A publication of the Kherson Strategic Partnership

January, 1994

Networking Church
Networking Church Conference Agenda

Conference
Clovernook Christian Church,
February 12, 1994

8:30 - 9:00

9:00 -10:00

Church in the Kherson Strategic Partnership

and for those churches interested in becoming
10:00-10:30

The focus of the conference will be on build

ing relationships and teamwork among the

churches; identifying specific areas of involve
ment and how we can help each other in these

areas; and understanding the overall history,

Opening Prayer and Introductions

How Do We See the Picture Now?

This conference is being held for churches

who are networking with Clovernook Christian

networking churches.

Breakfast

Networking churches

Field team

Ukrainian representatives

Matrix Building
Find overlapping efforts

10:30 - 10:45

10:45- 11:45

Share how we can be more effective

Break

Field Team

present status, and future goals for the Kherson

Project.

How it will work

Goals for 1, 3, and 5 years

If you are interested in supporting the

Kherson Strategic Partnership as a congregation,
and would like to attend this conference, con

tact Glen Elliott or Ralph Taylor at Clovernook

Christian Church.

11:45-1:00

Lunch

1:00 - 2:00

Ukrainian Panel Discussion

2:00 - 2:45

Discussion

Elliotts Announce
The Elliott family has announced their return

to Kherson to work as the second family in the

2:45 - 3:00

3:00 - 4:30

Kherson team. They plan to depart in June 1994.

since 1985, and before that w2 Dean of

Students at Pacific Christian Colicg'" H-- and

Jolene married in 1979.Jolene has
herself to being mother of their tv.
Wendy and Brad.

-.fA
-

Budget
How to gain local support

Communications

Transportation

Break

Focus Groups

Glen Elliott served as Minister of Discipleship

and Missions at Clovernook Christian Church

Current status

Develop action plans in specific areas

Large group discussion of action plans

4:30 - 4:50

Budget Modification (if any) and Approval

4:50 - 5:00

Conference Call With Alexanders

5:00

Closing Prayer

6:00

Dinner

From October 1991 to July 1992, the Elliott

family lived in Kherson, Ukraine, to help estab
lish the Kherson Strategic Partnership. When
they return, Glen and Jolene will be helping the
two partner churches in Kherson to grow and
become self-sufficient by training leaders and
missionaries.

Ukrainian missionaries when the

time comes. He will also be help

would be there. I was even more nervous after

training center for East European

churches) to set up a leadership. _
training center in Kherson.

so much to meet their expectations.

"Finally the day arrived. Women of all ages
came,from young girls to babushkas. I began by
saying a few things in Russian. I had practiced
for days with my Russian teacher, and they were

Above:

Interns

"We ore truly excited

God has erected,

apprehensions given
the poor economy

One of the many projects of the Kherson

Strategic Partnership is the support of several

faithful and will be

-

with us."

smiles, tears, and warm embraces all during the

day. The ladies were bursting at the seams with
a sense of happiness and unity.
"My fears were taken away when an old

interns working in various ministries with the

babushka came in tears and told me how hard

Kherson Christian Church. Four interns arc paid

salaries through the KSP budget so that they can

the week had been for her. Prices had just gone
up 250% on many everyday items like butter,

work full time with the church:

and difficult living

condltlofTS In Kherson.
But we know God is

happy to see that I was making some progress.

We had a time of singing, a get-acquainted
game,a Bible study on servanthood, and a short
drama on Mary and the angel's visit.
"From the first minute, I knew the Lord was
present and things would be fine. Each part of
the program was well received. There were

Wendy (9j, and

We also have many

be a special day for them; a time of spiritual

encouragement, but also a time of fellowship
and fun as Christian sisters. I felt this aspect was
really neededbut proceeded with caution
because many babushkas (grandmothers)
seeing the ladies' enthusiasm about it. I wanted

Glen, Jolene,

church planting that

life in these hard times. I wanted Ladies' Day to

Millions, a Vienna, Austria-based

On their arrival, the Elliotts will

about ttils incredible

Kherson churches.

ing TCM (Taking Christ to the

concentrate on developing rela

tionships with the church leaders
and learning to speak the language
fluently. Both are necessary tools
for adapting to the culture and for
effective training.

vwndow of opportunity
for evongelism and

Donna Alexander writes about a Ladies' Day

program she put together in December for the

"There is little fun in a Ukrainian woman's

Specifically, Glen will help set

up a system of small groups in the
churches, develop a missions envi
ronment, and assist in training

Brad (6) Elliott.

Ladies' Day

Lena Gorokhovatskaya Children's Ministry

Yuri Mark
TCM Training Center
Sasha Muravski

Worship/Music Ministry

Igor Shtikhno

Evangelism Ministry

Support for two additional interns is proposed

for the fiscal 1994-95 budget:

cheese, and oil, and she didn't know how she

could make it. But after today, being with the

others and hearing how God cares for and loves
his servants, she said, she felt so much better.

We heard this kind of testimony time and again.

"At the end of the day, the best thing I could
have hoped for happened. The ladies formed a
committee to begin a ladies' ministry, which
would organize help to those in need. Many tal
ented and dedicated women in the church are

Oleg Shatalov

Youth Ministry

Nikolaye Tatishvili

Church Administration

capable of overseeing or helping with a ladies'

ministry, but I never dreamed it would happen
so soon. It was like they had just been waiting

Partnership
is a quarterly newsletter published by the Kherson Strategic Partnership, c/o Cloverncok Christian Church,

1373 West Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45231. Chairperson, Ralph W.Taylor. Editor, Robert E. Keith.
Contributing Editors, Glen Elliott, Kalhy Giskc, Doug Lucas. Photo by Mike Rubush.

