Missions Development International (MDI)

Kherson Conference Starts Tomorrow!

2011-10-26T12:44:00.006-05:00

Kiev Conference Very Culturally Revealing!

The conference in Kiev was a wonderful time of sharing the gospel and learning about the teaching climate in Ukraine. We always say that you go on a mission trip to minister to others and end up being ministered to yourself. It has been very moving for Pat and Joy to get to hear about Ukrainian teachers' experiences and lack of principal support, and parental support. Ukrainian teachers are basically left to fend for themselves with no one to trust and no support system.

Both Pat & Joy shared their lectures and gave four Master Classes with smaller groups of teachers. This gave them a very intimate setting to answer teachers' questions and give them some more specific tools to use in teaching Christian Morals and Ethics in their classrooms. God abundantly blessed this time with a spirit of openness in sharing experiences from both sides of the ocean.

Everyone who attended the conference received a certificate of completion at the end. We praise God that 80-90% of the teachers who went through the CME curriculum after the March conferences saw a drastic improvement in their students’ relationship with each other and with their families.

Please pray for the teachers that attended our Kiev Conference as they return to their classrooms next week and have the opportunity to put some of these tools in practice. Pray that they would speak boldly, create a trusting and loving environment for their students and be able to support each other in this venture.

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Kherson Conference Starts Tomorrow!

Please pray for us Tomorrow & Friday, as Pat and Joy speak at our second Christian Morals & Ethics Conference in Kherson, Ukraine. We had a great and safe experience on the night train down here from Kiev!

Thank you so much for your ministry of prayer!

In Christ's love,

Heather Karls

MDI Operations Manager

MDI IS FLYING OUT THURSDAY!

2011-10-18T10:51:00.000-05:00

On October 20th, 2011, MDI Missions Development International (MDI) will be taking seasoned teachers, Joy MacKenzie and Pat Ummel to Kiev, Ukraine, where they will be keynote speakers at two national teacher's conferences on Christian Morals and Ethics.

The Ministry of Education in Ukraine has opened the doors for Christian morals and ethics to be taught in public schools and these Christian Morals and Ethics (CME) conferences are designed to equip Ukrainian public school teachers with the motivation and tools to teach Christian morals and ethics in their classrooms. We are really excited that the Lord has sent us such amazing educators to be His ambassadors for transformation in Ukraine. This is a very special trip and we are really looking forward to seeing the Lord's hand at work in every detail. Please partner with us in prayer as we embark on this mission. We greatly appreciate your support in covering this trip with prayer.
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On October 30th, 2011, the ladies will be returning to the States, but Steve Lorenz (CEO), Marti Scudder (President), and Heather Karls (Operations Manager) will be heading on to Prague, Czech Republic, to meet with Scott Koch of Inspire Leadership, who is founding a leadership development program there. We will be in Prague through November 4th. Please pray for the Spirit's guidance during this time.

Please pray especially for Marti Scudder our dear President who will have been traveling for one month solid by the time this trip is over. She is currently in Africa spending time with her son and will be meeting us in Ukraine. Please pray for energy for her and lots of rest during this very long journey. Marti is a fearless leader and we so appreciate her sacrifice in taking such a long trip.

We will be sending updates from the trip to keep you informed of our progress. So keep an eye out for those emails.

Thank you so much for your ministry of prayer!

In Christ's love,

Heather Karls
MDI Operations Manager

We need office space...

2011-09-16T14:06:00.006-05:00

It is hard to believe that MDI is almost 14 years old. During most of that time God has been very gracious to us by offering us free office space provided generously to us through the corporations of Legalbill and Breathamerica. Our current offices are at Breathamerica in One Burton Hills. They just have received a capital infusion of twice the capital they were asking for. This puts great pressure on them to expand quickly and need the office space we currently occupy. As a result, we are once again looking for a new donor of office space.

Our prayer is for 3 offices:

1. The main office needs to hold a large partner desk, a couch and three side chairs.
2. The second office needs to hold two desks and two side chairs and seven filing cabinets.
3. The third office is for a missionary and MDI staff member coming off the field in December who will need an office. We do not know how long he will remain in the states, so we may not need this third office permanently.

We are praying that you will help us find space. We need help! We have a very busy schedule ahead of us and are anxious to get resettled. Also, if you know someone who would like to make an investment in this troubled housing market and buy a house for us and have the expenses be tax deductible, that would be fabulous. Even if you have an extra room, guest house or basement that we could use, any space would be greatly appreciated!

If you cannot help us, please join us in prayer that God will continue to be gracious to us by providing free office space so that we might be able to continue our ministry serving isolated leaders around the world.

Thank you in advance for your steadfastness in standing with us in this prayer request.

Steven R. Lorenz

CEO & Chairman

Missions Development International (MDI)

Prague

2011-06-26T18:27:00.003-05:00

Prague Trip
We had a wonderful time meeting with Scott Koch and discussing the new leadership development project that he is working on in Prague, Czech Republic. Scott introduced us to his very talented team of volunteers that are working together to make this ministry happen.
Together, we mapped out a beginning strategy and will be returning to Prague this Fall to discuss the future direction of the ministry.
We are really excited to see what the Lord has in store for Scott and this Godly group of people. Please be praying with us that God would reveal His plan for the next steps.

2011-06-26T17:47:00.003-05:00

JTF Conference

The Journey to Freedom Conference (JTF) in Odessa, Ukarine was a huge success! Many connections were made in Odessa and in Kiev, both with individuals interested in joining groups and with church partners who can help spread the program to other parts of the city and eventually the rest of the country. We even did a model group meeting with pastors from New Life Church in Kiev.

Scott Reall and Jason Hancock were instrumental in opening doors for MDI to pastors by speaking of the gospel foundation of Journey to Freedom and sharing their personal stories. God truly blessed their willingness to share and opened hearts through the process.

Marti, Steve, Scott and Jason’s time with the JTF Ukraine Team was such a wonderful time of encouragement. It was instrumental for both Jason & Scott to see the impact that JTF has had in Ukraine and also for the Ukraine Team to get to share their journey with founder of the program.

We had a valuable time of strategic planning with Tanya Baranova and Sasha Sapego to discuss the next steps in the future of JTF Ukraine.

Many thanks to Tanya Baranova and her team for all of their careful planning for the conference in Odessa. They all did a tremendous job and we are grateful to them!

Praise the Lord for His many blessings in and through this trip!

Kiev Update from Marti...

2011-06-14T14:18:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was an important day! We had a deep and forward looking conversation with Tanya Baranova and Sasha Sapego as we closed out our strategic planning time with them. We are one team on different sides of the ocean and working together!

We then drove to Kiev -- a long day through the Ukrainian countryside. I am staying with Sveta Boiko and the guys are staying in an apartment building next door. Last night we had dinner with MDI missionary, Josh Ingram, and then strolled along the river. We ended with a great prayer time all together. Josh is doing very well and it was fascinating hearing his stories of adjusting to life in a new country (he arrived in April.)

Today we meet with a pastor this morning who runs different rehab centers. Then we spend the rest of the day with Anatoly Kaluzhny and leaders at New Life Church.

Thank you for praying!

Marti Scudder

Stories from JTF Team in Ukraine!

2011-06-13T12:28:00.002-05:00

Conference Huge Success!

"This photo is from entering the church where the JTF conference was held. It was a huge success both with individuals interested in joining groups and with church partners who can help spread the program to other parts of the city and eventually the rest of the country. I know we've talked about how this little program from the Green Hills YMCA, is changing lives in Ukraine...but I am seeing it with my own eyes and it is truly amazing." - Jason Hancock

Pictured: Scott at Trinity Church in Ukraine

"As you can imagine, we are moving at breakneck pace! Each day is more intense and fuller than the one before. We are all overflowing with God's blessings and experiences. We have spent hours with Tanya Baranova and Sasha Sapego thinking through strategic planning for JTF Ukraine. We have had meals with different missionaries. We spent time in Palermo in a gypsy village with a young pastor who ministers to the gypsies. Poverty like you would not believe. Later this afternoon we had a time of prayer over this very humble and called pastor. We also met with the Presbyterian church pastors. And then this evening was a dinner for Journey to Freedom small group alumni! It was incredible! At the end when we all gathered, holding hands and the words to Amazing Grace floated up in Russian and English, it was a glimpse of heaven." - Marti Scudder

JTF Alumni Dinner: "Tonight was such a blessing! After Scott and Jason spoke to the alumni of journey to Freedom, each of them spoke back to Scott thanking him for the transformation that has happened in their lives because of his book. It was a very special God-centered time. The food wasn't bad either!" - Steve Lorenz

"As Scott and I were getting ready to sit down at the little cafe across from our apartment, a young woman approached us and asked 'Are you Scott Reall?' We were completely blown away. Here we are on the other side of the world and this woman recognizes Scott.

The girl in the photograph is Sasha, a graduate of one of Tanya's first Journey To Freedom classes and a waitress at Scott's new favorite cafe. I had the privilege of visiting with Sasha after the conference today and hearing a little bit about why she joined the group. Without disclosing too much, Sasha lives at home and her father is a terrible alcoholic who is abusive to his family. As I stood in the church today and visited with her, all I could do was say "Thank you Lord, that there is a place where she can find some hope and healing." -Jason Hancock

Thank you for all your prayers!

JTF Conference TODAY! Please Pray!

2011-06-10T10:49:00.001-05:00

Our JTF Conference is TODAY,
Pray for our Conference!

We are currently at our Journey to Freedom (JTF) Conference in Odessa, Ukraine and are so excited to see what the Lord has in store for us today. JTF Founder, Scott Reall and JTF Chairman, Jason Hancock are sharing their personal stories and the life-transforming work that God has done through this powerful program.

Please pray:

1. Pray that our conference would go smoothly and pray for the hearts of the people who are attending that the Lord would open them up to the potential that Journey to Freedom holds for their churches.

2. Pray for our Ukrainian JTF Team as they host the conference.

3. Pray for our translators that the Lord would direct their translations.

4. Pray for all of the one-on-one conversations that we will have throughout the day and above all, pray that the Lord's Will be done in all these things.

Thank you for all your prayers!

Steve Lorenz Marti Scudder
CEO President

Doctors, start praying!

2011-06-10T10:47:00.004-05:00

"We had an interesting meeting yesterday with a well-known doctor in Odessa. He had attended our Morals and Ethics Conference in March. His response to us was, "This is exactly what the doctors and nurses need in Ukraine! Why are you just doing this for teachers?"

Yesterday he reiterated his desire to have us bring a medical team. He said he would organize it and raise the funds for it. So doctors, start praying!"

Steve & Marti

Pray for our JTF Team leaving TODAY!!

2011-06-07T16:43:00.008-05:00

Our team is leaving TODAY,
Pray for our Trip!

We are taking founder Scott Reall and Jason Hancock to Ukraine to expand the ministry of Journey to Freedom to impact lives and share the message of building healing communities within the churches of Ukraine. You can still support our conference expenses by clicking here.
Please pray:
1. For our Team: For protection, favor, blessings and health for our team and for their families that they are leaving behind. Pray that God will move in the lives of our team and prepare their hearts, minds and spirits for ministry.
2. For our Guests: Pray for God to prepare the hearts of the people attending the conference and the people the team will be meeting with one-on-one in Kiev and in Odessa, Ukraine.
3. For our Hosts: Pray for our Ukrainian Team that has made all of the plans and is building the foundation for the relationships to be made at this conference. Pray for energy, encouragement, wisdom and protection over them and the plans that they have set in place.
4. For Journey to Freedom: Pray that the Lord would open doors through this conference to spread the ministry of Journey to Freedom throughout Ukraine.
5. For our Time in Prague: Pray for Heather Karls, our Operations Manager, as she will be meeting us in Prague and pray for wisdom and discernment and a great time of fellowship in meeting with a potential new ministry partner, Scott Koch and his team.
Thank you for all your prayers!

Steve Lorenz,
CEO,
Marti Scudder,
President,
Heather Karls,
Operations Manager

2011-06-02T17:21:00.003-05:00

Our team is leaving NEXT WEEK and
We still need to raise $1,930

We are taking founder Scott Reall and Jason Hancock to Ukraine to expand the ministry of Journey to Freedom to impact lives and share the message of building healing communities within the churches of Ukraine. Please click the donate button to support this conference!

Turn Spring Cleaning into a Tax Deduction!

2011-05-25T10:54:00.010-05:00

Cleaning out your house for spring? Turn your spring cleaning into a tax deduction by donating your old home office equipment to MDI.

MDI is moving to a new office space (same building; new space) in July and we are in need of some office equipment. If you have any of the following items that you are looking to get rid of, please contact Heather Karls at: heather@mdiweb.org

Conference Table (seats 6)
Filing cabinets (lateral files)
Bookcases/sidebar storage cabinets
End Tables
Chairs (desk chairs, living room chairs or kitchen table chairs)
Lamps (appropriate for an office; floor or table)
Computers (mac preferred; less than 5 yrs. old)
Printers (color, laserjet)
Cell Phones (smart phone)
White Boards (4'x6')
Carpet (wall-to-wall; 18'x22' or 14'x18')

Pass this along to your friends if you know anyone who is downsizing!

