Year of Remodeling - August 2017-September 2018

In August 2017 we started with remodeling our main worship hall in our church. On August 24, we were able to purchase the "Yellow House" right next door to our Petrovka Church. We started to remodel this house in October 2017 and we completed the work on June 13, 2018. We purchased this home in order to have more classrooms for our children's Bible Club and a place for our youth meetings and ladies' meetings.

After this work was completed we needed to dismantle our children's playground in order to purchase treated wood and repaint everything and then assemble it back together. The playground was in poor condition. The wood was rotting and had to be replaced due to broken boards. Praise the Lord we completed this work at the end of September.

Vadim,  My Builder with His Wife, Nelly

Check out our beautiful "Yellow House" video below!

Our Refurbished Playground

Playground

Our Beautiful Playground

Short Term Team from Bethel Mennonite Church and Sharing Easter

We had a team of six people from Bethel Mennonite Church in Sarasota, Florida come to minister together with us from March 31-April 9. They helped us remodel our church kitchen, helped on remodeling the "Yellow House" and helped with our Annual Easter Egg Hunt for our Children's Bible Club. They were a tremendous blessing to our Petrovka Church. We are so thankful for Scott, Jeanie, Terry, Todd, Barbara and Abby.

Abby, Barbara and Jeanie Preparing for Easter Egg Hunt

Our Delicious Cupcakes Made by my Missionary Friend, Pam

Bethel Team

Ukrainian Refugee Ministry in East Ukraine

Our ministry to the refugees continued this year. We were able to visit in March and September and help refugees with food, medicine and clothing. We are so grateful for all who have given gifts so that we can help those in need. We were able to share the Gospel with many churches and groups and show them the love of Christ. Pray for peace in Ukraine as our government has declared martial law because of the recent skirmish in the Sea of Azov.

Our Team of Ukrainians and Russians Involved in Refugee Ministry

Saving a Life

Praise the Lord for the opportunity to share the Sanctity of Life with my young moms. One of my moms came early one morning over a year ago and was extremely upset. She told me that she was expecting and that her husband had told her to get an abortion. He said if she didn't get one he would leave her. That same morning I had received a video clip on Facebook of a baby growing in a mother's womb from conception to full term. I showed this clip to Luba and she began to cry. She said she didn't have a choice. I told her that you always have a choice with God and that he would help her even if her husband left her. Praise God that Luba chose life! Praise Him that her husband didn't leave her. Please pray for his salvation.

Our Sweet Angelina

Ukrainian Christmas 2018

What a blessing to be able to share Advent with my mom's group this past year! I shared the meaning of the advent candles and the true meaning of Christmas. Pray that these mom's would come to understand that Jesus was born to die for them.

Sharing Advent

My Mom's with their Children

Our church celebrated Ukrainian Christmas on January 7 of this year. Our youth choir shared a special program entitled, "A Family Christmas." We had a fireplace, stockings, cookies and hot chocolate and our youth shared in song about the birth of Christ.

Our Family Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Dear Praying Friends,
This letter is long overdue and I pray you will have patience in taking the time to read all the great things God is doing in our ministry in Petrovka. I want to thank each one of you that prays faithfully for our ministry and for those of you who have sacrificially given to my ministry - some of you for the past 21 years. I pray that this Christmas you will sense the presence of our Savior and that you will truly be filled with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. It was wonderful to see many of you while I was in the States on home assignment. May the New Year 2018 bring you continued blessings as you serve our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

With much love and gratefulness,

Denise

Pray for the ladies who were baptized in August to grow strong in the Lord.

Pray for our children and youth to understand the Gospel and come to know Jesus.

Pray for my mom's Bible study groups. Pray especially for my new moms, Julie and Alonya, to come to know our Savior.

Pray for the remodeling in our yellow house to get completed soon.

Pray for the funds to finish the remodeling and for furniture for the classrooms.

Pray for our Sunday services that the Spirit of God would move in the hearts of those who aren't believers.

Pray for new leaders to join our ministry in our Children's Bible Club.

Pray for new people to attend our New Year's and Christmas celebrations in our church.

Pray for the husbands of the moms attending the Bible studies. Pray that they will be drawn to the Savior through the changes in their wives.

Pray for the team from one of my supporting churches in Sarasota that plan to come and work with us  March 30 through April 9. They were supposed to come in September but had to cancel due to the hurricane.

Praise for my churches and individual supporters that continue to faithfully pray and support our ministry in Petrovka!

Praise for our 80 children who are attending our Children's Bible Club on Saturdays.

Praise for the young ladies who were baptized in August.

Praise for safety on the roads.

Praise for the provision of the Yellow House!

Praise for our one new leader, Eugene, who joined our Children's Ministry on Saturdays.

Praise for five years in Petrovka and for all the great things God has done!

Praise for the two new moms attending the Bible study.

Praise for the great team of leaders who serve with me in Petrovka.

Five Year Birthday Celebration in Petrovka Church

On November 19 we had our five year birthday celebration of our church in Petrovka. We combined this special day in the life of our church with a day of Thanksgiving. There were 70 people in attendance and our children's choir participated in the program. We are so thankful for everyone who supports our ministry in Petrovka and are looking forward to this New Year in the life of our church. We see God at work in the lives of our children, youth and adults. Pray for a great harvest in Petrovka.