Hope Ongoing is an effort to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Voznesensk, Ukraine. This is a region where Gary has worked extensively over the past 8 years while serving with Timothy Akrachkov, a pastor at Transformation Church in Ukraine. Over the past 10 years, Gary has provided Youth Camps, Orphan Ministry and much more while growing to love the people and the place deeply.

In 2008, on his first mission trip to Ukraine, Gary met Dima. When he first met him, Dima was an arrogant, self-absorbed young man who had no time to discuss Christ. He could be pleasant, but it often depended on what one could do for him as to how pleasant he could be. With all of that, Gary was still stricken by his nature. Under that façade of machismo and bravado, Gary also saw a lonely boy who had little hope for his future and more uncertainty than one can imagine. Dima was living life one day at a time with no guidance and no direction.

Once Dima graduated from the orphanage school, he began to fall into alcohol abuse and his life still surrounded his self-absorbed interests. With no education and no work background, Dima fell into a pattern that is all too common for orphans in Ukraine. At any given time, there are about 100,000 orphans in the system (not counting those who live on the streets). Out of that 100,000, about 10% – 15% will commit suicide by their 18^th birthday. Up to an additional 10% will die by their 21^st birthday. Of those that remain, about 70% of the boys will end up in poverty, homelessness and drug abuse. About 60% of the girls will end up as prostitutes. Only about 25% of those who enter the orphanage system in Ukraine will live productive lives and become normal citizens of Ukraine.

Dima fell into poverty and self-abuse. Though he never did many drugs, he did drink a lot of alcohol and was a heavy smoker. His life included very late nights out on the streets and a very difficult lifestyle. His self-abuse included cutting himself and high-risk behavior. Through all of that, Dima remained a very proud young man.

In 2015, while out very late one evening, a man approached Dima and threatened him because of Dima’s girlfriend. The man, drunk and a much older 40-something, found her attractive and wanted her to leave Dima and walk with him. They ended up in a fight, in which Dima struck him and he fell to the ground. Dima and his girlfriend started walking away and the man got up, pulled a knife and attacked Dima from behind, stabbing him in the side. Dima fought back and ended up beating the man down. The police came during the altercation and arrested both men. Because he was considered an “upstanding citizen,” the older man was released with only a small fine. Dima, because he was a “street orphan,” was put in jail. Little did he know what was to come in the near future.

Over the next few years, Dima tried to get legal help, but no lawyer would work with him because he had no way to pay them. There is no free legal representation in Ukraine. During the next three years, Dima lost his only friends as they (being orphans as well) died of overdoses, street fights and suicide. By the end of the third year, Dima was totally alone in this world.

In 2016, Dima remembered meeting Gary Chadwick, one of our missionaries with Hope OnGoing and found him on Facebook. Dima reached out to Gary and asked for help. At first, Gary was reluctant to help because he wasn’t sure how much of Dima’s story was true and realized there was the distinct possibility that Dima might be misleading him for his own personal gain. After a season of prayer and seeking the Lord, Gary felt the hand of God in the situation and told the Lord he would do whatever He asked of him. Gary responded to Dima and agreed to help him with food and other things as they sought legal help. Hope OnGoing secured a legal representative and began the process of wading through all of the legal woes that faced Dima at that moment. They were extensive and challenging. After meeting with challenge after challenge (along with paying more than a few bribes and solicitations from officials on various levels), in 2019, we were told that Dima would be released on house arrest. Gary questioned the lawyer asking how Dima was to provide for himself and was told that Dima would be allowed to work and shop for food, but nothing else. That turned out to be incorrect. After only one month of house arrest, Dima was stopped while walking to the store to buy food. He ended up being arrested and put back in jail for violating his parole agreement. One must wonder how a true orphan with no relationships, no family and no real friends are supposed to support himself while on house arrest. Dima was put back in jail for an undetermined amount of time and the legal process started over from scratch.

During that one month of freedom, Gary met with Dima in person for about an hour. Gary shared Christ (through a translator) with Dima and Dima, having the most open-heart Gary had ever seen in him, asked Jesus into his life. He fully repented of his sin and gave his life to Jesus completely – no holds barred. There was a noticeable change in Dima that day. From that moment on, Dima was different. A few days later, he was returned to prison and his legal woes started all over again, but he handled it differently. In the late fall of 2020, Dima was again released on house arrest. This time, Dima has stayed at home and his girlfriend, Diana, has been his legs and has represented him well in all areas necessary. We are in very high hopes that Dima will be completely free soon and that he can begin a new life with a fresh and clean start. He plans to marry Diana as soon as his house arrest is lifted and then he and Diana will move to Voznesensk to live and raise a family. For the first time in his life, Dima believes he has a future and that God has him in His hand. Dima is excited about life and is no longer a user – but is becoming a giver. To God be the glory for all that has happened in Dima’s life.

