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“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Matthew 1:23

We thank God who came to us as a baby so that he could be with us. This simple Christmas message is so revolutionary. Visiting means we have to come down to the level of the people we visit. Holy God came to be with sinners who were lost. Not only did he come to be with us but suffered with us and finally died for us. This was the theme of our Christmas Worship Service delivered by John. When Nate, Kate and I visited the homeless tent to give them a Christmas dinner, we had to come inside their tent and talk with them and share God’s word of encouragement with them. We didn’t just drop the food off and say, “enjoy your meal.” I have been visiting them for over two years. Misha is a changed man. When I first met him, he was angry at God who would allow him to have both of his legs amputated. Now in the course of living among God’s people, he praises God and serves at the Orthodox Church that provides the tent ministry. He said he is always on his knees praising and thanking God. When I see him, his face changed from night to day.

Our church has been working with “Parish Nursing,” which is an ecumenical ministry headed by a Ukrainian Orthodox priest, Father Nikolai, working with an Evangelical American nurse, supported by the Catholic order. We have a medical professor who is also part of the administrative team. The week before our Christmas Service our Professor Valentine was hit by a car as he crossed the street and died. He was a medical professor of ethics in Kyiv University School of Medicine. He believed in the healing of a person not only the physical aspect but also mental and emotional. He joined the team but he was an atheist. In the course of working with Father Nikolai, he became a Christian and realized man needs spiritual healing as well. At one seminar, one atheist spoke against God in the medical profession. Professor Valentine allowed him to finish his lecture and then got up and graciously, point by point, discredited his argument. He will be greatly missed but not forgotten. I can say with joy that I will meet him again in the Kingdom of God.

We had our Christmas Service on December 20. There were a lot of preparations involved. We decorated our Christmas tree and our center with the help of some of our KMA English club members. Natasha, Yulia and Grace stayed up late making 3D Christmas stars to hang all around our center. They also printed up Bible verses on regular white paper which then were soaked in black coffee and the edges burned to make them look old. Natasha burned her fingers several times. Yulia had to find and buy the right strings and Gracie stayed up late helping. Then at the dinner they were given out to each participant and they read them out loud among those at their table. This was the best part of the service because each person received their own personal verse.

For our music we sang Christmas carols with the help of Gracie’s senior classmates from Kiev Christian Academy. This was Gracie’s last Worship Service with us. Christina Nadvorna, one of our former English club members and who serves at the Catholic Kyiv choir, sang a solo for us. We felt that an angel landed in our midst as she sang, “Come All Ye Faithful.” John gave the message on Mathew 1:18-25, “Jesus, our Savior King,” translated by Natalia. Nate gave his testimony while his wife Kate translated it. We had the Christmas dinner and we played White Elephant, with Alias and Wii dancing. One hour before our service, one 18-year-old KMA student, Alex, e-mailed me asking if he could still come. I told him “yes.” He came early and was the last one to leave. He was so thankful and happy he came and celebrated Christmas with us. One KMA student Tanya had an appointment at 5pm but didn’t realize the time until 7pm. We started at 3pm and our KMA students didn’t want to leave until 9:30pm. Our Christmas Service was one bright spot in a year riddled with pain and suffering for Ukraine. We had a small collection from our Christmas Service and we offered it for the children in East Ukraine who are suffering from cold and hunger. We pray for peace and an end to the war in the East. We pray that God may use our small church as a refuge and place of hope for KMA students and for the people in Ukraine. Amen.