Featured Photo: Rob Baker teaches a Bible Class on God’s creation designs in the animal kingdom.
We have now returned to Montgomery, AL. All finally arrived around midnight on Monday. Mark left to return to Chattanooga, TN Sunday morning, then I left at 6:00 am Monday and David and Rob followed me at a 12:45 departure time. I am now processing all that has accumulated during my absence and follow up on actions that developed during the trip.
The mission trip was very good but overshadowed by Perry’s death. Perry had told me and Gif many times that this trip was “the best” he had made to Ukraine. He had future plans and objectives and was excited about life. He has now “finished the course” and the words of Revelation 14:13 clearly apply to him: “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”
Our extended stay allowed us to assemble with the Church of Christ in Warsaw. This is where Vladimir and Oksana Paziy are laboring having been displaced by the Russian invasion. Vlad and Oksana are doing a good work. Vlad’s evangelistic zeal has always encouraged me. Regardless of the displacement in western Ukraine or Poland he eagerly preaches the gospel and reminds me of Paul’s zeal (Romans 1:15).
In the Sunday assembly Rob taught the adult class. Vlad was eager for Rob to share some of his lessons on creation. It was a good class and impressed us with the amazing creation of the Almighty God.
Here is a snippet of his class:
Following class, we assembled and about 60 gathered for worship. Vlad had asked me to preach and I was happy to do so.
Here is a song that was sung in the assembly:
Prayers For Charita
I received this message from Charita and want to share it with you asking you to pray for her mom!
“Hello John, I am so sorry about your friend. Such a fast and painless departure is what most people hope for. Please pass my condolences to the family for their loss. My father used to say, this type of easy departure has to be deserved. With that, I have bad news as well, my mom has officially got new cancer in the lungs. We are starting to fight it and hoping to talk her into going for surgery again. If she agrees, she will have to remove half of her lung.”
Vladimir Paziy Report
Vlad has sent out his report and it included a reference to Perry and our assembling together. Vlad is doing a wonderful work and his focus is on saving the lost. Here is a portion of his report:
Media and Online Teaching Ministry
During the week, I try to record short one-minute Bible video reels—usually four or five, depending on my schedule. These videos have been well received and serve as another way for me to preach Christ and share the Gospel. From Monday through Wednesday, I also teach lessons for the Church in Kramatorsk on our Facebook page and Telegram channel, focusing on the Gospel of Matthew and 1 Chronicles.
A Sad Loss and Fellowship in Warsaw
On the way from Ivano-Frankivsk to the United States, our brother Perry Baker passed away suddenly at the check-in counter in the Warsaw airport. It was a tragic event. During my stay in Ivano-Frankivsk, we served the Lord together. Perry did an outstanding work, drawing on his experience both as a former elder and as a teacher. It was an honor for me to know this faithful brother.
Because of his passing, Perry’s sons came to Warsaw to arrange everything related to the funeral. Also present were John Kachelman and Tanya Zozulina. While they were in Warsaw, all of them attended the Sunday worship service with the Church of Christ. John preached and explained one of the more difficult parables of Jesus, while Rob taught the 10:00 a.m. Bible class. Rob, who works with Apologetics Press and holds five academic degrees one in science, presented a lesson on Creation.
Although the circumstances that brought us together were sad, I am thankful for the opportunity to meet Perry’s sons, and I hope we will meet again in the future.
“Oce School” and Family Update
“Oce School,” the children’s program led by Oksana, continues to operate daily and currently has around 20 students. A wonderful blessing this year is that our daughter Rita has started helping Oksana by working with the younger children. A special thanks goes to Scott Dutton for his support and for facilitating the transfer of resources from the Arkansas City Church.
Our son Dima turned 20 in September. He continues his studies at the Ukrainian Institute and also works here in Warsaw.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Jeff Abrams for his active help in covering the main part of rent for the Warsaw House, where a little more than 40 people currently live. All of us are originally from the Donetsk region. With respect and gratitude, Vladimir Paziy.
Container Loaded Friday October 24!
While I remained in Warsaw the Dalraida brethren coordinated a container loading. A fantastic helping crew came from Faulkner University. I am in debt to Caleb Colquitt for being present and assisting with student involvement and being such a critical help in most of our loadings! We also had a couple of social clubs from Faulkner University’s campus send students. These helped load a container for Ukraine and for Panama! And, not to neglect our regulars who make every load possible–Thank you to Dwight Davis, James Thebo, Doug Schofield, Jared Kelly and Jennifer Kachelman. This container was stuffed full of medical supplies that are going to Lviv and from there will be distributed throughout Ukraine. I am grateful to the Hillsboro Church of Christ (Nashville, TN) for sponsoring this load!! Here are the final results:
- Total Weight: 14,653 pounds
- Total items Shipped: 1,083 boxes
- Total Value: $621,495.00!!!
And…this is made possible by your generosity in supporting our efforts in collecting, shipping and funding various actions that are often unseen! THANK YOU!
Pray that our taking advantage of the “open doors” from this mission trip will bear much fruit for the Lord!
John L. Kachelman, Jr, Ukraine Missions, Dalraida Church of Christ, Montgomery, AL 36109
