20 years anniversary of UBF mission in Ukraine Bible Conference 2011 report

Ukraine - A Holy Nation

Key verse: Ex. 19:4-6

Thank God that he has worked in Ukraine in the last 20 years and has answered on our prayer topics "Ukraine - shepherd nation, missionary sending country" We thank Him, that from September 30 to October 2, 2011 He allowed us to hold the jubilee autumn conference dedicated to the anniversary, "Ukraine- a holy nation." The main focus of our prayers and themes of the conference were:
1)To give praise and thanksgiving to God for His blessings in the past 20 years.
2)For direction and prayer for ministry for the next 20 years.
3) To be renewed in vision and hope to be a holy nation, a royal priesthood, and a country that sends missionaries.

At a conference there were 155 participants: participants from Kiev UBF and Odessa UBF, our pioneers with sheep from Kharkiv UBF and Dnipropetrovsk UBF and Podil UBF also missionaries Anastasia from New Jersey, Ruth from Chicago, James Point from Istanbul, Anton from Milan, and dear guests: Dr. Abraham T. Kim(UBF General Director), John and Grace Park and Ilya from USA, Dr. James Suh, Peter Choi from Korea, Vika Piven, Madlen Rusanova, Anton, Isaac Choi from Moscow and Mahiryam from Almaty, Kazakstan.

This conference was like a heavenly feast. God richly blessed us, and created an atmosphere of unity, joy, and thanksgiving.

First Day of the Conference

The opening sermon of our conference was read by Dr. James Suh on "The Lord's Prayer" (Luke 11:1-4). This sermon has taught us the main point of prayer - to pray not only for our own needs, but to pray to glorify God with our lives, and desiring to fulfill His will, so that the kingdom of God will come to earth. When we pray like this, then Ukraine will become a Holy nation. We thank God for a faithful prayer support for Ukraine & CIS mission of Dr.James Suh(Kyung Sung UBF) and shep. David Kim(Younhee UBF).

P. Jacob Patriyuk (Kharkov UBF) gave a sermon, "God - the Creator" (Genesis 1). In this sermon we learned that everything in this world is not a coincidence, but the great purpose of God. We are a creation of God, and God has a wonderful plan for our lives. During the 7 years of training in Kharkov, God changed P. Jacob from a proud and ambitious man in a wonderful preacher and a good pastor to the students of Kharkov universities. His wife shepherdess Joan of Arc sang a beautiful solo, and read her life testimony based on John 15. She also accepted the secret to bringing fruit - "To abide in Jesus" and fervently prays for Kharkov.

Next we listened to the sermon of P. Abraham Vasilenko (Dnepropetrovsk UBF) "Adam, where are you?"(Genesis 3). Although God gave man everything for a full and fruitful life, the man did not obey God and sin entered the world, which separated us from God. Yet God did not leave the man, but called him and gave the promise of the coming of Jesus Christ, who would save the whole world. P. Abraham and his wife Sarah left Odessa 7 years ago as pioneers to serve the students of Dnepropetrovsk. Despite various difficulties, they remain faithful to God. God accepts their prayers and tears, and Dnepropetrovsk will definitely be a holy city!

In the program of the first day of the conference, we saw two excellent plays that had been prepared by Odessa and Podol UBF. These plays helped us understand the sermons to an deeper level. Sh. Maria Mazan and Katya Barry (Kiev UBF) shared their life testimonies. In their testimonies, they spiritually struggled to have God's vision for Ukraine, that Ukraine is a holy nation.

Second Day of the Conference

The next day of the conference (Saturday) began with the morning message of shep. Peter Choi (Korea) based on the word of Luke 11:5-13. We learned of relentless, persistent, and bold prayer. We leaders all earnestly prayed that we may become warriors of prayer for this generation.

After a delicious breakfast, we were blessed to study the Bible. Then we listened to the sermon "Jesus came for you" (Mark 2:1-17) by messengers from Odessa UBF- Moses Zadorozhniy and Matthew Gerus. Pastors Moses and Matthew testified about Jesus, who so wonderfully changed them and now uses them to be good shepherds to students of Odessa. We accepted that Jesus came for each one of us, to forgive our sins and heal us from spiritual paralysis, and call us to become his disciples.

Through writing of testimonies, we rooted this word more deeply in our heart. Each participant had the opportunity to read their testimony in a group.