Finding Freedom...

2011-05-17T11:59:00.018-05:00

What if the healing power of Jesus Christ completely transformed your life in such a radical way that you were set free from the strongholds of life controlling issues that held you captive for so long? This is Journey to Freedom. …more info

In June, MDI is hosting a conference in Odessa, Ukraine, featuring Nashville keynote speakers Scott Reall, Author/Founder of Journey to Freedom and Jason Hancock, Chairman of the Journey to Freedom Ukraine Advisory Board. Pastors from all over Ukraine are traveling to this conference to learn about the restorative power of the Holy Spirit through this program. This is a tremendous opportunity to see the Spirit move and release the strongholds of generations throughout this former Communist nation, but in order for MDI to host the conference,

We need to raise $3,250!

In addition, each team member is raising their own trip support of $3995, including MDI staff members Marti Scudder, President & Steve Lorenz, CEO. Please support the conference costs and our staff members by clicking here.

Mark your calendars for June 7– 16 to pray for the trip, the conference and the individual meetings that the team will have with pastors throughout Ukraine. To receive prayer updates for this trip, simply click here.

Thank you all for your prayers!

Heather Karls

MDI: Operations Manager

Journey to Freedom: Ukraine Conference Keynote Speakers

2011-05-17T11:52:00.005-05:00

In June, MDI is hosting a conference in Odessa, Ukraine, featuring Nashville keynote speakers Scott Reall, Author/Founder of Journey to Freedom and Jason Hancock, Chairman of the Journey to Freedom Ukraine Advisory Board. Here is some more information on our keynote speakers:

BIO. JTF: Scott Reall

Scott Reall is an author, recovery coach and teacher. He is founder and executive director of Restore Ministries of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee in Nashville.

Scott began his journey with the YMCA over 20 years ago when he became the Senior Wellness Director of the Green Hills YMCA. In this position he found his passion for helping people change their lives by overcoming life-controlling issues so they can achieve their full potential in spirit, mind and body.

In 2000, he began Restore Ministries. He is now the author of five books in the Journey to Freedom series published by Thomas Nelson. Journey to Freedom is now being used by YMCAs, churches, corporations, and prisons all over the USA and other countries across the world.

Journey to Freedom has been translated and published in Russian. It is currently being translated into Spanish. Through Restore Ministries, he has helped close to 10,000 people overcome obstacles of change in their lives truly making Restore a life changing program of the YMCA.

BIO. JTF: Jason Hancock

Jason Hancock grew up in a small agricultural community in the Panhandle of Texas in the United States. He attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas and majored in Advertising. He joined his father’s advertising agency and worked with him for several years, and then went to work for a larger regional advertising agency.

It was during this time that he became involved as a board member of the local chapter of Big Brothers / Big Sisters, a program that provides mentors for children in single-parent homes, and later served as the Board Chairman. He was also on the board of the YMCA of Midland, Texas, and was the Communications Committee Chairman of the United Way of the Permian Basin.

He moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1998 and worked for the largest advertising agency in the Southeastern US, managing the Out-of-home advertising division. In 2005, he started his own company, Hancock Advertising.

Jason and his family were members of the Green Hills YMCA, and after a chance meeting with Scott Reall, he became involved in Restore Ministries as a Board Member, Journey to Freedom participant, and facilitator. He served the Board as its Chairman for 4 years.

He has seen the direct impact of faith-based community recovery both in his own life and in many others. He is currently serving on the Green Hills YMCA board as the Restore Ministries liaison.

Jason and his wife, Amy, have a daughter, Mollie, who is 17.

In his spare time, he enjoys golf, riding his scooter, gardening and computers.

2011-05-03T13:31:00.006-05:00

Thank you to all who joined us for our event! We had, what we call in the office, great “family time” with our whole MDI family and friends. It was such a lovely evening of community and sharing.

We were blessed to have Oleg and Lena Vasilevsky join us from Ukraine and share about the journey that God has had us on together.

We would especially like to thank our donors: the E.B.S. Foundation, Marvin & Phoebe Nischan, Breathe America, Tennessee Bank & Trust and Volvo of Nashville for their generous support of the evening.

Thanks to everyone who came and to our donors, we were able to raise over $20,000 towards our $240,000 annual budget!

If you were unable to attend and would like to have a DVD of the Premiere film (suggested donation $10) or if you would like to host a private viewing for your friends, click here or call Heather Karls, MDI Operations Manager at: 615-812-1520.

To see more pictures from the event, check out our facebook page at: www.facebook.com/mdiweb

Christian Morals & Ethics Update...

2011-05-03T12:14:00.007-05:00

On our first Christian Morals & Ethic (CME) Trip we were able to reach over 200 teachers with the tools to teach CME in the public school classrooms and to encourage them as to the benefits this curriculum can have for the future generations of Ukraine.

This was an incredibly encouraging time of seeing God’s hand move in every way from securing a new venue one week before the conference to making sure not one person’s luggage was lost in transit. Here is what some of our American teachers had to say:

"An amazing experience, our trip to Ukraine was marked by God's care from start to finish. In spite of resistance, God opened doors, and through this teaching conference allowed many teachers and college students the opportunity to hear about the life-changing power of Christ, which can affect a classroom (and thus a community) for good. Our team bonded with each other, our translators, and the many amazing people we met. God intimately accompanied us. As is always the case in God's economy, we received far more than we could give, and we left Ukraine changed, including a more global view of God's plan." - Kendra Posey

"The moment I stood behind a microphone and looked out at all those teachers' faces, I realized I was a very small person in God's really big world; It was an indescribable privilege to partner with some of the future leaders of Ukrainian education. These men and women were at the conference even in the face of opposition to learn about teaching using Christian morals and ethics. I learned from them the first of many lessons from the trip; God is larger than any government." - Carey Dincauze

Despite mounting opposition, both conference went on as scheduled. And even though we are not being permitted to give an alter call from stage at the conference due to governmental sensitivities, one of our US teachers was still able to pray with a Ukrainian teacher individually to receive Christ, plus many questions about Jesus were asked at break times! Praise God for the many doors that He opens!

Currently we have a second trip scheduled for October and we are in process of recruiting teachers for the trip. The Ukrainian government has opened the doors for us to bring a total of 3-4 teachers on each trip. So if you or someone you know is a teacher who would be interested in this once in a lifetime experience, please contact Heather Karls, MDI Operations Manager at: heather@mdiweb.org for more information.

We will miss you Russ...

2011-05-03T12:09:00.006-05:00

After two years being on staff with MDI, Russell Anderson is venturing out to start his own company. We are so excited for him and this new chapter in his life.

Together with a couple friends, Russell is starting a web based fundraising site called helpFundit that will focus on helping non-profits all across the country raise funds and run campaigns for their projects with a real sense of urgency.

We are so grateful for all he has done for MDI and pray that he will continue to be a part of the MDI family for many years to come.

Look for information on his new company coming soon...

June Conference: Journey to Freedom Ukraine

2011-05-02T17:47:00.004-05:00

In June, MDI will be taking Scott Reall, author of Journey to Freedom (JTF), and Jason Hancock, on the Green Hills YMCA Board, to Ukraine! They will spend time with our MDI Staff who lead Journey to Freedom in Odessa, Ukraine and be a strong encouragement to our core team that is working hard to spread the message of the life transforming power of Jesus Christ throughout the country.

While there, MDI will also be hosting a conference for Ukrainian pastors and leaders to learn more about the amazing impact that this curriculum can have in freeing individuals from life-controlling issues by learning to trust in Jesus Christ.

Currently, there is a lot of inter-denominational resistance within Ukraine. We are praying that having the American author present this non-denominational curriculum will break down some of those barriers and open the doors for healing through these churches starting their own JTF small groups.

This is an amazing opportunity to share the message of finding freedom from life controlling issues by learning to trust Jesus and walking in community. This ministry can impact churches, cities and nations! Please partner with us by supporting this conference. We need $3250 in order to put on this conference, click here to donate.

Tonight's the big night!

2011-04-14T12:00:00.003-05:00

If you haven't yet purchased tickets, you can do so at the door. See you tonight!

Amazing story about Odessa conference

2011-03-18T11:51:00.002-05:00

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!

2011-03-17T09:22:00.000-05:00

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!

2011-03-16T12:21:00.005-05:00

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!

2011-03-14T16:44:00.000-05:00

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

2011-03-11T16:35:00.000-06:00

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

2011-03-11T09:40:00.001-06:00

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

CPA Teachers leave today with MDI

2011-03-10T12:31:00.001-06:00

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

Thatwe would not encounter further "resistance" from anyone in theUkrainian government and that each conference would run smoothly
Forthe Ukrainian teachers attending each conference, that their ears andhearts would be open to the transforming power of the Gospel in theirclassrooms
For our team of teachers, that they would speak boldly and confidently, and be able to transform lives for Christ!
Forthe families of the team who will be staying here in the US. Pray fortheir 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

2011-03-01T16:13:00.000-06:00

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!

Save the date! April 14, 2011

2011-02-25T13:28:00.002-06:00

New video explaining our upcoming project!

2011-02-21T12:59:00.000-06:00

The battle for these conferences has begun! We need your prayers!

2011-02-18T11:53:00.000-06:00

We just received word that a woman from the Department of Education in Kiev (the site of one of our Christian Morals & Ethics conferences) is refusing to extend the necessary documents to our partner in Ukraine, Regeneration. Her grievance is that we are not affiliated with the Orthodox church.

Our partners in Ukraine are working hard to resolve this issue, but please lift this situation up in prayer, that this woman's heart would be miraculously changed! We also have only 15 more days to raise an additional $5831 for these conferences, so that the teachers can afford to attend them. Without the training they will receive at these conferences, they will NOT be able to teach Christian morals in their classrooms!

Click below to find out how you can help!

Profiles of the CPA teachers working the conferences

2011-02-11T15:05:00.001-06:00

Here's a look at the teachers who will be joining MDI this spring:

	Carey Dincauze Carey has been with CPA for 11 years, where she currently teaches English. She will be leading seminars on how Christian ethics can fundamentally shift how students view themselves, communicate, relate to one another, grow as leaders, and respond to discipline. She will also share how belief in the person of Jesus Christ is crucial to living by these morals.
	Ben Ellis Rev. Ben Ellis is an Instructor of Latin, Bible, and History at Christ Presbyterian Academy. His classroom teaching experience has covered the wide range of ages from 3rd grade through seminary and graduate level education, both in the USA and in international schools. Ben will be leading seminars focused on how a Christian understanding of oneself paves the way for emotionally, psychologically, and socially healthy students.
	Kendra Posey Kendra Posey is a literature and Bible teacher at Christ Presbyterian Academy. This is her second year there. The first five years of her career she spent teaching at a public middle school. Kendra will be leading seminars relying on real world and personal examples to demonstrate how a Christian worldview can make a serious impact on life choices.

MDI teaming up with CPA to bring Christ to the classrooms of Ukraine!

2011-02-10T16:21:00.001-06:00

This March, three teachers from Christ Presbyterian Academy will travel with MDI to Ukraine to conduct two conferences for public school teachers in that country. The conferences are a part of MDI's Christian Morals & Ethics project. Together with our ministry partner Regeneration (part of New Life Center), we have the opportunity to bring Jesus Christ into the classrooms of Ukraine.

During these conferences (to be held March 14-18), the teachers from CPA will share with hundreds of Ukrainian public school teachers about the powerful impact that Jesus Christ can make on a student, their lives and their education. The Ukrainian teachers will then be certified and allowed to use Regeneration's curriculum for Christian Morals and Ethics in their classrooms.

We are incredibly excited about this opportunity, and we hope it is thefirst of many conference series we'll conduct. However, because ofrecent governmental changes in Ukraine, there is no guarantee that we will ever have this opportunity again.

We need to raise $8500 to cover the cost of the conferences so that the Ukrainian teachers can attend them free of charge. Please consider taking part in this ministry by supporting it financially! To do so now by credit card, please click the donate button below or visit http://www.mdiweb.org/supportmne.htm for instructions to give by check.

Steve's Birthday, New Life's 20th Anniversary & Lots of Dear Friends...

2011-01-31T16:52:00.007-06:00

Steve's birthday has been celebrated again and again. Personally, I believe it's a sign of how much people love and respect him. At New Life Church in Kiev yesterday, Steve was honored for his birthday with traditional Ukrainian Clothes (see photo to right). It was a day of celebrations as it was also the 20th Anniversary of New Life Church in Kiev. It was such a blessing to be there to celebrate with them.

