Well, this is the time of the year when people and organizations review the past year and peer into the future. In this time of transition the Spirek family would like to thank supporters for their participation in our journey of faith and ministry in and from Ukraine.
A Year in Review 2016:
Let me start with a review of family activities. This was the year that Kim transitioned from being the fourth grade teacher to teaching individual subjects across various departments at Kyiv Christian Academy. This has been a good transition for her. She has primarily taught individual math and history classes in the elementary and middle school departments; and she has participated in the school's English language learning lab. She has enjoyed the variety and having less homework to grade. Austin started his third year of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas in Richardson. He has had a challenging year with classes such as Thermodynamics and Fluid Dynamics. But, he is receiving good grades. Karyn is enjoying her senior year at K.C.A. and is looking forward to graduation in May 2017. Kaitlyn is making progress in third grade at K.C.A. She really enjoys computer and designing art projects. Keeping everyone going keeps the parents busy.
This year the Lord has blessed the ministry. Through Lighthouse English Club David was able to share the love of Jesus with about 150 people. Through the internally displaced persons humanitarian aid project we have been able to distribute food and care products with many needy people who fled the war zone in eastern Ukraine. But, those served as side ministries. David's main ministry was related to making disciples of Jesus. This year the Lord directed David to develop a discipleship training ministry. God gave several opportunities with individuals, churches and in a Bible institute to train disciple makers. David had opportunity to disciple more than 50 local believers. During the summer the Lord directed David to expand discipleship to the internet. He developed a Disciple Making Ministries social networking group, a website home on the internet, a discipleship related podcast and several downloadable discipleship resources. Through the online ministry the Lord has connected him with more than 25 pastors from more than 7 countries who desire discipleship training. Most have personally invited David to come and train disciple makers. Since then David has realized a need to develop a sustainable financial and organizational structure to enable the fulfillment of this vision. While developing that structure David is trying to disciple these pastors through the internet.
In summary, this year your partnership has allowed us to share the love of Christ with more than 200 children, young people, adults and pastors, to personally disciple more than 50 believers, to reach out into more than 7 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa, to write and have translated some discipleship resources, and to start developing an organization named Disciple Making Ministries dedicated to promoting disciple making movements internationally.
A Peer into the Future 2017:
In the coming year we expect both transition and multiplication. Karyn will graduate from high school in May. During the second half of the year we will assist her transition to life and university in the States. We have been granted a 6 month home ministry assignment to combine this transition with support development. We will be in need of temporary housing, transportation, and ministry speaking engagements. If your church would like to help then let us know. Next year should also be a year of ministry multiplication. While in the States David plans to develop the organizational structure of Disciple Making Ministries in order to better reach discipleship goals. If you are interested in assisting us develop the organizational side of this ministry then let us know. We hope to personally visit many of our supporters in 2017. Again, if you would like a personal visit during the second half of the year, then let us know.
Have a blessed year!
The Spirek Family
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