Amazing story about Odessa conference

We talked to the university director where our conference is being held.  He said that he had received a directive from Kiev saying that they should shut our conference down because it was being conducted by a cult.  Then he received another directive saying he could allow it to happen.  He decided that he would let it happen.  His response to us was, "I am so happy I decided to let it happen.  This is exactly what this country needs."

Please keep praying!

-Steve Lorenz

More resistance overcome in Odessa conferences!

I am sitting here on the morning of our first day in Odessa.  We had been told that there were government officials trying to shut us down here and discourage teachers from showing up at all.

This morning one official after another have shown up and have been sharing the podium for two hours proclaiming the need for morals and ethics to be taught in schools. 

We praise God for this blessing!  I also praise God that this place is jammed packed!

As I write this there is an official from a medical association saying that we need morals and ethics in the hospitals and doctors offices also. 

Ben is our first speaker and will start in two minutes. Please continue to pray!  God is answering your prayers.

-Steve Lorenz

Second day of conferences better than first!

Dear Friends:

Today was the second day of the Kiev conference and again, it was such an answer to all of your

prayers!!! We had a full house again, the USA

teachers did all of the speaking today and were excellent!

We know of one teacher who came to Christ and there were lots of fascinating questions. All were so eager to get new ideas! The team is very sad about saying good bye to their translators here who have become more than friends. God's grace and extravagant love were in abundance! The

theme of our evening prayer times and conversations during the day has been God's extravagance that He lavishes on us! We are in awe!

We closed out this evening with dinner with Anatoly and Nadiya Kaluzhny -- what a blessing! And we leave early in the morning for Odessa!

Please continue praying for us! Because of your prayer coverage -- you are here with us!

Blessings, Marti

Day one of the conferences was a great success!

Ben Ellis conducting a seminar through his interpreter

Carey Dincauze with her interpreter, Lesya Marinchenko

Kendra Posey leads a seminar

Dear Friends:

The Kiev Christian Morals and Ethics conference started today!!! God did abundantly more than we could have ever asked or imagined! We had a great turnout, a beautiful day, and a nice location! There was a great diversity in attendance, including a very articulate Orthodox priest who spoke briefly on unity in the Body of Christ.

Here are some quotes from the team:

Kendra: "I sensed God's covering over the conference. I felt a great peace and a receptive spirit from the Ukrainian teachers."

Carey: "Praise God for all the answered prayers, including how perfectly matched our translators are to each of us."

Ben: " I saw the eager eyes of the Ukrainian teaching professionals, hungry for truth that they could put into practice in the class room. Then I knew that all the Lord had done to prepare us would have lasting results far beyond our short time in this beautiful land."

Steve: "Praise! Despite all the spiritual warfare, 123 teachers were here despite the government trying to shut this conference down -- it was a glorious day!"

"Expectations are our enemy, Flexibility is our friend" is the motto that we are continuing saying as things are changing on an hour by hour basis. And yet we are rejoicing! Ben did an incredible job on his long lecture today and all three were excellent in their master classes. Tomorrow, Carey starts the conference with her lecture and Kendra closes that part, and then they all do more master classes.

We head to Odessa on Wednesday morning. Already the opposition to the conference in Odessa is growing. Some of the academic speakers from the community have been told by their bosses that they cannot attend this Christian conference. So PLEASE PRAY!!!

Blessings, Marti Scudder

Safely in Ukraine

Just learned that the team has arrived safely in Ukraine and are getting settled into their apartments as of about 2:30pm Central time.  Hopefully they are sleeping by now!

They've made it to Europe

Just got an email from Marti in Amsterdam.  They're almost there!

CPA Teachers leave today with MDI

Carey Dincauze, Ben Ellis, and Kendra Posey, the team of teachers from Christ Presbyterian Academy, leave with Marti Scudder and Steve Lorenz of MDI today for Ukraine! You can follow their travel on our blog. Please lift them up in your prayers, specifically:

• That we would not encounter further "resistance" from anyone in the Ukrainian government and that each conference would run smoothly
  
• For the Ukrainian teachers attending each conference, that their ears and hearts would be open to the transforming power of the Gospel in their classrooms
• For our team of teachers, that they would speak boldly and confidently, and be able to transform lives for Christ!
• For the families of the team who will be staying here in the US. Pray for their strength and comfort while they miss their loved ones
• For traveling mercies to and from Ukraine, and while in Ukraine back and forth to Odessa!

Government resistance has forced a relocation of Kiev Conference

Thank you for your continued prayer for our upcoming Christian Morals & Ethics project. As of now, both the conferences are still on! However, because of resistance we've received in Kiev, we have been forced to change the venue in that city. Also our Ukrainian partners must now recruit the teachers themselves - previously this was to be handled by the Kiev Ministry of Education.

This change increases our expenses, and we are still roughly $4,000 from our original goal of $8,500. Please continue to pray that we would meet no more resistance, that God would open doors for teachers in Kiev to attend this conference, and that we would raise the necessary funds so they can do so free of charge!