October 2012 Update

Hello Everyone!

Wow!  Has it been that long since my last blog entry?  Life has been going so fast that somehow I missed several months.  So, what has been taking our time?  Well, at the end of summer we co-hosted a children's camp along with the church in Bortnychi.  This was Living Vine's first joint local mission project with another church in the region.  It was really a good opportunity for our church member to grow closer together through serving on a team.  Seven of our people joined about ten of their people to serve about forty neighborhood children for the week.  Two churches working together was both a blessing and a testimony to the body of Christ.

During that same week our children started back to school.  This year we have experienced a few major changes to our school activities.  The first major change is that Kaitlyn has officially started school.  She has had to make adjustments such as waking up early and traveling 1.5 hours in the van to school each day.  So, now we have three children at Kiev Christian Academy.  Austin is in eleventh grade.  Karyn is in eighth grade.  Kaitlyn is in kindergarten.  Both Austin and Karyn have been playing on the school soccer teams.  So, we parents have been busy with transportation to the games.  A second major adjustment is that Kim has officially returned to teaching at KCA.  Her fifth grade class consists of eleven students.  Most of her students are missionary children.  But, two are from embassy and military families.  Kim's teaching has full-time has put a few home related responsibilities back on David.

David's pastoral ministry at Living Vine has been going well.  Living Vine recently started back up their English Club outreach ministry.  We have been averaging 40 students.  About half are believers who attend various churches.  The remainder are either unbelievers or nominal believers who need discipleship.  This semester Living Vine has enough teachers for three class levels, beginner, intermediate and advanced.  When we find another volunteer teacher and helper we will start a pre-intermediate class.  Each week we sing songs, have English lessons, fellowship, and have a Bible study in English.  A number who have attended English Club have trusted Christ.  So, we ask your prayers for our English Team and students to have a fruitful ministry for the Lord.  Also, this fall semester David is leading a discipleship group through the Experiencing God workbook.  David has really been blessed to see God at work in the lives of those in the group. In addition, David and Vitalic take turns teaching, preaching, and leading Sunday services.

So what specifically can you be praying for?  Pray for our church to grow in number.  Pray for the outreach and discipleship ministries to produce more spiritual fruit.  Pray for Living Vine's emphasis on Ministry Teams to strengthen.  It is our goal to develop leaders who will disciple others unto fruitful ministry.   Pray for our English club outreach ministry and Thanksgiving party.  We want to see students come to Christ and get plugged into a local church discipleship program.  Pray also that we would be able to move closer to the school to save Kim and the children 2.5 hours in the car each school day.  

We really appreciate your partnership in our ministry in this great Eastern European city of Kiev, Ukraine.