RUSSIA REPORT ~ They loved it, but!!! (First the good news.) It's a new country for Ukraine Family Institute but it's old unchanging Truth, and (never to boast in us but only in GOD'S GREAT GRACE) the week of teaching got the same responses as we've repeatedly received here in Ukraine. Some representative student comments (translated) :
“I sincerely thank God for your visit, for the teaching, for the material and for encouragement. We need this in our churches TODAY! The Time has come. This will work in our churches 100%! We hope and pray that our cooperation and study will continue as we believe that it'sall from God and is according to His will, for His church and His glory.
Thank you!”
“This course was like God's light to my heart. It's very important, useful and blessed.” 
“I never knew that I could learn so many new and exciting things. I was thrilled by all the illustrations. I applied all the teaching to myself and I learned a lot about myself. I thank you for helping me in this. When I come home I would like to help others who are in need. May God bless you!”
“I would love for this course to continue and will be praying that God would continue to bless your work.”
“Thank you very much for the course. It showed me the importance of a Biblical foundation in counselling. It also showed me how important it is to change the heart of a person rather than modify the behaviour. I thank God that he answered many of my questions. Thank you.”
“… through this course I got a chance to look at my heart. I thank God for this opportunity that He gave me to understand myself from His standpoint….…I would love to share this with others,…”
(More student comments later in this newsletter)
Tossing Ron From The Train? Truce To Learn Together? There were detail and character challenges for all of Ukraine Family Institute staff every step of the way. The major hurdles were “getting there”, “team teaching acceptance”, and “unity between denominations.” Previous newsletters explained restraint exercised, but once UFI decided God was indeed leading us to act on the Krasnodar invitation, the communication fun began in earnest. UFI is led by 1 American, 1 Canadian, and as of last month we have 9 Ukrainian staff. God has blessed us with this excellent team that works well together. But Ukraine is not Russia and Russians are not Ukrainians. So there were some surprise expectations and responsibilities to sort through such that Ron barely got his visa in time (not Ron's responsibility). Then he quite literally would have been thrown off the train in Ukraine or denied entry into Russia, or even denied exit from it (yes!) were it not for Victor, Artyom, and Sergei on high alert in abnormal nervous tension as they travelled together with Ron on the 26 hour train trip to Krasnodar. Another challenge was simply accepting that each person's location has to be officially recorded and often paid for every time you stay somewhere for more than 3 days. Fees and fines seem to suddenly “legally” double on the spot at times as well. We have grown to really love our 3 Russian 2nd year students who travel to Kiev for each module, and this Krasnodar group had many wonderful men and women who no doubt would similarly win our hearts. Yet overall, the team's experience in Russia was that there is still a lot of cold, hard, controlling law and mind-set that compared to the changes in Kyiv over the last decade make Kyiv seem relaxed, warm and exciting.
Praise God for the opportunities and blessings from Him in these new days of freedom
Can Two Walk Together? Historical Moments? In God's providence two sister denominations sent leaders to this “1st ever UFI promotional” Module 1. Historically there has been a wedge between these two un-reconciled `sisters.' Rarely do these two groups work together, or even talk together, and yet tensions and family feuds were for the most part restrained by the Hand of God during this week. Writes Ron: “The fact that 10 leaders sat with the four men from our UFI team on Thursday night for a strategy brainstorming session was historic. They sat rather calmly and interacted - an apparent `miracle.' Comments were made that if nothing more resulted from this week of ministry, that possibly this will prove to be a monumental step forward toward practical Christian unity.”
The “BUT”. Our Future in Russia ~ Well we “passed” what felt like tough psychology saturated standards of close scrutiny regarding content and are deemed Biblical. (UFI believes Psychology can be properly used using Biblical “glasses” but their psychology was different.) Anyway, another issue was the whole idea of Teaching Associates in training actually teaching now. It had been hard right from square one for these Russian leaders to accept, and still is. We introduced it extremely minimally and sensitively. Ron did most of the teaching this time. Yes the Teaching Associates are in training but it is careful responsible training and over the course or 12 modules material is thoroughly covered from various angles and individuals. Our statement of purpose includes “Reproducing Teaching Teams” and we must adhere to that. None of us live forever on this earth! It's all about passing the torch! We welcome close scrutiny of the content, just as Paul exhorted his hearers to examine and evaluate even his apostolic teaching with the OT Scriptures (Acts 17:11) but we are not prepared at this point to alter our goal and method of duplication. So, this and the foreign idea of shouldering some of the student and administrative costs (yet our team itself teaches at NO charge) is a major challenge for the leaders. They are used to Westerners paying for it all. What the Russian leaders decide about the cost and team teaching will determine if we will be invited back to do the whole 3 years of 12 modules. As you've read they need and want it, but can they adjust their thinking to new ways of getting it? Ukrainians are very poor too, but many are sacrificing and finding ways to get this teaching! (Some regrettably miss out but we are doing the best we can to find ways for those who really want it.) Then there's the whole political scene. Missionaries from the West have increasing obstacles and difficulties gaining entrance into Russia. This means that time is of the essence. (Ron's visa truthfully indicates he helps people with problems and teaches others how to help. Sometimes feels like a tight rope walk making the most of the opportunities God gives us.)