Steve's birthday was also celebrated at the Radooga offices today, where he was given a beautifully symbolic painting made by Lena Vasilevsky's sister (see below). We had such a great time with the staff at Radooga and personally, I felt that you could see the energy of that team just by being in the same room with them. We are so excited about the new programs that God has been stirring in their hearts.

We've also had a lovely time with Sveta & Taras Boiko, Sveta is the Director of our MDI Ministry Center in Kiev, and we were encouraged and excited at God's goodness from our meeting with Oleg and Oksana Magdych, who are leading the youth at New Life Church - Kiev.

It's been a busy several days and poor Steve is still not sleeping well, if at all. Please pray for rest for all of us, but in particular that Steve would get a full night's sleep tonight. Also, pray for our meeting tomorrow with the Regeneration team at New Life in regards to the upcoming Christian Morals and Ethics Conference in Ukraine. If you are unfamiliar with this amazing project, or that God has opened the doors for Christian Education in the public schools in Ukraine, then click here for more information.

We are also meeting with Anatoly Kaluzhny, pastor of New Life Church tomorrow afternoon. So please be in prayer for all these meetings and for our travels on Wednesday as we drive 6-8 hrs to Odessa.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers for our trip. We so greatly appreciate all of you!

Heather Karls

Operations Manager

Team now in Kiev

2011-01-28T15:46:00.000-06:00

From Marti Scudder:

"We arrived safe and sound this this evening. All luggage was with us and customs was a breeze. The biggest hassle was taking an hour to get out of the airport parking lot!!!! We got here about 7 pm and have a huge apartment that is very nice with three separate rooms, a kitchen and bath. We had a special dinner with Anya Kaluzhna tonight. She is a delightful and amazing young woman. Tomorrow (Saturday) starts a full day of work. Please pray for us as we prepare to speak on Sunday. It is late now so that means we are getting up early to prepare in the morning.

Thank you!
Marti"

Red Hill Christian Centre in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England

2011-01-27T17:24:00.006-06:00

We are now on our 3^rd day in England, attempting to get over our jet-lag and adjust to the time change. We have had a wonderful time of fellowship and encouragement with Randall Morgan of MDI at Red Hill Christian Centre. Randall has shown us the grounds of Red Hill, where he is currently ministering and were his annual worship festival, SOZO, takes place. We also discussed some of his upcoming trips and plans for the coming year. It’s very obvious just from seeing his interactions that he is truly a blessing to his community here in England.

We also had a lovely time with Stephen and Bryony Brooker, the Wardens of Red Hill Christian Centre, before seeing them off on their trip to Isreal. Pray for safe travels for them and blessings over their time in such a holy place.

This morning, Marti and Steve had a wonderful meeting with Bruce & Bonnie Robinson, who are missionaries with IGO Ministries. It’s such a blessing to see the way God directs exactly what He wants when we are all open to His leading.

I am off to bed as we are flying out for Ukraine on the red-eye flight in the morning. Please pray for us:

For safe travels and ease with Ukrainian Customs.
For Steve as he hasn’t been sleeping well.
For God’s blessing over those we’ve already met with and those we have yet to meet.
For New Life Church – Kiev who is celebrating it’s 20^th Anniversary on Sunday.
For Tanya Baranova of Journey to Freedom – Ukraine, that she would avoid getting the chicken pox and for her son, Ilya, who has just fully recovered from chicken pox.
For the planning meetings for the Christian Morals & Ethics (CME) Conference in March.
Praise for a 3^rd teacher from the US joining our CME trip!
For God’s continual blessing on this trip and for health, energy & peace for all of us on this trip.
Praise for the deliciousness of Sticky Toffee Pudding which I was just introduced to this evening!

Thank you all for your prayers and your support!

Heather Karls

Operations Manager, MDI

MDI team arrives safely in England

2011-01-26T11:53:00.002-06:00

On January 24, new staff member Heather Karls departed with Steve Lorenz and Marti Scudder to Europe. They will first spend time with Randy Morgan of MDI at Red Hill Christian Centre in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, the site of the previous two SOZO Festivals.

They have arrived safely in England!

After a few days there, they will head to Ukraine, to hammer out the details of the Christian Morals and Ethics conference coming up in March, as well as continuing MDI's work with partner ministries in Kiev and Odessa.

Here is how you can join them on this mission through prayer:

Pray they will be Christ's ambassadors to all they spend time with
Pray they will be an encouragement to Randy as he prepares for a year of ministry in England and Eastern Europe
Pray for the finalization of plans of the two Christian Morals & Ethics conferences (for more on that project, click here).
Pray for the planning of an upcoming vision trip (possibly in June) from the United States for friends of the ministry to witness Journey to Freedom Ukraine in action
Pray of course for good health, traveling mercies, and for the family members they leave at home

Help us welcome a new face to our staff!

2011-01-26T11:05:00.001-06:00

This month, MDI is pleased to add Heather Karls to our staff as Operations Manager.

Heather's background and experience in administration, event planning, and marketing are sure to serve MDI very well in the future.

Heather attends Midtown Fellowship Church in Nashville and has been a monthly supporter of MDI for two years prior to joining us on staff. She is extremely excited about the opportunity to use her gifts and talents in support of our mission! Please pray for Heather as she transitions into her role here at MDI.

MDI's trip to orphanages a great success!

2011-01-18T11:48:00.004-06:00

Earlier this month, Russell Anderson of MDI led a team of 11 folks from Midtown Fellowship Church to Kharkiv, Ukraine with our partner Radooga Ministries. While there, they visited two orphanages that feed into Radooga's orphan camps during the summer.

The team contained many of the same people who have worked the orphan camp with Russell and Radooga the past two summers. The trip was a very blessed time for the American team, who were able to continue building and strengthening relationships with these children, and showing them the love of Christ. They also survived the Ukrainian wintertime unscathed.

For Radooga, it was also a great success, as it marked the first time it has ever hosted an American team for a project outside of summertime. The success of this trip opens up new opportunities for American teams to work with Radooga not only over winter breaks but fall and spring breaks as well!

Most importantly, the trip was a great blessing to the children. In Ukraine, Christmas is observed on January 7, and this stretch of time can be incredibly lonely for them, as some of their peers go off and celebrate with extended family. MDI and Radooga were able to bring some much needed joy and activity to these kids when they needed it most, and remind them that they are not forgotten!

To see more photos and here more stories, visit midtowninukraine.blogspot.com

Team at the airport

2011-01-02T22:46:00.002-06:00

The team is off!!!!

2011-01-02T22:38:00.002-06:00

The team is off to Ukraine!!! Pray for them! Heather is already there and Josh left early and will arrive 4 hours before everyone else!

MDI working with Orphanages in Kharkov next week

2011-01-01T21:04:00.002-06:00

Russell Anderson of MDI will be leading a team from Midtown Fellowship Church to work with children in orphanages in Kharkov, Ukraine. The team leaves Sunday, January 2 and returns Sunday, January 9.

The team will be working with MDI's ministry partner Radooga while in Ukraine. They have set up their own blog site at: http://midtowninukraine.blogspot.com

Please visit that site to follow their progress and learn how to pray for them!

Reaching out to leaders in isolation

2010-12-03T15:05:00.002-06:00

Here is a short clip that gives a quick snapshot into the work that MDI is doing around the world.

Your Holiday Shopping can support MDI!

2010-11-29T11:33:00.000-06:00

Show your support for MDI this holiday by shopping!

www.mdishopping.com

Forall of you who still have some Christmas gifts to buy, or who areshopping for just about anything, MDI has created a way that you cantake advantage of the ease and convenience of Internet shopping to buythe products and services you want, while feeling good about helpingone of your favorite organizations!

MDI has teamed up with Market America, an online store similar to Amazon, in an exciting new fundraising program. Foreach purchase you make through Market America, or through its link topartner stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, Borders, Best Buy, orthousands of others, MDI will receive a portion of the purchase priceas a donation!

Simply go to: http://www.mdishopping.com/

Click on "Sign in" in the top right corner to register and beginshopping! You can shop by product like on Amazon, or go to yourfavorite store through the Partner Stores link. No matter where youeventually get navigated, your purchase will benefit MDI!

Wehope you'll find this a fun and easy way to shop and support ourministry, not only this holiday season but well into the future!

Merry Christmas from all of us at MDI!

Ukraine featured on NPR

2010-11-18T14:42:00.000-06:00

Yesterday's Morning Edition program featured a story on the current deterioration of democracy in Ukraine. This is certainly a crucial time for the country, as the social problems and corruption are leaving ordinary people preferring a "strong leader" to democratically elected government.

The church in Ukraine needs your support now more than ever. Please consider supporting church and ministry leaders in Ukraine by supporting MDI now!

Safely in the USA

2010-10-27T14:21:00.000-05:00

Thank you to all who prayed for us, we all returned safely and without delay to the United States over the weekend. It's now back to work!

We've posted some photos from our trip to our Facebook page. Here are some highlights from our days in Odessa:

Last day in Ukraine

2010-10-21T05:52:00.000-05:00

We have wrapped shooting and are spending one last day with the staff of Radooga in Kiev, Ukraine. The Lord really blessed our whole shoot, and we spent some time last night viewing footage. We're all very excited about what we got on tape.

Our time filming Tanya Baranova was very powerful. I almost don't want to go too much into it because I think the film will speak for itself, but it was a very moving experience for all of us on staff and in the crew.

Today we sent back Barry, Johnny, and Josh to America and as far as we know, they've made it through customs and on to Paris for their connection. Please pray for them as they travel home. Tomorrow, Steve, Marti, and myself head back to America.

Thank you to all who have prayed for us during this trip. We really saw your prayers for safety, weather, etc. answered and then some. Stay tuned for what's next with actually seeing the film!

-Russell Anderson for the MDI team

On to Odessa

2010-10-16T14:47:00.000-05:00

We are about halfway through filming, and are now on location in Odessa, Ukraine. Yesterday we spent the bulk of the day doing our best to capture everyday life in Kiev. From women feeding pigeons to kids playing soccer in the schoolyard, we caught a bit of everything. It was a fun and creative day of shooting, and we owe a lot to our driver, Pavel, who was not shy about asking strangers if we could film them!

In the morning yesterday Marti and Steve had an excellent meeting with a woman from New Life who has been developing the Christian Morals and Ethics program we have recently begun to partner with. They both left that meeting very impressed with her commitment to the project and her faith. We are even more excited about the opportunity to bring Christian school teachers to Ukraine next spring to train public school teachers on how to teach Christian morals in the classroom.

Yesterday evening we met with MDI missionary Joel Brown for dinner, and heard about his recent recommitment to living in Ukraine (until otherwise notified by the Holy Spirit), and how the Lord has really blessed that commitment with a New Life Youth ministry program that is running at full steam. Josh Ingram will be staying with Joel over the next few days to learn what it's like to be an MDI missionary in Ukraine, first hand!

Today we made the trek to Odessa. The drive was completely socked in by fog in the morning but by midday it cleared for some beautiful views of the countryside. This evening we were able to film Oleg Vasilevsky speaking at a youth conference here. He is such a dynamic speaker that even though I don't really understand what he's saying, I am still very much engaged when I watch him. It should look great on film.

Tomorrow we'll go to Trinity International Church, home of Pastor Sergey Bermas, part time staff person of MDI through Journey to Freedom. We then move on to begin filming the third star of our film, Tanya Baranova, Director of Journey to Freedom Ukraine.

Please pray for rest!

-Russell Anderson for MDI

Day 2 - All about Anatoly

2010-10-14T10:51:00.000-05:00

Our second day is a wrap and we are now relaxing at the home of Oleg and Lena Vasilevsky.

It was a long one, however. We started early this morning with an interview of Anatoly Kaluzhny outside the building (now a church) where he publicly debated prominent atheist philosophers in the early 90's. We then moved on to film him in different places around the city and at New Life church's offices.

The weather has been absolutely pristine, we couldn't ask for anything more beautiful or perfect for filming. Here's hoping it continues but we all feel that God is coninually blessing this shoot, so praise Him!

Josh Ingram is practicing tonight with one of New Life church's worship bands. He will play with them Saturday night and next Wednesday. Today he got to meet a lot of the church and everyone keeps asking if he's moving to Kiev. Please continue to pray for him as he considers opportunities!

We didn't sleep much last night, so please pray for rest as we go about the rest of this film shoot. 12+ hour days accompanied by jet lag will sooner or later take its toll, but by the Lord's strength we will power through!

Thank you all for remembering us in your prayers!

For all of us,
Russell Anderson

First day of filming in Kiev

2010-10-13T08:40:00.002-05:00

Videographer John Gerhart and his steady-cam

Greetings from the Radooga offices in Kiev, Ukraine. We are smack dab in the middle of our first day of shooting, and are focused today on the story of Oleg Vasilevsky and how MDI has influenced him as a leader.

Our day of travel was long, with some pretty significant layovers in Detroit and Amsterdam, but everything arrived on time. An even greater miracle was our situation going through customs. All of our checked baggage, 12 items total, arrived safely, and we received absolutely zero flack from passport control or customs. This is seriously praiseworthy!

