Saturday evening I had the privilege and blessing of joining my Ukrainian friends for their first worship service for their new church. My friend Oleksii, I spelled it Alexey in previous posts, is the pastor. It has been a long and difficult journey for Oleksii and his family and to see his passion and heart to reach others with the love of Jesus has been a blessing.

It was also a blessing to see my friend, who is a worship leader and received a donated guitar, lead worship along with Oleksii’s daughter.

Oleksii asked me to share with the church. I felt led to share about a church born of hardship and how the church in Philippi was born out of hardship and that their new church is also a church born out of hardship.

This afternoon Oleksii and I will meet with the missions pastor from my church. Oleksii will also attend the District Conference for my denomination, Evangelical Free Church of America, next week.

It has been such a encouragement for me to be a part of this new church born out of hardship.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

25 responses to “A Church Born Out Of Hardship”

  1. This is such a heart warming story, brother Matt! Folks who’ve been through so much are starting a church together. This reminds me of when Paul told the Corinthians he was “Struck down but not destroyed.”
    I continue to pray for our Ukrainian friends. Blessings!

    1. Thank you for praying for them.
      With Jesus we might be struck down at times in life but we are never destroyed

    2. I like this comment. Like now, I am having a Migraine. Definitely Struck Down but not destroyed. Should be gone in a few hours. Thanks to God… and Imatrex.

  2. What a beautiful way to multiply with a new congregation of Christians that can bring joy, hope, and salvation to other Ukrainian refugees!

    1. It is such a blessing to be a part of it

  3. What a blessing for you to see fruit of your labor!

    1. It was a blessing and continues to be.
      How are you?

      1. I’m doing fine. Still relishing the week I recently spent with little Ryker. 🙂

  4. I pray the blessed of the Lord upon this new church and may they lead many unsaved people to the Lord.

      1. You are welcome 😊

  5. What a blessing that you get to be a part of that! Thanks for sharing what God is doing there.

    1. Glad to share. It has been a great blessing to be a part of it all.
      How have you been?

      1. Super busy. Finally slowing down a bit, at least for a while 😊

  6. Blessings Matt! This post reminds me that believers are the church, founded in Christ.

    1. Amen- we are the church, the body of Christ

  7. It is so blessed to find a congregation to share with!

  8. wonderful how you have been knit into their story, Matt.

    1. It has been a blessing for me

  9. […] Yesterday I had lunch with Oleksii and my friend Kerry who is a missions consultant for my denomination the Evangelical Free Church of America. Kerry has been working with Oleksii on a new church I shared about in my post A Church Born Out of Hardship. […]

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