The Miracle of Kiev

Read on:  video to follow!

Last week, Lynne and I were privileged to serve for and be witnesses of an amazing work of God in Kiev, Ukraine.  Many of you will recall the miracle of Moscow in 1991--the LA mission team that began in Red Square with fear, trembling, and prayer, and went on to discover that God had prepared a remarkable remnant of seekers perhaps unique in our generation.  Hundreds were baptized into Christ that first year, and soon mission teams proliferated all over the former Soviet Union.  One of those plantings grew fastest of all--the Kiev church led by Shawn and Lena Wooten (Lena being one of the first Moscow converts).  If I'm remembering Shawn's recounting correctly, 28 were baptized the very first week!  Later that year, they experienced a Sunday on which over 200 were baptized (that took about four hours).

Since that time, the Kiev church has become a church of over 1000 disciples with nine other Ukrainian churches planted.  The Wootens spent many years away from Kiev, working in Moscow and spearheading the work of HOPE worldwide for Russia and Eastern Europe.  About a year ago, they were asked by the Boston church to serve as missionaries for Ukraine and Central Europe.  They now reside again in Kiev, and had invited us to teach the church and Ukrainian/European leaders over a week's time--Scott preached NINE times and ran out of words!

Over a thousand years ago, Vladimir I decided that Kiev should be a Christian city and literally forced every resident at sword-point to be baptized.  Today, the Wootens and their spiritual family are praying for the same--not by force (!) but by conviction.  Have a look at these video witnesses...

Here's a hello from Shawn and Lena:

More videos of Kiev to come, but I'm having technical difficulties at a Cornwall internet cafe!!

Love,

Scott (and for Lynne)