The wonderful Sveta Boiko was waiting for us with a large van to carry all of our gear, and off we went to our apartment building. Another small miracle occurred as the large freight elevator, which had been broken at the beginning of the day, was functioning just long enough for us to get all our equipment and baggage upstairs, until it broke again. We already see the hand of God blessing this trip in some obvious ways!

Tonight it is off to New Life Church to film Anatoly Kaluzhny preaching, and then tomorrow we will spend a whole day filming him. We leave for Odessa Saturday.

Thank you for your prayers and please keep lifting us up!

-Russell Anderson for the MDI team

Lights, Camera, MDI in Action

2010-10-10T22:07:00.000-05:00

MDI has an incredibly unique opportunity which has prompted our upcoming trip. Accompanying us to Ukraine is Barry Simmons of Stone Castle Pictures, director and producer of the award-winning film Sons of Lwala.

Barry and videographer Johnny Gerhart will be lending their talents and expertise to MDI, telling the story of how MDI changes the lives of ministry leaders around the world. The result will be a roughly ten minute short film about the power of our ministry.

Such a film has the potential to really capture visually the essence of MDI in a way that simply cannot be verbalized, and could be an incredible tool for us to spread the news of our ministry and the needs of our partners on a much wider scale in a shorter amount of time. But it all starts with the quality of the footage we are able to get on tape.

This is where we could really use your prayers! Any number of factors could disrupt our shoot, which will take place over eight days, such as bad weather, corrupt customs agents, curious crowds or even police stalling us in search of a bribe. Please pray that we would be able to navigate the twists and turns that are bound to be in store for us, and that we would get the content we need to accurately tell the story of our ministry in action!

In addition, during this trip MDI will also be spending its normal time as mentors, consultants, and equippers to our ministry partners in Ukraine, so we will have a very full plate!

Please stand in the gap for us and lift us up in prayer each day from October 11 through October 22.

Joining MDI on this trip as well will be Josh Ingram, of Midtown Fellowship Church in Nashville, Tennessee.

Josh was a member of the recent team of Midtowners who served with Russell Anderson of MDI at a Radooga orphan camp in July 2010. That trip was such a powerful experience for Josh that he feels called to explore possibilities for serving in Ukraine on a longer term basis.

This next month will serve as a vision trip for him to discover how God might use his gifts in Ukraine, and to make connections with the different ministries MDI is involved with to find out if there is a fit. Please pray for Josh as he seeks to discern God's call for his future, and if that involves becoming a missionary in Ukraine!

In other ways, the Lord continues to bless the ministry of MDI. We are excited to have our team member Randy Morgan back in the United States for a few months (he arrived this week), and we have been encouraged by the visit of Oleg and Lena Vasilevsky of Radooga, who have also been in Nashville this week.

We are gearing up to begin our new fund-raising year, which begins November 1. Our goal is to raise $22,000 in monthly support for our projects as well as our operating budget.

Please pray about how you might partner with us financially in the coming year and to see how the Lord might use you to help fulfill the vision He has cast within this ministry.

Thank you for praying for us during our upcoming travels, and for continuing to lift up MDI and all of our ministry partners in prayer!

In Christ,

Marti Scudder for the MDI team

Christ in the Classrooms of Ukraine

2010-10-01T17:46:00.002-05:00

...and your gift of $90 or more can help make it happen!


	MDI is proud to announce the launch of a new project: Christian Morals & Ethics in Ukrainian Classrooms Recently, MDI's longtime partner in ministry, New Life Center, has begun training Ukrainian middle and high school teachers to teach Christian morals and ethics using a curriculum they have published. This is in response to a 2005 governmental order allowing the subject to be taught as an extra-curricular course in public schools. MDI wants to bring this training to a whole new level, and to promote the curriculum as widely as possible in the shortest amount of time, because without this training teachers are not allowed to teach the subject, and recent governmental changes in Ukraine may close this unique window of opportunity at any point in time. So, with the partnership of Christian schools and teachers in the United States, MDI will conduct a series of conferences in 2011 to train and certify some 600 public school teachers to teach Christian morals and ethics in their schools. You can learn more on our website by clicking here. Without these conferences, New Life Center will not be able to reach these teachers, and thousands of Ukrainian students will miss the opportunity to hear about Christ in their schools. We have an opportunity to have a serious impact with the next generation in Ukraine, but we need your help to do it! Each conference will cost roughly $9,000 and train 100 teachers, so for a gift of $90 you can provide training to one Ukrainian school teacher. Please consider sponsoring one, five, or maybe even ten Ukrainian school teachers by donating now! Thank you from all of us at MDI! -Marti Scudder

Help us celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day

2010-08-24T15:55:00.004-05:00

On this day in the year 1991, the nation of Ukraine was born, when itdeclared its independence from the Soviet Union. It was a day of greatjoy and celebration for the people of Ukraine, as they had great hopesfor what their lives would be like as people free from the tyranny andoppression of the communist state.

However, since that day,the lives of many in Ukraine have been anything but hopeful. Many havehad a difficult time adjusting to their new found freedoms. Communismhas been replaced by unchecked corruption and exploitation bygovernment and business leaders. Socialproblems that existed under communism such as alcoholism have seeminglyonly gotten worse in the nearly 20 years since Ukraine becameindependent.

What's more, there is now awhole generation that have equated political freedom with lives ofexcess and instant gratification. HIV/AIDSis growing more rapidly here than in any other European nation, druguse is rampant, and Ukraine's abortion rates are some of the highest inthe whole world.

The people of Ukraine, like so manynations, need more than just political freedom, they need to discoverthe freedom that is found in Jesus Christ.

MDI is bringing this message through JOURNEY TO FREEDOM UKRAINE and its director, Tanya Baranova.

Journey to Freedom is a powerful book and accompanying 8-week course led by trainedfacilitators, that walks small groups of everyday people along the pathto find real freedom from life controlling issues like fear,loneliness, shame, addiction, or grief - all through the power of theGospel of Jesus Christ. Developed by our friends at RestoreMinistries, MDI has translated and published this resource and trainedsome very talented leaders in Ukraine to help people on their journey. Click here to learn more.

Tany a'sown personal story is one of true redemption, as she was delivered fromthe depths of addiction and withstood the throes of tuberculosis by thepower of Christ. Now, a licensed psychologist, Tanya is herself apowerful figure for Christ in Ukraine who can uniquely speak intopeople's struggles and train others how to do so.

Journey toFreedom Ukraine is actively training new leaders and starting new smallgroups, and spreading the word about the program to churches andministries throughout the nation of Ukraine. However, we need fundingto allow Tanya to work full-time with Journey to Freedom Ukraine, andwe desperately need a space of our own to hold meetings in Odessa, ourheadquarters for the program.

Please help us celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day by making an investment into a program that will help bring true freedom to this nation - Journey to Freedom Ukraine.

$25 Covers the cost of a book for an individual
$100 Provides training for a new small group facilitator
$500 Launches a new small group
$1000 Pays the rent of a meeting space for one month

We need monthly partners as well as one time givers to keep this program going! Please contact us if you can make a monthly commitment.Thank you for taking part with us in ministry!

In Christ,

Marti Scudder
President
MDI

Working with Radooga Orphan Camps

2010-07-27T10:53:00.001-05:00

Working with institutionally reared kids is especially difficult because they put up big walls. To even have a normal small-talk conversation is a struggle. They have all been through and seen things that most of us wouldn't begin to know how to handle. Their tough exterior is part of the way they handle it. My friend Val, who was with us on the trip, explains it this way: these kids don't have material possessions to show off to one another or talents that have been developed, so they use their toughness. It's all they've got.

Last year, it took days for us to get comfortable with them; it was very tense at first and only at the very end did we feel like we were becoming friends. After we left last year, so many of us had the sense that we needed to go back - that showing them that commitment would open up a lot of doors with them. I am blessed to say that we were right.

From the moment we stepped off the bus it was like we picked up right where we left off. The comfort level that the kids had with us and that we had with them was so much greater, and made it so much easier to connect. It also really served the members of our team who had never been there before - they could immediately begin engaging with them. In the words of team member Kelly Wendel, the camp was decidedly "a softer place." Walls seem to come down much faster than last year, and we were able to have so much more fun with them over the course of the week.

But all of that made leaving that much harder. You don't really get a sense of how much you mean to these children until you leave, and how much of an impact you have had. Seeing one of the "tough guys" broken down into tears because we were going - absolutely heartbreaking. One of the girls from my group last year, whom I had spent a bit more time with this week but not a whole lot, said to me as I was leaving, "It is so good to have a friend like you." Another child told me "Jesus loves you" in Russian as I was getting on the bus.

The experience of having to leave these kids makes you reevaluate a lot of things. Mostly it convicts you that "looking after orphans in their distress" (James 1:27) is not something that you do for a week, go home and pat yourself on the back. These kids have seen too many people come in and out of their life. They need more consistency than that. Returning next summer is a foregone conclusion. We're now looking seriously into taking a trip in January to visit them.

The truth is that these kids have so many needs and so much pain that all you can do for them is be with them and love them. It is frustrating that we can't do more; that we can't change their circumstances or outlooks in such a short time. But at the same time it is strangely freeing. Because isn't that what the Lord did with us, ultimately, through Jesus? He didn't come to change our circumstances to make us happy. He didn't come to give us everything we'd ever dreamed of and meet all of our expectations to what our life should look like. He just came to be with us... and to love us.

If that's all that I can do for these kids, I consider it a blessing. Please pray that the circumstances, finances, and everything else would continue to fall into place to allow it to happen.

SOZO - Bringing Reconciliation to Europe

2010-07-01T08:58:00.001-05:00

SOZO Celebration of the Nations, led by Randall Morgan of MDI (pictured right), will be held for the second year at Red Hill Christian Centre in Snitterfield, England. The festival begins July 7 and continues through July 11.

The Nashville SOZO staff team leaves July 4 for England and will return to the states after the festival on July 13. The team is made up of people from six different Nashville area churches. Marti Scudder, Steve Lorenz, and Russell Anderson of MDI will also be traveling to England to work with Randall and SOZO staff and to attend the festival.

SOZO festivals are all about working towards reconciliation -- between races, nations, generations and denominations -- through worship, prayer, fellowship and learning. Last year's festival in England proved to be a great encouragement to Christians in Europe, who are dealing with an influx of immigrants from the Muslim world which is creating new racial tensions, as well as a broader culture that is becoming more secularized and intolerant of religion.

This year's celebration should be even bigger and better than last. Please pray for SOZO, that it truly would inspire reconciliation among the people groups of Europe, and encourage more and more believers in the faith that will sustain them through all sorts of trials.

From Addict to Apostle

2010-06-28T09:03:00.001-05:00

Many of you have already the amazing story of Tanya Baranova, director of MDI's Journey to Freedom Ukraine program.

Tanya's story is one of true redemption, as she was delivered from the depths of addiction and the throes of tuberculosis by the power of Christ. Now, Tanya is herself a powerful figure for Christ in Ukraine.

Tanya has the unique ability to speak into people's lives as one who can truly empathize, which makes her the perfect leader for Journey to Freedom in Ukraine, a group book study focused on finding freedom from life's everyday struggles through Jesus Christ.

Journey To Freedom Ukraine is growing. Tanya is training more and more leaders and reaching out to churches all over southern Ukraine. The program desperately needs meeting space and Tanya is currently only part time due to a lack of funding.

Tanya is now in Nashville raising funds with MDI and training for this ministry. We hope to see Journey to Freedom Ukraine full funded at $3800 per month. Please consider giving a gift now, or contact us to schedule a meeting this week: marti@mdiweb.org.

MDI is Ministering to Orphans with Radooga

2010-06-25T11:00:00.001-05:00

Russell Anderson, MDI's Marketing & Development Director (pictured left), is gearing up to lead a team of 12 Americans to serve Radooga's orphan camp in Kharkiv, Ukraine. They set out Saturday, June 26 for two weeks and need your prayers!

This will be the second year in a row for MDI to bring a team to work with these particular kids. Of the Americans who went with MDI last year 3/4 of them will be returning to work with these children again this year. That really speaks to the impact a trip to serve with MDI and its partners can have, not only abroad but here at home. This particular mission is all about relationship: sharing God's love with these kids through friendship and action as much as through words.

Please pray of course for traveling mercies and for the hearts of the team as they adjust to new surroundings and heartbreaking stories about these children. But please also pray for these kids, that they would know that they are loved by the greatest love of all, and that that would give them hope!

You can find out more about orphan camps by visiting: http://www.mdiweb.org/orphan_outreach.aspx.

You can also follow along with the team's blog during their trip and find out how to specifically pray for them here: http://www.midtownfellowship.org/#/ministries/missions.

