Mission Moment 3.26.25

Gennady and Mina Podgaisky 
CBF Field Personnel, Kraków, Poland

In seeking the Lord’s help, a man came to Jesus once, fell to his knees weeping, and said, “I believe; help my unbelief.” – Mark 9:24 (ESV) 

The following was written by Mina on Feb 7, 2024 at a CBF field personnel debriefing retreat.

My life...ministry…faith journey to hope in revelation.
Lord, because I know that you know, and because I know that you care…
You have traveled along the bombed streets all over Ukraine.
You have seen the dead bodies on the streets of Bucha, Izum, Mariupol, Kharkiv…
My grief has clouded my ability to see your hand, your power, your goodwill and your loving kindness.

My story has the good, the bad and the ugly of the war in Ukraine. Sometimes, Lord, I see more bad and ugly than good and beautiful.

Blessed are those who are forced to stare straight into the paradox of the ugliness of the war in Ukraine and the numerous miracles that You, God, have performed throughout these two years I have spent in Ukraine. I have held both the pain of losses and the joy of reencounters in my heart; my heart aches and my heart and soul are tired. We are collectively tired of this war in Ukraine; of the war in Israel, in Palestine, in Africa, in the other parts of your world! 

Moving forward always requires us to leave something behind. What if I don’t want to leave anything behind?

I do not want to leave Kyiv behind! 
I don’t want to leave my new church behind!
I do not want to leave my dog behind!
I do not want to leave my home Bible study group behind!
I do not want to leave my friends behind.
I do not want to leave my KCA teachers, students, Lesia my secretary and the library behind.
I do not want to lose the Village of Hope.
I do not want to leave my new minimalist living room behind.
I do not want to leave my new office/craft space behind.
I do not want to leave the place I have called home for more than two decades.

Betrayal has cut my heart in two—one-half to survive the war and one-half to grieve the war. Yet in the process, I believe in Your loving mercies that are new every day!

Lament is the pathway from heartbreak to hope. Not yet peace, in my case; still, I hope! In the book of Revelation, there is an ending to lament; there is healing, restoration and redemption. 

Let revelation become a reality in my life and the lives of Ukrainians soon! 
God, you know. God, you care! 

Pray, Practice, Ponder
For those times when You, O Lord, carried me through the hard times; for those times that I know You are working for my good; for those times that I have not seen my losses and pain being redeemed; I pray: “Lord, help my unbelief!” Thank you for saving and being my hope! Amen!

Giving the Jesus Way

United Christian Ministries is in need of: canned soup, canned chicken and Boost.  To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive.  Thank you!

1st Explorers After-School Ministry Update

Midweek Meal & Activities

Our Wednesday evening fellowship meal and bible studies are going great! Let’s keep the momentum going, inviting others to join us and enjoying the deepening of our fellowship.

Please spread the word. And remember, preschoolers and college students’ meals are free, grades 1 to 12 are $7, and adults are $11.  Join us!

REMINDER: Reservations must be made before noon on Mondays.

Below is the schedule for our Wednesday evening activities:

The meal begins at 5:30 p.m. each Wednesday. Group time begins approximately 6:10 p.m. and goes to 6:45 p.m. This group time is for college students and adults.

Our youth will meet from 6:10 to 7:00 p.m. in the youth room. 

Our children also meet from 6:10 to 7:00 p.m, and they will be in the children’s department for a devotional, activity and play time. 

Choir rehearsal follows at 7:00 p.m. 

We can’t wait to see you on Wednesday evening!

Giving the Jesus Way

United Christian Ministries is in need of: canned soup, canned chicken and Boost.  To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive.  Thank you!

Midweek Meal & Activities

Our Wednesday evening fellowship meal and bible studies are going great! Let’s keep the momentum going, inviting others to join us and enjoying the deepening of our fellowship.

Please spread the word. And remember, preschoolers and college students’ meals are free, grades 1 to 12 are $7, and adults are $11.  Join us!

