News From Pastor Jerry in Chernivtsi...
Pastor Jerry has been travelling in 3 countries - Turkey, Moldova, and Ukraine. His schedule has been a full one – early mornings and late nights, leaving him exhausted - and with little time to write! Today, however, there was a window of time to get caught up. And it was such a joy for me to read that I’m thrilled to be able to share it with you! We start with the 7 pictures above and a brief description of each …followed tomorrow by a letter from Pastor Jerry that delves into both his heart and the Lord’s regarding some of what has transpired in the last few days…
- Our last breakfast in Turkey with the Russians! The rest of the day we met with couples, one after another right up to departure for counseling on spiritual issues - there is much trauma now!
- The last night in Istanbul we had a tremendous time, loving on each other with encouragement and prayer, and seeking God's counsel together on how to start life and new fellowship in a whole new context!!
- After flying to Moldova, we drove most of the night to the Ukrainian border, and then on to Chernivtsi to get to the Prayer Breakfast by the next morning! Doug said in his talk, "I love Vladimir Putin, not what he does, but him, as Jesus told us to"! About a third of the audience got up and left... the picture is of the Prayer Breakfast in Chernivtsi before we helped clear the room!
- The picture at the table was the Romanian political delegation to the Prayer Breakfast. Ivan Muntyan, who lead the event, invited us to his family's restaurant for a great meal afterward!
- Immediately after the Prayer Breakfast and just before the dinner at Ivan Muntyan's place an appointment was made for us to stop by the Governor's Office, it was a significant time of prayer with him! He gave Doug and I wrist watches from His state...very kind!
- A local artist did this picture of the Governor with some of the refugee kids who are in the city. Chernivtsi has about 300,000 people and at any one time they have been trying to care for from 100,000 to 120,000 refugees and 30,000 kids...He is a good man!
- After Sunday church- Grandpa Misha, head of the Kushnir clan wanted to see me- and his daughter and family brought him to church for the first time in maybe 20 years... Misha may never return to church again, but he has something more exciting to look forward to!
7 Comments
Jerry
I can't tell how relieved to hear from you.. Praying a lot for you. Now l know why. Doug is brave man to speak in love in such troubled times for Ukraine. I remember Miska special man who loves you . He has know for over 30 years. Jerry you push yourself so hard. So glad our Lord watch over you. Marilyn. We love you.
Heavy sigh of prayer and Thanksgiving. The Lord woke me exceptionally early to get to the Blog this morning.
Lord we praise You, we lift and magnify Your name. And I, for one, ask You to lead me in prayers of faith and thanksgiving. This war situation is still new to me my heart goes from aching to praise and thanksgiving again. In all things our hope can only be in You. May your servants in Ukraine and Russia stand in Your Mighty Shadow as You walk through this in pure love.
Kevin, Corenia, and I stand humbly, trembling, in pure awe of You.
Jerry
As always it is so good to hear from you. I pray you are encouraged and filled with joy as you show the love of our Lord. I think if the many times Jesus shared challenging words for Kingdom reasons and pray for both you and Doug to know exactly the words to say at just the right time, (Eph 6:19). God bless you both, and all the saints as they strive for the Kingdom.
I am glad to hear Pastor Jerry is not prioritizing daily blog entries while not getting enough rest.
But ugh, I am saddened to hear that so many of the prayer breakfast attendees were offended enough to walk out. On one hand I can so imagine what some might’ve been thinking, “Mr. Putin has instigated the deaths of my family, friends and countrymen, and is bent toward takeover of sovereign lands. God certainly doesn’t love this. And now you urging loving this awful man instead of punishing him.” On the other hand, people like me need encouragement to love like God always has, even those like King Saul and mass murderers (and ME, a mass sinner). But sinners like me are so easily offended. And disunity among believers breaks my heart.
Lord God, please heal our disunity. Please heal the hearts of those who are hurting Ukraine and Russia. Please help us to always love and encourage. Please give peace to those who attended the prayer breakfast. Please end the war by noon. Thank you for the excitement of having the Kushnirs here! Please help them to get established, and to keep connections with those left behind.
These are the times I believe when we are stretched far beyond our human abilities to love like Jesus. Holy Spirit please minister and encourage all the war torn hearts of your people as we cry out to you on their behalf.
Pastor Jerry, so thankful you are safe, sharing the lords lord's words and love. Peacefully bringing people together with Lords love. Stay safe. Prayers