There Is Hope

2010-06-04T16:46:00.000-05:00

Hello from Kiev!!! My name is Sash Blevins (a recent high school graduate and a soon to be freshman at Belmont University this fall) and I am Marti's nephew and one of her travel partners on her trip to the Ukraine this June. Marti and I have been discussing for years about the possibility of me coming on one of her MDI trips here to the Ukraine, you must understand that I have a special interest in the Ukraine given that it is my home country. You see I was born here and lived in an orphanage here in Kiev until I was two. Then I was adopted by a family from Indianapolis, Indiana and have lived there for the past 17 years. So it has always been a desire of mine to return to my birth country. After many discussions and years of saying that I wanted to accompany Marti on a trip to Kiev, I finally pulled the trigger and here I am.

I had several things that I wanted to accomplish while on this trip. First I wanted to come and understand the country that I was born in and lived for two years. I wanted to see what DNA was like in comparison to other Ukrainians. Secondly, I had the privilege and opportunity to visit the orphanage that I was an orphan at. It was on our third day, Wednesday June 2^nd that we visited Birchwood, the baby house the I lived in for two years. The "orphanage" was renovated in 2005 and houses anywhere from 75-125 babies. It is a house mostly for the babies who are very sick (HIV positive, Down Syndrome, and other illnesses). It has recently moved to this kind of orphanage within the past couple of years. We were able to tour some of the orphanage, which is broken up into three classes based on the age of the child. We then met with the head of the orphanage Valentina, who has been the head of the orphanage since it started meaning that she was there when I was, and she remembered me. We brought along a small photo album that showed pictures ranging from my time in the baby house to present day. Valentina was delighted to see the pictures of one of her children whom she cared for had grown up. She went on to say how fulfilling and rewarding it was to see her work, time, and effort being translated into an orphan having a home. She then said that she would find my record and tell me what she knew.

So in the meantime we went out in the yard and several babies were in their strollers napping (hey who wouldn't want to nap outside on a sunny 70 degree day). We mingled over there, and it was there in that moment that I had my epiphany. I sat there on the bench and slowly rocked the baby as they napped. Looking into their eyes I realized that 18 years ago I was in the same place that they were now. I was there in a baby house, an orphan, put into this place because my parents were either drug addicts, alcoholics, or simply didn't want me. But a year and a half later I was adopted, put in a new family, given a real mom and dad who loved and cared for me, and I was given hope. Holding that baby, looking into their beautiful and innocent eyes I wanted to say to them that there is hope.

Valentina was able to find out new information about me. In 1991, the first year that this orphanage opened they received just over 84 babies. I was the 53 child received. My name was Fazliev Alexander Igorevich and I stayed in the hospital till September. My mother who was 18 years old relinquished her custody of me a few days before I as born. They say that no father was present and because of this they believe that my mother had me out of wedlock and was embarrassed to tell her parents about me because they idea of being pregnant before marriage is looked down upon heavily in Ukrainian culture. They say that my father was probably Ukrainian and my mother was Bashkirian (a people group who live in the Ural Mountains and are known to be smaller (curses) and healthy people who are known for living long). I was one of the first babies adopted. After learning all of this we had to bid a farewell to Valentina and the others at Birchwood, but only after thanking them for their efforts and live they show to these orphans. They told me that the children know that whenever they see Valentina that a child is being adopted, knowing this the children always run up to Valentina when they see her and say, "Bring me mama too." I am still processing all that I saw Wednesday, but let me tell you that it was a once in a lifetime experience to visit my first home, see where I lived, visit other orphans who were much like me, and to do that all with my two loving parents standing right beside me.

Prayer update

2010-05-28T11:30:00.001-05:00

Dear MDI Friends and Family,

MDI is headed back to Ukraine!!! It has been a long time since we have been there due to family situations for all of us and we are full of anticipation! This is going to be a fascinating trip, May 30 – June 9, 2010.

We are going to spend time with all of our ministry partners in our roles of mentors and consultants. While we have continued to work with them via Skype, email, and during their visits to the USA, it will be good to be back in their country. The Vasilevskys and Radooga have been preparing for our meetings as that ministry is going through phenomenal growth and maturation. We will meet with Ben and Tanya Robinson to determine next steps for Loza. Anatoly Kaluzhny and New Life Center have asked for our help as they develop strategic plans for pastor training in Muslim countries, and a new initiative led by the Ministry of Education to take a Biblically based curriculum of Christian Morals and Ethics into the public schools throughout Ukraine. These will be full days of ministering, listening, thinking, praying and encouraging.

This trip has a very personal side to it, too. My 18-year-old nephew, Sash Blevins, was adopted from an orphanage in Kiev, when he was 22 months old. He is going with us to experience his country of origin, to visit the orphanage where he lived, and to spend time with the ministries that MDI works with. In addition, Sash’s parents, Meg and Ron Blevins, are joining us for the first few days! So we ask for your prayer coverage that all of the details will go smoothly for the visit to the orphanage and meeting some of the same people that cared for Sash 17 years ago.

As this trip will have many different dimensions to it and much intensity, we ask boldly for your prayer coverage. We NEED you. Even simple prayers for us as you move through your day really undergird us and strengthen us.

For this trip, please pray:

For good health, traveling safety and no delays (especially with the Iceland volcano continuing to erupt!)
That we will have hearts of love, grace and mercy and will each be a visible picture of Jesus wherever we are and with whoever we meet
That Sash will see a true picture of his birth country and will be able to start processing all he experiences
For our families. This is huge – there is so much going on in each of our families, health-wise, traveling, etc. The Blevins are leaving younger children at home.

For MDI in general, please pray:

For Tanya Baranova, MDI staff in Odessa, Ukraine, who is joining MDI on the return flight to the USA and will be in Nashville for training until July 7.
For Randy Morgan, who is in England, preparing for the SOZO festival in July
For Russell Anderson, who is preparing a team to serve at a Radooga Orphan Camp in June
For the financial support for MDI to increase. MDI lives by the generous financial support of our friends. As the ministry grows we are praying for the support to grow also.

Thank you for loving us well, praying for us and supporting MDI.

Partnering with you,

Marti Scudder for the MDI team

Update from Belgorod

2010-05-14T15:13:00.004-05:00

In the mid-90's, MDI was instrumental in planting a church (pictured) in the Ukrainian city of Belgorod.

This past year, MDI led a team of women to conduct a Women's Conference for the church.

Here is an update from Lyuda Betina, wife of the pastor of the church, on the developments since that conference:

"I want to share with you our news. Last spring conference was great blessing for us. God used you in a great way to move us to the revival of our women's ministry. We have just finished the course " Women in the Bible" that we studied with our women during several months. Now we plan to do once a month some special events for women.

In the end of May we want to invite the wives of the pastors of our Ukrainian Presbyterian churches to come to down to Belgorod and have two days of rest on the beach having fellowship, prayer, reading of the Scripture and just having fun.

I think God will bless us with new ideas and direct our women's ministry."

Please join us in prayer for the burgeoning church in Belgorod and its ministry to the women of Ukraine!

Preparation for SOZO England 2010 has begun

2010-04-28T13:45:00.000-05:00

MDI staffer Randall Morgan is back in the United Kingdom preparing for this summer's SOZO event in England.

In addition to the main SOZO event this summer, Randall is also leading seminars at Red Hill Christian Centre. Here's a recent update from him:

"This past Saturday I led a seminar day at Red Hill Centre called 'Finding Freedom.' I used my own story to talk and teach about the Redemptive Power of God... and how He uses the mistakes and tragedies of our lives for His Glory. We had a very nice group of 20+, perfect spring weather for times of reflection by the pond, a delicious lunch prepared by Trevor (Red Hill Chef), and times of worship led by Betsy Bouwhuizen from The Netherlands. Long time SOZO Staff, Herman and Betsy joined me to serve the event in worship, prayer and counselors. I have been very encouraged by reports of lives touched."

Please pray for Randall and the staff of Red Hill as they get ready for this summer's event and reach out to invite others from all across the United Kingdom and Europe to attend this year's SOZO Festival. We're confident that God will once again do amazing things through SOZO!

SOZO Celebration of the Nations Festival

July 7 - 10, 2010

Red Hill Christian Centre

Stratford-Upon-Avon, England

For more info, please contact: redhillcentre@tiscall.co.uk

Radooga's Identification conference smashes idols in the lives of Ukrainian youth

2010-04-22T17:30:00.001-05:00

Every spring, Radooga leads a conference for the youth in Ukraine unlike anything else in the country. Every year these conferences equip and inspire change in the lives of hundreds of youth, and this year was no exception.

The theme of the conference this spring was "Identification", and it was all about our new identity in Christ and destroying the idols we worship. In Radooga's own words, "In a country where only 2.7% of the population are evangelical Christians, understanding who you are in Christ is the first step to changing the nation."

Over 900 youth from 83 churches across Ukraine attended the conference in Kyiv, over 50% higher attendance than the previous year. As Oleg Vasilevsky, President of Radooga put it, "to say it was amazing and hundreds of students were touched is to say nothing. The power and the presence of God was there in the most indescribable way." Click here to read more.

Please continue to pray for MDI and our board members who work so closely with Radooga on every level of their ministry, that we can keep them encouraged and motivated as they build on the success of this conference and move into another summer of amazing youth camps!

Carbs for a Cause is coming!

2010-04-20T11:04:00.003-05:00

Friday, April 23
5:30 - 8:00 pm
@ Hope Center
2415 12th Ave S, Nashville
$10 per person, $30 per family

This coming summer, MDI staff member Russell Anderson will once again be leading a team to serve at a Radooga Orphan Camp. For the second year in a row, the team is holding an all you can eat pasta dinner the evening before the Music City Marathon in Nashville to help raise funds.

Whether you're running the marathon and need to carbo-load, or just want to support a good cause, come join us anytime between 5:30 and 8:00 pm!

Click here for more info

Anatoly Kaluzhny to speak at CPC Global Missions Weekend

2010-03-03T16:21:00.002-06:00

Our good friend and partner in ministry, Anatoly Kaluzhny, Pastor of New Life Church in Kyiv, Ukraine, is in Nashville this week, and is the keynote speaker of Christ Presbyterian Church's Global Missions Conference this weekend.

Pastor Kaluzhny will be speaking this Saturday evening at CPC's Global Missions Banquet, as well as during the normal worship service on Sunday morning (starting at 10:40 am).

For more information, please visit Christ Presbyterian Church's official website.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to hear Pastor Kaluzhny, and about the incredible things God is doing throughout Eastern Europe and around the world!

Message from MDI missionary Joel Brown

2010-02-19T15:46:00.000-06:00

Here's a quick update from Joel Brown, a missionary serving as a Youth Pastor for New Life Church in Kiev, Ukraine full-time through MDI.

Impacting the nation by impacting the youth!

Welcome to a new decade! Hard to believe we are already past the 00’s? What a ride! Did you enjoy the past 10 years? When you suffered, did you pray? When you were cheerful, did you sing Psalms? (James 5:13) There were joys and sorrows for us all, and through it all, the Lord remains good and worthy of our praise! (Job 1:21)

Allow me to recap some things that have happened since the turn of the millennium: I started the decade on the last few weeks of my teenage years. Within a few months I started my first official “pastoral” job. I was ordained. I worked various normal jobs to support my ministry: Janitor, P.E. Teacher, Mechanic, Salesman, even a stint with power plants. Lost friends. Lost family. Almost lost hope. Was restored, renewed, and revived. I taught the entire Bible cover to cover, twice I taught all the Gospels, 4 times the Sermon on the Mount. Went to Ukraine on a “short” trip. Moved to Ukraine. Learned Russian. Brought the gospel to the youth of Ukraine. Ministered to prostitutes, drug addicts, musicians, alcoholics, strippers, students, Aids patients, homeless, mafia, the suicidal, the tattooed, the tattered, the hurting, the broken… and most of them not even out of their teens. Spent four years in Ukraine. Spent time discipling young men & women. Decided to stay permanently. I Turned 30 last week. …and of course, YOU WERE A MAJOR PART OF THAT JOURNEY, THANK YOU! And what of the future decade? Simple, continue reaching the youth of Ukraine & preaching the Gospel of Christ! The rest are merely details.

Joel is currently back in the United States on a fundraising tour to help keep his ministry thriving. If you'd like to support Joel's work, please give now, indicating you'd like to support him. To follow along with his work, please visit his blog at www.jsterlingbrown.com.

Challenge Grant Update!

2010-02-09T11:13:00.003-06:00

Just $2500 more needed!

Thank you so much for the great initial response to our challenge grant!

However, we are still $2500 short of the $7500 needed to run the orphan camp in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

This camp will serve roughly 250 children, so for each $10 you give, you will be ensuring that one orphan child gets to have a fun and exciting camp experience this summer and will hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Please pledge your support now and help us meet our goal!

For more information about Radooga Orphan Camps, please click here.

Please pray for the upcoming Presidential Election in Ukraine

2010-02-04T15:08:00.000-06:00

This Sunday, February 7, is election day for the president of Ukraine, a primary location for MDI's work around the world.