The goal of this newsletter is to inform churches and individuals about practical ministry opportunities in the
Ukraine, inviting them to become involved as a network of churches that seek to strengthen the existing
Ukrainian church and see it established among unreached people.

for someone to give them a start, and now off

they went. The committee met the very next day
at church to begin making plans. WOW!I think I
have been smiling ever since.
"The Lord blessed the meeting and I know it
was due to your prayers. Thank you for support
ing me as I planned the day and also for being
concerned for the women here in Ukraine. They
are on fire now,and I just know that many good
things will happen."

Hard Hmes
When it became an independent country two years ago,
people were optimistic over Ukraine and its prospects for
economic survival. Ukraine was thought to be second most

likely to succeed (next to Russia) of all the former Soviet

states. But now the economy is collapsing.

According to the WallStreetJournal, living standards 40,000/1

have plunged 50% since 1991. Free-market reform is

stalled; 90% of Ukrainian businesses still belong to the

Visits

government. Fuel is short supply and was being

Ralph Taylor and Jim and Marianne Littlejohn

will be making a pastoral visit to Kherson from
January 27 through February 8.
Ralph Taylor is the Kherson Strategic

rationed in most cities even before the winter came.

Partnership Chairperson. He will be reviewing

the Alexanders' progress against project goals
and working with Chris and Donna to develop

The chart below shows the exchange rate of

Kupons to the dollar over the past three years. A
typical Ukrainian worker's salary during the fall
was between 50,000 and 100,000 Kupons per

short- and long-term plans for the next phase of

the project. The Littlejohns are members ofthe
Alexanders' shepherding group. They will be
determining what Chris and Donna's shepherd
ing needs are and how the shepherding group

Perhaps 30% of the economy would fold if the black

market were purged. Inflation is about 100% a
month.

month (three to five dollars a month) but even

those wages did not keep pace with the rate of
inflation.

All three will continue to develop relation

ships with our brothers and sisters among our

If the average American salary is $28,000 per

year, here's what some everyday items would
cost at Ukrainian prices (relative to our earn

two partner churches in Kherson.

ings):

can best meet those needs.

When they return, two Ukrainians will come

with them, to spend about five weeks in the U.S.

Vlad (Vova) Devakov, 23, is Administrative
Assistant for the KSP, working with the field
team. Lena Gorokhovatskaya, 26, is a Children's

Bread

$33.00 a loaf
later rose to $58.00

Milk

$30.00 a quart

Gas

$425.00 a gallon

Eggs

$133.00 a dozen
later rose to $50.00

Beef

$390.00 a pound

Ministry Intern with the Kherson Christian

Church.

.000/1

20,000/1

Vova will be learning about how the U.S. staff

works together as a team to pursue the various

projects of the KSP. Lena will work with Monica

Roberts, Children's Minister at Clovernook, to

see how the children's program is planned and
run. Both will visit some of the networking
churches. They will also offer perspectives
about what it is like to be a new Christian in

Ukraine and what it is like to participate in a

partnership with American churches.

Three years ago there were 6 rubles to

the dollar.(The Kupon replaced the ruble
in early 1992.) As ofJanuary 1, the
exchange rate stood at about 35000
Kupons per dollar.
Chris Alexander reports that there is
more talk now that something has to
give, and that whatever it is, it will be
within the next 60 days.

10,000/1

July 1993
Alexanders arrive

5000 Kupons/dollar

5,000/1

Januaiy 1991,
6 rubles/dollar

^1991

1992

1993

1994

News

Help Wanted

NEWS

HELP WANTED
churches, Clovernook, and

Budget

Prayer
It htos been their most con

Family health during the

winter In Kherson.(Nich

Short Term Trip

direct supporters of tt>e

Alexanders arxj the Elliotts.

olas's eye may require

Clovernook and network

IndMdixjIs In tt partner
ship network are Invited to
take part In the next shortterm missiorrs trip to

ing church leadershipa

Kherson. For information

preliminary review to Identi

fy ttie key areas, and a

contact Mike Rubush,c/o

initial letter sent to the

Taylor and the LIttiejohns

Clovernook,

Clovernook congregation

second review to deter-

end networking churches.

mlfT ttie final operating

budget. All this is done

will be Inelpful in assessing

both sheptnerding and pro

The preliminoiy 1994-95

The KSP Budget undergoes

fiscal budget is taking

shape, The fund raising
campaign will begin in

two reviews by the

late February with ttie

The budget will be finalized

immediately after Easter

when the campoign clos

es. All pledges will be
counted ttxat hove been

fessional accountant who

is also a KSP Task Force

received from networking

member.

medical supplies and non-perishable food

(enough to fill a forty-foot container) to send
to Kherson for distribution. The project has
been delayed to allow involvement by other

local Columbus Ohio area churches. Target

date for shipping is now eorty fvlarch.

Kheron Dom Molitve Is osk-

larger church building on

learning ot the University of

Christians, ^pecioiiy

among tte Crimean Tatar.

Cirxiinnati.

Church, along with the

Central Valley Baptist

wtx> are olso working in

Kherson, ore supporting
this project finatTciolty and

Preparations to go (sale

For tte worsening eco

of house ond possessions).

