Bulletin Notes January 10, 2016

AFRAID OF THE DARK

-Walter Rayburn

            “After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore, Jesus said to him, ‘What you do, do quickly.’ Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, ‘Buy the things we have need of for the feast’; or else, that he should give something to the poor. So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night (John 13:27-30).

            Only in John’s account of the final Passover do we read the last words of the above passage. “It was night.” Judas teaches us an interesting lesson in this account. Christians need to be afraid of the dark. This sounds a little childish to adults today. After all, our parents taught us not to be afraid of the dark when we were small children. They would tell us that there was nothing to be afraid of because the dark could not hurt us. However, as we look at the spiritual world, it becomes important for us to become like little children that fear the dark. Perhaps if Judas had been a little more afraid of the darkness in the world, he would have thought better of his decision to betray the Son of God.

            Why should Christians be afraid of the dark? First, it is easy to lose our path in the darkness. When we cannot see where we are going, it is difficult to stay on the right path. This is why it is so important for Christians to stay in the light of God’s Word. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Next, the darkness is often dangerous. When we cannot see the dangers around us, it becomes impossible to avoid them. Christians will never be able to completely avoid the dangers of sin. However, walking in the light of God’s mercy can protect us. “If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin (1John 1:7). Finally, Christians should be afraid of the dark because darkness is away from God. In the first chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus is described as the light stepping into the world of darkness and sin. Christians must avoid following in the steps of Judas. Judas chose to walk away from the light into the world of sin and danger.

I think it is important for us to recapture the fear of the dark we used to have as little children. Satan is real. His mission is to steal souls from the hand of God. To accomplish his mission, he employs a vast array of tools and temptations meant to trap us in sin. To fight against Satan, Christians must stand in the light of God’s mercy, grace, and love by obeying His Word. By doing this, we will stay away from the darkness and dwell in the light of God forever (Revelation 21:25).

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IN OUR PRAYERS-   SHUT-IN: Jason Duke (Camden Health Care), Levi Towater (skilled care in Mount Juliet), Jerry Young (Lakeside in McKenzie), and Kay Miles (at home). ONGOING: Hank Rook, David Spain, Ernest Thorne, Randy Hatch, Laverne Hatch, Vickie Cox, Dwight Bullington, Ross & Darnell Cole, and Mercedes Gibbons. UPDATES: Mary Lou Christian (returning to Atlanta for a CAT scan and doctor consultation today), Jill Shomaker (in Vanderbilt Hospital), Margie Martin (received a good report from her doctor last Monday- will return in three months for another check-up), Stephanie, Sydney, Seiley, and Stormy Parish (sick at home), Charles Sisson (having trouble with a swollen hand), Jerry Massey (back at church last Sunday), Gaye Massey (sick at home), Randy Cochran (sick at home), Kaye Barker (sick at home last Sunday but back at church Wednesday night), and Muriel Larkins (at home not feeling well).

SYMPATHY: Our sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Ron Hogan, Sr. (father and father in law of Ron and Holly Young Hogan) who died last Monday in Louisville.

BUSINESS MEETING:   Today following afternoon services.

WHISTLE STOP BREAKFAST:   Next Saturday, January 16^th, at 8:00 AM. Be sure to be there!

CHILDREN’S HOME CONTAINER:   Contents will be sent to a brotherhood children’s home this week.

LVIV CHURCH:   Please keep Stas & Ann, Dima & Alyona, and Bogdan & Alina in your prayers. Nearly all of them have had a flu. They continue to have other Christians and visitors present each Sunday and at other gatherings. The new congregation is off to a very good start.

SCHOOL ITEM:   Spiral Notebooks (1 subject, 70 pages). Need 69.

Never interrupt someone doing what you said couldn't be done.

-Amelia Earhart

Andrew Pomaz October - December 2015

Dear brethren

Skvyra church of Christ greets you. The average attendance for Sunday worship in Oct-Dec of 2015 was 11-14 people 5-6 at Wednesday Bible class. At our Wednesday Bible class we study the book of Jeremiah.

