Lviv, Ukraine


Summer 2012
Written by Edmund & Agnes Johnston - Ukraine
ekjohnston@fsmail.net

"Unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in us."
Ephesians 3:20.

In 1995 we saw the commencement of the work of the Lord in the city of Lviv, western Ukraine. Ukraine is the largest country in Europe geo- graphically with a population of approximately forty-eight million. Ukraine became independentof the USSR in 1991 and is predominantly Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox. Early in 1995 our sister Flo Kancir, her son Timothy and Gille Plourde came from Canada to distribute bibles. The Lord blessed their labours and Flo has returned every year since with the help of other Canadian and American brethren, in proclaiming the Gospel and helping in many practical ways. For the last ten years Flo has been visiting Lviv twice a year (spring/autumn), for periods of three months.

After several visits to Ukraine, my wife Agnes and I, after much exercise and prayer, were commended by the Kingsmoss assembly in Northern Ireland, in February of 2010, to the work of the Lord in Ukraine. In May 2010, we moved to live in the large City of Lviv, with a population of 900,000. At that time there were a number of Ukrainian believers who had been saved and baptized and were in fellowship in the assembly at Lutsk, (150 kms. north) where our brother and sister, Timothy and Rhoda Sloan, labour for the Lord. These believers met in Lviv twice a week for prayer and bible study. Our exercise before God was primarily to spread the Gospel and help these believers and, in the will of God, to see a little assembly established.

Edmund & Agnes Johnston

During 2010, we endeavoured to teach the principles and practices of a New Testament assembly and to bring before these dear Ukrainians the need for an assembly testimony and the practice of breaking bread on the first day of every week in fond remembrance of our Lord and Saviour. We were all very encouraged, after much prayer and seeking God's guidance, that on 31st October 2010 a New Testament assembly was planted to the glory of God. On that first Lord's day there were many tears as we met in the living room of Flo's apartment and remembered the death of the Lord Jesus.

 

ASSEMBLY - LVIV

Now the assembly is fifteen months old with twenty-two in fellowship, including my wife and me. Please pray for the assembly as they are all first generation Christians and have a lot to learn, although we are very thankful they are willing and have a fervent interest in the Word of God. October 28th & 29th 2011 saw the first Lviv assembly conference when approximately eighty people attended the Gospel meeting, Friday night and on Saturday we commenced with a prayer meeting, a bible reading on Mark chapter 1 and ministry of the Word by Timothy Sloan, Malcolm Stanley and Lawrence McHugh. We give God much thanks for His presence and blessing during the conference.

 

GOSPEL OUTREACH

We are very thankful to God for the many opportunities in sharing the Gospel and daily we endeavour to preach the Gospel in many different areas. Most of our work is in orphanages, children's homes, visits to the local prison, rehab centres, schools, and gypsy camps. What an honour it is to open the bible and read the inspired Word to very needy people who are extremely poor, both physically and spiritually, and to give them hope with this life-changing message of the Gospel. On these visits we also help with some clothes and food and in other practical ways. We give God thanks that in all these opportunities the directors and staff of the different homes are always in attendance at the meetings and therefore hearing the good news of the Gospel and the different bible stories illustrating the love of God and the love of Christ for a needy world. Please pray for Natalie, director in one of the homes, who came to faith in the Lord Jesus just over a year ago.

 

PERSONAL CONTACTS

Over the years, Flo has made many contacts and we endeavour to visit these people regularly, first with the Gospel and then with a little practical help. We are encouraged that many of these people have come to some of the meetings. Please pray with us that many will come to know the Saviour personally. We all rejoiced together when a young man, Andree, from one of these families, trusted Christ last October and is already showing good interest in the things of the Lord.

 

NEW GOSPEL HALL (ROOM)

"Unto Him shall the gathering of the people be."

On the 15th January 2012, after four months renovations, the assembly moved into a first floor room, sixty square metres above the garage. We rent the building but, first of all, we built stud walls, forming a washroom and a kitchen. Then we rewired, replumbed and painted the complete interior. We put down new carpet, purchased new chairs and furniture and built a new porch to give us a little protection from wind and rain. Please pray that the new meeting place for the assembly will be to the glory of God and unite and encourage all the believers in Lviv. We trust that the new hall might be the birthplace of many a dear Ukrainian soul.

 

Summer 2012
Written by Edmund & Agnes Johnston - Ukraine
ekjohnston@fsmail.net