A Word from Ron
“The potential of a mustard seed”
Ron says the team clearly sensed the hand of God enabling them to learn, submit in servant humility and yet lead in strength. Ron writes “God enabled us to rise above various challenges and to enjoy what could prove to be a very significant week in the development of Biblical Counselling in Russia. Our UFI team unanimously sees an incredible opportunity to launch the kingdom work of biblical counselling training in Russia. Key leaders unequivocally express the dire need for our ministry. Though extremely sceptical at first, they now do not question the incredible equipping value of our 12 module program. They want this help `yesterday.' We met leaders committed to the work of counselling but with varying degrees of a psychologised understanding of Scripture. Sceptics who are hard-won become powerful voices for truth. The potential is great. There is a crying need in the Krasnadar region, and leaders are hungry. Pray for God to direct them as they process their week's experience with our UFI team. This could be the beginning of biblical counselling training in Russia, since we are not aware of any program of formal training that equips church leaders to use Scripture for robust soul-ministry.”
Hear Them Calling ( More Student Responses)
“I have been praying to God for a year about training in counselling. I thank God and you for preparing and teaching this material to us. As soon as I get back home I will start applying it step by step. I never knew that counselling can be so exciting!”
“I thank you wholeheartedly that you taught me to look at my life's events through …'biblical glasses.' Thank you for being precise and specific in your teaching. It brought order to my understanding. You taught me to look at the problems more seriously and deeper than I used to. May God bless you!"
So NOW We Are 11! Please Welcome
3 New Staff Members! God has surprised us yet again in raising up donors to pay the first year salaries for 2 of these 3 dedicated young ladies. Larissa (not in picture) will be helping Artyom and Valya in administration . Intense, bright, wonderful Artyom (who trained in the school of Olympic Swimmers Reserves while Ukraine was under Soviet rule) recently felt the distinct sensation of “drowning” under increasing Ukraine Family Institute responsibilities! He rejoices in receiving this help! Luda is one of Ron's newest TAs (Teaching Associates) She has been a UFI student since January 2003 (our inaugural class) and now steps into being specifically trained by Ron. Tanya (blonde with rose) is also a new TA. As for the short term salary commitments, every moment of UFI's planning and existence has been a walk of faith. It is educated, prayerful, scary at times, yet also bold but not reckless. As for the ladies, they are talented, hardworking, and grateful not only for the opportunity to personally survive the poverty of this nation, but are tearful with gratitude to be doing it through ministry they love so much.
UFI Relocating? Actually there are signs that while our landlord has informed the office that she is trying to sell the place (one month notice will be given) donors are urging purchase of a place for our next office move. (Harris donations support Harris and our flat, not the UFI office) Thanks to the suggestion and generosity of one particular donor UFI president Mike Linville is working from his home in Indianna on a “matching donation” project. (If interested, contact Mike for more details.)
Harris Children! CONGRATULATIONS to daughter #2, Dawna Laurie! Watch out world! Here comes super stylist Dawna eager to transform your head of hair into a work of art! Better like colour though. She does! OK, OK, so … she does have an internship or something to go through as part of her first job, but she HAS passed hairdressing school with (you guessed it) flying colours! Yeah!!! (She loves it too, and Angela says she's good at it. Not surprising for a gal who has oozed creativity from birth! and who's sketches have awed us all since she was a mere child.) Noel Adam (18) , is working, searching for money for school, and (according to his email) is enormously blessed seeking out and devouring spiritual food. Angela Marie is still “on fire” for God. She moved to Quebec but is still working in Ottawa and studying towards medical school, and missions (heart desires for years).
“Is not my Word like fire” declares The Lord,
“and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”
Jeremiah 23:29
Serving Christ … from Kyiv Ukraine: Ron, Linda
from Canada: Angela Marie, Dawna Laurie, & Noel Adam
Dr. Ron Harris: rharris@iGlide.net ~ Founder of Wellspring of Life Biblical Counselling Service Inc.: wellspringoflife.com Academic Dean Ukraine Family Institute:ufi_kiev@yahoo.com , 2004: Ron.Harris@worldteam.org
World Team Canada : 7575 Danbro Crescent, Mississauga, ON L5N 6P9,
(905) 821-6300; (800) 610-9788, www.world-team.org ~
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