Augustine of Hippo: Bestow

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27

“Alms-deeds comprise every kind of service rendered to our neighbor who needs such assistance. He who supports a lame man bestows an alms on him with his feet; he who guides a blind man does him a charity with his eyes; he who carries an invalid or an old man upon his shoulders imparts to him an alms of his strength. Hence none are so poor but they may bestow an alms on the wealthiest man in the world.”

Augustine of Hippo in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 10 May reading.

Doing what we could to help and watching people join in to help each other and to come to Christ in Ukraine touched us deeply.

For example, GTP raised funds and distributed 3,000 loaves of bread. Many of these loaves blessed people so much, it drew them to Christ.

It wemt like this. Imagine if half your village fled. And while the remaining people struggled to survive, someone provided bread and water.

With our hands and feet we show great love. With our shoulders we carry those who suffer. And the result, they want what we have.

They want the hope, the love, the kindness. That is how people are coming to Jesus. As they grow and learn they realize, they too can help others.

To bestow is to confer or present something to someone else. What do you have the power to bestow on others that will draw them to Jesus?

Soon I will make a last call to give. Michael (GTP board member pictured above) and Nina Cherenkov depart Ukraine in a few days.

If you want to bestow aid like sharing bread, delivering water, and providing funding for Christian workers, make a special gift to GTP today.

Click here and designate your gift to “Deliver help and hope to Eastern Europe and Ukraine.” Thank you.

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Isaiah 55:1

“The Christian faith is far more precious than all the riches and treasures of earth; more glorious and greater than all its honors, all its possessions. This it is which saves sinners, gives light to the blind, restores penitents, perfects the just, and is the crown of martyrs.”

Augustine of Hippo in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 2 May reading.

One of the things Jenni and I experienced in Ukraine has been the “far more precious” value of the Christian faith. It’s the greatest gift we can give.

Each day it gives people new life, like these pictured above at Hope Family Center in Saltivka, just east of Kharkiv, Ukraine.

When Russian started bombing the city, most everyone under about age 55 left. That’s when our friend Andrey Kratsev moved toward to broken and hurting.

All he took was the Christian faith and a helping hand. Soon, he planted this church. Jenni and I will never forget hearing the stories of how these people lost everything and found Jesus.

One after another went from from blind to seeing, from poor to rich, and they kept saying one thing to us over and over. “Thank you for coming. Few people come to visit us.”

We gave them a generous gift by coming to visit and sharing God’s love. Our hope and help lifted their spirits and strengthened their fledgling faith.

Who might you visit to share God’s love? Don’t try to convince them. Invite them to come to drink for free and find the satisfaction for which their soul longs.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

“We are not all called to the sacrifice of martyrdom; but we are all bound to make our lives a continued sacrifice of ourselves to God, and to perform every action in this perfect spirit of sacrifice. Thus we shall both live and die to God, perfectly resigned to His holy will in all His appointments.”

Vitalis of Milan in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 28 April reading.

Yesterday, Michael Cherenkov and a pastor friend baptized 9 new believers in Donetsk, Ukraine. They are pictured in white in the header photo. This illustrates how people are coming to faith in Jesus as Christians serving needy amidst the war.

Should the Russians fully occupy their oblast, some people in this photo could suffer martyrdom. And while this may not happen to you where you live, we need to live with the same spirit and willingness to sacrifice our lives for Jesus Christ.

God called Jenni and I to serve in Lviv, Kyiv, and Kharkiv. And he led Michael and Nina to Donetsk. Where is God leading you? What might it look like to abandon the pattern of this world “to test and approve what God’s will is” for you?

Once we determine God’s will, the key to fulfilling our calling is to be “perfectly resigned” to it regardless of the circumstances, even to the point of loss of life. Our generosity comes into view as living out His calling for each of us.

You can do this in view of God’s mercy. Imagine your destiny was death, and He gave you new life and invited you to live it for Him. Many would agree that it’s the only way to live. Ironically, it’s also the only way to die.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10

“We delight in decorating the altars of God with flowers, lights, and jewels, and it is right to do so; but if we wish to offer to God gifts of higher value, let us save the souls who but for us would be lost; for so we shall offer Him, as it were, the jewels of paradise.”

Fidelis of Sigmaringen in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 24 April reading.

Ukraine has some of the most beautifully decorated churches in the world. And while those sacred spaces in Kyiv and elsewhere preserve precious history and have stunning artifacts, their halls welcome few people for worship gatherings.

Where ministry is flourishing most in Ukraine right now is in locations experiencing difficulty and crisis.

Last Sunday I preached in two churches in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Redemption Church met in the theatre of a cultural center downtown and welcomed about 400 people. Then I preached at the Hope Family Center in Saltivka to about 40 people (pictured above).

The people with their hands raised testify to losing everything and finding Jesus on account of the war.

They came to faith through the ministry of Andrey Kratsev and others serving with him. GTP traveled there to strengthen workers like Andrey and to seek and save the lost. You can still provide assistance to this work.

Click here to give as GTP will continue to channel aid to trustworthy workers on the frontlines.

