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Kyiv Calling
January 2003
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THIS IS IT! YOU'RE ON! NOW IS UFI TIME!!! ”SOUL CARE” teaching and training begins NOW! Boost that prayer fervency and enjoy being part of Ukraine Family Institute's inaugural class of 35 students being held January 20 - 24th, at a Sanatorium of “rustic, in the forest, retreat centre style” comfort about a half hour drive from the center of Kyiv. (I'll leave the description of Ukrainian “rustic” for some other time, but Ron and I did stay there for two cold days in November and were satisfied with that and further research.) The first group of students (arriving Sunday the 19th) will be followed by a second module week of another 35 students January 27th-31st (arriving the 26th). There will be a review and revision week following each set of modules. By the time you receive this letter Ron will be well into his week of orientation of his two English speaking Ukrainian Teaching Assistants, Valya Krasnoschok and Sergey Kaplin. Following these two teaching weeks the teaching team (Ron, Sergey, Valya) will be supervising the local church counselling projects of 70 people weekly! Our waiting list people (for the next freshman class) must be patient, for Ron will be very busy working hands-on training both Sergey and Valya as the three review weekly reports from students and Ron provides feedback to students through these Teaching Associates. Student reading assignments and exams must be completed, and marked. The T.A.s will also sit in on counselling sessions mutually agreed upon by selected counselees as is a common Canadian and American method. Ron will hold practicum case review meetings for the T.A.s as well. We praise God that in addition to helping to develop the office team and office set up, Ron has produced six modules. This is very significant, for Ron will not have the luxury of such an extended period of concentrated work on syllabi. This is it. We are here to train leaders as they train leaders right from the start! We believe this is our most effective way to maximize funds, time, and God's open doors.
Where Are They Coming From? Where Are They Going? ~ (SOME of their home cities/towns)
 Why Are They Coming And Going? As you can see from the map (and from previous newsletters) it appears that God is clearly establishing Ukraine Family Institute to train leaders to help their people. We have 70+ students, 3 now from Russia. We have been praying for each student and in so doing learned more of where they've come from geographically, historically, spiritually, and we feel the freshness and passion of their faith in Jesus Christ. For those few students who have known Christ for many years, we sense a depth and dedication that brings warmth and energizes us all. We felt sadness for us but more so for two students as we recently learned they cannot study with us for they are moving to Canada, and another (Tatiana Marchenko) who has a thyroid tumour. We continue to pray for them. There are too many student profiles to include in a newsletter but try to feel what's happening from the following. (“Counselling” is the Canadian spelling.)
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Excerpts From Excerpts! Of UFI Student Profiles ~ …from Poltava, serves in her church as a counsellor and medical doctor, has been praying for getting an opportunity to obtain education which we are providing at UFI, now is praying that God would form counselling team in her church; from Zhytomir, reaching out to neighbouring villages; from Kiev, now Baptist Pastor, hopes to start counselling training center and through this to reach out to 400 thousand people who live in Troeschina are; from Nikolayev, now a pastor, hopes to organize family counselling ministry at his church; from Kiev, leads men's Bible study group and prayer group, God has been showing to him how much value He places in the family, would love to work with men and families; from Russia, mother died, does counselling with girls in the dormitory, hopes to expand that, she and husband work with problem families; from Kiev, a leader in Baptist church, believes he lacks certain knowledge in his work with people and in the future he'd like to become a counsellor; from Poltava, now supervises 25 Bible Study Groups which embrace 222 women, works with 14 leaders of those groups, served as a trainer at Poltava Bible College, desires to broaden spectrum of studies for women in her region and include counselling training; from Mariupol, would like to help kids and adults through critical moments in their lives; from Kiev, delivered from fear of death and low self image, helps lead Bible Study group, works in the center of apologetics research where he works with people from different cults, wants to help them through “huge baggage of different problems they bring”; from Ivano-Frankovsk Region, pastor, mainly works with elders in different churches, resolve problems in churches; Chernivtsy ,pastor of a church and also is an assistant pastor for Chernivtsy region, plans to develop family counselling in the region; from Kiev, doing counselling work at Christian Medical Association, works with children, older people, soon women in church; from Kiev, fatherless childhood, God became the father to her, grew up within 30 km from Chernobyl, says that she lives now only by God's grace, has been praying to God about Institute like UFI, amazed how God answered her prayers; from Poltava, personally