From July 13 – July 24, 2008, five members of New Hope Fellowship (NHF) traveled to Kremenchuk, Ukraine, to join in the ministry of NHF’s sister church, New Hope Church (NHC). Yes, we are aware that the two churches have virtually the same name. And yes, we believe God did that on purpose.
Pastor Edward Kim, Catherine Cha, John Cho, Minjung Kim and Soyeun Jung were ambassadors, having been sent out by NHF, and arriving in Kremenchuk to add tangible faces, voices and hearts to the prayers, love and support that had been flowing between our two churches during the course of the previous year-and-a-half. Throughout 11 days, the U08 team rested, played, prayed, ministered, worked, worshiped, swam, ate, sang, laughed, shared and lived with their Ukrainian family members of NHC.
The Lord opened so many doors and windows of our hearts, on both sides of the Atlantic. U08′s presence in Kremenchuk was the pouring of the cement between the foundation bricks laid by the U07 team in January 2007. This summer, “sisterhood” between NHF and NHC became a true and unshakeable reality. The good (the food and fellowship and the food and the fellowship!), the bad (flies, mosquitoes and outdoor squatty-potties) and the ugly (robbery, what robbery?) all served the glory of our God. For all those things and so much more, we rejoice and give thanks. Truly, truly.
U08 also is unceasingly thankful to the Lord for the blessedly generous sending by NHF. Financial support was so tremendous, the team ended up with about a $6,000 surplus; after final accounting, we are happy to say that quite a substantial love offering can be made to NHC on behalf of the entire NHF body. Physical support was so strong, we wonder what sort of tornado would arise if all the bakers, organizers, musicians and helpers got together in one room and started loving on people in the way they know best. Prayer support was so heavy, not a day went by in Ukraine that each member of our team did not feel completely and fully empowered by the Holy Spirit to just trust and obey. Thank you, dear family.
Words will always be inadequate to give proper due to all that the Lord did during the U08 trip. We imagine U07 could say the same, and future teams will, too. So, it is our greatest dream that some day soon, each person at NHF will be able to know for him or herself everything that we try to accurately and lovingly voice in this journal. Until then, we hope the stories and photos here will bless you, drawing your hearts closer not only to the hearts of our brothers & sisters in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, but to the heart of the Lord & Saviour we hold and love in common, Jesus Christ.
