Praying for Grace Church Odessa "благодать", Igor Kucher and the ministry team of the church.
There are many reasons why this church family hold a special place in the heart of our team. Our love for them has grown parallel with the growing kindness they have shown to us over the years. After many years of fruitful partnership in the gospel, we take a step back and review the facts.
1) Grace Church has a special history and heritage in the good plans of God. Back in the early 1990's when the direction of the country momentously turned, Grace Church was pivotal to what God was doing in this region, and subsequently throughout the country. The foundation was a people of prayer, meeting early in the morning on their knees, many battles were won as they humbled themselves before God and non other. Those who had met covertly were now building a place of public worship, on land miraculously provided, with a church family united by one identity and priority, a desire to make Jesus Christ known.
Throughout this season, many prayers were answered, prayers cried through years of oppression. Now however, it was as if the spiritual chains of the city had been unlocked, many were hungry for truth, coming to Christ as they saw the useless collapse of humanism and aethesim in the form of communism. The growth of the church was vibrant and tangible, daughter churches were planted, the seminary (to which "grace" is closely attached) fuelled the growth with the training of men and women for gospel service. The heritage of churches now accross this great city owes much to the faithful core who prayed, lived through and sacrificed everything in those pre-freedom years.
2) Grace Church has a special love for the next generation. It was clear from our first visit to "grace" that those who led it had a sense of privilege (in the very best sense). They knew they stood on the shoulders of the giants who had gone before them, and now they wanted to both make the most of the opportunity and be unselfish with God's love, compassion and grace.
Proverbs 14:31
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honours God.
Psalm 146:9
The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, but He thwarts the way of the wicked.
Proverbs 31:8-9
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”Proverbs 3:27-28
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow” – when you now have it with you.Proverbs 11:25
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.Proverbs 14:21
He who despises his neighbour sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.
This desire and love for people, to give people a hope was seen in a number of ways; The emergence of many in the next generation with a desire for church planting in needy places, the desire to see unreached parts of the city have a gospel church at it's hub, many men trained for ministry - to preach and teach. The desire to go in mission, thoughout Ukraine and to neighbouring countries. Most notibly this is seen in the church's love for children and young people and especially those who needed parenting within the context of a loving home. Part of the DNA of grace is it's desire to minister to the City, and one of the greatest needs of this city is the forgotten and marginalised many. The vulnerable, the abandoned, the familyless, the hurt and downtrodden. They have found a welcome here, champions who have sought them out, treasured and provided for need in the name of Christ. Long may "grace" be true to this core value.
With this backdrop in mind we pray for our dear friend and brother Igor Kucher and the team of pastors and workers he leads.
Grace has been though a number of seasons in the last 25 years. From inception, to growth, From Growth to ministry establishment, From established ministry to being a sending church - like a spider stretching out... blessing many regions in the city and country through camps ministry, church planting, training and leaders who now have prominant roles is leading the national church. I believe it is the hardest role in ministry to pastor a well established large local church, with a miriad of fruitful ministries, and maintain spiritual health, intergety, a growth trajectory and a call to gospel priorities which surpasses the multitude of human ideas and preferences.
So now a new challenge...a fresh prayer...
How can such a prolifically "sending church" replenish its ranks with many in the next generation who will spearhead more gospel growth? How can a church started more than a generation ago be readied for the challenges of the next era (the tech savy, post-modern, post-everything generation)? Ukraine has changed almost unrecognisably in the last 20 years. How can the timeless gospel, timeless truth and authority of the bible be communicated in a way this generation and the next to come will understand and take to heart.
We readilly pray for Igor's leadership in this.
I greatly admire my brother on many levels. It is always much easier to start new ministries than it is to rationalise and refine ministries for longertm fruitfulness. It is always easier to rest on what has been done, than to challenge God's people afresh as to what is left undone. It is always easier to protect and unchange what has been successful, than to redefine and give generously to the wider and worldwide church. I thank God for my brother, his generosity, his considered leadership and his precious friendship.
There are 4 specific things we've been asked to pray for.
1) Pray that God will establish a New team of young ministers at grace church. That the baton will be passed on well. (2 Tim 2:2)
2) Conitnual growth and development of the ministry to orphans, childrens shelter, and transition house ministry. Much has happened and the work has grown even during the last few months, but much more is still needed to impact the need on the doorstep.
3) Pray that God will supply the funds and help in the construction of a new "house of prayer" in the village of Zarva.
4) Development of gospel services, connecting with the locals, the awakening of spiritual appetite and communication of the gospel with those who don't yet engage.
5) Development of partnerships accross the church network, home and abroad.
Thank God for the special role this church has in the life of global mission, and for the ministry of Igor accross his region and country.
Igor and "the entire church", send their love and greetings to the team.
We appreciate your continued prayers,
BLOGSKI
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