REMINDER: Reservations must be made before noon on Mondays.

Below is the schedule for our Wednesday evening activities:

The meal begins at 5:30 p.m. each Wednesday. Group time begins approximately 6:10 p.m. and goes to 6:45 p.m. This group time is for college students and adults.

Our youth will meet from 6:10 to 7:00 p.m. in the youth room. 

Our children also meet from 6:10 to 7:00 p.m, and they will be in the children’s department for a devotional, activity and play time. 

Choir rehearsal follows at 7:00 p.m. 

We can’t wait to see you on Wednesday evening!

1st Explorers After-School Ministry Update

The explorers had a short week this week, so we had chapel lessons that focused on being slow to anger, slow to speak, and quick to listen. We played games and had object lessons that tied into what we were learning. For example, we mixed baking soda into vinegar to show how anger can abrupt quickly! We played games where we got to practice self-control and have to be quick to listen to instructions. Then we enjoyed the beautiful spring weather outside!

Mission Moment 3.19.25

Brittany Ramirez
CBF Field Personnel, Baguio, Philippines

“I will hold the Christ-light for you in the nighttime of your fear. I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.”  –Servant Song by Richard Gillard 

In 2020, with a global pandemic, the world changed for everyone. For our family, that change was the death of the dream of what our life and calling would look like. 

After getting stuck away from our home and ministry in China due to the pandemic, then forced to return to the United States for three years, it was hard to see and understand how God could possibly use this painful time. It was hard to believe and see God’s light and presence in our lives and future. 

As field personnel, it is hard to share when we struggle with belief. But it is important for us all to be authentic and honest in those times of struggle, because that can be a time when we see the work of the Spirit in our lives and community. With the theme of “What is saving your life right now?,” I can say that it was a death that saved my life. It was the death of a dream, turned into a resurrection and hope of a new possibility. And when I look at what sustained me through that death, I point to community. 

When all seemed lost for our calling, our ministry, our hope of how we could take part in the mission of God in our world, we found our community of faith, holding hope and light for us in the darkness. Our community of families, support partners and churches sustained us through their prayers, continued financial commitment to maintain our ministry upon return to the field, their affirmation and their belief that we were still being called. They believed for us that we would get back to ministry—even when our hope wavered. 

The artist, Scott Erickson, writes, “We have our resources, skills, and technologies to offer… but it seems what we most deeply need to receive and what we most deeply need to offer is the Light of Presence.” 

It was our community that offered us the light of presence and held the Christ-light for us in the midst of our darkness. And isn’t this exactly what we are called to do for each other as Christians?

We could not have imagined in 2020 where our journey would lead us. We could not have imagined the way God would not only sustain our calling to minister among the Chinese community, but to broaden that call into a beautiful partnership with Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary and ministry to overseas Chinese in Baguio, Philippines. What has been saving my life the past few years, has been the Light of presence and hope from our CBF communities and churches. And what a joy it is to be able to go back out with renewed calling and offer that light of presence to others along their journeys. 

Prayer, Practice, Ponder
How are you experiencing community right now? Have you been able to hold the Christ-light for someone in your community recently? Or are you experiencing a time where you need someone to hold onto hope and light for you? Take some time today to practice Visio Divina with the attached art by Scott Erickson or find another piece of art that is meaningful to you. 

Giving the Jesus Way

United Christian Ministries is in need of: canned soup, canned chicken and Boost.  To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive.  Thank you!

1st Explorers After-School Ministry Update

We explored the world of Dr. Seuss this week! We read “Green Eggs and Ham” and made our own colorful plates of green eggs and ham. We read “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut.” After, we played a game where two people had to keep their eyes closed and draw something only with the help of a teammate telling them where to place the marker. We finished the week with “The Cat in the Hat Comes Back” and made our own silly Dr. Seuss style hats. 

Our pen pal program is back in full swing as well, and we wrote our pen pals back!