Odessa Mission

August 2008 Updates

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As you may have heard, the Odessa Mission's dream for more Restoration churches in the Odessa region is finally becoming a reality. John Murphy was the mission's first church planter in this Ukrainian province. Serge happens to be the second. And we certainly hope and pray that there will be many more to follow. Here's Serge and his wife, Sasha, with their four-year old daughter.

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In early August 2008, both Lucy and her son, Bogdon, were finally baptized in the Black Sea. Although they faithfully attend the Baptist church in Sergeyevka, for the past five years their leaders have simply prohibited them from being immersed into Christ or taking communion, partly because of their Restoration-like views concering the significance of baptism. So John just decided to hop into a bus and pay them a visit in order to end this madness. Please pray for them as they face their leaders, who will probably alienate them for their disobedience. Of course, we're all hoping and praying that this mess will eventually lead them to our new church plant, which will most likely end up being fairly close to their home.

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Lucy and Bogdon with Serge, our new church planter.