REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DNR (DONETSK NATIONAL REPUBLIC) TOOK THE BUILDING OF THE “WORD OF LIFE” CHURCH IN DONETSK

Dear friends, dear brothers and sisters!

Ask for your prayer support due to the fact that on August 13, at 22.00 pm, representatives of the DNR (Donetsk National Republic) took the building of our church. Despite the fact that the city is full of vacant buildings, they decided to take the house of God, that was not empty not for a day, in which constantly were services to God and helping the needy people.

There are no words to express the pain and sorrow! For over twenty years we have invested their hearts, our finances to the church building, and now we are deprived of the opportunity to gather for prayer and worship to God. With pain in my heart I have to inform you that this Sunday the doors of our church for the first time will not be opened for people who are hungry for God.

It is written that “many are the afflictions of the righteous, but out of them all the Lord will deliver him!” I believe that this will not last long and will come to a time of peace in our city and we will come together again in the house of God, and we praise God, serve Him, and to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ!

I will be very grateful to everyone for prayer support.

REFLECTIONS ON LOYALTY

“And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil… How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me… (2 Sam. 1:17-21, 25-26 KJV).

David, a man after God’s heart, having learned of the defeat of Saul, was not happy about this, but sad. He grieved over Saul, over Jonathan, with whom he had a friendship. These were his sincere feelings, and not just another PR motion.

Not everyone of David’s surrounding understood him. Commander Joab told David once: “In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends…” (2 Sam.19:6). Joab did not know God, did not understand His heart.

APPEAL TO PASTORS, MINISTERS AND CHURCH MEMBERS

Dear pastors, ministers of various churches in Donetsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, dear brothers and sisters!

Due to the tense situation in Ukraine and the tragic consequences which took lives of many people, I consider the most important thing today to put aside all disagreements and unite our hearts in common prayer and fasting for our country. With many of you we have been serving God together for years, getting through different times. And today more than ever,  unanimity in prayer is very important.

I am sure that the unity in Ukraine is largely dependent on the unity in the Church and in the hearts of Christians. The Bible says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16). Our effectual, fervent united prayer can do the impossible things in our country, can stop the bloodshed and bring peace! God said that Ukraine will be grain and spiritual granary for all nations. Let us believe together in fulfillment of this word!

I invite all pastors, ministers, parishioners to join the open Fasting and prayer for Ukraine which are to be held on 26, 27 and 28 February in Donetsk, in the church building in Tkachenko st., 100.

May God bless you!
You are welcome!

Your brother in Christ,
Leonid Padun

FREEDOM BEGINS WITH YOU

“Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian” (Isaiah 9:1-4)

In our life, there are always “past times” and “subsequent times”. Whatever the past is, it always remains behind and we must look into the future. What kind of future will it be?

God’s will in relation to people has not changed – it is to bless and to exalt us, to give us something good. Jesus Christ said: “I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). The Apostle James wrote, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning” (James 1:17) God desires the light to shine in every life! Why then there is so much darkness?