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Churches of Praise, based in Krivoy Rog,
Ukraine, have been one of John and Jackie's
primary mission outreaches since 1993.
Their work
has been to assist Gregory and Galina Sukhina,
Ukrainian nationals, who are the leaders of
the Association of Churches of Praise.
John and Jackie assisted Gregory and Galina
in opening the first Church of Praise in October 1993,
and have kept working with them and sending
other ministers to help them since that
time. They still travel there from Minnesota
three or four times each year.
Churches of
Praise is a now fellowship of 185 churches and
various other associated ministries.
These are churches opened through
the evangelistic efforts of Church of Praise church planters. They were
not started by drawing believers from other
churches, and they were not existing churches that joined the association.
They are churches made up of new believers won to Christ by church
planters raised up from within the churches.
The vision is to plant
churches in places where the church does not exist.
The story of the Churches of Praise is a continuing harvest of lost people coming to Christ, with signs and
wonders, healings and miracles. Drug addicts, alcoholics, criminals
and people bound with various problems and diseases have found
deliverance, healing and restoration in Christ. Marriages and families
have been healed.
Within months after repentance, many of those
people become leaders in evangelism and ministry.
The city of
Krivoy Rog has been known throughout Ukraine as
having the highest crime rate, and the worst rate of drug addictions
and alcoholism in the nation. with a divorce rate of 85%. Now
this city is changing. We know that the ministries of the Churches
of Praise in the city have been a part of that difference. They have
blanketed this city of eight hundred thousand residents with the gospel. Government officials honor and
welcome the work of these churches.
Though much work remains in this home base
city, church planting has spread to many regions of
the country, and iis beginning to touch other countries as well.
The main church in Krivoy Rog currently has 1000+
people and is pastored by Gregory Sukhina. The second largest church
of 600+ people is pastored by Gregory's wife, Galina. Many of the
churches are small in number, meeting in village homes.
Perhaps fifty of the churches have their own church buildings.
There are many ministries within the Churches of
Praise. Some of these ministries are as follows: A four-year full-time Bible
College, several evening colleges, an intensive mission college for training village church planters, as well as a pastor's Bible College for continuing study while active in the ministry. There is a powerful Rehab Center for
ex-prisoners and drug addicts, as well as hospital ministries, cell groups,
children’s camps, and even a children’s Bible college.
Youth ministries are vibrant, and there are many worship bands and music groups that work on a high level of skill as well as with a strong anointing from God.
All these ministries are a continuous for you to be involved.
If you are a pastor or Bible Teacher, we would love to take you with
us, or send you to minister among these churches and help train the
leaders!
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