Dima is only one story of a life changed by the ministry of Hope OnGoing – a ministry you support or can support. Those of you who have given to this ministry are directly responsible for the changes that have been made in Dima’s life. You are the reason he now knows Christ and you are the reason he has hope and a future. God used your gifts to enable Hope OnGoing to make this difference. Even though you have never met Dima, one day down the road, YOU will meet Dima in Heaven and he will say to you, “Thank you for helping me when I had no one else to turn to.” And our Savior will say, “well done.”

David, Liza and Dima are among my many English Students here in Ukraine. They are also my neighbor’s and landlords’ children! Whenever I am gone, they play with and care for my dogs like they were their own! David is 17 and studying in the local college to be an IT guy. He loves to play soccer and enjoys music, movies and video games. He is quite eloquent (in Russian) and often checks in on me to see if I need anything at all. Liza is 14 and loves to play guitar. She is a student at the local School Number 5, and helps her mom around the house and in the garden. She is quite a sweet young lady and has a great sense of humor. Dima, the youngest, is a firecracker in all respects! He is quick-witted and loves to make me laugh. He and I play around with each other all the time, trying to play a joke on the other as often as possible. He might be a little bit of an attention hog, but as a fellow “baby of the family,” I get his plight in life!

Among other things, these three have shown me an incredible example of what it means to be a servant. There is never a time when they aren’t checking in on me to see if I need anything. I often hesitate to ask them how to do anything or where things are because they are GOING to take care of it for me. I have learned much from these three young people, and I am grateful and better for knowing them. That is the type of legacy I seek to live every day, though I so often fail. Jesus told us that if we want to be first, make ourselves last. These three (as well as their parents) do that every day. I try to reward them regularly for their kindness and character. I know my gifts are small and inconsequential, but I hope, in some small way, I am showing them a little bit of what God has in store for them in the future. I am sort of an adopted grandpa (deahdushka) to them, and I feel the same way in return. It is my true prayer that I would be even a little bit of what they are in my life as I minister in the lives of others.

PRAYER NEEDS

Summer is quickly approaching. I need to find another team to do a camp in a nearby village. I have an old friend looking into it for his church, but I would ask you to pray that God would provide as He sees fit. If that means no team or a huge team – whatever He desires is all I want.

English clubs are still going great. Please pray that there will be a harvest coming in those classes.

The schools have been closed due to a Quarantine. I have not been able to get to see those students for a couple of weeks now. Pray for a mighty harvest among them in the days ahead.

As always, I love you and thank you for your prayers and support! God bless and see you soon!

Meet Vasyl. I met this young man through the English Club I lead in Voznesensk. Vasyl is a believer and desires a close and intimate relationship with the Lord. His mother is a believer, and his father is not. His father left the family for another woman, which was difficult for Vasyl, but he overcame the hurt and felt deep pity for his father. He longs for his father to become a believer. Vasyl is a kind and caring person who tries to show the love of God through his daily life.

In talking with Vasyl, I have found he has a genuine desire to serve the Lord in whatever way possible. He plays guitar and leads worship at his church and desires to give his life over to God. He wants to go to school but is unable to afford it. He also struggles with a gastrointestinal issue that complicates his life in many ways, but he doesn’t let it slow him down. He has struggled to find a job where he can make enough money to live and still be involved in his church and other ministries as he desires, but God is directing him daily and he is open to what the Lord has in store for him. This past week, I extended an offer to work with me as an interpreter and assistant sometimes, and he eagerly accepted. If you come to Ukraine soon, expect to meet Vasyl! He will only help me a few days a week, but he will benefit the ministry, as he is of “excellent report among the brethren” and is eager to learn how to share his faith in an effective way. I believe Vasyl has many gifts and abilities that God will use, but among the greatest is his desire to please God in all he does. Couldn’t we all use a lesson in that sentiment?

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Pray for Vasyl to find direction from the Lord and to accomplish all God has in store for his future.
2. Pray for me – I have been having a lot of migraine headaches since I came to Ukraine. Some days they are pretty debilitating. I do have medicine, and it helps quickly, but I need to adjust to the “new” allergens, air quality and weather patterns soon so that they will stop!
3. Pray for my language acquisition. It is a bit of a hindrance not to know more of the language, but I can still accomplish many things through Christ and His hand moving me. It would be MUCH easier if I could speak the language more effectively!

