Brief Conference Report

Pastor Yura, Ron and Valentin, recovered addict and prisoner

On April 16-17, MPI facilitated and participated in a leadership conference for Ukrainian pastors and church leaders of the Ukrainian Missionary Church. The conference was held in Evpatoria, Crimea, a 2500 year old town on the Black Sea. Along with Ron, Heather and Doug, was Doug's wife Gloria and Toronto pastor, Rev. David DiStaulo. The theme of the conference was "Searching for the Depths." Topics covered included, "Your Personal Life: Be fervent and faithful in prayer," "Do you love and trust me?", "8 characteristics of a healthy church," "Challenges to ministry families," and a session for women only, led by Gloria. Last year was the first time this particular union of Ukrainian churches had ever had a session specifically for women and they requested we provide such a session again this year. Family life and gender relations have recently become hot topics in Ukrainian churches, so our seminars on families and for women were very timely and we received very positive feedback.

We were also able to spend a few days getting acquainted with the church in Crimea. It is still relatively small, whereas in some places, half of the population is Muslim. Yet the church is going forward, reaching out in practical ways to show the love of Christ. We visited 2 drug rehab houses. On Sunday, one of them was packed full of people from the village for the Sunday service, and a new deacon, a former homeless drug addict, now married with a family was commissioned. Pastor Yura from Saki took us to a residential school with 148 students, most of whom had developmental or physical challenges. It is a government supported school but the buildings are old and funding is inadequate. When asked who helped the school, the director, Victoria, said, no one except Pastor Yura, and he can't say no! The church had helped with the computer room, put a new roof on part of a building, and brought Samaritan's Purse shoe boxes so each kid would have a birthday present. Specific evangelistic efforts toward the Tatar people are also being made, where we met a missionary from Siberia who is believing God for the first Tatarian church in history!

There are great needs and great opportunities in the Ukrainian church and the church in Crimea particularly. The people there are getting on with the job, believing God for the strength and resources. Although they need our help, they are not waiting for it. Although they are stretched to the limit, the Ukrainian Missionary Church sees great opportunities for mission in central Asia, where Russian is spoken and everybody likes Ukrainians (sort of like Canadians!). So much missionary effort from the West is directed to Ukraine because it is open and responsive. But the church there sees that they must not simply be a missions receiving church, they must be a sending church. It is great to work with people like that!

Click this link to see photos from the conference and trip.

Spring Leadership Team Ministry

For the past several years, MPI has facilitated a leadership seminar for pastors and workers with our partners in Ukraine. One or two experienced Canadian pastors have been invited to lend a hand and to experience first-hand what God is doing in Ukraine, the Bible-belt of the former Soviet Union (the vast majority of missionaries and church planters throughout the Commonwealth of Independent States are Ukrainian). Since the collapse of Communism more than 15 years ago, there has been a church planting frenzy. Under new, young leadership, the church emerged from seventy plus years of oppression and did what it naturally does - grow. These evangelists and churches are passionate about their love and service for God. But, there are few resources and little training.

MPI recognized the need and opportunity to address these needs and to assist the young church in a new way. Because of relationships established in the early years of freedom, MPI is trusted and welcome to provide leadership training and ministry to nation-wide fellowships. Doing so also provides a wonderful way to acquaint Canadian churches and pastors with the Ukrainian church. Without exception, those who have gone with MPI to assist at these conferences have returned home determined to do more to help the Ukrainian church at this strategic time.

This year, about 120 pastors and workers from all over Ukraine will be convening at a resort (in the off-season, so rates are reasonable) in Crimea for several days of teaching and fellowship. We have shipped some humanitarian aid ahead and are carrying with us as much as we can. We anticipate that everyone will get some items of clothing for themselves and/or their families. MPI has also purchased enough copies of a pastors manual for each participant to receive one. Last year there was great excitement as each person sought out the suit jacket that fit him and picked up his books. We anticipate the same response this year.

The Conference takes place April 15-18 and there will be further ministry in Crimea on the following weekend. Please remember us in prayer!

Check out our newest video

It is time for our newest video. It features Together Camping Ministry. Many will recall meeting Andrei Shaitar last fall, and that during his time in Canada, we raised enough money to complete the purchase of the bus needed for the camping ministry. This video introduces the Camping Ministry - its objectives and what it has accomplished over the last several years. Click the title of this blog entry to go directly to the video. Don't forget to check out the other MPI videos if you have not already enjoyed them.