The election is a run-off between two candidates. The candidate predicted to win is Viktor Yanukovich, a former prime minister who was disgraced in 2004 by mass protests called the "Orange Revolution" which denied him the presidency after a rigged election (in which he allegedly poisoned his opposing candidate in the months leading up to the election).

Yanukovich represents the Party of Regions, which has brought to the Ukrainian Parliament a draft of a law “about sects” that limits freedom of religion and faith in Ukraine. This draft calls for prohibition of totalitarian sects in Ukraine. Definition of the ‘totalitarian sect’ offered in the law draft in fact puts in a compromised position any evangelical, counseling, or youth activity. Any organization that provides such work can be stopped and their leaders can be punished. This law potentially could renew control by the government of religious organizations.

Yanukovich is opposed by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a leader in the "Orange Revolution," who has strong support in the Ukrainian-speaking west and the center. Unfortunately, her ratings have taken a hit as Ukraine has sunk deep into recession and analysts say her fate may depend on a strong voter turnout.

Please pray that the people of Ukraine will turnout to vote to keep Ukraine free and democratic this upcoming Sunday. This day could change the entire face of MDI's work in this nation and beyond.

A Challenge to the MDI Community

2010-01-26T14:54:00.003-06:00

MDI Awarded Grant to Fund Orphan Camp

This Thursday evening, MDI will accept a grant of $4625 from The Giving Circle of Nashville. The grant will be used in partnership with our friends at Radooga to partly fund a summer camp for orphans in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

The Giving Circle has encouraged us to use this grant as a challenge to YOU, our community, to financially support the remainder of this camp and the other orphan camps around Ukraine.

Each camp costs roughly $7500.

Please help bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a message of hope to the needy orphans of Ukraine by pledging your support now!

For more information about Radooga Orphan Camps, please click here.

Blessings,

Your friends Marti Scudder, Steve Lorenz, Randall Morgan and Russell Anderson of MDI

Moving forward into 2010

2009-12-21T14:43:00.007-06:00

Friends,

All of us at MDI want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We look forward to your partnership as we move forward into 2010.

2009 has been a busy and exciting year for us at MDI! With your support our ministry has strengthened and moved in some exciting new directions; all to see more lives transformed by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Here are some highlights:

Spring Women's Conferences - In April, Marti Scudder, Steve Lorenz, and Board member Beverly Warren led a team of five strong women ready to share their lives and faith with women in Ukraine. MDI held conferences in three cities and helped to inspire thousands of women across the country.
Journey to Freedom - MDI completed publication of this Gospel-centered program focused on breaking life-controlling issues into the Russian language, and MDI staff members Tanya Baranova and Sergey Bermas are leading small groups for men and women in Odessa, Ukraine.
Radooga Orphan Camps - In addition to our regular client work with Radooga throughout the year, staff member Russell Anderson coordinated a team of 12 to share the Gospel and love of Christ with hundreds of orphans at a camp in Kharkov, Ukraine.
SOZO Festival in England - In July, Randy Morgan led the 12th annual SOZO Festival, the first in England, and the first in partnership with MDI. The festival promotes reconciliation among the nations through worship, prayer and multi-cultural fellowship.
Loza conferences - MDI helped Loza widen its presence in the former Soviet Union, as they held several conferences in 2009, such as "Communism to Consumerism - Where is God?" in Ukraine and "Life: An Honest Look, An Exploration of the Arts" in the nation of Georgia.
New website launched! - MDI is proud to announce the all-new http://www.mdiweb.org!

In addition, our core ministry to MENTOR, CONSULT, and EQUIP leaders and individuals in service of the Gospel of Jesus Christ continues with clients all over the world. None of this could have been accomplished without your support of our mission through prayer and finances. But we have only scratched the surface!

We are planning to greatly expand our outreach in 2010, and we need your help! This letter marks the beginning of our ANNUAL FUND CAMPAIGN. Our goal is to raise $250,000 in 2010 to fund our mission and expand our core ministry, as well as the initiatives we have begun in response to the overwhelming need of the communities we serve.

Your gift of $25, $50, $100 or more is critical to our mission. Please prayerfully consider a donation to MDI and together we can work to spread the Gospel further in 2010!

In His name,

Marti Scudder
President
Missions Development International

World AIDS Day

2009-12-01T09:31:00.030-06:00

December 1 is World AIDS Day

Ukraine has the fastest growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in Europe

Find out how MDI is working to prevent the spread of this terrible disease in Ukraine and beyond. Visit http://www.mdiweb.org/hiv_aids_outreach.aspx now to learn more and support this effort.

MDI Board Members Jim & Linda Burton headed to Europe

2009-10-21T12:48:00.000-05:00

Jim and Linda Burton from the MDI Board are set to leave for Europe on Friday, October 23 to work with MDI client Radooga Ministries in Ukraine.

Please join with us in praying for traveling mercies and for fruitful work to be completed while they are there!

MDI at Radooga Orphan Camps

2009-09-24T15:48:00.001-05:00

This summer, MDI staff member Russell Anderson led a team of 12 from Midtown Fellowship Church and City Church of Nashville to serve with Radooga Ministries at a camp for orphan children in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

The team led the children in activities and programs during the day, and Russell presented a gospel message each evening. The entire team returned testifying to the success of these camps and the desperate need of these children for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Plans are already in the works for Russell to lead another team to the very same orphan camp next year. MDI is currently applying for grants on behalf of Radooga and seeking other ways to help fund this ministry and keep it thriving.

Please continue to pray for Radooga and the shared vision of bringing the gospel to the fatherless of Ukraine. If you would like to support this effort financially, please let us know.

Some Random MDI Office Needs

2009-09-21T14:12:00.000-05:00

Here are some ways you can help MDI in their mission.

We are in need of some electronics and other items, including:

- GSM cell phones for use abroad (should be less than two years old)

- Office equipment (specifically a desk, office chair, and filing cabinet)

- Video camera, preferably digital for documenting our work

If you would like to donate any of these items, please contact Russell Anderson at russell@mdiweb.org

Special Prayer Request

2009-09-18T11:37:00.001-05:00

Very recently Gary Scudder, MDI Board Member and husband of President Marti Scudder, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Gary has already begun a treatment program that will last roughly 7 months.

This news has obviously reprioritized a number of things for all of us at MDI. Steve Lorenz and Marti will not be making a trip to Europe this fall, instead board members Jim and Linda Burton will be traveling to Ukraine in their stead.

MDI will be using this time to retreat and develop strategies for the future, while maintaining its consulting and mentoring relationships by phone, email, and teleconferencing. We will welcome the return of Randall Morgan in late September from England where he was working to coordinate SOZO.

Please pray especially for Gary, Marti, and their entire family (their daughter and son are both serving ministries overseas, in Asia and South Africa, respectively) as they journey through this tough time. They have set up a Caring Bridge site to help friends follow Gary's progress and learn better how to pray at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/garyscudder

New Testimonial Videos

2009-08-24T09:58:00.002-05:00

We recently had the opportunity to interview some of our clients' regarding their experience with MDI. We've created some short video clips with highlights from these interviews.

These videos provide a great glimpse as to the impact MDI is having in Ukraine and beyond. Please take this opportunity to watch these videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/mdiweb or on our Facebook page.

SOZO England 2009 is a success!

2009-08-05T12:48:00.004-05:00

Despite some cold English weather and a whole lot of rain, SOZO England 2009 in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, was a great success!

This was the first SOZO event to be held in the United Kingdom, and the first with partnership from MDI. Through worship, prayer, and community, the festival sought to inspire a spirit of reconciliation among the nations and peoples of the UK, greater Europe, and the globe.

Staff and attendees spent considerable hours in fellowship, worshiping together and praying for the nation of England, that the wells of Christianity that were dug so deep in centuries past would once again become raging rivers of faith that would inspire the whole world to come to know Christ.

On the final evening of the program, Steve Lorenz, Randy Morgan and others led the group through specific powerful prayer for over twenty nations that were represented at the program.

SOZO England 09 was a landmark for SOZO, MDI, and our partners in ministry in England, Red Hill Christian Centre and Word of Life church. Planning has already begun for SOZO England 2010. Let us know if you'd like to get involved!

To view more pictures from SOZO England 09, click here.

MDI makes the evening news in Ukraine

2009-06-18T10:35:00.001-05:00

We've made the news in Odessa, Ukraine, during our recent trip to conduct a Women's Conference there. Translation hopefully coming soon.

Orphans in Ukraine need your help!

2009-06-18T09:28:00.005-05:00

MDI helping Radooga raise $14,714 for Orphan Camps

Radooga has an unprecedented opportunity to bring its life-changing evangelical camp program to some 730 orphans beginning in July, but are in need of $14,714 immediately to do it.

A $20 donation will bring an incredibly fun camp experience and the gospel of Christ to one orphan who has likely never heard it.

Help us send an orphan to camp by pledging your support now!

For more information about Radooga Orphan Camps, please click here.

Blessings,

Marti Scudder, Steve Lorenz, Randall Morgan, and Russell Anderson of MDI.

MDI has moved!

2009-05-15T13:06:00.000-05:00

After 10 great years sharing an office with LegalBill in Brentwood, Tennessee, due to the successful growth of their business they regretfully had to reclaim our space.

However, the Lord worked speedily through MDI Board member Brook Bishop, who offered us the extra office space alongside his company, Breathe America, located in Green Hills.

We very quickly accepted his offer, and now we have even more space with which to conduct day to day activities and hold larger meetings.

You can now find us at 1 Burton Hills Blvd, Suite 200 in Nashville. Our mailing address has not changed.

Praise God for His immediate provision in this area of need, and for the generosity of the folks both at BreatheAmerica and at LegalBill!

Once Upon a Time...

2009-05-15T12:55:00.003-05:00

This is how the good stories always begin! And we have the best story ever, as God is writing it each day as we live, experiencing joys and difficulties, and things that never seem to change; giving ourselves in love to others and sharing our stories with them.

This was the theme MDI took to Ukraine. The message was simple. God is writing the story of our lives. And as we examine our story we will see that God is always working all things (even the hard and painful things) for our good and His glory. He is redeeming us. Over and over we heard from the women that they needed this message as we encouraged them to see Gods redemption in their stories, allowing Him to mend and heal, and to speak to their hearts. And then they began sharing their stories with others.

In the words of our team...

"The fruit of four years work culminated in the Kiev conference as women came with ready hearts to receive from the Lord. They were vulnerable and candid and loved each other (and us) well. On Monday, we met with the New Life Church Women's leadership team to debrief after the conference. The fruit of past conferences was evident, as there was almost nothing to change! Afterward, we washed their team's hands and massaged them with lotion, praying over each woman who had used those hands so generously to serve Christ. Then, as happened after Jesus washed the disciples feet, we celebrated with a meal together, taking them out to lunch" - Dede Franz, who has accompanied MDI four times to Ukraine for Women's Conferences.

"We are all tired - but it's that giddy kind of tired from being used by God and seeing great things happen. Personally, it was very challenging to be the keynote speaker. Each time I spoke I changed the talk a little bit. Because I didn't have access to a printer, I literally was cutting (with scissors!) and pasting (with tape!) until the very last talk. The illustrations changed often as God led me in different directions. I spoke 7 times and co-led 8 workshops. The other team members did their seminars 11 times. We're all tired of our own voices" - Rachel Roper, keynote speaker of the conferences.

"THIS WAS TRULY LIFE CHANGING AND EYE-OPENING FOR ME! God answered all our prayers regarding the preparations for the trip, travel, interpreters, all three conferences, safety, etc. God put this team together! It was so evident from the first planning meeting, but even more evident on the trip as we watched how God used all of us in such a unique way individually but also as a team. My interpreters were AWESOME! Every emotion I felt, they felt. You would have thought they were telling their own story. God is so good like that! I was so humbled as I spoke. Scanning the room, there would be several ladies crying throughout my talk...they could relate to some or all of the my story as I shared about finding peace in the midst of our trials and heartaches. As I spoke of God's redemption in my life, some could relate to that as well. Several women stayed after each talk to speak with me and ask for prayer. It was my privilege to pray with them!" - Debbie Hodges, who visited Ukraine for the first time.

"We shared with the Ukrainian ladies the importance of remembering what God has done as He daily writes our stories. We reminded them of times in Scripture where God told the Israelites to pile up 'standing stones' so that what He had done in a particular place would be remembered, and that when their children asked them, "What do these stones mean?" (Joshua 4:4-7) they could share with them the mighty works of God. We can share with others what God has done in our own lives, if we take the time to remember - and He wants us to do that. We provided small stones for each one to take home as a reminder - their own 'standing stones'" - Beverly Warren, long time partner in ministry of MDI and coordinator of the trip.