In the general all members are Ok. We had several more visitors during second part of fall and beginning of winter. The weather in Oct-Dec was mild and it was raining often. But in most it was warm weather comparing with previous years. With last day of 2015 and till today the weather changed to severe winter - strong frosts (about -5 by Fahrenheit) and snowing and because of that we had lower attendance today.

We had several preachers visiting us in October. James Sherman from Shady Valley church of Christ visited our church 11 of October with his granddaughter and Sergiy Sergienko from Kyiv church. James visited first time our congregation at beginning in far 1993. It was interesting to hear his sermon and after the worship we talked about the times when our congregation started. James Sherman was teaching classes at Bila Tserkva Ukrainian extension of Bear Valley Bible institute. He told that he plans to teach in the institute also next year so we hope to see and hear him again.

In December we had guest preacher from the Bila Tserkva Bible institute Alexey. Alexey is a secretary in the institute he also youth leader in local church. It was second time when he visited us (first time he visited us about year ago with his family). He also like Andriy Zhuravlev moved from ocupated Gorlovka and settled with other christian families in BilaTserkva.

Today (3 of Jan 2016) we had Andriy Zhuravlev coming to us. Andriy moved to Bila Tserkve in September more near to the Bible Institute where he teaches. He also continue to preach in the church in Kyiv at Shevchenkovsky area. In October Andriy was visiting his parents and church members that still stay in Gorlovka. It was quite dangerous to go to area that is not controlled by Ukraine but DNR rebels. Andriy told how hard to survive for the people in ocupated area especially its big danger to be killed any moment because Gorlovka is located on the line of the front. It was risky trip but Andriy did that and also encouraged his parents and members of the church that still stay in Gorlovka (mostly old people). He stayed about 1 week in Gorlovka and returned safe from 3^rd attempt (because it was problem to cross block posts on the way back to Ukraine).

Vladimir Ilnitsky I also taking active participation in life of the church. At times when he feels better he even can tell small sermon. He likes to come to the church. His health condition is stable but its not easy to keep it because he needs allays much of expensive medicine which is not accessible always especially when government shortened support of handicapped people. Thanks Yuma church of Christ and preacher Denney Collins they helped Vladimir with medicine funds last time.

Our older sisters Valentina Filipovna and Nadiya Oleksandrivna still non walk well so we visit them at home. The missing the church very much even cry sometime because of that. Its very sad situation but we visit them and try to encourage them.

Our young sister Ira (that is also handicapped from childhood times) . Her diagnosis is Thomsen myotonia. For last few years he started to have complications and it also causes problems with walking and also other health complications. This fall Ira had very bad complications and was prescribed strong medicine that cased bad side effects. She lost her consciousness several time during the worship. Currently we discovered that she needs surgery. Thanks Johnny Mack Young that he already helped financially and we believe it will help Ira to pay for the treatment and recover soon. Ira is also one of the members that do not miss services. She enjoys to be at church and each Sunday she brings new christian poem to encourage brothers and sisters.

Vladimir Koval recovered from health problems that he had several years ago. He also participate in leading of prayers from time to time. He is dreaming to restore his bee keeping business in Pustovarivka this summer. Because of his disease and depression 2 years ago he lost all his bees during winter. But now he is much better and shoves interest to the things he like to do. We are glad for our brother.

Older ladies Maria, Luba, Valentina, Lidia, Antonina are not bad in the general. Svitlana and Ivanka Koval also visit each worship.

My daughter Vlada broke left hand 10nth of December. In two days we will visit a doctor to take off the plaster.

The price of heating for this season is extremely high comparing with passed season.Thanks Jim Orisson for the funds he helped with  heating, water and electric bills at church building. It helps us to have meetings in warm place and also old lady Vera thankful a lot as she stays at church building (sister in Christ that moved from Gorlovka from ocupated area and have no house so we offered her living in one of the room of church building). Thanks to Johnny Mack Young also for willing to help in that situation.

In the end of this letter I want to express the words thanks from all members of our church to everybody who supported us in word and deed in 2015. We wish great health, happiness and many Gods blessings in 2016!

with love in Christ, preacher of Skvyra church of Christ, Andriy Pomaz

Denis Sopelnik December 2015

Dear brothers and families,

Usually in December people summarize the passing year and make plans for the year to come. All people in Ukraine hope that in the next year the military actions in the east of the country will finally cease. The military actions look like a swing for kids: it gets silent, and then suddenly they become shooting from both sides. No one can guarantee that the trip to DNR will be safe for sure.

With God’s help in the middle of December, a preacher from Bila Tserkva and I visited the towns close to the frontline to help those who are need with humanitarian aid. We finally got an opportunity to transport wheelchairs into Donetsk area to people who are need of help. It helps building contacts with local congregations and gives an opportunity to minister those people who were left on their own. We had an arrangement with local preachers who will help distributing the wheelchair and will have Bible studies with those people. Also it helps the institute to have closer relationships with the ministers of the local congregations. During this trip we brought a wheelchair to Gorlovka for our sister in Christ Raisa Fadeevna. We went to Artyomovsk and Kramatorsk. In Artyomovsk together with a local preacher who is also a BVBIU graduate Alexander Seliverstov we visited a family that had attended the church before. They have a problem; their child has cerebral palsy and can’t move. We have already sent them the wheelchair. The last Sunday their family came to church.

Ministry at the institute.

In December the students had the following courses: the first-year class studied Pentateuch and Matthew, and the second-year class had Denominational Teachings and 1-2 Corinthians. Each time when I teach 1-2 Corinthians I see what problems the early church had. Together with the students we try to find lots of lessons for us in order to avoid such problems in our period. There are six students in the program and one person auditing classes. There are two students in the first-year class and four in the second-year class. In December another student joined our program, Sergey Kurinskiy. He is 54 years old. He is from Zugress. He was baptized 8 years ago. His life before coming to Christ was very unlucky. However, recently he has been very active in God’s field. Teaching at the institute gets back to normal gradually. Many of the teachers come to teach classes in person, thus, showing their respect to the institute and the students. At the end of the school year, we had a fellowship meal to end the semester, which has become a tradition. Students and some teachers got together. We prayed for the peace in the country and thanked God for all the blessings and the churches that support our ministry.

We keep actively looking for the new students. In this month Alexey Mitskutis has made two trips to Poltava and Dniprodzerzhinsk. We want to show that we try to be stable, and the school is looking for new students. We have made good contacts with preachers and the church members in these towns.Unfortunately, it’s still early to say who will be able to start a new school year with us. However, we try to be active to the most of our abilities in this area even now.

Also in December I organized a meeting of the preachers from Central Ukraine. There were representatives of 8 churches of Christ at that meeting. We have discusses a topic: Unity based on God's word. We plan to have such meetings regularly. I think it's a good opportunity to support churches in the spirit of soundness and truth.

Ministry in the church.

Every Wednesday the students and I go out on the streets of the town to evangelize. As I have mentioned before, the major objective for this ministry is to spread the true doctrine about Jesus and to teach students practical activity. During the last time of our joint effort we used a tent that was made especially for the evangelizing activities. I was surprised to see how people were eager to come to the tent and get the information they needed about the church, Bibles and Christian literature. There were more than 100 people who visited our tent based on our count. It might be because salespeople often use similar tents, and others got interested why there were so many people there. The very same day a young man came to an evening Bible class, but unfortunately, nobody came on Sunday. Yet despite the result we’ll continue fulfilling God’s commandment.

In the Bible school for kids that my wife teaches there is a distinct growth. Now we have about 6 to 10 kids coming to Bible classes regularly. As we can see, the kids are more open to the word of God. On the last Sunday, we have organized a celebration for kids after the church service. And that was a wonderful time for the whole church.

We greet you with the coming new year. God bless you and your families and the churches where you serve Him. Thank you for your prayers and support of our ministry.

Your brother and coworker,

Dennis Sopelnik.