The April newsletter is also posted online. From the MPI homepage, click the link on the right side, "View Newsletters", or simply click right here. In addition to Ron's challenging article, it has the story of a Mercy Ministry recipient and a little about our food ministry. It also has a reminder that time is running out to join Wayde's team to New Life Drug Rehab Centre, St. Petersburg in October.

We love to hear from you. Post a comment to this blog, send an email or call the office.

Pews to go!

This week MPI loaded a container to ship to Christian Hope Church in Kiev, Ukraine. It has a lot of the usual things MPI ships - hand made quilts, afghans, mittens, hats, scarfs, etc. along with purchased items. It also has 4 hospital beds, a number of wheelchairs and walkers and an almost new dental chair (see the Nov 27 post for that story!).

But half of the container is made up of church pews. Bethel Temple in Tillsonburg, ON was looking to refresh their sanctuary and prepare for a new building by replacing their pews with chairs. Wayde discovered that they were attempting to find another church to take them, but I guess most churches prefer chairs these days. Although the pews are something like 70 years old, they were in very good shape - too good to dismantle for their solid oak. So, Wayde proposed to the church that they donate the pews overseas and that is what they did. They made it a church project, so that, in addition to raising the funds for the new chairs, they donated part of the cost of shipping the container and a number of the men showed up Monday morning to carry the pews out and load the container. Once the pews were on, the container was moved to the MPI warehouse in London, where a new volunteer crew finished loading it.

This was a fun project because it illustrates what MPI is all about - partnerships. Bethel Temple wins by having their pews, not only out of their building but going to a worthy place. MPI wins because we have established a new partnership and have another container of aid on its way to the former Soviet Union. The recipients, Christian Hope Church of course wins in receiving pews for the building they are renovating as well as all the other aid in the container.

That is what missions is about: working together for God's glory.

Camping Anyone?

MPI helps to support a Christian camping ministry in Minsk, Belarus. Last year, Andrei Shaitar, chairman of Together Camping Ministry executive committee was in Canada for a month, during which time we raised money to purchase a bus for the ministry. You can see pictures of his trip under the Pictures link on our home page. For the third year, MPI has provided a financial subsidy to send the camp team to a leadership seminar in St. Petersburg, Russia by Christian Camping International. This provides inspiration, training, networking and friendship. This year's seminar is taking place now. Here are some comments from last year's participants:

On behalf of all members of our team I want to say big thank you for your financial support to go to the Christian Camping conference to St. Petersburg. We divided all money between 6 team members who went to the conference. Everyone was very blessed and happy to have such opportunity to go to the conference.

The Conference program was designed for Christian Camp Directors, Camp Program Leaders, Spiritual Counselors and Camp Speakers. There were pastors and youth leaders of churches running camps or willing to become familiar with this ministry. We’ve met many new people who do the same work as we do. We got new contacts and new ideas. Now we know many people from different places personally and it makes much easier to organize camps in different places.

Such conferences help you to look at yourself from different perspective. It helps you to think unusual, extraordinary. It helps to picture yourself in different situations and to look on situations that had happened in your camp from different point of view. I was very blessed by sharing our experience and learning people’s experience. I believe it will help us to avoid some mistakes in the future.

- Andrei Shaitar, Committee Chairman

Thank you very much for your support. For me the fact that you care about us, that you are not indifferent to our situation is a great encouragement already. You are great people of faith and for me it is a privilege to know you. During the conference I got invaluable experience and knowledge and if we apply even half of it, our camps will be much more effective. Please pray for us that we can carry out our own seminars and we are waiting for you to come and visit us this spring.

- Igor Biskupski, Building Committee Chairman

Hallo, My name is Galina. Thank you very much for your support. Every day at this conference was very special for me. I received many answers to my questions. I’ve extended my knowledge and gained new experience. I’ve never dreamt to go to such a significant conference and it was a great blessing for me. I’ve understood how I can be more effective in our camps. I don’t know you personally, but from what Andrei says, you are very kind people with a big heart wanting to help others. I praise God for you and send my big hug to all you.
- Galina Lukaschuk, Team Member

MPI is the camping ministry's only external support. Pray for the team as they attend this year's seminar.

