GOD LOVES THE CITY

DAY 20 & 21                                                Weekend Blog 

We continue our focus on people. Where is the greatest concentration of people in Ternopil region? They are in Ternopil City.  A population of around 225,000. Today we want to concentrate our prayers on our friends and small network team who are planting into the city. It was a joy to meet up with these guys back in February before lockdown, and we very much see this as a meeting organised in the diary of heaven. 

GOD LOVES THE CITY.

The bible makes it so clear from cover to cover, that God loves people, and His heart beats for where people are. When He spoke to Jonah (4:11) he asked him why Jonah's passion wasn't being shaped by the way God felt for "that great city"? When Jesus wept, it was over the mass of city folk who went about daily life, on the hamster wheel of ignorance and purposelessness in Jerusalem city. They needed Joy, wisdom, insight, security, certainty and it was only found in Jesus.

It still is today.

LOVING THE CITY IS PAINFUL

To love the city means to pay the cost of living amongst the homeless, disadvantaged,  criminal hotspots, seedy places, abused victims and abusers. The city is a painful place to live if you have compassion. In this present season it is even more painful for those who have heard the cry of the city under God's call and with God's heart of compassion. 

3 reasons why it is harder to URBAN CHURCH PLANT IN COVID.

• Many Urban church planters receive their support from outside of the city. During coronavirus, this has dramaticly reduced or disappeared.
• Many Urban church planters, live in a small (usually rented) property with their families,  so that vital funds can go directly to renting or supporting a property for the church. At all stages this is challengeing but especially as things grow bigger,  and suitable properties are limited and expensive.
• Rural church planters are vulnerable to losing their "tentmaking" income (ACTS 18:1-4). during coronavirus. Thankfully for some (not all) there is at least some backup in living off the land (chickens, veg, berries, fruit, bees.) Sadly for urban church planters this is not an option. So when income stops, the church plant faces a critical decision.

A brief introduction to 4 situations where God is extraordinarily using our friends and their families to reach the city.

MEET "SASHA" (Oleksandr Maximov and family)

This is the most recent of the church plant situations we share, but God is so at work, and things grow at pace. Sasha has a great gift for the urban setting, reaching young people and with great communication with evangelism on the streets and in people hubs.

 

• Pray for Sasha's ministry (we will share more again), esepcially the mobilisation of this young congregation to share the gospel with the city at this time of opportunity. Many people are unwell, both within and outside of the congregation, pray for protection enabling and fruitfulness. 
• There is a huge buzz and momentum about what God is doing here and more opportunities and ministries than we could share, but...
• We would like you to especially pray for TUESDAY morning Men's breakfast, WEDNESDAY evening evangelistic home groups, and very regular trips into schools and colleges, at this critical time.  
• Please pray also for the imminent start of online broadcasting. 
  
• Pray for Sasha's family, especially as a precious new addition is now well into the 9th month of expectation. 

PRAY FOR IGOR BILORUS and family:

    Igor is the tall (even more) handsome one, second in from left at the back.

•  Again we praise God for our friend and brother, his heart, giftedness, and impact for Christ on the city. There are over 70 folks at the core of this ministry now, and we continue to pray for further growth in every dimension. 
• We would particularly like you to pray for one thing. Igor has a wonderful ministry and gift amongst those with disabilities. Obviously this is a testing time for all concerned, but would you please remember our friends with dissabilities who are treasured and cared for by Igor, the family and team. Pray also that their compassion in the context of city will impact others, bringing them to know the one all true compassion.

 Meet Eduard and Nikolay: 

• If ever there was a perfect double act appointed from heaven, this is it. 

• 

  Sorry for "gatecrashing" what would've been a perfect picture.
  

   

 

• Through tragic circumstances, God brought my brothers together and is using them for amazing good, at the heart of the city, reaching the next generation for Christ.  Sometimes we cannot fathom the perculiar providences of God, but we know that His plans are always for good. Philadelphia church and the new birth of many is visible evidence of this. We praise God for the recent baptisms and new church members in this continuing story of gathering momentum. We know this is precisely where God wants you brothers, keep going !
  

 

 

Meet Taras Voloshyn:

 

 Taras was brought up in a church planting family, His father is a wonderful man of God. Taras is a surgeon specialising in Orthopedics, based at Ternopil University Hospital (also working with CitiDoctor). Please pray especially for our brother at this crazy time of demand, pressure, responsibility  and opportunity.  

 Taras was very kind to us on our last visit showing us some ultraHD close up video of his finer work. (It makes an "I'm a celeb trial" look like the Disney channel). Dennis is still in recovery. 

There is much more that could be said, and we continue also to pray for the many fine Pastors and established churches in Ternopil. Today and this weekend though, we ask God to grow his church in an extraordinary way through extraordinary times.

Praying hard with you and for you,

BLOGSKI

 

"Should I not be concerned about this great city ?"