January 2009

World events are moving quickly. Since our last blog the stock market has all but crashed; the local currency has lost half its value; Russia has turned off the gas, and Israel entered a war against Palestinian rockets. Just as world events move quickly so have events in our lives. Over the past several months there have been several triumphs, transitions and trials that we would like to share with you.

One triumph in 2008 is that David fulfilled a major ministry goal. While serving as interim pastor, David helped the church move to a more suitable location and then transitioned the leadership over to another pastor. There was a deep satisfaction by completing a major goal. But, it was difficult to leave behind a ministry in which so much time and energy was spent. The church now has national leadership, is moving along nicely, and drawing more of the international community.

When David transitioned out of the pastoral ministry God opened the door for an evangelism ministry. Through teaching English he has been building relationships with businessmen to share the gospel. Mr. Lu, branch manager of an international telecommunications company heard about the gift of Jesus Christ for the first time. Irina, a banking customer service representative, is learning more about the Bible through their discussions than she ever learned from the Orthodox Church. Patrick is a manager of a French bank. He is still very secular. But, David is praying for God to change his heart. David is just beginning to develop relationships with Vladimir and Dima who are software programmers. Pray for these and others such as Zhenya who is divorced and Daniel who struggles with loneliness. And, pray for wisdom for David to present the gospel.

Pray also for us to triumph in Jesus through our trials. This winter our heating system has broken down several times. It has left the families in the building without heat. One time it was so cold that the water lines to the kitchen had completely frozen. Without a water source to the kitchen Kim had to wash dishes in the bathtub. During this time, the family couldn’t get any filtered water since it, too, is situated in the kitchen. Thankfully, David figured how to do some temporary plumbing alterations to make things work. Also, a month ago he had to repair some circuit breakers and electrical wiring burned up. The electrical supply is unstable and wiring does not meet safety standards that we are used to.

There have also been trials with the car. Several months ago David was in a minor accident. Someone hit the car from behind. Imagine having to figure out how to get the car towed, and how to get it fixed in a different culture and language. Although the accident wasn’t David’s fault, the other driver became really mean. Thankfully, David was able to talk to him and calm things down. He even had a chance to share the gospel! On another occasion, border guards held David for an hour and threatened to take his car. By law David has to drive his car out of the country every two months. He is trying to find a way around the document issue. But, the government wants to tax the car more than it is worth.

Health trials aren’t foreign to missionaries. So it is no surprise that the family has had its share. A virus went around with members experiencing flu-like symptoms. Everyone was sick with Kaitlyn getting the brunt of it. She threw up so often that four loads of laundry had to be done. Where to hang everything to dry was a chore as we only have one dry rack and no electric dryer. When we were dealing with these illnesses, David has battled a persistent cough. Please keep the family’s health in your prayers. It is hard to avoid illnesses when traveling in packed subways and busses.

Many of you have wondered and asked how the Russian-Ukrainian gas wars have affected us. So far, we haven’t felt any of the negative affects. The government has several months of reserve supplies in storage tanks. So, our heating problems had nothing to do with the problem between the two countries.

We appreciate the way you have stood behind us and prayed for us. Undoubtedly, that is why there are reprieves from the trials. Thank you for being there. As we pray for you, we ask that you to do the same for us.

Serving Him Together!

