momo

moving moments

ben's weekly odessa résumé November 24, 2006, Odessa

The more I disciple young people here in Odessa, the more I love it. Maybe because there is almost nothing you can take for granted in these young lives of the post-soviet culture, there is actually nothing you can build on, no value, no ethics, no moral common sense, but even the more our Lord reveals His greatness and glory. That is awesome.

Let me share with you about one young man who married three years ago in our church. They have a sweet little girl. He is - as many - a former street kid. He never experienced the love of a father or the cosiness of being at home. Talking about being a loving husband or a caring father seems to be like explaining colors to a blind-born. We try to meet regularly twice a week in the evening in my home. We learn a little bit English, but that is only the door-opener for talks about Jesus in whom he trusts. Over many months this young man slowly grows like a tree in a garden of garbage. I am fascinated to see that for Jesus all things are possible.

On Thursdays I have the privilege to teach two courses about the "Beginnings of Our Culture - Christianity" at the Christian Humanitarian and Economical University Odessa. Two groups of students, one group of 9 students at the business faculty and one group of 35 students at the Philological faculty. Ninety five per cent of these students don't know God and have no clue who Jesus really is. God provided an open door to share with these kids the divine plan of salvation. During the lectures I tell them about God who loves each one of them in a special way. And they listen.

A lot of public symptoms tell us that the process of democratization in the Ukraine is going backwards. Corruption is flourishing more than before the Orange Revolution. The police is not really protecting public order, to put it carefully. Prices are rocketing and few people get incredible rich. I have got the feeling that every day of sharing the gospel here is a very precious day.

Our local IM team has started to prepare the Odessa Discipleship Camp in January 4-10, 2007. Sometimes I believe that these discipling camps are even more important than the summer camps. Every year God has used these eight intensive round-the-clock camp days to mold and shape young believers who are willing to give all. I remember quite a lot of you who have helped us over the years. Come over again and help us!

At church I could preach three times in a row about "Spiritual Disciplines" as a way of helping our young church members not only to have the Holy Spirit but to walk in Him. The first discipline was "solitude", the second "silence", the third one "study". Coming Sunday we'll search the Scriptures for the fourth discipline: "worship". During the week few of our friends would send me sms and tell me: You believe it or not, I have found a place of solitude where I can pray without being distracted by others. Or: I began to read the bible continuously, what a richness. Or: Thank you for the sermon last Sunday, was like good, fresh bread.

I wish you every morning this fresh bread of life, Himself in all His love and grace.