As we ended our trip, we celebrated with a walk along the Promenade (just above the Black Sea harbor in Odessa), and all of the trees were covered with lights in rainbow colors! It was like our own fairyland, and we realized it was God reminding us of our Happily Ever After, Heaven, which awaits us full of color and light, beauty unimaginable, His presence without reserve, our stories of His redemption to share for eternity. It was the perfect ending to our trip.

Thank you for YOUR part in this redemption story!

Thank you for praying and sending and for partnering with us!

Marti Scudder for Steve Lorenz, Dede Franz, Debbie Hodges, Rachel Roper, Sharon Sims and Beverly Warren

This is just for me!

2009-04-05T00:40:00.003-05:00

"This is just for me" was something that we have heard over and over from many Ukrainian women as we have done these conferences. And we heard it again in Belgorod on Saturday. It was hard to get up early and leave at 6:45 AM but it was worth it! Luda and Sveta had a simple breakfast for us when we arrived at the church around 8:15 or so. Then we had the big meeting of translators and speakers and then we started again! Rachel again did her talk on Peter but included more of herself and it was so good. We did the seminars three times, with a lunch break. And then Rachel closed with the Parable of the Talents. This was a totally different group of women -- much older women with a few young ones sprinkled through the crowd and women from the villages around Belgorod. There was also a group of women from Izmail. It was good to have long time missionary friends in the audience. Darlene was there and Adeline had just returned from her Home leave in the USA and had surgery during that time so she was moving more slowly. When we asked them at the end of the day, how they thought the women had liked the conference they smiled and looked around and said -- "See they are still here talking - they don't want to leave." That was a huge compliment. We all closed the day by gathering in the tea room for a supper that Sveta had made us. Before we left Belgorod, we stopped by the Medical Clinic so that our team could see a project that MDI has been involved with for a long time. Along the way we stopped to say hello to Sveta's husband, Victor, who gave Debbie a card for Julianne who is so loved here. It was a beautiful sunset drive back to Odessa. We gathered for our final Prayer time and blessing over all of the people that we have met.

And then some of us went out for a walk to enjoy this lovely city one more time. The lights throughout the trees on the Promenade were like fairy land! We stopped and had cherry Vareniki one more time and had a great time talking about all that God had done during this trip.

We head out in 5 minutes to begin the journey home (except for Steve and I who head to England to meet Randy Morgan!) We go home "full" -- and will be eager to share stories of women who we have met, ministry leaders who we have spent time with and orphans who broke our hearts. Please pray for the next two days of travel for us -- now that we are leaving each woman is looking back with joy knowing that God called her here for this time and place but also looking towards home with anticipation! Spaciba for reading this!

Friday in Odessa

2009-04-03T16:55:00.002-05:00

This morning was another slow starting one! Different people walked and went out for coffee at their own pace. We met at 11 AM to walk to Tanya Baranova's apartment that they are renovating. It was originally a one room apartment with no bathroom or kitchen and in very poor condition. Her husband, Sergey, is laboring each evening after work, to put in a small kitchen, bath, bedroom and loft -- all compact but rooms with a little privacy. Tanya was very proud of her new heavy entrance door that locked! After stopping at the grocery store, we then walked and met Bob and Andrea Burnham and their 4year old daughter, Iris, for lunch. It was great food and good fellowship as we learned more from them about ways to minister to the women at the conference this evening. Soon we were back in a taxi van heading back to the conference. WOW! Another evening of blessing! We started out with the sandwich suppers which the women so appreciated after a long day at work. Then a short time of praise and worship! Then off the women went to two more seminars. Each woman was able to attend all four of the seminars over the course of the conference. At 7:30 PM we all gathered back in the hall for more worship, and Rachel's talk on the Parable of the Talents. This was her best one yet! She really put herself into this talk. Then we had our public thank yous. Each one of their women's team had been wearing pink neck scarves with a rhinestone heart on it. They presented each one of us (including Steve) with a scarf just like theirs! And then we gave Tanya Baranova white roses to celebrate her birthday and to thank her for all of her hard work in planning and organizing the conference. And then more worship!!!! Women did not want the evening to end. As each woman left the conference she was handed a stone -- her "stone of remembrance" as a symbol for her of what God was teaching her, a symbol of her redemption, of her story -- whatever she wanted it to symbolize. Our women were again surrounded by Ukrainian women thanking them and asking questions. What can I say but again -- God did exceedingly more than we could ask or imagine! As we gathered for prayer tonight, and more bowls of cereal or yoghurt, we discussed the boldness of the young women at this church to ask questions as they sought answers to tough questions. Two of the 15 year old girls from the Internot were able to come this evening. It was all so good. We are up very early on Saturday as our bus comes at 6:45 AM to take us to Belgorod D'nestrovsky. Please pray for Stamina and Peace for this team. We are getting weary. Thanks!

Odessa on Thursday

2009-04-03T16:37:00.002-05:00

This morning started out slowly with each one having personal quiet time until 11 AM. Then Sergey Korsakov gave us a great tour of downtown Odessa. It was a crisp, clear early Spring day and wonderful to be walking all over. The old architecture of this city is lovely though much of it has faded. But where buildings have been maintained, they are magnificent. What was really amazing was how clean the city was after the day and night of revelry the day before. The street cleaners had worked all night and all was clean. We had lunch at Kompote -- our favorite restuarant on Deribasovskaya, and then went back for our final preparations before we left for the conference. We were all full of anticipation as we arrived at Trinity International Church. This church meets on the 3rd floor of a building that is part of an industrial factory. Tanya Baranova was so excited for all to meet her leadership and planning team. They had all worked so hard and had decorated the hall in pink -- with draped fabric, flowers, and lights. A light sandwich dinner had been prepared for all of the women. It was a great evening. We started out with worship led by a team of women who did an excellent job of leading us before the throne of grace. I (Marti) introduced the conference, the team, etc. and then Rachel spoke on Peter's Denial and Reinstatement. It was a powerful talk. And then all of the women went to two of the four seminars. The rooms were small but God's presence was there in each one. We were tired at the end of the night but ready to gather and pray together as a team -- and have a bowl of cereal for dinner since most of us were starved!!!! A great day!

Odessa continued!

2009-04-03T14:27:00.002-05:00

It is my turn to finish the details of Wednesday that Steve started! After wandering around the city we all came back to the hotel to work on our talks for the upcoming conferences. Rachel was going from 3 talks to 2 talks, and the rest of us were going from almost 2 hour seminars to 45 minutes! So we all needed to do much cutting and revising!

That evening we had an exceptional gift -- we went to dinner at Paul and Tania Becker's home. Not only do they have a lovely apartment, very cute little children, and they are very good friends of MDI's, but they had also invited some other guests, along with us, for dinner that evening. Igor, one of the 15 year old boys from the Internot (orphanage) was there. He had just been moved from a village orphanage to this orphanage in the city a month ago. It was the first time in his life he had ever been in someone's home. He is a very special young man and he helped Paul cook the dinner and seemed to really enjoy being there and being with us. We all said that he was a boy that we would adopt - there was such a gentle spirit about him. He only has one more year in which he can be adopted before he turns 16 and is released to the streets from the orphanage. We are all praying for his adoption. And then there were two more special people there. One was Paul's voice teacher who is the lead soprano in the Odessa Opera (She was singing the lead in La Traviata the next evening) and their world famous accompaniest. After a delicious dinner, Paul, his teacher and the pianist gave us a private concert that was amazing! We were all spellbound at the music! It was a time of worship, a pure enjoyment of watching the gifts of music that God has bestowed on these three used for His glory and their joy and our pleasure! And we ended singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic and America all together. I am sure neighbors a block away could hear the powerful music! The city was wild and alive as we walked home -- I am sure the Good Humor Day celebration lasted long into the night but it was quiet in our rooms!

Day of Humor

2009-04-03T01:25:00.002-05:00

April 1! Yes, it matters here. It is called the Day of Humor. We have been told to expect hundreds of thousands of people from all over the several country region here. Indeed, many of them were jamming all the downtown streets of Odessa. There were vendors, face painters, huge sound stages, and many families enjoying the day. We were told to expect a lot of public drunkenness but we did not see more than one would think normal in such an event.

We wondered all over the city wearing proudly our newly acquired brightly colored foam bonnets, wigs and hats (it is important to fit in right?). We stopped at a cafe to have lunch with Clay and Darlene Quarterman who have been MTW missionaries here for many years. It is always fun to see them and the team enjoyed listening to what they were doing here. After lunch, we continued our wonering.

Before I continue on, we would appreciate it if you would please write us a one-word note "yes" telling us you are reading this blog. Please write to steve@mdiweb.org. We are happy writing this blog if it is being read and enjoyed.

Odessa - Next Chapter!

2009-04-01T15:15:00.002-05:00

We are now in Odessa and before I go into detail about that I want to back track and tell you how we finished our time in Kiev!

On Monday morning we had breakfast with Mickey Jordan who is starting Teen Challenge Kiev. Mickey was a missionary through MDI for 3 years and is now starting a Teen Challenge Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center, runs a coffee house for addicts from the street, and works in different drug clinics in hospitals in Kiev. He is also expecting a baby with his wife, Elya, any day! We closed with a great time of prayer over Mickey.

From there the women on the team went to meet with the women leaders at New Life. We started by debriefing about the conference. Then we had a special "hand washing service" for the women to thank them and bless them for all of their service to the women at New Life. We read John 13:1-17 over them and then one by one, we washed their hands in lovely soapy scented water, then massaged them with lotion, then two women prayed over them. We gave them pretty pink towels and handmade soaps with "Love One Another" in Russian printed on them. (thank you Tara!) Tears were shed over the sweet simplicity and also the value and love shown to each woman both American and Ukrainian. Afterwards we all went to a restaurant for lunch -- it was a beautiful setting, good food, nice background music, and more praying and singing. This was a very special event because the New Life women rarely go out to a nice restaurant.

Meanwhile, Steve had a long intense and deep 4 hour meeting with Anatoly.

That evening was spent in fellowship over a delicious dinner at the Vasilevskys home -- lots of laughter, relaxation, and fun!!!!

Early on Monday morning (7:30 AM) we headed to the airport to fly to Odessa. Our plane was an OLD propeller Aeroswit plane with bald tires and we were not sure it was going to actually be airborne! But we arrived safely in Odessa and settled into our hotel apartments. We had lunch at Kompote with Tanya Baranova and Julia Baskova and then walked to the Beckers. From there we headed to Internot #4 with Paul Becker. We spent a wonderful afternoon with the Becker's 7th graders, along with a few 11th graders, playing cards, chatting and getting to know each other. These are really great kids and because they are so old most have no hope for adoption. We left having had a wonderful time but with our hearts broken!

Then Rachel had a quick trip to the dentist! She had broken a crown and God in His perfect timing had us with Paul Becker, a dentist, who knows the top dentist in Odessa, who whisked her into her dental chair and fixed it in less than 5 minutes. Lots of pictures were taken and Rachel is feeling great now!

We had dinner at a Ukrainian restaurant that was decorated beautifully and we had a feast!!!! We closed the day with team prayer like we do most nights as we discuss where we experienced the Holy Spirit and also a blessing over all the people we had spent time with in Kiev.

God did exceedingly, abundantly more than we could have asked or imagined!!!!

2009-03-29T15:05:00.003-05:00

It is Sunday night in Kiev and we are all still on a very tired "high" from the New Life conference! GOD did do exceedingly, abundantly, more than we could have ever asked or imagined!!! I think we all are still in awe. Rachel did an incredible job as the keynote speaker -- She was amazing! She was tender, and poignant and yet very direct and Biblical. You could just feel the audience connecting with her. The New Life team had decorated the stage in the hall and it looked lovely. Their worship team led us before the throne of grace at the beginning of each session. The entire conference was on God's redeeming love that is told through our stories. In all of the seminars and keynote talks we all shared about how each woman was a unique and beloved story of God's redemption. And that all of the good and bad events in our lives, all of the relationships - healthy and broken, were ordained to reveal God to us and give us a perspective on His character and His truth. Dede, Sharon, Debbie, Marti and Rachel all lead their two hour seminars four times! And then did much counseling afterward. Walls came crashing down, much healing took place, and women began to see that God had always been with them even in the most painful times. And the pain in many of these women's lives is unbelievable. We all are changed too after experiencing the intimacy of God as He used us to minister to hurting women and we too experienced more of His healing love. The women loved the beautiful bracelets that we brought for each one of them, made by women in Nashville (thank you, Dinah!!!). Steve was the center of attention on many occasions being one of only three men around. On Saturday the weather was crisp and clear and the women loved being able to be outside the city and experience the fresh air in the woods. I could go on and on.....

Today we were part of two worship services at New Life which was always like being home with family. After lunch we did some sightseeing at St. Michael's and St. Sophia and then shopping down St. Andrusky. Dinner in Podil and then the metro back to the hotel!

We head out in the morning to the first conference!