Vlad is a 24-Year-old graduate of a local university with a Bachelor’s degree in Bio-Engineering. He is currently working on his Master’s degree and works at a Grain Elevator in our region. He hopes to finish his degree and work in his education field at the same business where he currently works. He has a family: Father, mother and sister, but he is especially close to his grandmother.

Vlad was baptized in the Baptist Church when he was 16 but told me he only did so because he was told it was time for him to join the church. He states that he did not know what to do but was compliant with what was asked of him. In the years following, he had a tough time finding people within the churches he attended who genuinely lived out their faith rather than just doing what they were supposed to do. In those years, his relationship with his mother grew quite strained, as she was a very controlling person and eventually hit a rebellious point. He finally moved out of his parent’s house and lived a life of sin from his perspective. At one point, he decided he did not want to be involved in church because he did not want to do it just because he was “supposed” to. He found little meaning in church and received virtually no discipleship, so Vlad just dropped out and disappeared.

I’ve known Vlad since 2012, so when I arrived here, I immediately set about talking to him to see how I could help him find his faith again. We had a couple of short conversations, but then we finally could meet and sit down to talk. I shared with him from the Seen & Heard Training I received at Calvary, and Vlad truly turned his heart over to Christ. He was a bit emotional, but not excessively; more moved than emotional. He sincerely wanted that connection but felt he had lost his chance to have it forever. Vlad was baptized at my house in my bathroom on Saturday, October 26^th. After he dried off and changed, he came out to the living room and embraced me as one who was genuinely grateful. It was evident that his life has been changed. Vlad and I are going through Scripture to help him learn about living what he believes. He is a hungry student of the Word and asks lots of great questions. He abandoned his life of sin, moved out of the apartment where he was living, and is in the process of reconnecting in his relationship with his mother. Vlad is eager to help in the ministry here and is ready for the Seen & Heard Training for himself, so he can know how to best share Christ with his friends, family and workmates. God will be glorified in this young man’s life!

Prayer Requests

Pray for Vlad as he seeks the next step in his journey with Christ. He is willing to follow the Lord to the ends of the earth and ready to make a difference in his home country.

Pray for my language lessons. Recently, I was able to share all of my personal information in Russian, and the people understood! Then, they clapped! Too funny! I am progressing and God is using it for His glory!

Pray for the fire that was kindled when the Feed the Need guys were here last week. I now have scheduled a “Seen & Heard” training with over 30 people to attend, and they are asking for more. Jonah, Jason and Kevin did a superb job of living out their faith while they were here, and people noticed. Pray for the harvest – it is certainly ripe and ready!

NOW – Y’ALL COME TO UKRAINE AND HELP!

I first met Makc in 2018 when our team from Calvary came to Voznesensk. Makc is A bit shy and not very confident. You see, he speaks with a stutter. He is a charming young man and is an excellent student. He loves soccer and hopes to one day live in Norway.

Makc’s father is not a believer, but his mother is. He has grown up with a severe division of beliefs and has always felt that religion was for women, but men should be tough (note the expression on his face in the picture!) and hard—typical soviet standard. Makc joined the English club when I first started it a month ago, but his mother asked me if I would do a private time with him since he was very uncomfortable speaking in front of others. I agreed, and it opened the door for me to start working with him in his relationship with Christ, too. I started out having him read 1 John and used that as a study passage. This past Thursday, I shared the Gospel with Makc, and he gladly prayed to receive Christ. He has yet to tell his mother because of his father – complicated, I know! But he is studying 1 John on his own continually and I am being given opportunities to share the scripture with him often. Makc is the first person to receive Christ through the English Club! It is inspiring to see how God is working here! I am blessed beyond measure to be a part of this ministry!

Prayer Requests

Pray for Makc as he begins this new life in Christ. I will be discussing baptism with him soon, so pray that the Holy Spirit moves in his life ahead of me, preparing him for the next step.

Pray for Jenya – a man in the English Discussion group. He speaks English very well and has strong language skills. He is not a believer but is a very “good person,” so it is not easy for him to understand why he needs God. I have been able to pray with him about his daughter as she was recently in the hospital, and he was genuinely grateful.

Pray for the English clubs in general. I have about 50 at one and about 70 at the other. Between them, I would say that about 75% are unbelievers.

Pray for Vlad. He prayed to receive Christ a few weeks ago and has struggled with the idea of baptism. He was told that you are only allowed to be baptized once in your life, and he was baptized at 16 as an unbeliever. He wants to follow through but is facing backlash from his family. Vlad is 24.

Pray for teams to come throughout the year. No, Americans are not necessary, but the lost are three times as likely to come if an American is there than if it is just nationals. Just our language and our nationality open a door for us that the locals do not have. Plus, it is a great fellowship for me!