Steven and I have often felt the need for some type of half-way house for the brothers in the alcohol rehabilitation center. Many times they return to their old way of life consumed by alcohol and drugs. This sentiment was echoed by our dear friend, Adic, who is a counselor at the Place of Hope. Here is his letter:

To the dear Bro. in the Lord, Harry
From the fellow worker in the ministry from the Lord Jesus Plantation, Adic.
May the peace and the grace of the Lord Jesus be multiplied through the blessing only he can give! I had the thought and the wish to fellowship with you but I did not know how to do it. But now I am glad that I recieved encouragement from Bro. Mircea to write you a couple of words. I think first of all you (would) like to know how the work at the Place of Hope is going, where God put us to serve. Praise God for this center where people get to know the Lord Jesus. By God's mercy in the period of 4 years we had 171 enrolled and a great number received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. One burden and pain I have (is) to see some people who graduate the program and cannot resist temptation and fall back into the sinful vice again. They sincerely repent at the center or in church. While they are with us they have an outstanding behavior, but may be they do not follow up with their commitment!? About 90% of the people are very interested for a life with Christ, get converted but after they leave the center they go back to their former lifestyle. Some of them even want to come back to the center.

One example we have now, Sulerenco Alexei Vladimirovici. He repented on 4/25/07, he is happy about his new life, is thankful for the ministry we do for him. He is glad that he turned away from drugs, that he found Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. On May the 6th his parents came to see him. They are glad to see the change in Alexei. They are also thankful for all of us who spend our time in the ministry of saving souls. I am glad to see such results, but I am concerned with Alexei's commitment to serve the Lord after he will leave the program. Another lack of care is that the churches are not involved to help those who need after care. In the Place of Hope people grow spiritually but when they leave it happens as it happened in the parable of the seed, the worries and the glamour of the world steals what was planted in their hearts.

We thank God for those who are in churches. I believe it is worth just for one soul saved the work we do and the financial investment for the grace of God. Myself and everybody else we are doing everything we can to show the people the need to study the Word of God towards change and repentance. Me and my family sarifice our prayers for the work at the center. They miss me at home when I have to spend more time with the clients. But I praise God for what he does through me and the way he uses me. Me and my family are on the same page now about me sacrificing my time with these poor souls.

God blessed us on 4/28/07, we had a wedding in the family. My oldest daugher got married. My son-in-law is a Christian. I praise God for all of this. The other kids are doing well, they work, study and do not waste their time in vain. I am glad that the Lord put us together because you are a great help for our family through the monthly help we get. We could not serve the Lord if we could not have this help.

We pray god to bless you to be able to support as before in the work in Ukraine. We have 8 clients now (in the Place of Hope), two of them need to get saved. Iura just came in , but Victor still needs to grow spiritually. This is what I want to write to you. May God bless you and hope to meet you again in his love. We have a good memory of you visiting our house and the church in Rachitna. Pray so God will give us power, love and skills in the work we do with the people.
With much love,
Adic




That is such a touching letter from the heart of this servant of God. May our prayers remain with these clients as they spend time at the Place of Hope. May we not forget the counselors who do sacrifice their time. If you would like to help out with the financial needs of the Place of Hope, please contact us.
Thank You!

We recently had a visitor from Ukraine, Wally, in February. He is the pastor of a growing church in Southwest Ukraine. Please pray for Wally as he continues to try to reach the lost in Ukraine. This is a message we recieved after he had returned home. This photo is Wally and his friend Rusty when they visited us in New Orleans.

Hello Steve, Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus! Hopefully this message finds you and your family fine and well. We are doing good here. Few weeks ago we had opening service in our new church building. It was great. The sanctuary was pretty packed. We have almost full sanctuary every Sunday morning worship service ever since. We are so glad. Almost every Sunday people come to Christ. Last Sunday four people came forward and repented. Praise God! How are you doing? We think of all of you often and pray for you daily. Thank you so much for everything youve done for us. It is great blessing for us and example of Gods goodness and generosity. The car I bought is so much helpful to do the ministry. Our church is on the other end of the city. This year I also will be director of the Christian camp. And will go to the region teaching in the churches a discipleship course and help them to evangelize using multimedia projector. Please pray for me and my family. We pray for you and ask God to do a great things in your life and ministry you are about to do. God bless you all.
In His love, Wally

We still think about those in Ukraine so very often, but we have recently felt God's leading us to help plant a church here in the U.S. We don't know what the future holds, and if someday we will return to Ukraine, but as we go where the Lord leads, we will always share of our love for this dear country.

We recieved these testimonies just a few weeks ago. There are still exciting things happening in Ukraine.


