A Winter of Worship
"Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation." (Psalm 111:1)
Christmas in January
This verse is on Alex’s heart as he ponders his gratitude to God. During the COVID lockdown, he acknowledges there are lots of opportunities to spend time alone in praise to God. But the months of December and January have been a season of corporate worship with other believers. Christmas celebrations in Ukraine are not limited to the month of December, but last through mid-January.
He and his family have enjoyed participating in worship services, special holiday events, and Christmas caroling, not only with their own church, but with other churches in the Odessa region. Alex says, “We pray that God would use us for His glory and open the hearts of those around us who do not know Him yet.”
Competing for Truth
Sometimes corporate praise looks very different than a worship service. The youth in his church divided into three teams and competed in a Bible game called, “What? Where? When?” Alex prepared for and led the games that gave the youth the opportunity to dive deep into 14 chapters of the Book of Acts. They spent several months preparing for the competition, and in the middle of having fun, were exposed to great biblical truth.
Lockdown isolation allowed for another opportunity for Alex during the month of January. He was able to participate in, and make a presentation, in an international opinion exchange about the importance and value of changes in the church. He is giving praise to God for this wonderful opportunity to shares experiences with others from nine different countries.
How to Pray for the Church in Ukraine
Please pray for Alex and his family as they serve the Lord in Ukraine.
- Ask God to give them good health and physical strength.
- Pray for those who heard the Gospel during the Christmas season.
- Ask the Lord to use the truths from the Book of Acts in the lives of the youth who competed in the Bible games.
