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Kyiv Calling
April 2003
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Awesome April ~ Module 2 Marvels! ~ As I was saying and saying as God keeps blessing and blessing!!! …Slava Bogu!
 ! Praise God! Diligence, light bulbs, gratitude, humility, spontaneous duplication continues! From the mouths and pens of Ukraine Family Institute students:  A blessed week ... A wonderfully unique week...
It is impossible to overestimate the value and benefits of this course. All the pieces of Module 1 are now fitting in the picture with module 2, as Ron said they would...
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 UFI students - a wonderful family! I am so happy to be part of this group of students at UFI. The students are so open. UFI is like an island. When I return home it is like the weather changes; there's coldness and snow.A very beneficial week. Previously I have been talking to brothers, and different churches have different practices concerning spiritual warfare, and this topic and various practices are getting more
and more popular. I didn't have a position of my own. Now I have a position. Through Module 2 I have
 deepened my understanding of counselling. Things are clear. I like this healthy biblical approach. This approach is not a personal viewpoint with added Bible verses...I was sceptical when I heard about UFI. “A Western psychological idea, maybe.” ... God has cleared up every speck of scepticism....
Previously my counselling was completely wrong....As I counselled, encouragement from the UFI office helped me...I did four sermons about Matthew Meade.
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Student comments continue,
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There have been some major changes. … God has corrected my view of Scripture
The modules penetrated my heart. I had to repent… My pastor saw the changes in my counsellee. My pastor said, “… you can give a seminar to women in the church.” I gave him more information about UFI. I've seen a lot of change in my counselling.
My counsellee used psychological labels to describe herself. I persisted to invite her to look at her life from a distinctly biblical point of view…. All her life, from the age of 16, she was hunting for people to give her identity. She blamed people around her. When I saw her change her whole way of thinking I realized that this was God's doing. God used me.
If you have no counsellee go to a small group and share. You'll have counsellees!!!
I now understand that a “stone” to one person may be “a huge rock.” This module also helped me to think through the issues of spiritual warfare, demons and (so on)...
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Now I do not have spooky fears of demons [in the sense of the pagan-occult world view].
I was wrong before: my attitude was that I was above the counsellee in the clouds, and my counsellees were down there! Now I know that I must labour to meet them on the same level. I must enter their world and their heart.
My whole church knows I went somewhere. Previously my way of counselling was completely wrong. As I counselled after module 1 the encouragement from the UFI office helped me…. There was big joy in reading it (Matthew Meade book) twice. I did four sermons about Matthew Meade. It is very important for persons to see counterfeits of Christianity.
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God has a unique time for each person. He works individually. We can't generalize - approaching everybody the same way [a cut and dried system of counselling steps and procedures]. The condemned house was a powerful picture showing me the work of Christ.
After reading half of Matthew Meade I went into a deep depression. I couldn't find a person with whom to talk. People I approached [brushed off my experience,…. I thought through my situation according to the H-E-A-R-T questions [we studied in Module 1], and my depression disappeared! My relationship with God has grown more serious. All of this has been wonderful to me personally, and I wonder, “How much help could I bring to others?”
When I went home God showed me that my circumstances are not my problems…I became very happy. I am very much changed. I wanted to share with my friends… [she did teach module material in her church small group meetings] … My mother approached me for help, and this was an answer to my prayers. My mother is not a Christian … My friends asked me when I will be ready to help them
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In my reading of Matthew Meade I found many things that need change in my life. It helped me look into my life and revise my whole life. As a result I wanted to help my brothers …. I realized that I was doing wrong.
[V. has been trained as a medical doctor, and now she is pursuing God's call to training in biblical counselling…Her pastor studied at Kyiv Theological Seminary under Ron last September, just after Ron arrived in Kyiv.] My pastor pointed people to me, emphasizing that he wanted me to take both easy and heavy counselling cases. If I needed help with heavy cases, he would help me...
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The help in the UFI office [through the system of case reporting] is greatly appreciated. It helps me to go the next step. Matthew Meade [the reading assignment text] is wonderful teaching that has helped me. When I returned to my church I shared from the Module 1 teaching - Ezekiel 14, etc, and there have been a lot of changes.
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The knowledge we gained here will become a firm foundation for our personal lives. Also, God is really GOOD; I know that now.
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I did cliff-jumping everyday after this module. God has personally given me hope during this week. …thanks for the teaching from Scripture on the nature of true spiritual warfare.
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Enough for now! Get the picture from these excerpts? Ron and I feel that
not only is not a moment of work and teaching wasted over here, but
each is multiplied in some way virtually immediately! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!
