News at ABWE
Fire in Ukraine
Update—Monday, June 6, 2005
ABWE personnel in Ukraine are grateful for all who have prayed for the Church Ministries Institute in the aftermath of the April 30th fire. Praise God for the following answers to prayer:
- The investigation and legal paperwork related to the fire have been closed, and all fees (including reimbursement to the fire department) came to just $400.
- Shane Jobson and a team of workers began the process of dismantling the most severely damaged part of the building, which is now six meters narrower—13 truck loads of garbage have been removed so far.
- Two courses have already been conducted in a temporary location.
Please pray that God would provide the remaining funds necessary to rebuild. There is an immediate need of $125,000 to partially dismantle and secure the building, to replace critical equipment, and to relocate to a temporary facility, along with related legal and documentation costs.
After this initial phase additional funds will be needed to actually rebuild the International Resource & Training Center. Gifts to ABWE may be designated " CMI Training Center" or "CMI fire relief". Pray for wisdom as decisions are made for the most cost effective and legally sound way to replace the old facility.
John Taylor, President of the CMI writes, “Heaviness fell across my heart today as I walked through the burned out building, and what remains of my office. I smiled as I looked up where a world map used to hang on the wall, and saw instead a sunny sky. I was reminded of the Lord's words of comfort to the apostle Paul, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Cor. 12:9).”
Update—Friday, May 13, 2005
The April 30 fire at the Church Ministries Institute (CMI) building in Odessa, Ukraine, has caused more damage than was initially apparent. Besides heat, smoke, and water damage throughout the entire building, there was also significant structural damage from the explosion, and many of the support beams have been burned. Crews will begin the process of dismantling the most severely damaged part of the building next week, salvaging whatever materials are usable to secure and hold up the remaining part of the building, so it can be locked and used as storage space.
John Taylor, President of the CMI, is grateful for the continued support they have received from both sides of the ocean. The day after the fire, a church planted by a CMI graduate collected $300 in offerings for CMI fire relief. A Christian businessman in Odessa offered to clean all of the smoke-damaged furniture with special chemicals free of charge. Upon hearing of the fire at a missions conference, a group of Bible college students in Kiev collected $130 for CMI fire relief.
A temporary CMI office has been set up at a facility owned by national partners, located only two kilometers from the existing property. As furniture and office equipment are cleaned and repaired, it will be added to the now empty room. The CMI school year will be completed as scheduled, with the last two courses meeting in this facility. Pray for the many details which must yet be worked out before students arrive on Monday (May 16) from all over Ukraine and Moldova.
Pray also for wisdom as decisions are made about what kind of facility is needed to replace the CMI building. The new International Training & Resource Center will need to house offices for all of the CMI administration and the new distance education division, as well as a large library and resource center to serve all the regional schools across Euro-Asia. Until they are able to relocate to a new facility, the CMI offices will be located in various apartments in the area.
Pray that God would supply the funds necessary to rebuild and to replace the equipment and supplies which were lost. A new account has been set up at ABWE to receive gifts - " CMI Training Center" account #071206.
Finally, please pray for strength and emotional support for all of the CMI staff and ABWE teammates, who must not only deal with the loss of their work place and personal belongings, but who must now also deal with major changes and extra hours to ensure that the ministry can go forward for the glory of God.
President Taylor writes, “I am comforted by the words of David, ‘If the Lord delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand’ (Ps.37:23-24). Praise be to God!”
Give to the CMI Training Center
Contact:
Mission Relations
missionrelations@abwe.org
Monday, May 2, 2005
At about 6:00 am Ukraine time (11:00 pm Friday, EST) on Saturday, April 30, a fire was reported at the Church Ministries Institute building in Odessa, Ukraine, causing severe damage to the 10-year-old structure. CMI President, John Taylor, writes, “Within ten minutes I had arrived at the institute and called the fire department. I tried to enter the building, but the smoke was already too thick. The fire trucks arrived, and three fire fighters entered the building with gas masks and a water hose. They eventually left the building just minutes before a back flash explosion (caused by oxygen fueling the hot smoky air) tore through the entire building. Following the explosion, fire erupted in one corner of the building. Within an hour, the fire fighters had managed to put out the flames, but they had already caused extensive damage.”
The ABWE team of missionaries is grateful that no one was injured. This was Easter weekend in Ukraine, and there were no students sleeping in the building. They are also grateful that the Lord prompted the fire chief to call his men out just in time before the back flash.
Three of the first floor offices were severely damaged—those of Doug Phillips, Carol Bagley, and John Taylor. The floor to the first two of those offices collapsed into the basement. Also destroyed was the basement wing which contained the Odessa Christian Academy (the MK school), including the classroom, English library, and storage room. There was extensive damage to the storage room where ABWE teammates stored their personal belongings, the dining room, two other offices, and the dorm rooms.
The computer network server was spared (one year old) although most of the rest of the computer equipment was destroyed (there was a backup of everything on all of the CMI computers). Also spared (although very smoky) was the CMI library, which contains one of the most complete Russian theological collections in Eurasia, and the medical supply room.
Taylor comments, “I have been overwhelmed by the support already demonstrated by our national partners and friends. Within minutes a brigade of volunteers had shown up to salvage what could be salvaged, working all day and in poor conditions. Several have offered support in other ways, and through words of comfort.”
The cause of the fire is still undetermined, although it is clear that it began in the OCA storage room in the basement, which contains teaching supplies and materials to aid children's ministry in the local churches.
Please pray for national partners who are legally responsible for the CMI building, and who must now give account before the authorities. There are some problems related to the legal documentation of the building. Pray that God would bring about a swift resolution, and that God would give our brothers wisdom in how to handle the inspectors' questions. Pray also for the CMI staff, many of whom have lost personal belongings.
Provisional arrangements have already been made to complete the remainder of the CMI school year at another location, but the school year has come to an end for the Odessa MKs.
Pray for wisdom for the ABWE team as they consider what to do next. Pray also for the financial needs arising from this loss of facilities, equipment and supplies. The CMI board is meeting in Slovakia on May 3rd to discuss a new fundraising initiative to support the growing impact of the CMI throughout Eurasia. God has been doing exciting things through the CMI in the past year, and it is no surprise that the enemy would want to stop this work. Taylor adds, “I am pursuaded that God is going to use this tragedy to yet further advance His kingdom for His glory.” People may contribute to the CMI needs by marking gifts “Ukraine Leadership Training.”
Taylor writes, “At Easter Sunday services on May 1, one of the Ukrainian pastors preached that to get to Sunday (the resurrection), we must first pass through Friday (the suffering and death of Christ). We are engaged in a spiritual battle, and Satan is trying to do all he can defeat the work of God in Ukraine, and particularly in the Church Ministries Institute. We already know the end of the story - Christ is alive, and has conquered the enemy! I look forward to seeing how God is going to use this tragedy to demonstrate His grace and power, and to advance His kingdom in the former Soviet Union. Thank you for supporting us in this battle, and in the coming victory!”
Contact:
Mission Relations
missionrelations@abwe.org