Saturday evening we listened to the sermon of Sh. Jonathan Salyuk(Kiev UBF) "The cross of Jesus-my salvation" (Mark 15:1-47). Jesus paid a high price for our salvation. He was forsaken by God. He freed us from condemnation, death, and Satan. Thanks to the cross of Jesus we can live as victors, and a holy nation. Before the sermon sh. Ira Can-do Salyuk (Kiev UBF) read her life testimony. Also, L.T.s were read by S. Galya, Alona, and Masha (Kiev UBF), sh. Mahiryam (Almaty UBF), sh. Vika (Moscow UBF), b. Sergei, s. Lena (Podol UBF). Thank God for their gracious testimonies. He found them in this dark world, and called them to be His disciples.

After this, the Lord prepared a wonderful festival. Our pioneers and missionaries - P. Jacob (Kharkov), Sh. Sarah (Dnepropetrovsk), Msn. Point (Istanbul), Msn. Anastasia, Msn. Ruth (USA),Msn. Anton (Milan UBF) gave their mission reports. They all thanked God for the sacrificial service of Korean missionaries in Ukraine, through which the Lord saved them and called them to live a great life. They prayed to remain faithful to God in their mission fields, and to bring precious fruit in His time. We have seen that through our missionaries and pioneers, the Lord has answered on our prayer of the last 20 years that Ukraine-shepherd nation and missionary sending nation. Praise and thank God.

Between the mission reports were Ukrainian(by Natasha) and Turkish(by Larisa to the end) dances, as prayers for Ukraine and Turkey, as well as a Jewish dance from the brothers and sisters in Odessa UBF. We, then, saw a precious play, where the work of God in Ukraine through the missionaries was shown. Although it was not easy back in 1991 to begin service here, plant a disciple making oriented church, the Lord gave our missionaries faith in Jesus and love for Ukraine. Having accepted their sacrifice, He began by changing one man, and then many.

Third Day of the Conference

The last day of the conference (Sunday) began with a morning sermon by P. Abraham Mazan on 1 Peter 1:3,4 "Living Hope". After this message, we prayed fervently to have living hope, and heavenly vision, that Ukraine is a holy nation, and Jesus is the answer. Then P. David Bao from Odessa testified the grace of God through his own changed life through the message 1 Corinthians 5. By the amazing grace of God we are saved; the old has passed and we are now a new creation. Through the ministry of David Bao in Odessa UBF, God is now bringing many Vietnamese students to Bible study, and is creating an awakening.
S. Natasha, Vera, and Inna from Odessa UBF read their testimonies. They were touched by the grace and love of the Heavenly Father, who receives sinners, and gives life free from sin. They accepted God's call to follow Him, and be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

At the Sunday worship service, Dr. Abraham T. Kim gave the closing message on Exodus 19:4-6: the key verse of our conference. He talked about what remains to eternity: 1)the image of Jesus in us 2)the people we led to God 3)and what we gave to Jesus. To be a holy people, we must obey God, to observe his covenant, and to be faithful to Him. We have to pray earnestly so that each of us and each of our countries to be Kingdom of priests and holy nation. This clear direction is for each one of us. We pray to accept this direction and practice it in our full lives.

After the sermon, our missionaries: msn. Peter and Sarah Kim, and msn. John and Grace Lee went up on stage. As a sign of gratitude for their sacrifice, work, tears, and prayer, the shepherds - the fruit of their prayers and ministry, sang a special song, and presented a beautiful album with the history of Ukraine UBF of the last 20 years. Mis. Sarah Kim who fully dedicated himself as a prayer mother, cried with tears on stage. We also thank God for M. Mark & Esther Kim, Hanna Salyuk(Orchestra) & Rebecca Gerus & John & Maria Peace. We all thank God for using them so preciously for the disciple making in Ukraine.

In conclusion, msn. Peter Kim gave the direction for the next 20 years of our mission - to keep our prayer topics: "Ukraine- a holy people(Ex. 19:4-6) and Jesus is the answer(John 4:26)".

We thank God for using us as shepherd nation and missionary sending country. We thank God for all servants of God who have prayed and shared the love of God with us during the last 20 years. Especially, thank God for Dr. John Jun & Dr. Abraham T. Kim's faithful care for us & Msn. Grace A. Lee & Chicago HQ elders' prayer support. We are your debtors for your love and prayers. Thank you very much. May God accept our ministry and make all of us a holy nation! Amen!

One word: A Holy Nation - Jesus is the Answer!