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November 2007 Prayer Letter
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Healing Hearts Ministries Internaional [LOGO]

Dear Friend,





By Teresa Rinker, Foreign Missions Director



UKRAINE


In late September Barb Riedberger, Kathleen Kennard and I made our way via airplane to the amazing country of Ukraine. While there, we discovered that there is indeed an amazing outpouring of God's Spirit within this country and God's faithfulness was evident everywhere we went. A true miracle of God has and is taking place in Ukraine and it is often referred to as the Bible belt of all Western Europe.



We have been told that there are only two churches that survived through communism of past years in Ukraine...the Orthodox Church and the Baptist Union.



When communism fell just 16 short years ago, there were only 200 small Baptist churches in Ukraine and only 2 of them had actual buildings...one in Kiev and one in Odessa. All others met in small homes or apartments in the cities and villages. Today in Ukraine, there are 3,000 plus Baptist Churches and 2,000 protestant churches of other denominations. Slava Bogoo (Praise God)! It is amazing to be a part of a movement of God in this Country.




Because within communism, abortion was legal, birth control not allowed and abortion was taught to be beneficial for a woman's health...evangelicals are only now beginning to recognize the effects on believers and the country. Much of our role in Ukraine is meeting with and educating men and women who are in high leadership within the Church. As we have sought information, we have been told multiple times that abortion is NEVER spoken of in churches, not in casual conversation or from the pulpit. And yet, the abortion rate among believers there is as high as 80 to 90 percent... and most men and women have participated in multiple abortions, some as high as 20. In Ukraine, between 2 and 3 million abortions are performed annually. This is why Healing Hearts Ministries International is committed to bringing hope and healing to the men and women of the former Soviet Union, beginning with Ukraine.






While there we...

  • met with leaders from the Ukraine Baptist Union, Christ Cathedral Church and the director for LIFE INTERNATIONAL in Eastern Europe.
  • brought the ministry to Odessa, a new region, where we met with Heads from the Baptist Theological Seminary and the Regional Baptist Pastor, Bronislav Zilkovsky and taught students at the Seminary about post abortion trauma.
  • met with our leaders in the Lugansk Region and spent one day with them, hearing about their ministries and teaching them Biblical truths
  • had an outreach in Pervomaisk, Lugansk Region with our leaders and 85 new women who poured out their hearts to God in repentance over their abortions and many signed up to attend a Healing Hearts group in their area.









While there, we felt such a growing momentum for ministry and God opened many doors for future ministry. In March 2008, we have multiple invitations for ministry as follows:


    • KIEV, conference with Baptist Union, women's ministry leaders from every region (25) in Ukraine. Conference with Christ Cathedral Church women.
      Possibility of speaking at the Kiev Baptist Theological Center.
    • ODESSA, women's conference with representatives from the 138 churches in Odessa Region to begin organized ministry there. Another conference at Christian University, to speak to all students, 15% of them believers. Continued ministry and teaching at Baptist Theological Seminary.



We are praising God and praying:

  • For our ministry in the Lugansk Region and for key leader, Valentina Rezkneechenko. Since ministry began in 2005, there have been 220 women who have been through the Bible Study. In this region, we currently have ministry leaders in 15 churches and in 4 new cities and have 25 leaders. This region has 66 churches in all.
  • For our train conductor who we were able to share a Bible Study with after she shared that she had had 13 abortions.
  • For the Leaders in the Baptist Union and other denominations to understand the depth of the wound that abortion has left on their Nation and the hearts of the people in their churches. For repentance and healing for all people of Ukraine.
  • For The Hem of His Garment and the Wounded Warrior to be translated into the Russian language.




HOLLAND


This year God miraculously connected us with Crossroads International Church in Amsterdam, Holland. While there we met and stayed with Johan and Carolyn Ros, and worked with Dawn Spinks, who is Pastoral Care Coordinator for Crossroads.



While there, we had two events with Crossroads, the first being an outreach where we shared testimonies and truth about the need for Biblical Healing and God's desire to heal His church. All in attendance were given brochures as to how they can sign up on the web for a Healing Hearts Bible Study. God's presence was so sweet among us as the attendees poured out their particular needs and asked for counsel and prayer.



The second event was an informational meeting for lay counselors and ministers with Crossroads Church, and two Dutch Pro Life Organizations. Because all who were present also had the desire to help others, we spent some time educating them about our ministry, their need to know the Word of God and to know how to use the Word of God to bring life and healing to others. Please pray that the seeds that were sewn in Holland fell on fertile soil and that God would help us to seek Him in regards to Healing Hearts being established there. Lord willing we will return in March to train leaders.



On Thursday, October 11, we returned to our families and homes in the wonderful, United States of America - home sweet home! Thank you for your prayers and also your support of Healing Hearts Foreign Missions. Stay tuned~



In His Service



Director of Foreign Missions





Final Note

Lord willing, Barbara and Teresa will return to Ukraine in March 2008. You can reach the people of Ukraine and Holland for Christ by supporting this mission; just designate "Ukraine/Holland Mission" on your check!





Ways you can help



To Make a Donation

You may use the donation form on our website to make a donation, or you may also submit your check to the address provided below.

Healing Hearts Ministries is a federally registered non-profit corporation, all contributions are tax deductible. One hundred percent of all contributions made to Healing Hearts go directly toward supporting the various aspects of our ministry no "administrative fee" is collected by a fund-raising service. All donations and expenditures are internally and independently monitored and audited. Annual financial statements are available upon request.

We thank you for considering contributing to our ministry. Your contribution will enable us to reach out and touch individuals who need the hope and healing message that only Jesus has to offer.

To donate online click this link:
https://www.healinghearts.org/donate


Send checks to:
Healing Hearts Ministries
PO Box 44670 Rio Rancho, NM 87174

phone (505) 355-6922