Finding housing in

nomic and political situa

tion in Ukraire and other

Kherson.

countries that were o part

of the Soviet Union.

are looking for others who

Teacher Wanted

wish to help.
For more information,

The AJexander and Elliott families are

contact Ralph W. Taylor,

locking for someone who would help

teach their children In Kherson. There

are currentty three school-age children,

two first graders and one fourth grader.

PRAYER REQUESTS

The person would likely have to raise

some support, but there may also be
some financial help provided by the

Alexander family

John Chesnut

Pickerington, OH 43147
Telephone (614)833-4900

wtx5 was seriously ill, has

regained his health.

For the growth of new

Continued language

land donated to It by the

government.

which to buy additional medical supplies for

Pickerington Christian Church

36 Lynette Dr.

With ttxanks that Olga

Kudryatseva's son Lyosha,

determining tier goals for

the coming year.

Elliott family

lr>g for fundir^g to build a

c/o Clovernook.

for more information, contact

Strategic Partnership.

For Cheryl Trueblood, In

They also seek financial contributions with

this shipment.

that serves ttie Kherson

Their adjustment to a
new life and culture.

The leoderstiip of thie

Association in California,

Pickerington Christian Church is collecting

future date.)

ject needs.

Clovernook Christian

Medical Supplies Needed

For rtew partnerships to

be formed, ond for efforts
to recruit churches, and

Individuals within churches,

to be part of the network

additional surgery at a

That fine visit of Ralph

Building Project

under ttTe watchful eye of

Christine Schuster, a pro

Ottiers

stant prayer request.

families.

Language learning. Ttiis

orTe for the Alexanders,

Please contact Glen Elliott or Ralph

Taylor at Clovernook Christian Church If

becouse of the limited

you or someone you know might be

area has been a difficult

amount of time they have

Interested.

been able to devote to It.

Partnership
NONPROFIT ORG.

Clovernook Christian Church

1373 West Galbraith Rd.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Cincinnati, OH 45231

CINCINNATI, OHIO
PERMIT NO. 8178

Editor

Mr. Norman Weaver

Horizons Magazine

P.O. Box 2427

Knoxvillej TN

37901

Ski

/ A

.#s

If -

6-/<
Elliott Family - Kherson Project
c/o Clovernook Christian Church
1373 W. Galbralth Rd.

Cincinnati, OH 45231 ^(^^7

L

mission services
P.O. Box 2427

FAX; (423; 577-974^ _

MISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION - PERSONAL FILE FORM

2/11/94

Full Name: Gien Aian Eiiiott

Field Address:
Ukraine

YKpauHa, r. XepcoH 325021

yji. AopocjDeeBa a. 26 kb 101
Gjimot rjieH

Phone on field: 7-06522-74287(apt. of Chris Alexander)

In case of emergency call: 513/622-7707 or Ralph Taylor at 513-626-3701

Ask For: Ralph Taylor
USA Address: 1373 W. Galbralth Rd., Cincinnati. OH 45231

USA phone number: 513-522-7707

Living Link Churches:
A)Clovemook Christian Church, 1373 W. Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45231
B) Mt. Washington Church of Christ, 6986 Salem Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45230
Recommendations by Christian Leaders:
Wilkie W. Winter, 8842 Fountainblue, Cincinnati, OH 45231 (elder at Clovemook
Christian church, prof, at Cincinnati Bible Seminary)

Ralph Wm. Taylor, 4126 Mandrake, Cincinnati, OH 45251

Place of Birth: Baltimore, MD
Date of Birth: November 23, 1955

Where baptized:
Scottsdaie Christian Church, Scottsdale, AZ 85257 on August 27, 1970
Marital Status: Married

Wife's maiden name: Jolene Kae Cook

Date of Marriage: November 24, 1979 at Central Christian Church, Mesa, AZ by

Dr. John Rowe.
Children:

1) Wendy JoAnn Elliott, bom in Fullerton, CA on September 9,1984

2) Bradley Raymond Elliott, bom in Cincinnati, OH on August 27,1986
Previous Christian Service:

First Christian Church, Associate Minister, Youth & Education, 6/77-8/80

Pacific Christian College, Dean of Students, College Administration, 8/80-7/85

Clovemook Christian Church, Minister, Missions & Discipleship, 8/85-present
Education:

Coronado M.S., Scottsdale, AZ 4 years('69-73), high school diploma

Pacific Christian College, Fullerton, CA, 4 years('73-77), B.A., Magna Cum
Laude and

other honors

Pacific Christian College, Fullerton, CA,2 years ('85-87), M.A.

Influence for becoming a missionary:

Study of the scriptures, contact with missions-minded people, and on-field shortterm ministry.

Purpose on the missions field:

The work of the Elliott family is defined by the major goals of the Kherson Project.
The key goals of the project are:
To assist the partner churches of Kherson, Ukraine to become strong,
indigenous, self-multiplying/growing churches via an equipped leadership.
Therefore, assisting in leadership training, setting up a training system and/or
center, modeling discipleship, and helping develop a structure for spiritual
health and growth are parts of reaching this goal.

To assist in helping the partner churches in Kherson to recruit(by helping

create a mission's environment), train, and deploy or field Ukrainian
missionaries to work among the Crimean Tatar. Therefore, assisting in
teaching, planning, and training are parts of reaching this goal.
A fundamental principle in these goals is that full-time American missionary
presence be time-limited (approximately 5 years). Our purpose is to equip
Ukrainian leaders to be self-sufficient to carry out the Great Commission.
Nature of Daily Duties:
Leadership training, teaching, discipleship, evangelism in Kherson and
surrounding villages, mission work among Tatars, planning with Ukrainian
leaders, daily survival (shopping, transportation, etc. which are very difficult and
time consuming).
Terms that best describe our missionary status:
Leadership training, teaching, developing national missionaries.