recommended by the senior pastor of Poltava region, counsels in church and wants to study more; from Zhytomir, now a pastor, feels that in order to enhance his ministry he needs to be trained in area of counselling; previously alcoholic, now Associate Pastor, helps with small groups, leaders development, worship, hopes to start another church in one of the villages nearby, also would like to organize a Bible school where they would prepare ministers specifically for village churches; from Odessa, searching then Krishna follower, now Presbyterian elder, teaches, preaches, starting new church; from Kiev, in charge of women's ministry, drugs and alcohol problems in family, women come to her for advice, now sets up outreaches to unbelieving women; from Crimea, became assistant director bible College, Zhytomir to organize leadership training center in one of the local churches where he serves, develops curriculum for leadership training program, provides spiritual support to leaders of that church (works with the pastor); from Kremenchug, graduate from Odessa Seminary, does women's ministry, hopes to start counselling ministry; from Carpathians region, another pastor, another church & church plant; from Kiev, Kiev Theological Seminary grad, youth leader, coordinator of children's ministry, director of AWANA club, hopes to become a counsellor and work with both adults and youth; from Kiev, church plant grew to 200, now 7 daughter churches; from Kiev, a lot of his ministry is counselling ministry and he really wants to grow in this area; from Lvov, family opposition to conversion, prepares leaders to work with kids, prepares weekly program for children and works with their parents; from Zhytomir, hopes to start a Christian counselling center for families and lonely people; from Kozhanka, suffered a lot for his beliefs, now ordained pastor; Rivenski region, Gorodische town, head leader of youth ministries for the region; from Lvov, musician, wants to serve as a counsellor in church settings or to become a missionary; from Rovenski region, Dubrovitsa town, leads small Bible study groups, participates in outreaches, helps missionary husband, involved in church planting in neighbouring villages, says God seems to be sending people her way who come with problems and want help; from Kiev, now deacon, preaches, wants to help families to resolve their problems; from Kiev, wife divorced him when became believer, now is person in charge of evangelistic projects which take place in hospitals, orphanages, AIDS centers, asylums for older people, would like to start family counselling; from Zhytomir, previously no youth ministry, now he leads, preaches, leads prayer ministry, volunteers for children's ministry; from Kiev, grew up in atheistic family, but always believed in some supreme power which ruled the world, searched through many different religions (New Age, astrology, some oriental beliefs), now Christian maintaining church's website, is interpreter for American missionaries, would like to work with people who have different psychological problems, wants to start a web page on this; from Kiev region, now pastor, teaches at Bible colleges, in charge of "Pro Life" program in Ukraine; from Kiev, leads small Bible study group and works with parents of disabled children; from Kiev, born into atheist family served in military (service in military was mandatory for all men in Soviet Union), got married, became an alcoholic, God rescued him from alcohol dependency, is deacon Baptist church now, works with problem families, helps Christian families to succeed, plans to work in church planting; from Odessa. was a drug addict for 6 years, says nothing could take her out of this dependency, but God did, at death point, now leads groups for dependant and co-dependant people, was a convicted criminal, served her term in prison, now wants (with her husband, also an ex-con) to start rehab center for addicts; from Odessa, deacon at Presbyterian Church., used to be convicted criminal and served his term in prison, present passion is to start rehab center for "problem people" like criminals and drug addicts.
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Well, that's more than I intended to share, yet is still not all of them. There are others from cities mentioned plus Kharkov, Sumi, Chernovtsy, Rovno, Mariupol, Brovary, and so on, coming from lives of atheism, drug and alcohol addiction, success but emptiness, persecution, other painful life circumstances, experience in the military, Christian summer camps, more pastors, women's ministry leaders, graduates of Ukraine Bible Institute (which our UFI president Mike Linville started), people sensing a giftedness for counselling, choir directors, … so much more … but ALL people with a passion for SOUL CARE ministry! That is what we are all about. Not secular psychology nor commonly known in the west “Christian Counselling” but solid Biblical Counselling. It is a one word mouthful: “Dooshepopecheetyelstvah” (transliteration of the Russian) meaning … precisely … soul care! You're praying for it and funding it. We're working hard and loving it! Praise God!
Presidential Excitement Flying This Way! Ukraine Family Institute founder and president Rev. Mike Linville is scheduled to arrive in Kiev in the wee hours of the morning our Tuesday/Wednesday January 14th/15th. Unless he is totally exhausted I expect his excitement will keep him awake much of the flight! We are all looking forward to his arrival, cheer, warmth, and help!
