I have attached one of the first videos below, which gives you a glimpse into Michael as a person.
I have personally connected with Michael via video conferences and can attest that theirs is a legitimate, crucially important ministry. We also stay in touch via Facebook Messenger. Below, see the communication I received from him this morning:
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"I'm thankful for your prayers of me and my family. I feel much better after two months of visiting the doctor who worked on my spine. I walk straight now with no pain most of the time.. of course it starts hurting to the end of my working day, but it's ok, it's not so terrible pain. I also hope that the normal functioning of my urinary system will be restored as well after a special treatment in sanatorium that I'm going to visit soon. Of course I know that I feel better because of my God who heals me with the hands of doctors. Praise the Lord!
"Today I got a phone call from one of the pastors of Kherson region who told me to be ready for another wave of immigrants. Thousands of refugees are moving from the south to central and western Ukraine because of the big flood that was caused by Russians who destroyed hydroelectric dam using explosives.
"We pray every day of Ukrainian people from there who live on the temporary occupied territories as they don't even have a chance to escape from there. Still we are getting ready to be open for those who is going to come to our city. I asked those two families who were still living in our shelter to look for rental apartments, as they already had much enough time to save some money to pay for a rental apartment in our city and start living separate from us. Still 22 other people will remain stay in our shelter as they are those who are not able to work and pay for rent - handicaps, pensioners, kids. So we are getting ready to welcome about 20 more people this month.
"It seems that the whole world is just tired of the war in Ukraine. And I'm not surprised at this, because it's simply impossible to constantly help others to the detriment of yourself.
"We have not received any humanitarian aid from anyone from abroad for a long time already. And the church wallet is almost always empty, since we cannot receive such the incomes as it was before. But nevertheless, we continue to visit wounded soldiers in hospitals, feed the hungry and give shelter to refugees. We buy all the products ourselves, and thank God that there are still those people in our church who are ready to share with others to the last.
"We never force people that we help to visit our church without their own will. But still we see the work of Holy Spirit in the hearts of many of them. This July we are going to baptise 14 more people and two of them are those refugees who met Jesus in our local church! Praise the Lord! Two families that used to live in our shelter are visiting our worship services regularly even after they moved to rental apartments. So all these fruits of the Holy Spirit all these saved people are the living testimonials of why everything we do now is worth.
"Of course we have many difficulties as well, not the blessings only.
"Every other day someone of people that I used to know or I have ever met, many of my friends or their relatives die on the battlefield. Almost every day we have funeral services in our city. My eyes are wet from tears every day. Sometimes I feel like I'm not able to cry anymore. My older brother Anton was given "a red ticket" from the soldier's patrol in our city which means he must come on the exact day and time to the special place of gathering for those who will be transported to the war. I'm asking God, why him? Why my brother? But I also believe that God knows what to do better than me.. So if you will ever remember of me please pray also for Anton and his safe service.
"Couple weeks ago 15 soldiers and 4 policemen came to the church on Sunday. They tried to take our young brothers to the recruiting centre. I quickly went to see what's happening there and met their commander who was trying to explain that there shouldn't be any discriminations between believers and those who don't believe in God. He said that we have to join army as many people do today. I prayed for God's help and said to him: "Sir, you should understand that Ukraine will never defeat so powerful enemy without Gods help. And we are those christians who pray for our army, who support refugees and wounded, who fight against spiritual powers of satan - the father of all the evil things that Russians do".
"I also said that some of our brothers are fighting today on the first lines. They went to defend Ukraine because of their own will to fo this..
He looked at me and asked if I was freed of duty to serve in army and asked if I also have my documents with me?
Of course I showed my documents and he said: " I didn't yet finish. We will meet soon"
But they didn't come again any more. Hope they won't.
"After that situation some church members started blaming me saying that it was me who invited them to come... I got several rude messages on my phone as well. Hope God will defend me and open their eyes one day.
"By the way, if you remember I told you about a 18yo young lady Arina who repented last summer on the last day of a youth camp? Praise the Lord her 23yo brother Timothy said yes to Jesus as well! And now they are in the list of those 14 who are going to be baptised soon!
"Pastor Steven I would like to open my heart to you again and tell you what I'm praying of now. My big desire is to make 2 summer mission camps - for 120-130 kids in the end of this month (June 19, 20,21) and for 55-60 people of youth on July 3 to 8th. As usually 60-70% of campers are going to be not from christian families. It's a great field to outreach and to help young souls meet Jesus.
"I have almost everything to make it real- a team of skilled leaders, a ready-made program, a list of possible speakers, a place to locate. But our plans may not be fulfilled if I don't find the necessary funds as soon as possible. I know it may seem like now I'm asking you again to help us, but it's not. I have already realised that your financial situation is also really bad as ours. But I know exactly that your prayers are always being heard by our God. I believe He can make another miracle in my life.
"Last Sunday I was preaching about our privilege as of children of God to make givings. Our church faced a real challenging trial this year with growing payments and reducing income. So in the end of my sermon I asked everyone to come back home and start praying every day asking for a clear vision from God on the amount of money everyone could possibly give to fulfil our needs.
"I asked our congregation to analyse with all responsibility their spending and try to refuse some of their desires to purchase something extra or to spend money for things they could do without. Still as I always say, if God gives me a desire in heart to serve Him, God will also provide for it.
"So please pray with me of this situation, because I believe it's an important part of our mission to reach young people for Christ. Especially today. As I think Ukrainian kids didn't deserve to have such a hard childhood and as a church leader I must do my best to fulfil the words of Jesus saying: "don't prevent children come to Me! as the kingdom of heaven belongs to them".
"I have so many stories and testimonies to tell you Pastor Steven, God only knows how many of them I'd like to share... But the time is too short. I believe we will have enough time to tell everything when we all meet in His kingdom.
"Please say my hello to everyone. We love you and we pray of you always! May God bless your family and your ministry!"
