Kharkov Pioneering Mission Report

Shp. Jacob and Shps. Joan of Arc have been in Kiev UBF for many years. Many of the sheep Shp. Jacob fished and taught the Bible grew to be fellowship leaders and spiritual leaders for Kiev UBF. Shps. Joan of Arc has been a faithful coworker, mother of prayer and chorus servant. Her good influence has helped many shepherdesses to grow as mothers of prayer. This past Sunday we had our first historical worship service in Kharkov. Thirty-seven members from Kiev UBF took an eight-hour train ride Saturday night to get there.

Shp. Jacob's family found a three-room apartment, which they can use as a house church for worship service and Bible study. Two missionaries from Moscow UBF, Gideon and Petra Kim, also came to prayer for them. One sheep, Sergei, who used to study in Kiev UBF, had transferred to Kharkov University. God already sent the first sheep! We are praying for Sergei to grow as an Abraham of faith. His mother also came to the worship serv ice. Altogether, 41 members attended the first historical worship service. We all know that 41 is the famous number for Ben Hur. This is a small sign of God's blessing. As you can see from the pictures, we all squeezed into the living room, which is only about 15' by 25'. We all had to sit down on the floor during the worship service. We all experienced what a "house church" is really like. Despite the tight squeeze, we were all full of joy and thanksgiving to God for giving us this historical event.

Shp. Jacob based his message on Mark 1:1: "The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God." We thanked God for this small beginning of the gospel work in Kharkov. However, we all know that God's work begins as a manger ministry and mustard seed. Yet we believe God will grow this precious ministry to be a spiritual powerhouse to change Ukraine to be a shepherd nation and missionary-sending nation. We are praying to pioneer all 24 regions of Ukraine.