Middle Summer Update

This summer has brought some special unique ministry opportunities. God has opened the doors not only to impact nationals but also nations for Christ. Here are some highlights. Let me share first about a young couple, Vitalic and Inessa. Vitalic joined our church a couple of years ago. He has been serving as a youth leader and interpreter. Six months ago Vitalic and Inessa asked me to marry them. I encourage them to ask a national pastor. But, they insisted. So, I officiated their wedding on July 13. Pray for Vitalic and Inessa to real Christian example to other young people in our church. Also, this summer we have had the privilege of getting to know the Nigerian ambassador to Ukraine. His family has been attending our church and participating in Bible study. We have been blessed to be invited to his home and have had his family to our home. We pray for God to use this opportunity to witness to the diplomatic community. Speaking of witnessing, our church has started an evangelism training seminar. A church in Texas donated the videos and materials. Pray for Daniel in our church as he leads this seminar. Pray also for evangelistic opprotunities. This summer I have had opportunities to meet people from around the world. I am at various stages of building relationships and sharing my faith. I have connected with a Chinese executive businessman, architect and musician. In addition, through teaching English I am connecting with Ukrainian bankers and may have some opportunities to build relationships with Persians and Turkish students and businessmen. So, pray for me and for Living Vine Church to impact the world for Christ through our members' connections. Our church now has members leading and serving in youth camps in the Carpathian mountains and at the Black Sea and evangelism projects in central Ukraine as well as outside of Ukraine in Uzbekistan. Pray for these ministries to be fruitful. Well, my time this morning has unfortunately come and gone. To stay current please remember to periodically visit our family blog website (http://spirek.blogspot.com) and the new Living Vine Church website (http://livingvinechurch.googlepages.com).

Early Summer Update

You may remember that in May our church moved locations. In May our attendance was down. But, in June attendance and activity has increased. In June we started developing ministry teams. We now have several functioning teams (evangelism, praise and worship, media). In June the media team has developed a new church website. In July the evangelism team will begin a personal evangelism training seminar. The English teaching team will begin two new classes to serve and reach the community with the message of Jesus Christ. In addition, this month our church will have its first wedding in many years. Besides this, the Chinese businessman whom we have been working with for several months has apparently believed in Jesus Christ as his Savior. He is now beginning to tell his coworkers about Christ. So, minstry is moving forward but is very involving and time consuming. Kim and the kids are enjoying their summer vacation. The summer project is a family garden. They are growing, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, squash, onions, carrots, watermellon, cantelope, green beans, garlic and other vegetables. Though this is the largest garden we have ever attempted it is still small compared to the neighbors'. So you may pray not only that our ministry would be spiritually fruitful but also that our garden would give much produce. Thanks for your continued prayers and support this summer.

Prayer Requests for May 2008

We ask your prayers for our family during a busy month of May. Tomorrow, May 7, David will travel with a group of missionaries and nationals to a mission conference in Vinnytsa region. Besides the speakers about fifty national church planters and students at Bible colleges will attend. The theme of the conference is "God loves all the families of the earth." Pray for a missional revival among these national that God would send them forth into cross-cultural missionary work around the world. Pray also for the end of the semester activities for the missions class that David teaches at Kiev Christian University. Pray also for our family as this month we celebrate Kaitlyn's first birthday. Pray also for Living Vine Church in which we serve. This month the church moved to a new location. Pray for the Lord to grow the church both in number and minsitry at this new location in Kiev. May God bless your participation in the advance of the gospel from Ukraine through your love, prayers and support!

Pray for More Open Doors

Please pray for God to give more opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ with internationals here. Who would have thought that Kyiv would have such an international presence. But, this past week I have had opportunities to preach the Word of God to a group of Iranians. Later, God gave me an opportunity to share the reason for Easter with a Chinese businessman. I was able to speak about sin, death, the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the hope of eternal life. The rest of the week I had opportunities to encourage and disciple believers from Ukraine, Russia, Uzbekistan and United States. Only an amazing God could have put together such divine encounters. Though I do not know the final impact, one thing I do know is that God has a great plan. The wedding ceremony of the Lamb is going to be spectacular!

Pray for Living Vine Church Meeting Location

I ask your prayers for Living Vine Church where I have already been serving as interim pastor for about six months. Up until now our small church has been able to rent space from another church. However, that church is expanding their ministry on Sundays and needs the space. So, they have asked us to find another location. So far, we have been unable to find another location within our price range. So, please pray for the Lord to provide space for our people to come together in worship. Pray also for Living Vine Church outreach ministries including English outreach, Wednesday night Bible study and summer mission projects. Thanks for your prayers!

