John White - Developing Church Leadership in the Russian Speaking World c/o Eric Yodis, Postal Box 3644, Donetsk 83076, UKRAINE April 2002 jwhite@alumni.princeton.edu http://www.marucheck.net/jw/
I've been waiting a long time to be able to speak- to share the faith that God has given me with Russian speaking people. I am very thankful to now be getting the chance.
It's interesting, though, how the "big" chances are only a part of how God has been stretching my faith. I've been able to preach a message on hope from Psalm 130 at two churches (three by the time you get this) and to speak twice at Campus Crusade (once on "gray areas" and once on missions). These have been great experiences, both for my Russian (can you believe that I've been speaking for 30 and even 40 minutes in Russian?) as well as for impacting people. I'm still reading my messages and making lots of mistakes, but God seems to be using me in weakness anyway.
I guess what is perhaps more faith-building is how God is giving me chances to just get to know people and to give and sometimes take spiritual direction. In the past 3 months I've been at two Campus Crusade and one Project 250 conference, and they have been tremendous opportunities to get to know students and young pastors. And it is often the casual conversations with people that lead to the greatest spiritual impact. Every once in a while it hits me how amazing it is that I can actually talk to people in Russian about spiritual issues. Being able to teach in Russian is wonderful, but being able to build relationships is even more so.
I was really blessed on my birthday this year with the chance to speak at Campus Crusade and then to spend some good time with friends the next couple of days. Writing this the following week, I am reminded of the fragility and beauty of life in being able to go to my first funeral and first wedding in Ukraine.
The husband of one of the Russian teachers at my university suddenly died of a stroke at the age of 44. The funeral was very sad and the shock quite evident in the family's faces. Please pray for Svetlana, the widow, as well as her family and the other Russian teachers we study under, especially that they would open themselves to the comfort that only Jesus can provide.
And soon I will go to my first wedding- between Dima and Sveta, two Campus Crusade staff workers. This is the other end of the spectrum- two young Ukrainians who love each other and desire to give their lives to share the gospel. Please pray that God would bless them and raise up more Ukrainians to serve Him both here and throughout the Russian speaking world.
As for me, I'm not certain what the future holds. I am now in a phase where I need to continue to study Russian, but am looking for opportunities to minister here in Donetsk. I will continue to pray and would appreciate your prayers, too, for long-term guidance- for where and how God would have me serve.
Praising God for His wonderful gift,
John