Languages we know: Russian, at a conversational level.

Parents:

Fathers name and address: Raymond W. Elliott (living), P.O. Box 5930, Carefree,
AZ 85377,602/488-9051. Retired.

Mother's maiden name: Velma Ann Hardesty (living but with Multiple Schlerosis invalid), R.R. 1, Box 154, Wanatah, IN 46390, 219/733-2233.
No relatives in mission work at this time.

Forwarding Agent:
Roger Schwartz
12089 Paulmeadows Dr. Cincinnati OH 45249

Member and elder of Clovernook Christian Church, 1373 W. Galbraith Rd.

Cincinnati, OH 45231
Duties as Fonwarding Agent: primarily financial.
Forwarding agent serves without salary.
Checks should be made to Clovernook Christian Church and sent to the Kherson

Project - Elliott Family, Clovernook Christian Church 1373 W. Galbraith Rd.,

Cincinnati, OH 45231. All gifts are tax exempt. No funds should be sent directly
to the mission field.
Mission name and address:

Kherson Project
Clovernook Christian Church
1373 W. Galbraith Rd.

Cincinnati, OH 45231

Where in the World is Kherson?

Nikolayev

Melitopol

Kherson =

Clovernook. Cincinnati

SimferoDol

Kherson

flo CBMflaHMfl - Good-bye

No. 1

Newsletter from the Elliotts

April, 1994

Saying good-bye is hard, no matter what language you use to say it. As we near our departure we
wanted to write you and let you know some of the who, what, and when kinds of details which are

included in this newsletter. However, we want to do what is most important first and that's to say that
we love you, deeply appreciate your love and support, and that we will miss you, but not forget you.
For us the hardest part of leaving was not selling our home and possessions, but saying good-bye to
our dear family and friends. We love you.
Forgive us for this long and "graphic-less" newsletter. I know it looks boring, but Glen (the editor) is
just about out of time and we wanted to get this information to you. We hope this will answer some of
the questions you might have.
PERSONAL NEWS

We have sold the house, the cars, and many of our possessions. Jolene and the children will get to
stay in the house until they leave. All of our support has been raised. Jolene is completing her third
quarter of Russian at the Univ. of Cincinnati and Glen finished 5 quarters.
The children are doing very well. They would both prefer to stay here in their home, their school and
church, and with their friends, dog and toys. However, they both say they also looking forward to
being in Kherson too. They seem to have a very healthy and honest attitude. Mom and dad are doing
OK also, but the final weeks of preparation to leave have been hectic.
TRAVEL

Glen leaves May 9 to look for an apartment and get things ready for the rest of the family. Jolene. the
children and two elders from Clovernook Christian Church (CCC)will depart June 6. You can reach
them at 513-521-3511 until they leave. We plan to return to the States on vacation sometime during
the winter of 95/96.

COMMUNICATION

Mail - Once we find an apartment we will send back our address in Russian. You can contact
Clovernook Christian Church and ask them to send you the mailing labels. Cost for the first half
ounce of international mail is 50 cents. Mail usually takes about two weeks or more to arrive in
Kherson from the States. Never send cash or a check in the mail to Ukraine. If you want to send
packages, we recommend that they be small (use "bubble pack" type envelopes) and not contain
anything of extreme value. You can include some stickers or packs of Kool-aid for the kids in your
letters. Thanks.

We will use the church address(see under Contacts) as our permanent mailing address. You can
also send mail there, but we do not know how long it will take to be forwarded.

Chris Smyth (513-931-7434) has agreed to help coordinate things that we need and things that will
be carried over in suitcases by other travelers. Contact her for a detailed list of things we need, how
to ship larger packages, etc. She has a list of items we need and want and what we already have.

Diane, at the Clovernook Church office, can also provide with you a 3 page instruction pamphlet on
how to send materials to Kherson.

Newsletters - Once we are in Kherson, we will send back information and Val Schwartz will be

sending out a monthly newsletter from us(which will look much nicer than this I'm sure).
In addition, the Kherson Strategic Partnership provides a quarterly Partnership newsletter which gives
information about the project. You will be included in this mailing also.

Electronic Mall - Jolene will continue to be on CompuServe until she departs(address: 71163,3047).
Once Glen gets to Kherson, he will get our Internet address there and send it back. You can contact
the church to get that address.

CONTACTS

Clovernook Christian Church -1373 W. Galbraith Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45231 (513) 522-7707, fax
(513) 522-7763, CompuServe - 73141,3366

Roger Schwartz (Elliott's financial agent)- Use Clovernook church address. Home:(513)4899221, Work (513) 931-5000 or 398-1486

Terry Wuske (chair, of Elliott shepherding group) Home(513) 729-2488, Work (513)671-9773,
CompuServe 74024,3301. Shirley Wuske will send out display material if needed for a missions or
faith promise conference.

Ralph Taylor - (chair, of Kherson Strategic Partnership Task Force) Home(513)385-1337, Work
(513)626-3701, CompuServe 71022,3570

In summary, contact. ..