From Here to There

If you know anything about MPI, you know that a big part of what we do is humanitarian aid. Some of the aid is purchased, often at steep discounts, and much of it is handmade, such as quilts, mittens, hats, sweaters, lap blankets, baby clothes, etc. We carry as much over with us in luggage as we can and we give some to others to carry over, too. We ship a lot of it in containers. We shipped a container in early November last year and we will be shipping another in early February 2008. Containers are a cost effective way to ship. For example, the last container had 400 boxes with aid valued at almost $250,000. It cost just about $8000 to ship. But, there are a couple of drawbacks in using containers. First, we must gather up a whole load, which means aid must sit for some time waiting to be shipped, which is not what our donors want. Second, we must gather up a fairly large sum all at once to pay the shipping bill.

So, now we have another option that breaks the problem into manageable pieces. We can mail a 30kg box of donated items to an address overseas for about $100. The average box's contents range in value of $1500 - 2000. That is enough to bless several families, if not most of a whole church! We already have the aid, most of it handmade from the heart and seasoned with prayer. We know who needs the aid, through our overseas partners. We need one more piece of the puzzle - someone with $100 to put the two together. Its a great deal. See our giving page at CanadaHelps.org to make your online donation or email or call the office for more information.

Thanks!

Check our latest video

Our latest quarterly video, showing MPI's work in the former Soviet Union is now posted. It is a profile of Children's Hope Orphanage in Kiev, Ukraine. The video was prepared by Barnabas Fund, the church's humanitarian aid arm that they work through for legal purposes. They have given MPI permission to use the video to promote our part of support. This year, MPI is committed to helping them with their food budget.

The video is posted on Google Video at
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-7680460072362086684 .

Also, if you have not already seen Andrei Shaitar's mime performance to "Watch the Lamb,' you will want to check that out as well. It can be seen at http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-1389693051024090783&hl=en-CA .

Be sure to read the January newsletter under the Newsletter link, too!

Ron & Heather Update

Ron and Heather's ministry trip to Ukraine is now at its halfway mark. Communication overseas is, shall we say, more challenging than we are accustomed to here, so we have not heard as much from them as we would like. We did receive an email from them yesterday. It indicated they have been very busy and getting a lot done. This week they have traveled out of Kiev, to visit ministry partners in Dnepropetrovsk and Kirvoy Rog. One of their tasks was to purchase food and supplies for a home-based orphanage association. Food prices have increased dramatically in recent months - 50% and more - so this extra help over the winter months will be more than appreciated. It will no doubt be vital and we are so thankful for those who supply the bulk of these funds - by holding a summer yard sale to feed orphans in the winter! Please continue to keep Ron and Heather in your prayers, for strength, safety and especially effectiveness.

December Ministry Trip

Ron and Heather are leaving today for a 2 week trip to Ukraine. They are carrying extra luggage to distribute as aid. Royal View Church in London provided 80 Childrens' Packs to give to the pastor they support in planting a new church in Korostishev, about 100 km west of Kiev. Victory Christian School in London had their students make 102 Street Kids Packs to give away through Children's Hope Orphanage street kids outreach in Kiev.

They will also be meeting with many of MPI's ministry partners in Ukraine, to finalize business for this year and to look ahead into 2008. One of the fun things they will be doing is purchasing food and supplies for a home based orphanage network in Dnieperpetrovsk, Ukraine with funds provided by a community yard sale in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, with some additional funds we have collected. They will also be distributing Christmas Blessings to several hundred pastors.

Of course, Christmas is also about celebrating and Ron and Heather are particularly looking forward to sharing Christmas dinners with some of their dear friends and partners. Those are great times of mutual encouragement.

Please pray for this trip, for safe journeys, daily strength, effectiveness in ministry and that God's purposes would be fulfilled.

New features on the website!

This afternoon we are posting to the website our December updates. The newsletter is there under the newsletter link. We are proud of Marilyn's cover design and Ron's article inside, a tribute to our donors, is very moving. There is a new picture album of the recent container being loaded under the photos link. The pictures augment what is said in the newsletter about the tremendous amount of aid that arrives in our warehouse. And as always in December, the big feature is Ron's Christmas devotional video (or audio, if you prefer or have dial-up access). You will find it on the home page. It is a flash video, so it should play within your browser. Most computers have the flash player already installed. If the video does not play you can download the free flash player at http://www.adobe.com/ . Drop us a line or comment on this post if you enjoy these updates or if you would like to let us know anything else.

Good Search

Here's an easy way to raise money for Mission Partners International. Just start using GoodSearch.com as your search engine and online shopping mall. Select Mission Partners International, Sidney, Ohio as your charity. Every time you search the Internet or make an online purchase at one of their partner merchants, GoodSearch makes a donation to Mission Partners and it's powered by Yahoo! so you get great search results!