Demchuk Gennadiy, was born in October 24, 1963. Came to Place of Hope in March 22, 2006. Wanted to be a Christian, and after rehabilitation wanted to be restored as a church member. "Before I was disconnected. Place of Hope gives me hope and God strengthens me and gives me Faith. I have great desire to work for God's glory on His harvest after rehabilitation. I want to help to walk in path of salvation those who are far away form Him and don't know God. I want to help them to step on way of life and open their hearts to Jesus Christ. I would very much like that in our city would be opened same Christian Center of rehabilitation and sinners could come and receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and be saved. I thank our Lord for Center of rehabilitation 'Hope'. Praise and glory and honor be to Him for ever, Amen!"


"Peace of God be to you. My name is Georgiy. I was born in Chernivtsi in Christian home. I visited church. When I grew up and liked this world. I got married but my marriage wasn't good. I started to drink alcohol, and it ended that I slept where I could find place. It lasted for a long time. Once I met pastor of Romanian church, David, and he brought me to rehabilitation center. Here I am more then a year. Here I met God again. Now I'm with Jesus. Because of work of the Center I again know what is real life. I was lost but God stretched His hand toward me and lifted me up from swamp. And till the end of my life I'll be with the Lord. Now God is in my heart. Jesus will help me, I feel it and see it."

Praise God for these men, and we continue to pray that those who leave the Place of Hope will continue in their walk with the Lord and not fall back into their addiction. God is doing an amazing work and you can be a part of it! Please contact us for more information. If you would like to join a team and go to Ukraine, or if you would like to join us in supporting this vital ministry, please get in touch with us.

Thank you all for your prayer and financial support.

It is finished! On Saturday, May 13th, I walked across the platform of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to receive my diploma for successfully completeing 126 hours of course study for my BA in Christian Ministry with a minor in Psychology and Counseling. The day was fantastic! Most of my family was there to witness the event. It was important for my family to be there because I don't think they would have believed had they not seen it with their own eyes! I guess if I were them I would have needed proof as well!

The road was long and the Journey was hard but, in the end, I have to say, it was all worth the extreme effort. Yes, I said extreme effort! With the degree on the wall, more importantly, with the experienced gleaned from several years of labor, now it is time to press on toward a new goal...Ukraine.

Missi and I will begin to press forward in our efforts to raise the necessary funds to move to Ukraine as full-time missionaries. Dr. Chuck Kelley, president of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, asked the graduating class a question Saturday morning during the graduation ceremony. He asked, "Do you believe what you know about God?" This is an important question for the answer to it is why we are pressing on towards ministry in Ukraine. I may know what I believe, but do I believe what I know? I DO believe in what I KNOW about God! Therefore, we will press on, we will go. Why? Because believe that God has specifically called us to go. We have our marching orders, to roughly quote a friend.

Please continue to pray for us as we seek to raise our support. Thank you for the prayers you have already lifted up on our account. You are a blessing to us.

This message was sent to us in February. We don't know if this
man is still at the Place of Hope, but we know wherever he is
he needs our prayers.


"My name is Sergiu, former drug addict for twenty-two years. By the grace of God I still am alive and for the rest of my life I want to be the servant of Christ. Now I am woking and help at the Place of Hope. I need to be sustained in your prayers."


Thank you for praying for Sergiu and others that are finding freedom in Jesus Christ!

Testimonies of God's grace:
This is a testimony from a client that was in the Place of Hope, alcohol and drug rehabilitation program in Malinovka, Ukraine.

"I want to say that I search for God. But all these times on my way were people who tempted me to drink. I want to say that everything that happened is true and is from God. God sent Slavik, I was going to him with a bottle and I said, 'Slavik will you drink with me?' but he said 'no, because my heart is not healthy. I am drinking medicals.' But I pushed him to drink and we drank. And then I said: 'You know, this life bothers me and I want to go to God' . And he said to me I know about one center. I asked, 'This center has medicals?' And he said no. Then I said, 'Only God can help me'.
Even my daddy says to me to repent because only God can save my soul.
The next morning we went to Chernivtsy. And I said to Slavic, 'Let us drink today and it will be the last time.' We did , we took taxi, and came to the center. I couldn't understand how weak I am. Only the next day I understood that I am in the right place.
Truly it was very hard. Three days I couldn't find peace and I wanted to go back home.
But when I remembered my father I understood that from vodka families are suffering.
I said, 'God help me and give me strength to go to the end.' I believe that for the time staying in the center my body is clearing. I believe that I will have wisdom and will think wisely. If I will be with God, people will treat me and I will keep my family and lead them to God. Everyone chooses something in his life. I chose my way. It is true when people say that it is never too late to begin a new life. It is very sad that I did not repent in my young years. I'm sure that I WOULD live with my first wife. I forgot about God but now I confessed my sins and repented.

P.S. I can't say something more. We need only to believe and to read the Bible. We will be with God forever. "
ALEXANDR. 5.12.2005.


