2 Thessalonians 3:1, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you”
I am sure your first thought was, “What a strange picture!” We walk by a similar driveway every morning on our walk. It always encourages me – the grass found a way to thrive, grow, and spread in tight, difficult circumstances, AND it kept the weeds out while doing it. It reminds me of this verse, the Lord’s Word being glorified, growing, and having free course. Sometimes it looks a little different than we might imagine – just like in this picture. This grass, hemmed in between two slabs of concrete, spread and connected with the yard on the other side. It didn’t stop because of the obstacles; it kept growing and persevering through the difficult terrain. God’s Word does the same if we will let it. We have seen it in our own lives and in our ministry. We hope that God’s word will have free course in your lives as well!
We want to highlight our church planting efforts this month. Ukraine and Ukrainians have been hemmed into a hard place for many years of war. God’s Word is “having free course” in many lives due to these difficult circumstances.
The “Ukrainian Oasis” project was born out of a desire to spread God’s Word to Ukrainians living outside of Ukraine due to war. As we traveled to our supporting churches in 2023-34, we found large pockets of refugees with no Gospel witness in their own language. This prompted us to start a Bible study in Raleigh, NC. This small gathering grew into a church plant and a movement within the Ukrainian community. Oleg is mentoring Ukrainian pastors and missionaries to step out in faith to begin Bible studies for Ukrainians in their areas. There are now “Oases” in Raleigh, NC; Washington, DC; Hollywood, FL; London, Canada; and Halifax, Canada, as well as churches that you helped us establish at the beginning of the war in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Unchurched Ukrainians are coming to the Lord for salvation as never before. Just this Sunday evening, a successful young Ukrainian IT professional publicly repented of his sins at our Sunday evening service. He would have never come to a Bible believing church in Ukraine. Many Ukrainians face a very uncertain future. This motivates them to seek fellowship with believers because they see that we have something they do not have – HOPE and PEACE.
We cannot solve their problems, but we can direct them to the ONE who can, and we can show them Christian love in the process! Our small congregation in Raleigh is already giving $200 a month to further this cause – planting outreach Bible studies in areas where there are Ukrainians without a Gospel witness in their language.
Would you pray about helping plant Ukrainian Bible studies through Project “Ukrainian Oasis”?
We need prayer partners, financial assistance, churches to open their facilities as meeting places, and help finding Ukrainians in your community!
Thank you for being interested in missions, for loving God’s Word, and for being faithful where you are. May God’s Word have free course and be glorified in your lives today!
Sincerely,
Oleh, Lori, Abigail, and Simon Enskyy
Missionaries to Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees
