| SEPTEMBER 22, 2017 | SHARE → |
|
|
Standing in support of Israel, Jews, and believers in all the nations, in the name of Jesus (Yeshua). Sharing biblical truth, encouragement, news and prophecy.
Showing posts with label Ukrainian Christians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ukrainian Christians. Show all posts
Friday, September 22, 2017
Hundreds of Thousands Gather in the Streets of Ukraine to Praise the Name of Jesus - CBN News
Thursday, May 8, 2014
An Overview of Recent Events in the Ukraine - Michael Zinn
Michael Zinn - Chosen People in Kiev, Ukraine
|
1:47 AM (5 hours ago)
 | | ||
Shalom dear friend in the Messiah,
I recently returned from a trip to Kiev, where I participated in the European section meeting of the Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism. This group has existed for thirty years, and was initiated by Jewish mission leaders involved with the Lausanne Consultation on World Evangelism. The meetings for the European group were held in Kiev April, 28 - May 2, 2014.
There were many reasons for the event to be held in Kiev, not the least of which is because there has been a growing, authentic and indigenous Messianic Jewish movement in Ukraine - centered in Kiev - which began in 1989 at the beginning of Perestroika. The conference statement is well worth reading, and reflects the sentiments of the attendees.
The history of the Jewish people of Ukraine is significant. Ukraine was part of the Pale of Settlement, where Jews were allowed to live, and included land that is now part of Russia, Poland, Romania, Belarus as well as today's Ukraine. The borders were quite fluid for many years, and so many Jewish people's "country of origin" frequently changed. However, the borders stabilized after 1945 and the formation of the Soviet Union. The area has always been important to Jewish evangelism, as more than ten million Jewish people lived in the region before World War II.
Fifty-plus years later, the Soviet Union would become the Former Soviet Union and countries that were once part of it would again assert their independence and individuality. This is most assuredly what is taking place now as the Ukrainians, especially in the Western and more European part of Ukraine, seek continued independence from Russia. The conflict between various parts of Ukraine and Russia is at the heart of current conflict. Although the conflict appears to be purely political and nationalistic, there is a spiritual aspect to the situation as well.
The Ukrainian Christians - Baptists, Pentecostals and those who identify with the mainline churches - have been deeply involved in the political struggle, hoping as well that an independent Ukraine would be best for the spiritual atmosphere of the country's people. This is understandable, as the Russian Orthodox Church has been a very controlling presence in Russia and throughout the Former Soviet Union for many years.
Ukrainian Christian with Michael Zinn of Chosen People Ministries
The Christians in the Ukraine believe they now have greater freedoms than others in the Former Soviet Union, and part of their political struggle stems from a desire to maintain this freedom of religion. The fierce and early fighting took place in what is known as Madan Square, the very heart both symbolically and physically of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. Many born-again believers have found extraordinary opportunities to minister in the midst of the conflict, and as a result of the fighting many Ukranians have come to the Lord.
Many Jewish people believe that Ukraine is an anti-Semitic country. Certainly this is true historically; however, after meeting some of the believers in Kiev, I can honestly say that these believers have renounced this history of anti-Semitism and assured me that they love the Jewish people, affirm the state of Israel and work hard to make the Gospel known among their Jewish friends and loved ones.
This was deeply encouraging to me.
Our Israel Director, Michael Zinn, who grew up in the Western Ukrainian city of Lvov gives us an overview of the events and interviews Yuri, one of the key leaders of the prayer tent movement in Madan:
Michael Zinn: An Overview of Recent Events in the Ukraine
Michael and Yuri: God's Work Through the Prayer Tent Ministries
It was eye-opening to visit Madan Square last week and see for myself some of what transpired. I know a picture is worth at least a thousand words and so you can see for yourself the pictures of the barricades, tents, tires, para-military groups, nationalist allies and more!
My hope is that you will pray for Ukraine and especially for our brothers and sisters who have been so involved in helping, praying, serving food and leading many to Jesus in the midst of the conflict. Messianic Jews from Ukraine were in the trenches as well, sharing the love of Jesus with their fellow Ukrainian citizens.
Chosen People Ministries has had a ministry in the Ukraine for many years. It started in the midst of what I call the "Russian Jewish Jesus Movement," which I date from the fall of the Soviet Union until today. Tens of thousands of Russian, Ukrainians and other Jews living in the Former Soviet Union have come to faith in the Messiah Jesus. In fact, at our LCJE European gathering, about a third of the participants or more spoke Russian or Ukrainian as their first languages. This is miraculous when you consider that the citizens of the Former Soviet Union were once forced to renounce all religious faith, and Jews especially were not allowed to worship in communities.
It is incredible to see what God has done. In fact, twenty-five years ago, Chosen People Ministries may have had a missionary or two that spoke Russian... but today we have 25-30 Russian speakers on our staff, serving around the globe from Russia and Ukraine to Israel, Australia, the United States and Germany!