Now here's a gift!

Last week we received one of our more unusual donations - a 3 month old, state of the art, fibre optic equipped dental chair. The dentist who had purchased it decided that he did not like the way it was set up. Unfortunately for him, he could not trade it back in. The supplier, who has previously donated to MPI, called and ask if we could take it. Could we! Christian Hope Church in Kiev has a dental office in their office complex, but they don't have anything like this. They are excited about the prospect of receiving it. As it happens (or as God planned it) our next container, scheduled for early in 2008 will be going to Kiev. Wayde has already begun the process of getting approval from the Humanitarian Committee in Kiev. Besides the chair, there will be 25 church pews from Tillsonburg Pentecostal Church, which in installing new seating are blessing an overseas church. There will also be 4 manual hospital beds as well as about 200 boxes of packed aid. We'll let you know when we are ready to ship, so stay tuned! (If you are wondering about the value of the chair - over $20,000!)

Mining Accident in Ukraine

Nearly 80 killed in Ukraine's worst mine disaster in years
Nov 19 2007, 14:58
DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) - Rescuers struggled against flames and fallen rock in trying to reach 23 miners trapped in a coal mine Monday, a day after a methane blast killed at least 77 in one of Ukraine's deadliest mining disasters of the post-Soviet era. Nearly 80 killed in Ukraine's worst mine disaster in years. Read More

What an awesome day in the warehouse!

Yesterday, Thursday, we had another banner day of aid arriving at the warehouse. In January we received our largest ever single shipment of aid - over 1000 sports jackets courtesy of our friends Mike and Sue in Montreal - and it has not stopped since! Last week we received 4 manual hospital beds and the same donor brought several wheelchairs and walkers yesterday. He noted that a couple of the chairs cost $5000 new and they are in very good shape. Then Mike and Sue struck again, with 9 skids of goods they have been collecting in their garage (and a neighbour's). This time it was nearly 4000 pairs of socks and 800 pairs of boots and shoes plus clothes. Wayde is scrambling to get it all sorted and packed. But what a great problem to have! Even though we just shipped a container last week, we really must ship another early in 2008. Wayde is already working on its paperwork.

Treat yourself to this!

MPI hosted Andrei Shaitar from Belarus in September. At our Fall Gala he performed a mime that just blew people away! Copy the following URL into your browser's address bar and you will be taken to a video of his performance posted on Google Video. While there, be sure to check out the rest of MPI's videos.

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-1389693051024090783&hl=en-CA

Help MPI with GoodSearch

MPI is registered with Goodsearch, a search engine with a difference. Based on Yahoo, Goodsearch aims to grow its business by encouraging people to support their favourite charities. Approximately 1 cent per search is directed to the charity of your choice, which can really add up over a year. Simply go to www.goodsearch.com, select your charity (Mission Partners International, Sydney, Ohio - it works for US based charities, which MPI is) and then enter search items as usual. Goodsearch will remember your choice of charity until you delete your cookies, in which case you will need to select MPI again. If you have a search bar in your browser, Goodsearch also provides the option of adding it to your list of search engines and you can then make it your default choice.

Go ahead and try it. You can always use another search engine, too, but using Goodsearch is a rather painless way to help your favourite charity. You'll see from the figures at Goodsearch that even a penny per search adds up to significant funds over time.

A great idea for Christmas giving

Check out MPI's giving page at http://www.canadahelps.org/. MPI partners with Canadahelps.org to efficiently and cost-effectively process online donations. This year we have set up a giving page to raise funds for Tanya's home based orphanage in Dneperpetrovsk, Ukraine. We are suggesting that between now and Dec. 1 you give up one restaraunt meal and donate that amount to help feed Tanya's kids over the winter. Go to Canadahelps.org, click on Giving Pages in the blue box "Ways to Give" and search for Mission Partners International. Follow the prompts to donate your chosen amount. An electronic receipt will be issued within minutes to your email inbox (be sure to print it out). MPI will electronically receive the funds within a few days with notification of the donor and fund designation. Thanks!

Welcome to the MPI Blog

MPI is happy to add this new facility to our website. As blogs do, this one will help keep the MPI 'family' connected and informed. Check often to see what is happening. Friends and supporters often write or call to let us know what is happening in their life and to ask us to pray - and we do! This is another tool for you to be in touch with us. We look forward to lots of great interaction.