2009-03-26T15:09:00.002-05:00

The team is doing their final preparation tonight and getting ready to head out early in the morning to the sanatorium. The bus picks us up at 8 AM. Everyone is nervous and uncertain and no one feels totally prepared but trusting that God will do more than we can ask or imagine. We just pray that we are vessels fit for His use! After we meet our translators, go through our talks with them, and do the first one I trust that peace will reign or at least start! SO PLEASE PRAY!

Today we started the morning with Ben and Tanya Robinson and it was a blessing for all to hear their hearts about Loza. Then we went to New Life and met with some of the women leaders to go through all of the final details of the conference. We headed down to the Invalid Children's ministry to have our hearts broken over the dear children there. We had a pizza lunch with some of the New Life staff and then headed back to the hotel to prepare for the weekend. Everyone had their first metro ride into downtown during rush hour! It is always fun to walk along Kreschatuk, the main street in downtown Kiev, and look at all the people, lights and stores. Old women are selling daffadils on all the corners. We had an Italian dinner and returned to the hotel for prayer time.

First Day in Kiev!

2009-03-25T09:56:00.002-05:00

We have had a great start to our trip to Ukraine. Over breakfast this morning Oleg and Lena Vasilevsky joined us and shared about Radooga and what God is doing in that ministry as well as a little history on how they got started. We had a special time of prayer over them. Then Dede and Steve met with a friend of Dede's and the rest of us went to the War Memorial Museum with Oleg with Sveta Boiko as tour guide. After that we went to Maiden/Independence Square and had lunch and delicious ice cream at Globus food court underneath the square. Afterwards, standing in Maiden, Oleg gave us a short history of the Orange Revolution, and what it was like in October 2004. Sharon is so surprised at all of the changes in Kiev! We headed back to the hotel to rest, work on our talks, and regroup. Dinner is at 6 PM.

They've arrived!

2009-03-24T18:33:00.002-05:00

The MDI team received the following message from Marti's Blackberry today at around 3 (around 11 pm Kiev time):

"Hi! We are here and have had dinner with Anatoly. The weather is nasty. Cold, windy, sleet, snow and rain mixture! And I cannot get my internet to work. And all is well and the weather is bad!. We are all heading to bed exhausted!"

MDI leading team to conduct Women's Conferences in Ukraine

2009-03-22T23:41:00.008-05:00

MDI is taking a team of seven people from four churches to lead three women's conferences in three cities! We leave March 23, and the team returns to the USA on April 6, 2009. You can follow the team's travels on this site.

The theme of the conferences is, "God's Redeeming Love." Rachel Roper is the keynote speaker at all three conferences, and her focus will be redemption is the story of God at work in our world. The promise that God is moving, caring, loving, joining, authoring and perfecting our stories is central to the theme of scripture. We are unique and holy creations with unique and valuable stories, and God has a plan and a purpose for every event and person in our lives.

Along with the keynote talks, Dede Franz is leading a seminar on, "Waiting is Part of the Story;" Debbie Hodges is teaching on, "Finding Peace in the Journey;" Sharon Sims is leading on, "Faith Expressing Itself in Love;" and Marti Scudder, along with Rachel Roper, is speaking on, "Writing and Telling Your Story." Beverly Warren and Steve Lorenz will be providing support for the team.

We will be speaking at a two-day women's conference for New Life Church at a sanatorium outside of Kiev on March 27-28, a two-day conference for Trinity International Church in Odessa on April 2-3, and a one-day conference for the Presbyterian Church in Belgorod D'nestrovsky on April 4. We are praying for over 500 women to attend the conferences, and they will each leave with greater understanding of what it means to "put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love, and with him is full redemption." Psalm 130:7

Final preparations!

2009-03-21T12:35:00.003-05:00

Our team is leaving this Monday, March 23 for Ukraine. This weekend all are doing their final preparations -- packing, plans for children, finishing details on their talks for the conferences and celebrating Communion together on Sunday evening at 7 PM. Please pray for all of the last minute details that have to be completed. And for traveling mercies!

New video highlighting MDI's work in Ukraine

2009-03-01T18:42:00.002-06:00

MDI has created a short video focusing on its work in Ukraine. Take a look.

News from Missions Development International

2009-01-22T18:03:00.000-06:00

Dear friends:
MDI is leaving for Ukraine, January 23-February 8, 2009, and we would love to have your prayer coverage. The team consists of Steve Lorenz, Jeff McCandless, Marti Scudder and Terry Warren.

We have a very eclectic and exciting agenda for this trip. We are starting out this journey by spending three days with Loza, a ministry that MDI has been developing with Ben and Tanya Robinson to reach out to seekers and believers to understand how the fullness of the gospel touches all of our lives and those around us, bringing integration and cohesion in our increasingly fragmented and frenetic times. We are gathering with Andrew Fellows, the director of L'Abri in England, Marsh Moyle, the leader of Citygate, leaders from Innovista, YWAM, CBN, and others from across Ukraine and Belarus to network as like-minded people and see how we can better partner and share resources/experiences in "filling in the gaps" at this time and place - to be more creative, holistic and integrated in our teaching and living out the gospel - and to discover ways how together we can be a deeply connected and authentic community and serve the church in Ukraine and Belarus. Please pray for wisdom and discernment as MDI seeks to know how we should serve as well as lead in this gathering and for Loza.

Then we will be spending 4 days with Radooga Ministries meeting with the staff and continuing with our work of consulting and mentoring with the leadership of this ministry. Terry is the new Chairman of the Radooga Board (and he is also on MDI's Board) and wants to get an up close and personal view of Radooga.

We are also meeting with the women's ministry leadership team at New Life Church as we prepare for a large women's conference at the end of March 2009 to serve 300 women. MDI has been busy preparing the team in Nashville to teach and lead this conference as well as conferences in Odessa and Belgorod D'nestrovsky. Please pray that we will prepare that conference in such a way that all that is done will deeply impact the women who will attend.

After meeting with others in Kiev we will travel to Odessa to meet with Tanya Baranova who is MDI's newest full time staff. She is starting a new ministry called Journey to Freedom. It is a ministry that deals with life-controlling issues in people's lives. It tackles everyday issues that affect all of us and also includes alcohol, drug, and sexual addictions. Pray that we will be able to communicate clearly with Tanya and that the Lord will guide the Journey to Freedom team towards the goal He intends for us. MDI will also be doing all of the pre-trip planning for the conferences that will be held in March and April.
We cannot do the work of MDI without your prayer coverage. You are our partners in Ministry. We thank you for praying for:

Traveling mercies as we travel to and throughout Ukraine
For our families
For good health

"I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalms 16:8

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Thank you,
Marti Scudder for the MDI team

MDI Continues to Serve by Mentoring, Equipping and Advising Ministries

2008-12-31T18:38:00.001-06:00

In 2008, MDI worked with our core ministries including:
1. Radooga International who served 1000 youth in summer camps and developed a new ministry for orphan children that is throughout Ukraine.
2. The Invalid Center for disabled children.
3. Loza, a developing ministry to help leaders and seekers of truth see how the Gospel connects with all of reality.
4. New Life Church and many others......

Thank you for your partnership!!!
And now MDI needs your help as we move into 2009
The following are some areas where you can partner with us financially.

Journey to Freedom in Odessa, Ukraine. Help to get this ministry up and running and the book, Journey to Freedom, translated. The annual budget is $39,700.
MDI Ministry Center in Kiev, with Sveta Boiko, Director, coordinates and oversees conferences and conducts MDI business in Ukraine. The annual budget is $16,000.00
Invalid Children Ministry of New Life Center provides day care for children with disabilities. The annual budget is $18,000.00.
Radooga needs to purchase or build a facility that can be used as offices. They also need help providing scholarships for Ukrainian youth to attend summer camps, provide camps for orphans, and large youth conferences. The cost is $220/student and we are raising money for 1000 youth!
Women's Conferences in 3 cities are being planned for Spring 2009. Scholarships are needed for 600 women to attend at a cost of $50 each for a total of $30,000.00.

Steve Lorenz, CEO, Marti Scudder, President, and Randy Morgan, Director of Ministry Development, raise personal support to provide leadership for MDI. Each needs additional funding to continue to build MDI's ministry. Please help them make 2009 a record year for MDI.

Please pray for MDI and all the people and ministries we work with in 2009!

We thank you for your support and ask that you make your tax deductible donations to:
MDI, 204 Burnt Leaf Lane, Nashville, TN 37027. MDI is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.

MDI Leads a Women's Leadership Conference in Kiev

2008-12-31T18:36:00.000-06:00

This Fall, MDI took a team from four churches to Kiev, Ukraine, to lead a three day conference for women who are leaders in ministry. We went as equippers and mentors to prepare these leaders to move out into the world. The theme of the conference was "Led by Love, Lead by Love," based on Hebrews 3:1-6. This conference was about understanding the foundations of love - love that inspires, love that sustains, love that draws others, love that equips us as leaders. Teresa Sugar was the keynote speaker. There were five workshops taught by our team and each woman attending the conference attended each one. God knit the hearts of the team with the women in Ukraine as they shared their stories of adversity, pain and suffering and wisdom gained and how God used all for His glory.

MDI Establishes Journey to Freedom in Ukraine

2008-12-31T18:32:00.000-06:00

MDI establishes Journey to Freedom in Odessa, Ukraine in 2008 by hiring Tanya Baranova to be the first staff person to direct this ministry. Tanya is a psychologist, who has worked in a rehab center and is also a recovering addict, and knows that true freedom and recovery can only come through a relationship with Jesus. Sergey Bermas, an Odessa pastor, is working with Tanya. Journey to Freedom works through small groups led by trained facilitators. Journey to Freedom was founded by Scott Reall, of Restore Ministry, YMCA of Middle Tennessee. Journey to Freedom brings healing to those with life controlling issues. Many people escape reality via alcoholism, drug abuse, abortions, depression and other issues. Journey to Freedom can help transform their thinking and their belief system about themselves... and will drastically change the way that they live and lead! Using the Odessa ministry as a model, MDI hopes to replicate it in Kiev and believes that God will open the doors to take it into Eastern Europe where MDI is already working.

News from Missions Development International

2008-10-03T17:58:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends of MDI:
We are off again and this time with 11 of us! We leave Monday, September 29 and most of the team returns on October 7 while MDI staff finish their work part of the trip on October 11, 2008. MDI is leading a three-day conference for women leaders in ministry. The leaders will be primarily from New Life Church, in Kiev, along with other churches around the country. The theme of the conference is "Led by Love, Lead by Love," based on Hebrews 3:1-6. This conference is about understanding the foundations of love - love that inspires, love that sustains, love that draws others, love that equips us as leaders. Teresa Sugar is the keynote speaker. There will be five workshops and each woman attending the conference will get to attend each one. The workshops are: "Finding Balance in the Leader's Life" led by Teresa Sugar, "Bridging the Generation Gap" (mentoring) led by Jean Scott and Stephanie Todd, "Christ Centered Teaching" led by Kathy March, "Team Building and Recruiting" (includes vision, purpose and implementation) led by Judy Dorris, and "Leading out of Brokenness" (candor and vulnerability, Jesus' strength) led by Dede Franz and Tina Weir. In addition, Dede Franz is leading a workshop on "Developing a Women's Ministry." The team leaders are Marti Scudder, Beverly Warren, Steve Lorenz, and Randy Morgan. This team represents four different churches.

At our Communion service last Sunday night, Steve Lorenz challenged us to move as promptly and obediently as Philip did when the Holy Spirit told him to leave a fruitful ministry and take that road leading out tothe desert?!? And yet he did, and the Spirit used him to explain the Gospel to the Ethiopian official. May we listen and obey Jesus so quickly and without hesitation, not relying on our own logic. Please pray for our safety, health, plenty of stamina and protection over our families. Pray that we will be unified, full of patience and love each other well. Pray for our home churches to be blessed and encouraged through supporting us; pray that the desire to GO (near and far) with the Gospel will increase.
Pray that we will communicate clearly with our translators and they will accurately speak what God tells them through us. Pray that we will not grow weary of teaching the same information, but will stay attentive to the Holy Spirit's desire to edit or change "on the fly." Pray specifically for Teresa as she will speak to all of the women at the conference two times and teach 5 seminars too! "Each one should use whatever gift she has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, she should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, she should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4: 10-11
Please pray that the church in Ukraine will be built up through the seeds planted in these women, wherever they are in leadership. Tanya Baranova, MDI's staff in Odessa, who is starting the Journey to Freedom ministry there, will join us for this conference.

After the team leaves, MDI will spend three more days meeting with the staff of Radooga, Loza, and New Life Church as we continue in our roles of consultants, equippers and mentors. We are also pleased to announce the birth of Sveta Boiko's baby girl, Marusia! Sveta is the MDI director in Kiev.

Thank you for partnering with us,
Marti along with Steve, Randy, Beverly and the entire team

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks. This is good and pleases God our Savior, for He wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus" I Tim. 2:1-5 NLT