Update on Ethan's Trip to Ukraine

Ethan is feeling really great now. Thank you for praying for his healing! The antibiotics began to work very quickly, and God has restored him. Praise the Lord!

Priluki has changed quite a bit from our days there four years ago, Ethan says. There is much that has remained the same, too, but it has been interesting for him to walk around and see the changes. God brought different people on his path while he walked through town a few times. In Ukraine, people walk a lot, and much of the shopping is done on the streets or walking from shop to shop. It is SO easy to see people you know and visit with them. God brought one man to him who is right now not going to church and not walking with the Lord. Though it has been really tough for Ethan to remember the Russian language, he was still able to communicate a bit, and also he prayed for him there on the street (in English). The next day he saw him again, but this time Pastor Vlad was with him and was able to translate. They were blessed with a real time of ministry with this man, and Ethan was able to challenge him on some issues. God is faithful to seek out his lost sheep. Ethan was also able to see and visit with some friends from the church who came to Vlad's home where Ethan was staying. I am sure it must have been amazing to see these young couples who now have children!

On Thursday and Friday evening, Ethan taught at the church a short course in Early Church History. Pastor Vlad had asked him to teach on this subject. I have not heard from Ethan yet how things went, but I know he was praying for an opportunity to visit and minister to people after the class. That is very difficult with the language, so I prayed that God gave him a translator to help with that time. I will let you know how things went as soon as I hear.

Sunday Ethan will be preaching in Priluki, and then later in the day, he will travel to Chernigov to visit with friends there and participate in the ministry there. God has really opened a door for the pastor in Chernigov to do publishing work in the Russian language. They have translated and printed several excellent and challenging Christian books from the English language related to theology and spiritual growth. They also host a Russian language website for John Piper's preaching and to advertise some books. The most recent need they have is to fund the printing of Randy Alcorn's Heaven and Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology. I would really like to get the word out so that anyone who might feel led to pray for them or support them financially could do so. Here is some further information:

Jake Knott's website (the pastor/missionary in Chernigov) has all the links and information for In Lumine, their publishing company. The In Lumine website is also in English, so you may click on the "Eng" on the top to view it that way. Jake's website also gives information on supporting their work. You can designate funds if you wish them to go toward the book publishing specifically.

Thank you for your continued prayers. May God continue to give Ethan open doors and boldness to share with people the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth of God to all who hear.