Ron, Linda, Artyom, Leanna, and Mike INVITE YOU to any or all of the following:
1. DAY of FASTING and PRAYER ~ Monday January 20 (or Sunday January 19), Monday January 27th (or Sunday January 26th) We are 7 hours ahead (so if you want to be “with us” at launch, you could back up a day and make Sunday January 19 the special day!) We will have orientation for the students Sunday 6 pm, and begin at 8 am Monday morning.
2. PRAY SUNDAY MORNING IN CHURCH for UFI ~ Request your local church leadership to include UFI as a special pastoral prayer on Sunday January 19th. In Ontario, if prayer is offered at an 11 am service this will be exactly during the UFI inauguration and student orientation. 11 am is 6 pm Kyiv time. Wouldn't it be wonderful if 20 churches in Ontario summoned their people to come with boldness to the Throne as UFI begins public ministry!
3. ADOPT A STUDENT ~ Perhaps your local church, or prayer/ministry group, extended family, etc. could select one or more of the 35 students for week one (Jan 20-24) and then again with 35 new students for week two (Jan 27-31). Upon request, Artyom will send you the brief profile of UFI's 70 disciples. Read about your “adopted” student and pray each day for “your” pastor, or elder, ex-convict, visionary servant of God, whoever they may be. Email encouragement to your student(s) via the UFI office (ufi_kiev@yahoo.com). We will hand deliver a print-out of your encouragement. Send it, ideally before 8 am Saturday Jan 18. If you send it later, we will transmit it as soon as we access the mail during the teaching week. Week two the same thing. Try to send your emailed student encouragement by 8 am Saturday Jan 25.
Never to be boastful, but always in sheer enthusiastic gratitude to our Lord we remind you yet again that this is the first such biblical Counselling training opportunity available in the former Soviet Union. Classes have been offered in various institutions, but this is the first 3 year curriculum devoted to teaching leaders heavy duty solidly Biblical counselling material. You can be sure the evil one is not pleased with any of this UFI progress, so please do pray!
God Provides: More Text Books, Fundraising Progress, Family News Well, there's so much more I could write about the details of God's provision, from books, to helpers here and in Canada, challenging work and relaxation circumstances, but time and space does not permit this newsletter. PLEASE PRAY for Ron and me as we keep working to broaden our donor base. ~ Our 2 girls are doing well, and Angela is considering going to med school next year, even though she loves her present medical job and they love her. Adam is busy with school and ministry here, and is just now emerging from a painful but right, surrendered-to-God decision so could use some extra “comfort and strength” prayer. He loves the support, maturity, and humour of the youth here. Dawna could use prayer regarding options for going back to school.~ Website still has Kyiv photos. (New hopefully later)
How Is This Kingdom Work Happening? Folks, it's YOU, seeking, hearing and following The Lord's leading by simply promising small regular contributions. Without both faithful $25 to $50 monthly donations and major donors as well we would not be here and could not have worked diligently in person with our team these last four months. It's a big project for a shoe string budget! But God has done marvellous work over the last year in pulling it all together from Canada, US, and Ukraine and so we continue to march forward in faith. We DO need to expand our donor base, so PLEASE be alert for opportunities to share this tremendous opportunity. We are told by Ukrainian leaders that Ukraine Family Institute is doing it right, and we want to maintain that quality before these people and our wondrous triune God.
Composure Lost in Joy From the biographies, and other contact we know our students are excited. Yesterday a very bright young lady lost her composure right there in front of us as she jumped up and down telling us of her application to Ukraine Family Institute. More amazing was that she knew she had to be on that waiting list! We hope you are excited too, at what our great God is doing through you. Thank you all so VERY much!
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love Him”
I Corinthians 2:9
Serving Christ … from Kyiv: Ron, Linda, Noel Adam
from Ottawa: Angela & Dawna
(Photo link: check main menu if link below obsolete)
 Dr. Ron Harris: Founder of Wellspring of Life Biblical Counselling Service: wellspringoflife.com rharris@iGlide.net ~ Academic Dean Ukraine Family Institute:ufi_kiev@yahoo.com , rlharris@iptelecom.net.ua
World Team Canada :
NEW JANUARY 27th 2003! 7575 Danbro Crescent, Mississauga, ON L5N 6P9
Same #s: (905) 821-6300; (800) 610-9788, www.world-team.org ~
International Faith Initiatives Inc. (USA) www.internationalfaith.org ~ Rev. Linville: mike@internationalfaith.org
PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS !
(This one works well. It lacks the bells and whistles but I chose to make it this way to
minimize computer space and time problems for you. No download concerns!
When done, just click the obvious UP arrow. Enjoy your visit! Linda : rlharris@i.kiev.ua)
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