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 Association of Biblical Counsellors in Ukraine is Born! ~ After module 2 and completion of the work between modules many students were entitled to a first level certificate of membership in our newly formed Association. Exciting!. Ron drew this up and continues to work with the Ukraine Family Institute Team to refine it. However, as of April 2003 the Association is a reality… and dreams for an Association of Biblical Counsellors in Russia are dancing in students' heads. The member benefits are (1) fellowship and mutual support, (2) ongoing education and (3) teaching one another. We are starting with step one: a simple membership directory with counselling resources. Our plan is to present an Association booklet to the 47 members at Module 3 with member contact information, recommended counselling texts (in Russian), and other counselling resources (email addresses, web sites, and such) |
Urgent Requests from Russia ~ But first from V's extensive sharing: As a pastor in Russia I used Module 1 as a resource to do much teaching, explaining repentance in my church, in a small group, and in another church. There have been changes in my church as I shared with my brothers. As I left Module 1 and went back to pastoring I saw clearly the need for this teaching and training to counsel. They grabbed me saying, “You have to do seminars in counselling. We can't go on without it!” My immediate response was, “I can't do it now. I just took Module 1!” [There are 12] I spoke with another minister in our region. Others see this need to develop in the area of biblical counselling
… sermons for April are planned as a result of this week's study. I appreciated the house of sanctification build on the cement foundation of justification and adoption. the quail and manna (Numbers 11), the comfort of God, mirror in the morning illustration... a number of other things
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From L's extensive sharing: I finished a Christian University … I began teaching courses, adding my opinions… Later I entered psychological university… But I had a big question that I knew I had to answer. “Is the Bible sufficient?” I heard of UFI and said to my pastor that I would like to study at UFI…. There's a lot of different things taught here. [at UFI] I am so happy….. I had a lot of repentance and joy… I have found that with biblical counselling there was CORE. I was always trying to find the core in psychology, but there was none. Thank you for such a revelation for me… There is a lot of garbage outside of UFI. As for practical results - a lot of wonderful results in my counselling work in Krasnodar (Russia).
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The 3 students from Russia were as much or more energized with UFI this module as the first, but more burdened by increasing political restraints in their country. Their train trip is 26 hours each way. They love what they are learning from Ron and want more people to attend but the train trip costs are prohibitive: $60 US each. That's a month's wages in their area. “Can you come to us? In September? We need you now.” They say that later may be too late! Even now the government will no longer let western Christians into certain regions and that trend is growing. These 3 students are teaching what they can with every module but want UFI to go to Krasnodar to teach two groups of students they personally know who are ready and eager to learn. They want all 12 modules over 3 years of course, just as we're doing in Ukraine, but theirs is not an all or nothing approach. They will be grateful for each module God enables to come to their area. Remember these people have a long history of not taking tomorrow for granted. Ministry opportunities were maximized one by one through the uncertainties of years of war and persecution. Similar uncertainty is returning. Each time we have talked with this trio, the strength, faith, intelligence, gratitude, and urgency is apparent in their faces, voices, reports and requests. We ache for them, as our present UFI team is so stretched, immediate help seems impossible. However we agreed to pray and consider the matter more closely.
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Spiritual Warfare ~ It was a challenge but that day of each week went very well too. With its regrettable popularity in the west and Ukrainian culture here full of superstition, it's a topic that keeps popping up as we teach and talk with Ukrainians. Without proper training in Biblical Counselling, prayer and dialog does not always get the desired “healing” of relationships and sickness and so of course blaming and casting out demons seems logical to many. The tragedy is that if (when) it doesn't work the consequences given by many churches are sometimes severe and even cruel. Praise God that His life changing Word diagnoses problems as far worse than we recognize and the solution as so incredibly better, through the blood of God only begotten Son.
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Tough Teaching Choices ~ Thank you for your prayers for discernment, strength, and grace to make ministry choices that keep Ron on track with the goals of Ukraine Family Institute and yet help a little beyond as well even now. Packed weeks but manageable. Ron has been able to do some much appreciated teaching for adult Sunday School (addressing tough and intimate topics like sex), plus a few other things. I know he is much appreciated for Ukrainians come up to me with hugs, kisses, smiles, handshakes, and barrages of Russian or Ukrainian , very words being understandable to me but all of which is clearly in harmony with the hugs and kisses communicating the somewhat puzzling but obvious impression that my husband is a nearly perfect man. Hah! He is wonderful though. Again, it brings me so much happiness to see him operate here in Kyiv under such obvious strengthening and blessing of God. Thank you for your part in that!!!