Ralph Taylor for information about the Kherson project

=> Roger Schwartz about financial questions
=> Terry Wuske about personal concerns for the Elliotts
(Contact any of the above people in case of an emergency)
=> Chris Smyth about things to send and mail to Kherson
=> Shirley Wuske about display materials for the Elliotts

FUNDING

We thank the Lord and many of you for providing for our financial needs. As we near departure we
are fully funded and have enough funds for the one-time moving expenses. Your gifts have provided
both for our salary and for the expenses of the project.

Roger Schwartz will be our financial agent(use the church address, his phone numbers are above).
He will receive, receipt, and record all gifts sent. He also has full power of attorney to transact
business for us.

When you are sending gifts please make checks to Clovernook Christian Church and send to:
Elliott Family - Kherson Project
Clovernook Christian Church
1373 W. Galbraith Rd.

Cincinnati, OH 45231

This will insure proper credit to our account. Checks written to Clovernook are tax deductible.
Checks written to Glen or Jolene will be forwarded as gifts to the Elliotts, but are not tax deductible.
Thank you.

Roger Schwartz will send out quarterly financial statements to all contributors. Past financial
statements are also available from him. Also financial reports are available for the whole Kherson
project. Contact Ralph Taylor for copies.
OUR FIRST TASK

After we all arrive in Kherson our main task will be language learning. We will spend about 6 hours a

day in intensive language learning. We want to maximize use of the warm weather to meet and talk
with Russian speaking Ukrainians. We will limit our e-mail correspondence during the summer
months in order to give full attention to getting our family settled and gaining ground on the language,
so it may seem as if we are not communication much at first. We hope that you'll understand how
critical it is to learn the language and appreciate how hard it is.
WANT MORE INFORMATION?

If you would like more information, we've probably got it! Contact Diane at the Clovernook church
office or Ralph Taylor. Please be willing to pay for copying and mailing costs. Here's what's
available:

KSP Fact Sheet(3 pages)

Networking Graphics(2 pages)
Sample Partnership Agreement (1 page)
KSP Five Year Plan Graphic (1 page)
KSP Budget 94-95(3 pages)
KSP Budget Report 93-94 (4 pages)
Who's Who? - Participants in the KSP (3 pages)
Strenoths/Needs of the Soviet/Ukrainian Church (1 page)
Horizons Artic'e: "New Strides in the Former Soviet Union"(4 pages)
Lookout Article: "Photo Essay - Partners in the Gospel"(5 pages)
Strategic Framework Study on E. Europe and the Soviet Union (21 pages)
Russian for Snort-term Missionaries with Tape (10 pages)
Guide 'or Honhng Ou."- Ukrainian Visitors(3 pages)
A Guiae to Travel an Work in the C.I.S. (25 pages)

How to Send Materials to Kherson (3 pages)

Copies of past Partnership Newsletters

PRAYER REQUESTS
Needs

Finding adequate housing

Language learning - finding good language helpers and personal discipline

Good friends for Wendy and Brad - their adjustment and their ability to learn the language is
dependent on these relationships
Health and safety issues - the poor economy makes these major issues
For Glen, Jolene and the kids while Glen is in Kherson and separated from the family
Team building with the Alexanders, Cheryl Trueblood and Vlad Devakov
Training Ukrainian leaders to lead and start new churches

Recruiting, training and deploying Ukrainian missionaries and starting churches among the
Crimean Tatar
Praise

For Mary Berry, our children's teacher coming in August

For the smooth preparation period (sale of house, cars, possessions, fund raising, etc.)
For the wonderful encouragement and support we have from the churches in Ohio, Arizona, Iowa,
Indiana and California and our family and friends
For the dedicated believers in Kherson with whom we have the privilege of working

Elliott Family

NON-PROFIT ORG.

Kherson Strategic Partnership

U. S. POSTAGE

Clovernook Christian Church

PAID

1373 W. Galbraith Rd.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati, OH 45231

Permit No. 8178

Norman Weaver

Mission Services Assoc.

Box 2427

Knoxville, TN 37901

Former Soviet Union

September, 1994

A publlcaflon of 1he ICiefson Strategic Partnership Team

Medical Shipments
Arrive in Ukraine
"A woman at the Dom MoUtve, Nina

Culeshova, was scheduled for cancer surgery,"

Chris Alexander wrote recently."She asked me
to pray for her. I went to see her and pray with
her again on the morning of the surgery.
"When I arrived she told me how the patients
were suffering due to lack of supplies. She her
self had to be responsible to gather everything
needed from sutures to gauze to bandages to IV
tubes and syringesabsolutely everything that
was needed, she had to get. She told stories
about others in recovery who had not been able
to get everything needed and were now suffer
ing the consequences. She was graphicI won't
be. Brothers and sisters, we need to pray!"
We do need to pray, but the community of
Pickerington, Ohio has sent two large-size gifts
to Ukraine along with their prayers. On July 22
at 8:30 a.m., the first of two twenty-foot contain
er full of medical supplies arrived in Kherson
after a two-month journey from the U.S. The
Pickerington Christian Church, a networking
church in the KSP, rallied the support of their
entire community to fill them with medical sup
plies. The cross-denominational effort has been

featured on local(Columbus) TV and radio.

The Pickerington group raised $5000 toward
the purchase of the contents of the first contain
er, and this amount was matched by I.D.E.S.
(International Disaster Emergency Services). The
$10,000 bought medicines through MAP Inter
national in Brunswick, Georgia, which also
shipped the container. Shipping was paid for by
the Fund for Democracy.
The final wholesale value of the container

was $520,000(yes, 520,0001). The list ofitems

included 2000 pairs of used eyeglasses, overthe-counter and prescription drugs, vitamins,
medical supplies like syringes and alcohol

swabs, and 1200 pair of children's shoes.