Vladimir Pikman, who became a believer through our early ministries among the Jewish people in Kiev, tells the story of the founding of our work in front of the building in Madan where our ministries began (now damaged by fire):
Vladimir Pikman: My Testimony and the Birth of Chosen People Ministries in Kiev
I was also able to speak briefly about the work of those dedicated disciples who are the fruit of God's work through Chosen People Ministries in Kiev. There are a number of fine Messianic Jewish congregations in Kiev and Ukraine and quite a few mission agencies that are laboring in various cities throughout Ukraine, bringing the Good News of Messiah Jesus to Jewish Ukrainians and to Gentiles as well.
Mitch Glaser: Appeal for Prayer for Ukrainian Jewish Evangelism
Remember to pray for Ukraine, as we all have many brothers and sisters there who are enduring hardship and trying to bring the Gospel to their people in trying times. There are still hundreds of thousands of Jewish people in Ukraine, and we are asking God to help us increase our ministry to win our kinsmen to the Savior.
We do have one Messianic congregation in Harkov, led by Sasha Sareda, a Ukrainian Baptist pastor called to serve among the Jewish people. We support Sasha and would appreciate your prayers.
As time goes by it becomes clearer and clearer that we will need to expand our work in Kiev. If you have interest in working in Ukraine with Chosen People Ministries, please take a moment to reply to this e-mail so that we can talk about your involvement personally.
I hope you will enjoy the videos - and please pray about supporting our efforts among Russian-speaking Jewish people today!
Please type Ministry to Russian and Ukrainian Jews in the Special Designation box
Your brother in the Messiah,
Mitch
Remnant and Renewal: The New Russian Messianic Movement
Who are the Jewish people of the former Soviet Union and what is their relationship to the Gospel?
Remnant and Renewal: The New Russian Messianic Movement tells the story of the Russian-speaking Jewish people, and the sometimes heartbreaking, often heroic tales of those who have sought to bring the Gospel to them throughout their troubled history.
Follow Chosen People Ministries:
Chosen People Ministries
241 E. 51st Street
New York, NY - 10022
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Prophetic Words Point to Move of Spirit in Ukraine - R. LOREN SANDFORD
Prophetic Words Point to Move of Spirit in Ukraine - CHARISMA NEWS
R. Loren Sandford
I feel compelled to call for intense and concentrated prayer for the situation inUkraine.
On the surface, it may appear to be only a political struggle between those who desire closer ties with Russia and those who want to integrate more closely with Europe. Having spent many weeks over a seven-year period ministering in Ukraine in both the eastern and western regions, I believe I can say with some certainty that a majority of Ukrainians in both the east and west do not desire a close alignment with Russia.
That being said, the real battle isn’t about political alignments or economics, although those things are indeed important. I believe there are underlying spiritual realities to be considered. I have long prophesied that Ukraine is a spiritual stealth torpedo in the arsenal of the Lord, a weapon of power that the enemy of our soul has not seen coming until now.
Historically, Ukraine has been a kind of innocent player on the world stage, ravaged by armies from Europe rampaging over it on their way to attack Russia and then trampled again by the armies of Russia driving back the armies of Europe. Ukraine itself has had little blood on its hands. Who would expect anything world-changing to come out of Ukraine? A parallel might be what the Jews said about Galilee: “They answered him, ‘You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee’” (John 7:52, NASB). The Jews used to ask, “Can anything good come out of Galilee?” And yet from Galilee came Jesus and the 12.
Powerful voices will arise out of Ukraine carrying a fresh stream of the Spirit and of power. Out of Ukraine’s relative innocence—and since the dissolution of the Soviet Union—a number of strong Christian leaders have been rising, mostly unknown and in hiddenness—hence my “stealth torpedo” metaphor. These are among the finest men of God I have met or had the privilege to know in my travels over the years. Although the number of charismatic and evangelical Christians in Ukraine remains small relative to the overall population, in terms of spiritual power and maturity their growth has been strong and wonderful to see. This has often been accompanied by signs and wonders that have garnered little attention outside of Ukraine.
It is my opinion that this political turmoil over the determination of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to align Ukraine with Russia and to turn away from economic alliance with the European Union strategically coincides with a time of ripeness for Ukrainian Christians. An underlying intent of the spiritual hosts of wickedness in this conflict is to dampen, squelch or hide the influence of a Ukrainian revival and Ukrainian spiritual leaders upon the rest of the world, as well as to simply create as much human suffering as possible.
In short, please pray for Ukraine. The consequences of what happens there go well beyond what you see in the news. There are kingdom of God issues at stake.
R. Loren Sandford is the founder and senior pastor of New Song Church and Ministries in Denver. He is a songwriter, recording artist and worship leader, as well as the author of several books, including Understanding Prophetic People, The Prophetic Church and his latest, Visions of the Coming Days: What to Look for and How to Prepare, which are available with other resources at the church's website.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)