms the fact the Lord is very interested in our business life as well as our spiritual life. In fact, the two are directly connected to each other. Somehow over time, we have separated the sacred from the secular and I believe the Lord has never intended for that to happen. At this time, this is being restored and reconnected by the Holy Spirit who is showing us we can serve God in our businesses and work. The marketplace is our place of ministry, not just the church building!

Publishing Books & TV program opportunity

I had the opportunity to meet with Dmitriy Kirichenko, director of Brightstar Publishing, before I left Kiev. As we were discussing the details of publishing my second book about business principles, the Kiev representative for CNL-TV, Channel New Life, entered the room. We had a lively discussion of the opportunity for us to develop a business program to be aired on CNL's satellite network to more than 30 million homes in 74 nations. This would allow us to reach millions of Russian speaking people at a nominal cost.

Books by Pastor Sunday Adelaja

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.

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 2005: