Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Please Help Almaz Orphan Outreach Project....
We are trying to raise enough to pay for the van necessary for the missionaries in Ukraine.
If you are friends of Almaz outreach, please add a "chip in" on your blog or website and end the event May 31 2011. We are asking people to skip a coffee or a latte for a day or a week and donate for this need of our brothers and sisters in Christ. You may offer what ever amount you'd like. Please keep in mind pay pal does charge a fee for their processing terminal, even though it is minimal. We thank you in advance for all those who will help in this ministry. Summer missions trips will be starting in May & June so we need to get this van ready for the Skripak family and for the missionaries who will be coming in to Ukraine soon. If you can donate a large sum and would like a tax deductible receipt, then email Pastor Sasha for details on how you can do this.
These missionaries will be heading to Vorzel Ukraine where they will minister to the children and replace broken and old plumbing & electric. They will repair walls and rooms and hopefully finish off the playgrounds for the children. Playing is something we take for granted in America...these children in the orphanages also need to play to stimulate them and to have the staff be able to interact and for therapeutic reasons.
If you have ever considered going on a missions trip but don't know anyone or don't the first thing about getting involved..here's your chance.. Email Pastor Sasha at the address above to join a team already in progress. Can be 1 person, can be a few...places are filling up. You can add a couple of extra days to your trip to do some sight seeing as well in beautiful Ukraine. Be prepared for an awesome life changing experience though....you will be happy you did. If your life seems empty of unfulfilled or you don't understand what life is about or why God put you on this earth, you will probably find some answers to many question you have had.
Join the Skripak family this summer as they follow through on a mission from God to love, help and care for orphans.
PSALMS
17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and
you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is
of the earth, may terrify no more.
27:10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
68:5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy
dwelling.
82:3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of
the poor and oppressed.
Dear Friends!
We would like to share our story with you.
Many of you know what our life situation is – beside us, our parents, sister, children, and grandfather all live together in a three-room apartment, all in all 9 persons and 4 generations.
Of course, lots of various things happen. Life in such conditions is sometimes especially complicated.
We know that it is God, who is allowing this situation, even though it seems quite desperate. But He wants something for us in this situation. He wants us to exercise humility, learn, be the light for our non-Christian parents and grandfather, and influence the nephews in some way. And saying the truth, we are not always faithful.
Two summers in a row God gave us opportunities to apartment sit for our friends and, thus, live separately. They left for the whole summer to America and we used their apartment. But this summer, they are not going. We knew about it and were perfectly prepared to spend the coming summer at our own Kyiv apartment.
Some two weeks ago we prayed about out living situation at out small group meeting. We prayed for us, that God give us strength, wisdom, and especially support, so He, if He will it, let us live somewhere separately for at least a little.
I had little faith that this would bring any result. Nothing indicated that we will ever be able to live alone. We cannot afford renting an apartment.
Quite unexpectedly another family suggested that we stay this summer at their house . They too are going to America and need somebody to apartment and dog sit for them. In fact, they proposed it to some other couple, but they decline and recommended us. These people know us very well and a very long time, since we came to the Lord. We used to go to the same church at some point. But, we never were especially close. And, on the last Friday we learnt that they are ready to trust their house near Kyiv to us.
This was a miracle!
I remember what we learnt about Abraham. He was afraid. At some moment of his life he showed lack of trust in God. But, God did what He planned. God is always faithful.
We are not perfect in the life conditions, where God put us, we often lose our battles, we often feel weak and whine. But God is our hope. Our hearts are with Him.
Another scripture I have been thinking about:
Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he makes sore, and binds up: he wounds, and his hands make whole. (Job 5:17,18)
God allowed us to live in difficult conditions for these three years. And this seems to be a desperate situation. But, He never leaves us alone in this situation. He supports us, gives us respite, time when we could be hospitable to people. The same has happened again. His hands make whole, very tenderly and with great love.
This is a miracle for us! And, we want to share it with you :)
Thank you to all, who prayed for us or somehow felt for us.
We would like to share our story with you.
Many of you know what our life situation is – beside us, our parents, sister, children, and grandfather all live together in a three-room apartment, all in all 9 persons and 4 generations.
Of course, lots of various things happen. Life in such conditions is sometimes especially complicated.
We know that it is God, who is allowing this situation, even though it seems quite desperate. But He wants something for us in this situation. He wants us to exercise humility, learn, be the light for our non-Christian parents and grandfather, and influence the nephews in some way. And saying the truth, we are not always faithful.
Two summers in a row God gave us opportunities to apartment sit for our friends and, thus, live separately. They left for the whole summer to America and we used their apartment. But this summer, they are not going. We knew about it and were perfectly prepared to spend the coming summer at our own Kyiv apartment.
Some two weeks ago we prayed about out living situation at out small group meeting. We prayed for us, that God give us strength, wisdom, and especially support, so He, if He will it, let us live somewhere separately for at least a little.
I had little faith that this would bring any result. Nothing indicated that we will ever be able to live alone. We cannot afford renting an apartment.
Quite unexpectedly another family suggested that we stay this summer at their house . They too are going to America and need somebody to apartment and dog sit for them. In fact, they proposed it to some other couple, but they decline and recommended us. These people know us very well and a very long time, since we came to the Lord. We used to go to the same church at some point. But, we never were especially close. And, on the last Friday we learnt that they are ready to trust their house near Kyiv to us.
This was a miracle!
I remember what we learnt about Abraham. He was afraid. At some moment of his life he showed lack of trust in God. But, God did what He planned. God is always faithful.
We are not perfect in the life conditions, where God put us, we often lose our battles, we often feel weak and whine. But God is our hope. Our hearts are with Him.
Another scripture I have been thinking about:
Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he makes sore, and binds up: he wounds, and his hands make whole. (Job 5:17,18)
God allowed us to live in difficult conditions for these three years. And this seems to be a desperate situation. But, He never leaves us alone in this situation. He supports us, gives us respite, time when we could be hospitable to people. The same has happened again. His hands make whole, very tenderly and with great love.
This is a miracle for us! And, we want to share it with you :)
Thank you to all, who prayed for us or somehow felt for us.
Hello,
My name is Alexey Volkov. I focus on developing and improving Almaz church worship services. Starting from January 2011, I am also a full-time minister at Almaz church.
Among other things, my responsibilities include taking care of the administrative issues dealing with Sunday services, coordinating different ministries related to church services,
developing vision and strategy for improving worship services together with our pastors, and implementing the set goals.
With God's help, over a couple of months' period we have accomplished the following things:
- growth in children's ministry: in the upcoming weeks we will have group #4, even though a month ago there were only two groups;
- growth in hospitality ministry: we started a better feedback system for new people through questionnaires, calls, emails and personal meetings with the pastors.
Besides, we now have worship service translation into English through headsets.
My name is Alexey Volkov. I focus on developing and improving Almaz church worship services. Starting from January 2011, I am also a full-time minister at Almaz church.
Among other things, my responsibilities include taking care of the administrative issues dealing with Sunday services, coordinating different ministries related to church services,
developing vision and strategy for improving worship services together with our pastors, and implementing the set goals.
With God's help, over a couple of months' period we have accomplished the following things:
- growth in children's ministry: in the upcoming weeks we will have group #4, even though a month ago there were only two groups;
- growth in hospitality ministry: we started a better feedback system for new people through questionnaires, calls, emails and personal meetings with the pastors.
Besides, we now have worship service translation into English through headsets.
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