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Ron Delighting In Brothers & Truth ~ At the invitation of our Pastor Ivan Bespalov, Ron recently began teaching some elders, deacons, and future elders and deacons of our Kiev home church, Church of The Holy Trinity. There are about 15 that he meets with every other Thursday evening. He will resume this after our 5 weeks in Canada. Lots of smiles and enthusiasm in and from that too!
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5 Weeks in Canada? ~ Harris Family on the move! ~ You prayed up a down pouring of blessing, not just showers! Thanks! Adam's very happy, healthy, very well cared for, and-I'm-not-allowed-to-say-anymore `til the end of May! Angela is equally happy and is moving just a few houses down the street in Ottawa but all is well with her and the girls she has been living with. Wonderful spiritual growth evident in her emails. Dawna has 3 jobs now plus babysits at the church! “Sounded” good on an email “chat” with me recently. We, Ron and Linda, leave Kiev May 23rd and return July 4th.
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 Picture Within His Picture ~ As president of Church Of The Holy Trinity, Sasha Donskoy attends these classes Ron teaches. His daughter Dasha provided much delight, guidance, and translation for Ron, Adam, and me on a one day excursion last week out of the city. This week she sent a phototaken in 1996! Before we knew our calling here. She is in the picture as one of many baptized in the Dneipr River. Ron and I were right there praying, singing, and snapping photos, down (sing it!?!) byyy the riverrrside!
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 Hours of Hot Seat, Marriage & Family ~ At another church, but direct UFI connection ~ After
a tour of the church which was made beautifully and
yet in the most difficult ways due to lack of space and money for any heavy duty equipment, Ron and I were led upstairs where we fielded questions for 45 minutes or so before the many young couples met downstairs for fellowship and Ron's teaching. You never know what they are going to ask you! Aaarg! (Same in Russian) Ron likes me sharing the hot seat on those situations and I actually don't mind it. From our perspective having two helps old brains and weary bod's and allows time to maintain sensitivity to a different culture, while from their perspective it also communicates more of male/female/marriage roles. The people who invite us insist on both. We say what we know but never pretend expertise in many areas and yet are surprised and grateful to God how beneficial it is to sometimes simply direct people into biblical thinking regarding their question. “Old hat” but new to many of them. This time the questions included US-Canada-Ukraine comparisons, politics, E.E., personal challenges in Christian walk, and of course casting out demons. (As I mentioned earlier, it seems to come up frequently) The couples were almost as intense and excited about their church, God, and each other as is their Pastor. It still takes some getting used to for me. So too does their sense of time! So much for a 2 hour evening. It was at least 6! But wonderful, though mixed again of course with the oh-so-difficult responses to various invitations to return to preach, teach, and so on. Ron must keep his Ukraine Family Institute and our home church priority. His UFI focus is presently teaching, preparing curriculum, training Teaching Associates, and follow up on every student for at least the 12 modules (3 years). Keep praying please!
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Photos ~ The 2 slide shows are still up. http://www.wellspringoflife.com Click SLIDE SHOWS from the top main menu. (No huge downloads. If you are reading this on the internet already, just scroll down and click photo link.) Quite a few of you have checked them out and sent wonderfully encouraging emails. Thanks again! Sorry I don't have a module 2 one made (nor particularly planned) as we have been preoccupied with other priorities in maximizing our time here and trip to Canada for June. Mutual prayer is a must. Keep(ing) it up! Thank YOU and Praise GOD!
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We are here because “He has risen!” (Luke 24:6)
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Serving Christ … from Kyiv: Ron, Linda, (Noel Adam???)
from Ottawa: Angela & Dawna
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 Dr. Ron Harris: rharris@iGlide.net ~ Founder of Wellspring of Life Biblical Counselling Service: wellspringoflife.com Academic Dean Ukraine Family Institute:ufi_kiev@yahoo.com , rlharris@iptelecom.net.ua
World Team Canada : NEW ADDRESS! 7575 Danbro Crescent, Mississauga, ON L5N 6P9.
(905) 821-6300; (800) 610-9788, www.world-team.org ~
International Faith Initiatives Inc. (USA) www.internationalfaith.org ~ Rev. Linville: mike@internationalfaith.org
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We send out email newsletters which differ in format from this web page and from the 8.5" X 11" snail mail format.
For information, problems / changes / deletions regarding these newsletters, please tell me, Linda: rlharris@i.kiev.ua
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(These ones work well.No bells and whistles but I chose to make them this way
to eliminate computer and time problems for you. No downoad concerns!)
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