There are always numberous unsung heros who make a trip to a foreign nation possible and without whom nothing would or could happen. Pictured to the side is one such hero – Miroslav. He is my interpreter on my many trips into the former Soviet Union without whom I would be unable to minister or even communicate with most of those in attendance and those that we meet with. A few speak some English but an interpreter is an absolute necessity for someone such as myself who has yet to master a working knowledge of the Russian language although I am slowly working at it. Miroslav ends up being my shadow day and night, every day. The only time I am without him is when the day is done and we are having our devotional times and then sleep…

Not only is he interpreting but he has also begun to teach. This allows me to have a break from teaching as he covered several teaching sections during one of the weeks which allowed me time to do some preparation for opportunities to speak that were popping up – Maundy Thursday of Holy Week service, the university lecture, and other new and unplanned opportunities to share the Word of the Lord. This also helps his gifts and callings to develop as he begins to work as an apostle in the Kingdom of God more and more.

On this recent trip to Belarus there were several others who worked really hard to allow the two weeks to be such a powerful blessing – Elena (Miroslav’s wife) who translated for me on numberous occasions – both when in the pulpit and one-on-one as I ministered to or met with various individuals. She was with us for almost a whole week and a real blessing to the ministry – including teaching a whole segment on one day while I was away (with Miroslav) at the university teaching a class and meeting with various professors.

As well, a young man from Kiev who hosts us when we are in that city on our way home to Canada (we take over his apartment, eat, share fellowship, have some sleep before leaving for the airport at 2:00 a.m. and most importantly use his shower to clean up before spending two days in airports and planes…). Oleg took a week off work and joined us, working with us on our prophetic ministry team as well as interpreting several teachings for me so Miroslav and Elena could have some time to simply sit. He understands and translates English very, very well … he speaks it with less certainty but is improving the more he has opportunity to use English while with us.

Then there are those who prepared meals … Those who cleaned the building every day … those who led worship three times a day … those who made sure the speaker had an ample supply of cold Diet Coke … those who work hard to find us a way to connect to the internet through our own computers (changes in each nation) … the sound man … those who trouble shoot “difficult people” so we don’t have to … those that make sure that the ministry stops when the service is over and help us to work our way through the crowd so that we do not have to prophesy again and again… so many people to thank and without whom trips like this recent one to the nation of Belarus would simply not be possible.

Thank you to all the many, many unsung heros.

Pictured is part of those in attendance at our leaders week in Mogilev, Belarus several weeks ago. We met for 6 days and talked about leadership issues in the church today and the need for the church to become supernartural in nature so as to influence and win more people to the Lord. Meetings were held three times a day and were packed with worship, teaching and prophetic ministry. These men and women were hungry for the Lord and powerfully impacted by each and every meeting.

These leaders came from a number of cities and towns; they were from a number of denomnational (they are called “unions” there) backgrounds; they ranged in age from 20 to 70; males and females; leaders as well as leaders-in-training; local and trans-local in emphasis. Of course, we had a few “want-to-be” leaders who were simply not leaders but the Lord sorted things like this out for us. They came at great cost to themselves as most had jobs other than pastoring to earn a living and so simply took a leave of absence without pay to spend a week with us learning and growing. They lived in people’s frontrooms, in the pentecostal church next door to the building we were using, any place they could that didn’t cost additional money – sleeping where they could, they ate when given the opportunity (we were feeding them what we could when we could in a makeshift kitchen as we had not offered meals but didn’t want people to be hungry ….) and never complained once. Not once! They were simply content with what was and happy to be able to worship, learn and be ministered to.

It was an honor to serve these men and women – to pray with them, teach them, minister prophetically and bless them with a now Word of the Lord. Every meeting was well received; people were seriously engaged each time with whatever was being taught and discussed; they stayed behind and even arrived early for added fellowship which often slipped into an additional worship time … it was amazing to watch and even more amazing to be a part of this literal ‘move of the Spirit’ that happened three times a day every day during our leaders week in Belarus. God is so good.

Thank you for praying and supporting this ministry through your prayers and financial gifts. Through your partnership (both in prayer and with your finances) you are having a major impact on this nation of Belarus – an influence that continues to grow daily. Our plans are to revisit the nation in May of 2011 and work with both leaders and youth over a two week period teaching them prophetic evangelism. Your prayers for this project would be greatly appreciated as planning is already in motion.