Right now, Michael and Nina Cherenkov continue to deliver water to people in desperate need in the Donetsk oblast. Their efforts are winning the lost as thirsty people are getting water and coming to Jesus.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

“What shall I say of fortitude, without which neither wisdom nor justice is of any worth? Fortitude is not of the body, but is a constancy of soul; wherewith we are conquerors in righteousness, patiently bear all adversities, and in prosperity are not puffed up. This fortitude he lacks who is overcome by pride, anger, greed, drunkenness, and the like. Neither have they fortitude who when in adversity make shift to escape at their souls’ expense; wherefore the Lord saith, ‘Fear not those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul.’ In like manner those who are puffed up in prosperity and abandon themselves to excessive joviality cannot be called strong. For how can they be called strong who cannot hide and repress the heart’s emotion? Fortitude is never conquered, or if conquered, is not fortitude.”

Bruno of Cologne in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 23 April reading.

The favor of God and fortitude sustained us. I am happy to say that we made it safely home. But our hearts remain in Ukraine.

Michael and Nina Cherenkov continue to serve in the dangerous Donetsk Oblast through 19 July. Daily they don a helmet and bullet-proof vest. Why? The people have no water to drink since the breaking of the dam. So, with pastors of local churches, they deliver life-saving water (Michael and a pastor pictured above).

Pray for their safety over the next ten days or so as they do emergency relief work.

And praise God for the impact that follows fortitude. And if you want to support this work, GTP is still gathering funds to deliver hope and help. Click here to give. We can overstate how this aid is winning desperate souls.

Many people reported to us that they have come to faith in Jesus Christ on account of the war. They lost everything and found Jesus through the fortitude of faithful servants.

Want to add this fortitude to your faith? Bruno would say to start by putting on humility, kindness, generosity, and moderation.

When you do, the key shift that happens is that you stop living for yourself and you start living for others. And you move, toward brokenness rather than from it. How can you get out of the safety and protection of your comfort zone to fill water bottles for thirsty people, not in Donetsk, but right where God has you?

You can’t rescue people from death without going to the front of battle lines and offering life. Trust us, the people are receptive and you meet Jesus there.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

“Though you may not be called upon to preach, at least endeavor to set a good example, remembering that deeds often speak louder than words.”

Marcellinus of Embrun in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 20 April reading.

When this posts Jenni and I will be somewhere between London and Denver en route home. We feel a mix of emotions from joy to sorrow and from elation to exhaustion. This post seemed fitting because I’ve recounted the steps of our journey and many have replied with encouraging messages along the way.

Let us make this statement to those who have ventured with us.

Though you may not have been called upon to preach twice in Kharkiv during air strikes, though you may not have been called upon to strengthen stewards with biblical teaching and practical tools in Lviv and Kyiv, and though you may not have been called upon to encourage workers serving refugees in Chișinău, you can do something louder.

Do good deeds that demonstrate the love and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Help the week, not with a handout, but a hand up. Encourage the hopeless, not with a passing word, but with the ministry of your presence. Give generously, not focusing on maintaining your comfort, but serving as a conduit of blessing. Do hard things with great love, not worrying about how your needs will be met, but trusting God to sort what you need. You’ve got this. God’s got you.

Celebrating God’s faithfulness today and praying for peace in Ukraine. With you!

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 1 Chronicles 29:14

“We don’t give because we have. We actually don’t have much. We give what we have because God gave to us.”

Vitaly Toucan in conversation at a Church Without Walls home group in Chișinău, Moldova last night.

Alex and Liudmila Belev and Pavel and Inessa Tokarchuk of Mission Eurasia hosted us in Moldova today. They took us to Old Orhei Monastery, north of Chișinău, where I took this picture. We talked about next steps for our collaboration.

Among them, it looks like an opportunity has opened up to serve workers from 15 Eurasian countries in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in October 2023. They invited me to teach about generosity as a lifestyle. It looks like it can work in my calendar to do this.

Then in the evening we met up with about 10 young married couples. Among them, was a young man named Vitaly.

Vitaly has an old small car. I am not sure of the model. But he told me that he is thankful that it has worked well for shuttling refugees from the border to Chișinău.nIt can make the trip to the border which is about an hour away.

“What should I say to people because it’s so hard to know how to help refugees?” Vitaly asked. “What has the Holy Spirit told you to say?” I replied, “Most of the time, I feel like saying nothing is best and sometimes I just ask how they are doing.”

“That’s beautiful.” I replied. “Do you have any other suggestions for me.” Vitaly asked. “Only one. Tell them why you are helping deliver them to a place that offers emergency assistance. Tell them about Jesus.” I said.

Vitaly replied. A few times, I have said, “We don’t give because we have. We actually don’t have much. We give what we have because God gave to us.” Speechless, I replied. Say that Vitaly. Say that to every refugee you serve.

Why do you give?

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

“God please give me strength, encouragement, and empathy to pour out to those needing it. Let Your work through me not be draining for me, because it is You at work, and I am the instrument of Your care not the source of it.”