Such a wonderful testimony! Praise God for His deliverance from all kinds of strongholds in our lives! Let us continue to pray for these men in the Place of Hope. I pray that more men will come to know Christ through this center and be able to share their faith with their families and friends. If you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, please follow this link: http://www.billygraham.org/SH_HowToBecomeAChristian.asp

What can we do?
Many people ask this question of us. There are so many opportunities for ministry in Ukraine. Some we have accomplished, others are areas that we have only hoped to get involved with. Some of these opportunities are: Back Yard Bible Clubs, street preaching, building projects, revivals, sunflower seed press ministry, planting/ harvesting ministries, women's Bible studies, men's ministries, video projector sharing "The Jesus Film," student ministries, children/ preschool ministries, discipleship, construction, orphanages, medical ministries, and as many other ministries as you can imagine.










The question remains, will you be a part of this ministry sharing the Gospel in Ukraine? If you would like to, here's how:

First, you can pray. Anyone and everyone can pray. Pray for God's provision and blessings for this ministry.

Second, you can go. If you have two weeks open in the summer or fall months you can go and see just how white the fields are for harvest. Trips are planned for nearly every summer. you can join one of the teams and experience God's Word in action. You can put your own faith in action! Click on the link to Global Outreach and you can contact them about joining a team, or being a team leader!

Third, you can give. You can offer your financial support. Without your support the ministry in Ukraine doesn't move forward. If you feel God wants you to give, we ask you to give sacrificially and see just how much God will bless you for your faithfullness and obedience.

Let me tell you more about how to GO, GIVE OR PRAY.
You may contact us personally.
email: perrys4@gmail.com


Also, you can click on the Global Outreach link to the side to get more information about teams or ministry opportunities. On this website you can find the Ukrainian ministry when you navigate to the long-term missionaries tab and then click on Europe on the map.

If you feel led to give to this ministry, please send your tax-deductible gift to the address listed here and specify "Ukraine ministry" on your check:
Global Outreach
po box 1
Tupelo, MS 38801

Thank you for following in obedience in whatever way God wants you to.

Now, let me give you a glimpse into the wonderful country of Ukraine. Ukraine has been brutalized by many foreign foes. The enemies of Ukraine, at times, seemed unending. The pursuits of the Russian and German armies nearly ended the Ukrainian way of life. Ukrainians were subjected to fake plagues, and occupation. The fertile soil of Ukraine had served to provide nearly one third of Russia's agricultural needs under the communist oppression. Ukraine has a rich delta in the East and beautiful mountains in the West (the Carpathians). During the cold war, Ukraine was just a Soviet state. Today, Ukraine is a sovereign nation with a very hopeful future in the world around them.

Ukraine's people have learned to survive cold winters and harsh oppression. During the winters in Ukraine the temperature can drop to as low as -40 degrees. The summers are hot, with temperatures reaching into the 90's. The people of Ukraine make up the most important element of who they are and how they should be thought of. Ukrainians are humble people who believe in honesty and integrity. Years of communist heavy heandedness has taught them resolve. They are a strong people who know what it means to put in a hard day's labor. They have only known Russian Orthodox as a religion under communism. In the Orhodox teaching there is no relationship with Jesus Christ. There is no salvation. Right now the country is wide open for evangelism, and we don't know for how long.



In the West, where we want to serve and live, the church is moving forward. Just 13 years ago, the local Baptist association had about 51 churches. Today that same association has more than 160 churches. Even with the growth of the number of churches, there are still places that do not have a church nor a Christian witness. We visited just such a village on the border of Romania and Ukraine on our mission trip of June 2005. The villlage was so close to the border that the van had to be searched for illegal persons. After the checkpoints had been cleared the van was able to go to a hilltop overlooking a small Ukrainian village. Here the president of the Baptist association said there was no church and only one known Christian. This village needs a church and a witness! Will you give to help plant a church in that village?

We need to share with you about the needs of another village. The village is called Malinovka. Malinovka has one of Ukraine's only Christian alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers. It is called the Place of Hope. It started as a vision that had been given to my friend and brother in the faith, Harry Gaston. Harry has been going to Ukraine for nearly 14 years. God has used Harry and his resources to do a mighty work in Ukraine. The Place of Hope was one of the greatest ministries that God has planted in Ukraine. The facility can house more that 30 men at a time. Since it began operating, many men have been saved by our precious Lord, Jesus Christ. This program needs funds to continue operation. Can you be faithful and give to help make sure a "Place of Hope" remains in Ukraine? If not, who will? The Place of Hope has a full staff of counselors, adminstrator, service workers, plus the clients who are voluntarily there.

Please pray for these unreached villages and people of Ukraine. Please remember the Place of Hope and all of the people it is reaching. Pray for the men as they leave the program, hopefully changed men full of the Holy Spirit and ready to change their world for Christ. Pray for us as we try to get on the field in Ukraine to meet the needs of these people.