With the summer now behind us, we turn our attention to September beyond...a critical, pivotal month as ministry LAUNCHES … the momentum garnered through the discipleship camps and the evangelism team needs to be seized as the baton is passed.

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

What lies directly ahead for us?

[1] Our NATIONAL ORPHANAGE MINISTRY TEAMS 'launch' their weekend, monthly trips to nine orphanages in Ukraine, Belarus and Latvia in September....it is critical that we seize the momentum gained through the discipleship ministry this summer to these orphans.

Tanya Kutovaya leading small group at Lozovoyeh Orphanage

Agnessa Moroz, Minsk, Belarus, teaching the Bible lesson

Nastya Perkova working one-on-one with orphan at Gvardyehskoyeh Orphanage

Nastya Shelest prays with her small group at Chernomvoskaya Orphanage

Vitalik Pashin sharing with orphan boys during game time

2] Our 'FRESH START' PROGRAM for adult orphans kicks off for another year, with sponsorship of transition apartments in Riga, Latvia; Rezekne, Latvia; and Kharkov, Ukraine; and our plans to add an apartment in Simferopol, Ukraine for orphans who have just now aged out of 'Chernoshova' orphanage…

"Fresh Start" adult orphan transition program participants in Ukraine & Latvia: Back row - Antun Borisenko, Kharkov Ukraine, Kolya Petrova, Riga, Latvia, Vitalik Pashin, Riga, Latvia; Front row - Laura Galgainiece, Ieva Galgainiece, Rezekne, Latvia

Candidates for our 'Fresh Start' program who have just 'aged out' of their orphanage - Chernoshova - as we open new apartment in Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine - Masha, Yulia, Lena and Sveta

[3] FOLLOW-UP of those who came to Christ through the Russian evangelism team begins in earnest in September, as each person who prayed to receive Christ begins to receive follow-up materials through the mail...through the six outreaches, over 2,000 young people were reached, while 155  accepted Christ!!!

Musical Theater Outreach team performing the musical 'Never Be The Same' this summer in outreach in the Crimea

Audience at Ministry of Defense Youth Camp performance watching performance with rapt attention

Two teenage girls enjoy 'Never Be The Same,' and the one on the right will pray afterwards to accept Christ!

Lena Kniga, 'Bear,' praying with that girl to receive Christ!

Ira prays with six young people to accept Christ into their hearts at the 'Young Leninists' youth camp.

Girl fills out follow-up card after praying to receive Christ as we get contact information from each young person who prays, so we can send them follow-up letters and materials, and give them information on attending next summer's discipleship camps.

We also give each one who prays to receive Christ Russian Illustrated Children's New Testaments. 'Tiger' poses with three boys she prayed with to receive Christ.

[4] STAFF CHANGES...as we plan to add Sveta Dudko Baranova to our full-time staff, working out of her hometown in Chernigov, Ukraine; Sveta will be helping with translation, overseeing the 'Fresh Start' transition program in Crimea; & leading an orphanage ministry team which will be starting work at Bachesseri orphanage in Crimea.

WELCOME SVETA TO OUR FULL-TIME STAFF!

In October, our second DENTAL MINISTRY WEEK is schedule to take place, our first LEADERSHIP DISCIPLESHIP MINI-CAMP, and orphanage ministry weekend.

In February, 2010, we were blessed to partner with Mercy Trucks International to do the Dental Clinic at Chernmovskaya and Chernoshova orphanages

Dr. Gabe Rich leads the Dental Ministry Clinics for us

In addition to dental work, we treat all the orphans with flouride varnishes designed to cut down cavities 60%

Dr. Greg Viehman teaching at our Leadership Mini-Camp, May, 2009, with Ruslan Karabadchak translating

During the Dental Ministry week, we also do Bible lessons every afternoon after school.

PLEASE PRAY....

September, 2010 - 'Fresh Start' transition apartments supporting adult orphans who have 'aged out' of the state-run orphanages we work located in Riga, Latvia; Rezekne, Latvia; Kharkov, Ukraine; and Simferopol, Ukraine.

September 5,6, 2010 - our 'kids' from Rezekne, Latvia come to Riga, and join together with Kolya, Vitalik and Marina and Maxim Petrov for a time of fellowship, they will attend church together, and have some prayer time together.

September 19,20, 2010 - our Ukraine Orphanage Ministry team will launch orphanage ministry, traveling to Crimea and doing outreaches at Bakchesseri and Chernoshova orphanages

September, 26, 27, 2010 - our Belarussian Orphanage Ministry teams plan to launch ministry at Vileka and Kledsk village orphanages

October 4-8, 2010 - Our Dental Ministry Clinic takes place in Crimea at one of the state-run orphanages we work with

October 8-12, 2010 - Leadership Discipleship Mini-Camp plus orphanage outreaches to Jonkoi, Lozovoyeh, Chernomovskaya, Bakchesseri, and Chernoshova orphanages, conducted by a team form Ukraine, Belarus, and Latvia