This past Sunday, Simferopol Baptist Church celebrated her 15th year Anniversary with nearly 200 people in attendance. This day commemorated the first Sunday Missionaries Bob and Judy VanSant came to this city and had their first service in their apartment with 12 deaf people. Three of those original 12 were in our services on Sunday.
A few years later, a hearing ministry was started out of the deaf church which later became its own church. Both churches meet in the same building at different times on Sundays and combine for Wednesday evening services. What a privilege to be a part of this church!
Deaf church
Hearing church
Video above: Hearing church singing "How Great Thou Art" in Russian. Our God is indeed great!
I am sure we could learn so much from the Van Sants about the Deaf and how to start a deaf church.
ReplyDeleteWow, Jolene! What an AWESOME God we serve!!!
ReplyDeleteone of my very favorite songs....in Russian or English. What an exciting day and a great crowd. Praise the Lord for what HE is doing there.
ReplyDeleteHey Jolene,
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to tell you what a blessing your blog is to our family. My girls love to gather around me and read about your life in the Ukraine. My oldest Felicity (age 11) talks endlessly about being a missionary and having the opportunity to read your blog and look at your pictures of your village opens your world up to her. Thank you so much for being a faithful wife, mother, and missionary. I count it an honor to call you my friend. You are all in our prayers.
Love, Erin
What a blessing that you are able to be a part of that work!
ReplyDeleteHe IS faithful!
Love and lots of hugs!
Anna
I love reading theVan Sants testimony. And it looks like your little guy is loved by all.
ReplyDeleteWow! That is so amazing. What a BLESSING to me in America to see others around the world singing the old hymns! Can't wait for Heaven!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful. How many do u normally have? God has been good to our church here, Trinity Baptist. We had over 200 to our dedication. We normally have 150.
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