Weekly Update | November 10, 2022
Weekly Newsletter 11/10/2022
Peace to you!
Dear church, there are many things happening in the world we live in. And oftentimes we get used to very serious and sad news, such that subsequent news about the pain and suffering of others no longer disturbs us like it should. Take for example the war in Ukraine. The things happening there have slowly become the new normal and we’ve gotten used to the reports of how many have died and so on. Today I want to remind us that we believers, brothers and sisters, must all keep expressing spiritual qualities like compassion, peacefulness, patience, mercy, and love (Gal. 5:22-23; 1 Cor. 13:4-7; Eph. 4:2-3). Scripture calls us to have compassion, love, pray, and help in any way we can those who are going through difficulties, especially brothers and sisters in the faith! Remember that love is the sign to the world around us that shows that we are disciples of Jesus Christ (John 13:35).
We are calling you to pray for the church in Ukraine, and also in Moldova, Belarus, Russia, and the USA. Today we hear about the crisis that has affected Russian churches where many pastors have left the country due to the mobilization. Prices have significantly gone up in Belarus, Moldova, and other countries. In all these difficulties, we must hurt more for the church of Christ! Like never before, we need to learn how to have compassion, sympathy, and love to those who are struggling, in cold and lack of light. It’s sad to hear how instead of sympathizing with the needs of the saints, many brothers and sisters in the USA are wasting their energy like the wind. It’s painful to see how little we empathize. It’s the truth! Very little! We pray very little for our brothers and sisters (Eph. 6:18). May this letter not be accepted by you as a political jab but as a simple reminder to not let up in your prayers, compassion, and fulfilling the needs of the saints (Rom. 12:13).
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Rom. 12:15)
Continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in Ukraine: https://gfchurch.com/ukraine/
Prayer request: There is a retreat happening in Poland right now for missionaries and pastors in European countries, and the hosts and preachers of this retreat are our elders, Eugene Bardosh and Joseph Sheremet. Pray that the seminars and fellowship would serve to strengthen the churches across Europe through the equipping of the pastors. Also, that God would give physical and spiritual strength to our brothers to share the truth in love. We are grateful to God that He is giving GFC this opportunity to influence many churches across Europe through this ministry.
Let us repeat what we recently learned – Psalm 90:1-4
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
Below are the services and meetings for this weekend:
Thursday (6:30 PM) – Children’s Bible School (open to all but required for parents), followed by Bible Study (Proverbs) for the whole church at 7:30 PM.
Sunday services:
- – Worship Service in Russian at 9:00 AM
- – Worship Service in English at 11:15 AM
- – Family Evening Service at 6:00 PM
On behalf of the elders of GFC