A second container carrying about $170,000
worth of a much wider variety of locally donat
ed food, medicines, and
medical supplies, arrived
August 15.
In Kherson, the Dom
Molitve and the Christian
Church each selected a

doctor firom among their

members to oversee the
local distribution: Dr.
Nikolai from the Dom
Molitve and Dr. Galena
firom the Christian
Church. These doctors are

seeing to it that the supplies are distributed to

the regional hospitals where they are on staff.
The supplies will be used to meet the needs of
people in the churches and also as a means of
benevolence outreach. They are desperately
neededsome are no longer supplied by the
state government and some never were avail
able, but all are needed.

John Chesnut, minister of the Pickerington

church, writes: "While there will be plenty for
the local Christians to benefit from this, it
should be looked at as a great opportunity for
benevolent evangelism and to simply let the
Kherson community know that Christians in
America do care about their current plight."
The local ministerial group is planning
another community effort to begin around
Thanksgiving of this year and extend through
Easter of 1995.

Steve Raucti and

friends from his com-

fxiny, ADB AInoco,

of work packing the
second container in

Rckerington.

New Building
Roger Schwartz, one of the forwarding agents
for the Elliott family, reports the following from
a recent visit to Kherson:

"The Kherson Dom Molitve is involved in a

were here for a week from Parkside Church in

major building project with an auditorium that

will seat between 750 and 1000 in worship,
together with classroom and multipurpose
space. While all of the funds necessary to com

Anchorage, Alaska to see the work firsthand and

visit at length with Yuri Mark. Upon their
return, they encouraged the Parkside Church to

plete the project have not been raised, not one

day of construction has been missed because of

Partnership.
"Ralph Taylor and Jim and Marianne Littlejohn

tureshould becomplete bytheend

if a lack of funds. The building struc-

of the year. The Dom Molitve con

gregation, under the ministry of
Brat Ivan, is moving forward on
faith that God, through His people,
will provide."

tion on the new House of Prayer. If all goes as

planned, the roof will be on by the end of the
year. The KSP has contributed substantially to
meeting this need.
"Ed and Terrie Zehrung, with their family,

jrV.12?^ 'f:-

become fully involved in the Kherson Strategic

from Clovemook Christian Church arrived for a

week of planning meetings.Jim and Marianne as

our shepherding group leaders were really an
encouragement to both Donna and I.
"GaryJohnson and Randy Bennett from
Indian Creek Christian Church were also here

for a week [in May]. Gary gave a full schedule of

seminars on a variety of different topics and was
received Incredibly well by both churches. They
are still asking me when he will be coming back.
"Glen,Jolene, Wendy, and Brad Elliott
arrived, completing the KSP field team.
"Ralph Taylor was back again, this time with
Roger Schwartz and Debbie (Schneider) Wells,
also from Clovernook. Roger shared some
lessons with the KCC council on stewardship
and problem solving. Debbie was here to inves
tigate the current situation with the deaf min
istry. Ralph and I had many meetings to discuss

plans for the future work among the Tatar.

"The 1994 TCM training program began [in
June] with Gary Weedman presenting a six-day

"Annual Report"
Chris Alexander recently wrote the following
letter reviewing his first year in Kherson:
"As I sit now and think about all of the major
events of this last year, I'm amazed at the list of

things that have been directly related to your

involvement. In the last 12 months .. .

"Yuri Mark, one of the KCC interns, was sent

to Austria to begin a course of study that is

intended to prepare him to lead other Ukrainian
students through the TCM program which is
now being offered here in Kherson.
"The Kherson Dom Molitve began construc

seminar on hermeneutics. John Castelein

arrived [in August] to begin a second series of

lectures. He lectured on New Testament the

ology.
"Two containers filled with medicine and

humanitarian aid, organized through the work

of Pickerington Christian Church and communi
ty, arrived and were successfully distributed to
Kherson hospitals.
"On August 18 Mary Berry arrived to teach
school for our kids. This wdll be a great help for
Donna and Jolene and has been made possible

by the KSP.

Partnership
is a newsletter published by the Kherson Strategic Partnership, c/o Clovemook Christian Church, t373 West
Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45231- Cbaitperson, Ralph W. Taylor. Editor, Robert E. Korth. Contributing
Editors, John Chesnut, Kaihy Giske, Doug Lucas, Valerie Schwartz. Photos, John Chesnut, Roger Schwartz,
and Jim Littlejohn.

The goal of this newsletter is to inform churches and individuals about practical ministry opportunities in the
Ukraine, inviting them to become involved as a network ofchurches that seek to strengthen the existing
Ukrainian church and see it established among unreached people.

"Amazing, isn't it? I want to thank the Lord

for all of these things. He has worked through

UKRAINE

you in order to make things happen here that

would not otherwise have happened. This list
above would not have been accomplished with
out you, so praise the Lord!

VKpanHa
325021 r. XepcoH
yn. flopoct)eeBa a. 10 kb. 30
AneKcaHAP, Xpnc
UKRAINE

YKpawHa
325021 r. XepcoH
yn. JlaTOHa a. 5 kb. 208
E/uimott, rjieH

New Church in
Kherson
In the Cotton and Textile Factory(XBIQ }
district in Kherson, many of the people who
work in the factories live in large dormitories.
In the dorms are large unoccupied comer
rooms formerly called "Red Corners." These
are the places where the people used to meet
for Communist instruction. Now they are
mainly places where children gather for activi
ties. And in the evenings, they are where the
Kherson Christian Church holds weekly Bible
studies.