February missions involvement

February and early March have brought many opportunities for leadership, service and ministry. We continue to encourage nationals to give their lives to missions through the efforts of the Mission Alliance and ministries. David continues to teach his course at Kiev Christian University entitled "Missional Foundation of the Bible." His prayer is that the mission students, Yuri, Yulia and Olga will not only become full time missionaries but will also impact their home churches to become missional churches. David has also been busy on the church front. He has worked hard on trying to turn around Living Vine Church. He has been preaching a sermon series from the book of Nehemiah on how to find and fulfilling the will of God in our lives in 2008. God has brought the church a few new members and has moved the church board toward establishing a vision statement. Needless to say there have been a number of meetings this past month and a half. We have also been busy with birthdays. Austin had a party and friends over for his birthday. Our family gave presents and took Kim to a restaurant for her birthday. We have also been busy with little Kaitlyn. She basically skipped the crawling phase and has started standing and walking with help. It will not be long until the great chase begins. Well, we appreciate your prayers and patience with the delay in news from the mission field. Pray that we would have a break or two in order to catch up on correspondence and relationships at home.

January Prayer Requests

As some of you already know January has brought its own set of challenges to life and ministry. This month we unexpectedly discovered that we are renting from someone with unresolved issues. The electric company came to our residence and cut the electric line which also turned of water pump and heating system. The owner and property manager had promised that all issues had been resolved. But, that was not the case. They promised again to take care of the issue and have temporarily reconnected the electricity. But, we believe they have again acted outside the law. Pray that they would indeed take care of document problems and that we would continue to have electricity, water and heat during the winter. Meanwhile, ministry has been keeping me busy. I am teaching a class on the Missional Foundation of the Bible at the local Christian university. I ask your prayers for the effectiveness of teaching missions. Pray also for the students Yuri, Yulia and Olga. I have also been busy with the pastoral ministry at Living Vine Church where I preach and teach a Bible study and am trying to lead the congregation through change unto growth. Pray also for the family as Kim and the children are in full program of home schooling. Thanks again for your prayers and support that enable us to teach and establish nationals and internationals in our mission of proclaiming Christ!

Making Disciples of God's Word

This past week I completed a modular course at Kiev Christian University. The students had traveled from various cities around the country. They came for one week for a survey of the Old Testament and for another course. Since normally I teach the Old Testament over a period of two years, teaching a survey in one week was quite the challenge. I struggled to balance content with the allocated time. Nevertheless, I believe the students were blessed with both a broad overview and enough detail and tools to study the Scriptures more on their own. Anyway, I ask you to pray for Lena, Victor, Vadim and Vassyl to have effective ministries in their local churches. Lena ministers to about 100 children in a village some 100 kilometers from Kiev. Vadim and Vasyl serve as youth ministers in their churches. Victor is interested in using drama in ministry. Evgeniy is a Christian businessman who wants to share Christ in his business. Pray that the Word of God would have its effective result in and through these young people. Pray for my preparations for my next course in January.

Thanksgiving Greetings

We are thankful for everything the Lord has done this year! And we are thankful for you! We are thankful for your faithful prayers and support that enable us to minister in Ukraine! 2007 has not been without challenges. We have traveled thousands of miles, transitioned back to living in Eastern Europe, taken an interim pastor ministry, and dealt with health issues in a foreign land. In spite of these and other challenges the Lord has blessed us with several opportunities to share the gospel. I shared the good news with a fitness trainer named Alexander. We have been able to do some preaching, teaching and discipling through a local church. We have become involved with a missionary alliance effort to assist Ukrainian churches in developing missions to other countries. We have grown closer together as a family through prayer and various experiences. Our family is thankful for Kaitlyn who has already been with us six months. Austin and Karyn are thankful for their mom who cares for and home schools them. They are also thankful for the recent snow (see photo.) As we approach Christmas we ask your prayers for protection, provision and fruitfulness in ministry. May the Lord bless your Thanksgiving and Christmas season!