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Updates
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Written by Michael Ireland
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Saturday, 09 July 2011 18:24 |
Dear Praying friends,
The Lord has supplied our needs through your manifold goodness to us, with your help and God's blessings we continue to serve Jesus in Ukraine. Thank you!
Today, I am writing while riding a train back to Ukraine. We have been in Krakow, Poland for a week getting our new visas. These visas will allow us to stay in Ukraine for one year without having to exit the country every 90 days. We praise the Lord for His mercy, now we can continue to work in the ministry without interruption.
The Pytie Gorie church has new people coming and we glorify God for his faithfulness. One lady, Katya, trusted Jesus as her Saviour. She is an older lady who has lived a hard life. Praise the Lord Jesus saves not based on who we are, but on who He is. His love reaches to lowest depths and sets the sinner's feet solid rock. Pray for unity in the church, that they would truly learn to love one another. Specifically, pray for Yura as he helps lead the church. It can be difficult at times in the villages where people are very poor. Often the need for material help and spiritual weakness drains the church. Pray that God will supply every need showing His strength in the midst of their weakness.
The church in Kiev is standing strong, they remain very faithful to our God. The major hurdle that hinders the Kiev church is a building. Its very difficult for us to get new people to come to a church service when it is an apartment. Pray that we would find a local building to rent that is within the budget.
The Bila Tserkov church is still struggling, the real problem is unfaithfulness to God. This is always an obstacle when Christians do not seek the Lord first in all things. Maxim and I are trying to change their attitudes and personal outlooks about Christ. I praise the Lord for Maxim’s faithfulness, and hard work. Pray that God would change the hearts of church members, that we would get more visitors, and begin to build the church again.
The Lord has allowed for us to plan a family camp in June. We did a camp four years ago, and it was an extreme success. It helped people to come apart from the world for a week, get some good preaching a couple of times a day, and grow together as brothers and sisters in Christ. We were not sure if the camp would be available, and people would be able to get off work. But, God has opened all the doors, and we are just walking through. We were warmly met by the director of the camp, who is very happy that we decided to return. She even invited us to sit and have tea with her. Her name is Vasalina, it would be great to see her get saved. Pray that God uses the camp in lives of His people.
When you receive this letter it will be already be past the anniversary of the home going of Carissa. Thank you to all that have prayed, and sent notes of comfort. You are a blessing and an encouragement to us. You have helped us through the darkest hour of our lives.
Prayer requests:
- Katya and her growth in the Lord.
- Sasha in Pytie Gorie has fallen into sin and has now been removed from leadership.
- Church building in Kiev.
- Family camp.
- Valya- Maxim’s mom for salvation.
- Selling our house and moving to Bila Tserkov.
- Our son Mike, he finished his first year of Bible Institute.
- Ukraine and the continued freedom to preach the gospel.
- Robin’s health.
- The leaders of the churches Gregory, Maxim, Edik, Volodia, Valitine,Yura, Pasha and Alek.
Your Missionaries
The Irelands
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Last Updated on Saturday, 09 July 2011 20:31 |
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Written by Michael Ireland
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Tuesday, 01 March 2011 21:10 |
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings in the name of the of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. His grace is matchless and His mercy never ending. As we contemplate all the Father has done for us we are speechless and humbled at His goodness towards us. We are so grateful that you have been God’s tool of mercy in our lives through you support and prayers. We believe He has been glorified in us and the ministry in Ukraine.
We told you in our last prayer letter that we would be in the states over the holidays to spend time with our family. We felt it was important to have some time with them as this would be the first Christmas without Carissa. Those words still remain strange to us, that Carissa is already in heaven with her Saviour. We miss her so much, it was sad not to have her with us as she especially loved those family times when we would all be together. Though it was a lot of traveling, (basically we went from coast to coast) it was blessing to see our two new grandkids (they are beautiful gifts from the Lord!). We also were able to travel to Peaks Island to spend time with Jack and Gerri McEntee. Jack and Gerri’s daughter Irina went home to be with the Lord with Carissa. Peaks Island was the last place that Carissa was, she continually told us how beautiful it was, and she was right. God gave us a sweet time of fellowship with Jack and Gerri, they are special people. God has used them to bring healing in our lives. Their fellowship and their sweet honesty was so refreshing and truly brought us closer to the Lord and each other. They have a sincere, burning desire to see the people of Peaks Island know the Saviour, it was a blessing to see. We also had opportunity to present our ministry and preach at Peaks Island Baptist Church. It was good to have fellowship with Pastor Beau Boyle and his family. He has a heart for the people of Peaks Island, it is truly a difficult field to minister in. Pastor Beau is the right man for the job, he has the heart of a lion and the grace of a lamb. Knowing that we were going to be with them on that weekend, Pastor Beau had the wisdom to use the opportunity to get as many people to the service as he could. There were at least 8 lost people who heard the gospel that weekend. We pray for Peaks Island that many would come to know the Saviour.
Our time in the states took us from Rochester to Redding, CA, Seattle, WA, Phoenix City, AL, Peaks Island MA, and Nashua NH. We were able to spend time with family and enjoy fellowship with many brothers and sisters as well as preaching and teaching in several different places.
The works in Ukraine are doing well, the Fostive church is under the leadership of their pastor they voted in before we left for the States. Please keep Pasha in prayer as God directs him in the many decisions he needs to make. Kiev and Pytie Gorie have new people coming to church. Bila Tserkov is doing better spiritually. I can say that the churches are healthier spiritually and people are growing. I praise God for the men who always step up to the plate and give even more when we are not there. They have showed their true love for the Saviour and His people.
Prayer requests:
- Continue to pray for our leaders: Pasha, Alex, Sasha, Yura, Maxim, and Grecia.
- For many lost people: Valya (Maxim’s mom), Sasha and Oksana, Ruslan and Erra, Anna, Leiza, and Yanna.
- For a forth church plant, for God to give us wisdom as to where.
- For March 8th as we use this time to share the gospel with many ladies. (International Women’s Day)
- For our Visa’s: that we would be able to obtain new visas that we can register, allowing us to be in the country longer than 90 days
- For our son Mike Jr: he is in the states and has started Bible Inst. Pray for his studies and his schedule. He is working full time along with attending Institute.(We miss him terribly)
- For the health of our family.
Your missionaries to Ukraine,
Mike and Robin Ireland and family
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 March 2011 23:11 |
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