Oleg Shishkin was baptized in June 1992

along with eleven others (including Vlad
Devakov, translater and administrator for the
KSP in Kherson). Oleg is a member of the
Kherson Christian Church who worked with
another church in a town near Kherson for a
while. He coordinates three adult and three

children's Bible studies in the dormitories in

XBK (pronounced ha-beh-kah, roughly). Each

week, members of the Kherson Christian
Church takes three to six people from the
youth choir and a guitar player into the dormi
tories. They sing, study Scripture, and have a
question-and-answer period.The adult studies
have as many as 8-10 adult visitors in addition

Mailing to the
Alexanders
and Elliotts
The cost for the first half ounce of international mail is 50

cents, and 45 cents for each half-ounce thereafter. Mail

takes two or more weeks to arrive from the U.S.

Never send cash or a check in the mail to Ukraine. If you

want to send packages, we recommend they be small (use
"bubble pack" type envelopes) and not contain anything of
extreme value. You can include some stickers or packs of
Kool-Aid for the kids in your letters.
Mailing labels are available through Clovernook Christian
Church, or you can copy or Xerox the above labels.
You can contact Diane Hayes at the CCC office for a threepage instruction pamphlet on how to send materials to
Kherson.

Women and chil

dren after a Bible

study at XBK, in a

photo taken last

February.

to the adults from the church. The children's

studies have perhaps 10 kids between the ages

of 4-12.

The Kherson Christian Church is only about

three years old itself. It began following the
first Ukrainian-American Christian Festival in

June, 1991. Their minister, Genia Siney, at first

was a part-time minister who held a paying job
else^ere. The Kherson Strategic Partnership
now pays his salary so he can minister full time.
In addition, the KSP provides the salaries of
seven interns so that they are able to invest
their work week in learning how to lead a

On June 12, six people were baptized at XBK,

and a new church was officially born.
The Kherson Christian Church is planning to

church. The church now meets in the Palace of

start five or six churches in all, one in each of

Culture of Shipbuilders, where Genia once

worked, with a membership of 300 and weekly
attendance of nearly 500, including over 250

chance to start churches. They and the prayers

children.

the districts of Kherson. Its leaders pray for the

of the congregation support the work of Oleg
and the other Bible study leaders.

Prayer

Personals
"Sudavadifief in Kherson. I

PERSONALS
Alexander Family
Order of Lenin

"I think I told you that Ryan

won third place in ttie

before the summer is out i

will actually know firstharxt

if there really are an/ fish in
the Dnieper."

ing to his friends before he

actuaiiy won secortd. He

left: "For us the hardest

was also given a little

membership booklet and it
appears that he is now a

part of leaving was not

selling our feme and pessessions, but saying good

proud member of tt>e

bye to our dear family and

would have ever thoughti'

past few months, and for

those who lead and shep

Glen, Jolerre, arxt the chil

Christian Church who Is

secured, and for leader

dren.

being trained byTCM,and

ship among the students.

friends. We love you.

After Joiene, Wendy,
and Brad ted arrived and

Yuri fvtark, intern with the

his wife Vika,

economy makes these

major issues

Glen wrote the follow

Club (of students from ttie

Pedagogical institute); for
a meeting place to be

herd thtem.

for both familiesthe poor

Elliott Family

Cheryl Truebiood asks for

prayers for fine Christian

Continued adjustment
and language learning for

Heoith arxt safety issues

gymnastics competition
on Saturday, Weil, i was
wrong, The awards ceremoriy was tonight and he

:"order of Lenin'who

Kherson churches in the

PRAYER REQUESTS

also now have a fishing

license, and so maybe

Team building among

Pray for outreach to the

Crimean Tatar, An intern at

In July elections, Leonid

Kuchma was elected pres

the Kherson Ctvistian

ident of Ukraine, Kuchma is

volunteered to become a

Church, Igor Shtikrxj, has

the Alexanders, Elliotts,

expected to pursue closer

Ynissions coordinator" at

Cheryl Truebiood, and

ties with Russia as a means

the KCC, The Dom Moiitve

Viad Devakov,

Training Ukrainian leaders

to lead and start r>ew
churches

The many(over 100) new

Christians baptized by the

of stabilizing his country's

has also agreed to

economy. He was backed

by tfre national Commurv
ist Party. Proy for the new

oppoint a "missions intern."

These two people will be
important in equipping

leaders in the Ukraine to

and enabling ttie church

follow the leading of God.

es to reach the Tatar.

"The word "Sudavaditief

the settling down process

was taking place, Glen

means boat captain, and

now I cm one. i bought a

for their safe arrival; an

small fishing boat. Be

excellent apartment with

cause the Dnieper River is

good neigtibors; a iarv

pretty big arxJ txjs c great

guage trelper, Wice, and

If you would like more information, we've probably got it! Contact Diane

deal of shipping traffic,

a baby-sitter, Oksana, to
watch thre children during

at ttte Clovemook church office or Ralph Taylor. Please be willing to pay

Sudavadltiel

anyone who is on the river

expressed praise to God

for copying and mailing costs. Here's whafs available.