Peter Goehring in his prayer entitled “The Instrument of Your Care” shared with me on 3 July 2023.

Peter has been a friend for nearly 20 years. We’ve supported each other with encouragement, gifts, and prayers. Today’s prayer sent to me touched me so deeply I wanted the world to pray it to guide their generous and sacrificial service.

Jenni and I have traveled safely from Ukraine to Moldova. Not an easy task leaving a country at wartime. We had a 14 hour, all night bus ride which included a four-hour border crossing from 12 midnight to 4am.

We made it safely to Chişinău, Moldova, where GTP partner, Mission Eurasia still serves 1,500 refugees per month, some from Ukraine and others from Russia. It was 5,500 per month last year. Previously the people would just pass through, now many are staying.

We also visited the children’s day camp today, watching 60 children sing, play, and learn about Jesus. Most have been separated from their fathers. Though the war has changed their lives, God is doing amazing things in their lives. There are so many stories.

Pause to say a prayer for all those serving refugees. The volunteers in the photo above are the war heroes. Pray for strength, encouragement, and empathy. Pray for them to serve with passion and enthusiasm knowing they are instruments of care and not the source of it.

It was a privilege for us to have dinner with them and share practices to nurture their own faith and to care for those they serve. What about you? How will you serve as an instrument of God’s blessing and not the source?

Related to your generosity, ask God to give you strength, encouragement, and empathy as you move toward and not away from those in need or in crisis. You can serve them richly not because you are the source but because you are God’s instrument.

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

“Those who are in high positions should consider themselves as stewards rather than masters of the wealth or power entrusted to them for the benefit of the poor and weak.”

Elphege of Canterbury in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 19 April reading.

Visiting and serving people during wartime has deeply impacted us and touched those we have served. They have all reported benefits. The blessing to us far outweigh any sacrifice.

After sharing biblical teaching and practical tools in Lviv, stewards say they felt spiritually and strategically equipped to navigate the crisis times and to help others.

In Ternopil, a group of pastors and administrators (or “dreamers” as they describe themselves) want churches and ministries to follow standards with peer accountability.

In Kyiv, an alliance of seminary and university administrators want to strengthen institutional capacities by following consistent standards for sustainability.

In Ivano-Frankivsk, a seminary that lost everything in Kherson has relocated and started entrepreneurial business as mission activities to fund operations and looking for investors.

In Kharkiv, we saw empty playgrounds. Younger families have fled for their lives. Largely speaking, only elderly residents remain. Many rely on assistance from a few local churches to survive.

In Saltivka, humble servants have planted churches called “Hope Family Centers” to minister to those who have suffered injuries and loss (another one of their damaged buildings is pictured above). But hear the gain.

Many said, thanks to the war, they found Jesus. And it was in Saltivka, that after preaching, the congregation would not let us leave. They wanted us to sit in front of them and just talk, back and forth .

With tears they thanked us for the aid we brought, for air defense systems to counter daily drone strikes, and for coming to give them hope and help. It was one of those moments we will never forget.

As today marks “Independence Day” in USA, we have come to appreciate more deeply the value of freedom. We pray that Ukraine does not lose the freedom they have enjoyed for 31 years. God save Ukraine.

We have resolved that in times like these, we must do what we can. As a ministry President & CEO (me) and spiritual director and supervisor of spiritual directors (Jenni), it has been our privilege to use our positions to benefit others.

What about you? What position and wealth has God entrusted you? How can you use it in service to the poor and weak? You may not visit a war zone, but you can deliver help and hope where God has you.

Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. 1 Chronicles 16:11

Let us pray for perseverance in good works. St. Augustine says, “When the Saints pray in the words which Christ taught, they ask for little else than the gift of perseverance.”

Augustine of Hippo in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 14 April reading.

When we walked through Saltivka, east of Kharkiv, we were moved by the damage to residential buildings. While some rubble has been cleaned up, few homes been rebuilt.

This one struck me. Andrey Kratsev pointed out the word painted on the wall on the left side of the photo above. It reads “people” in Ukrainian. Some live there despite having no running water or power.

Why paint that word on the wall? It sends a humble message to please not plunder from us though our building looks destroyed. Real “people” live here, 18 miles from the Russian border.

Andrey’s ministry, Hope Family Center (HFC), has two locations in Saltivka. Watch a video about his ministry here. I preached there and the people thanked us repeatedly for coming.

It seemed like every building in Saltivka had some form of damage. The city gets hammered almost daily. We had sirens go off twice urging us to take shelter.

Before we left, we gave HFC a gift of money from GTP. I will never forget his response. “You won’t believe this. I need to pay two staff today and I had no money. God supplied through you.”

Sometimes it’s hard for Andrey. His wife and young daughter are in the States. He prays to keep doing good works and saving lost and hurting souls one day at a time. Perseverance.

Their closest call: “On a cold day when a fellow pastor was providing soup for people on one side of a large apartment building, a missile hit the other side of it.”

With a healthy sense of humor. He said, “You only need three things to minister in Salivka: a helmet, a bulletproof vest, and a diaper.” Because some days you might soil yourself.