O.K, so we have made reference to the fact that God has been calling us to Ukraine and plan on going there to serve by possibly starting a youth drop-in type facility. In class we were asked to do a write up on who are ministry would impact and how. This is what I (Steve) came up with:
Sasha is 15 years old and is in the tenth form. He has one more year of classes until he graduates and most likely goes on to university. Sasha lives with his mom and grandmother. His father left them when he was only one year old. He attends school and gets average grades and once attending university would most likely fail or drop out.
As far as knowledge of Jesus, Sasha has been told that Jesus died on a cross and was the son of God. But he doesn’t give it a second thought. If he was to really think about it he probably doesn’t believe it. He heard this bit of Gospel from his Grandma who is a Ukrainian Orthodox believer. She attends church every once and a while to confess or light candles for lost family members and friends. Sasha would come along to the church at Easter and Christmas when he was young but doesn’t bother anymore.
Sasha enjoys hanging with friends which of course has led to the beginning of a life of drinking, smoking and drug use. This is the unfortunate way that most of the young men his age start into a life of alcoholism, unemployment, and hopelessness that all too often leads to early death possibly even suicide.
Sasha would first meet me or someone like me working with our youth drop-in centre. He may find us teaching English at his school or a friend’s school, he may hear from a friend of a fun place to relax and hang out or play games, or he may just notice the building or sign outside the centre.
On encountering us Sasha would be invited to the drop-in, or just come in upon noticing the place. He would of course meet one of us youth workers, where he would ask what the place was about and why we were there. This would be the first opportunity for him to get a chance to hear our real story, and if open right away he would hear at least a taste of the Gospel message. He would then be invited to play some games or have a cup of tea. Sasha would also see that other youth were there and enjoying themselves in a fun and safe environment. He would probably be back with his friends to chill, and play games like table tennis, foosball, or video games.
The centre would have other programs ran in the building. There would be different events and classes to attend and Sasha would have other chances to see Christian people in a real life way. A meaningful relationship would be sought with Sasha and he would have a chance to be mentored in many ways. One of these would be tutoring him for school to help succeed and have a better chance in the future for university, and work.
Sasha would eventually become involved in helping with other youth and programs ran from the centre. He would be mentored in practical ways and discipled in Christ. Sasha now will finish university and work hard to support him self and possible family.
Sasha would see the love and life in living to serve Christ because God loves him, and he would be passionate about wanting to help other youth see this and bring them to the centre for the same mentorship and discipling he has had.
Sasha is a typical case in Ukraine and there would be many other opportunities of course. This would be the way we would love to serve and share the Gospel and bring light to the darkness. "Sasha" is a fictional person, but a very real and common example in Zap. There are many like him, and the opportunities are seemingly endless there. We are still getting ideas of how this may all be accomplished and in what time. Right now we are learning so much of what God has for our lives and making plans to put into action. We will still be home on June 28th and we hope to have a solid plan then.
Thanks so much for everyone who is reading this and keeping up with our escapades. We ask you to continue to pray for us and the work that God is doing in us. We also ask that you pray for our friend and her family in Winnipeg, who just lost a their sister/daughter in a tragic accident this past week. She was only 20 years old and will be greatly missed. But we thank God so much for his love and grace, and are filled with joy at the fact that she is with him in perfect eternity.
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