Iliya Hlushchak pastors the Rock of Salvation Church in Chernovtsy, Ukraine. He also assist Ion Gireada in his evangelistic endeavors, particulaly in the region of Transcarpatia. Please remember Illya and his family, as well asd the other HeartCry missiuonaries in Ukraine as Russia continues to invade the country. Brother Ulushchak shared this month about the conflict with Russia:
We also have some bad news. Because of the military conflict in eastern Ukraine and the Azov Sea, war has been declared in our country. So, our sons might be called to the army again. If the conflict gets even worse, all men under 60 years of age will be called to the army. Please pray with us and for peace among the two countries.
Although the Russian invasion looms large presently, Illya continues to persevere in his ministry. This month, he reports: This month was different than other months. We had to reorganize the ministry, as we have a larger ministry field now. I believe there’s a time for everything. Presently, there is a new generation of believers in the church and they are ready for ministry. I’ve been praying for this for many years and waiting to see it happen sooner. They grew up slower than I expected, but I know that everything is in God’s hands. Several years ago, if I had tried to give them less of my time and attention, that wouldn’t have been possible. They’ve finally learned what I’ve been telling them so many times. “Give and you shall be given.” It doesn’t matter now where and to whom I am going to serve; it only matters that they were ready to share themselves with me and with a small church that is going through crisis.
I’ve told you about this church in my previous report. Starting in December, I am also ministering to this small church in another part of the city. I decided to get involved in this ministry for a limited period of time and with the purpose of helping them repair the mistakes they had made in the church planting process. I don’t lean on my experience, nor on anything else and anyone else, but with God’s help, I hope that I will be able to minister to them for their sake and for God’s glory.
We’ve been reorganizing this month and praying. We had meetings and made decisions. Please pray that we would do God’s will through the decision we make.We also keep having meetings for families where we have non-Christian spouses attending. We usually gather in someone’s home, but sometimes there’s not enough room for all the attendees. So I think we should start meeting in the church building. I am glad that a deacon and his wife have taken over this ministry, so I only have to help them. It seems that we are going to have new workers in the church. I’ve been working on this for many years and now I can see the results. This is encouraging for me. As a pastor, I help them with everything I can and I take part in these activities.
I was also able to help brother Ion Gireada in his ministry in this area. I visited the church in Bahrinesti twice this month and preached the Word for the spiritual growth of the believers.I was involved in preparing a missionary trip to Transcarpatia, but I wasn’t able to go myself because I got a cold. A group of people from different churches took this trip to Transcarpatia, along with a deacon, who is my partner in the social ministry. They visited the poor villages in Transcarpatia. On December 2nd, I am going to find out more about their trip. Praise the Lord for giving us the opportunity to serve people.
Don is serving as the HeartCry Coordinator for Eastern Europe. As an itinerant evangelist, his pulpit ministry is directed toward preaching on the inner life of the believer and the spiritual need of the lost. With HeartCry, his ministry includes organizing Bible conferences and corresponding with the HeartCry missionaries in Europe. He and his lovely wife Cindy live in Tuscumbia, AL.
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