Russian lessons; for Maiy

in a boat must know the

rules and have a license.
After several weeks of

for encouragement and

studying i was able to pass

support from networking

the test and am now prob

churcties and individuals;

ably ttie first and only

and for the dedicated

believers in Kherson.

licensed American

Wsuxt More Information?

Berry, children's teacher;

Networking Church Conference

at Clovemook Christian Church,
Cincinnati, Ohio
November 10-12,1994

Mark your caiendors!

KSP Fact Sheet

Networking Graphics
Sample Partnership Agreement
KSP Five Year Plan (Graphic)
KSP Budget 1994-95
KSP Budget report 1993-94
Who's WhoParticipants in ttre KSP
Strengths/Needs of the Soviet Ukrainian church
Horizons article: "New Strides in the Former Soviet Union"

Lookout article: 'Photo EssayPartners in the Gospel

Strategic Framework study on Eastern Europe and ttre Soviet Union
Russian for Short-term Missionaries (with Tape)

Guide for Hosting our Ukrainian Visitors

A Guide to Travel and Work in the C.i.S.

Parinershi

NONPROFIT ORG.

Clovemook Christian Church

U.S. POSTAGE

1373 West Galbraith Rd.

PAID

Cincinnati, OH 45231

CiNCiNfviATl, OHIO
PERMfT NO.8178

Mr. Nomiaii Weaver, Editor

Mission Services Association
P.O. Box 2427

Knoxvilie, TN 37901

Inside Edition
NOVEMBER 2, 1994

The Elliott's in Kherson, Ukraine

The good news from Kherson is that the churches are doing
well and growing. The field team works with three churches.

PRAY FOR THE KHERSON CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Dom Molitve, the established church, is currently building an

auditorium that will seat up to 1,000 in worship. They are Pray for the current leaders:
building in faith, as not all the money has been raised.
- Genia Siney, the Pastor of the Kherson Christian Church
- Igor Shtikno, Missions Minister

- Lena Gorakavatskaya, leading Sunday School program

(350 children signed up!)
- Sasha Moravski, working with Youth,choirs and worship
- Yuri Mark, working with Youth
- Nikolai Sulkov, Office Manager
- Oleg, leading Bible Study groups

- Valodia Siney, working with deaf ministry

Elders, Pray that the Lord will raise up those who are
truly to be the overseers of this congregation.
Future location of the church. The church has been

blessed with use of a culture hall in a ship-building factory,

but there is some~cbncerii it may be sold or rented to another

organization. They request prayer about God's will in terms
of relocating or building.

Dom Molitive Church at worship

The Kherson Christian Church, only three years old, has

a Sunday morning attendance of over 500. Because only a
few members of the church have been Christians for more

than three years, there is a great need for strong leadership.

Factory where XBX Church plant meets

Sunday School Class at Kherson Christian

Now the Kherson Christian Church is church planting!

They are conducting weekly Bible studies for adults and
children in the XBX (pronounced Ha-beh-kah). They meet
in the Cotton and Textile Factory in rooms that were
formerly called "Red Comers", where people used to meet
for Communist instruction.

m
PERSONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:
Thank God for His provision of a good apartment, a
teacher for our children, and good friends here and in the
States.

Continued progress toward fluent speech in Russian.

We may have to find new language helpers, so pray that

God will provide the right people.
Pray for our safety and health. The deteriorating
economy here makes both a growing concern. All of us have
had various sicknesses this past month.
Pray for my grandmother, who is caring for my mother
who is bedfast with multiple-sclerosis. My grandfather
passed away in August, leaving the care for my mother in
grandmother's hands.

Jolene, Wendy, Brad and I want to again say thank you for
your prayers and concern for us. We enjoy getting cards
from the people on the prayer team, telling us that they are
praying for us. This is a great encouragement and we see the
results. The kids have also really appreciated the letters and
gifts sent to them... you have been a very kind and generous
church and we feel very fortunate to be able to serve in
partnership with you.

Our first couple months here were difficult. This is a hard

place to live and it took us a while to adjust. But I think we
are through the worst. The whole family seems to have
settled in and we are all doing well. We continue to study
Russian and are making progress in our ability to speak.

I've begun to do some leadership training and we just

finished our 4th Ukrainian-American Christian Friendship

Festival (a week long evangelistic meeting). The Alexander

family and our family have finished planning for 1995 and we
are seeing significant progress already toward our goals. We
praise God for His blessings. With progress in language,
having established good relationships here, a good field team
in place and the 1995 planning finished, we are very

optimistic about the future. We expect to see Ukrainian

missions among the Crimean Tatar.

Please continue to pray for us and our work here in

Kherson and the southern Ukraine.

Three generations of believers in the Kherson Church

MAILING TO THE ELLIOTTS...

The cost for the first half-ounce of mail is

50 cents, and 45 cents for each half-ounce

thereafter, Mail takes two or more weeks to
arrive.
Never send cash or checks in the mail. If

Love, Glen and family

you want to send packages, we recommend

Kherson, Ukraine

they be small (use "bubble pack" type

envelopes) and hot contain anything of

In your letters you can

extreme value.

include fiat items, such as stickers or sticks of

flat gum, or Kool Aid. Glen loves tootsie

rolls, and Jolene appreciates music or reading

material.
UKRAINE

UKRAINE

/KpauHa

VKpauHa
325021 r. XepcoH
yn. riaTOHa g. 5 kb. 208
3JIJ1M0TT, rneH

325021 r.XepcoH

yn. naroHa g! 5 kb. 208

OjinuoTT, rJieH

You can use the mailing labels provided

here, or check with the church office.