During the week of September 9-12, I attended the Eastern European / Eurasian Leadership Conference and the Ukrainian Church of God National Assembly, both of which were held held in Nova Kakhovka, Ukraine. Invited to the Leadership Conference were the overseers and educational leaders of our denominations from most of the countries in the the Church of God is represented - from Germany to Russia.
The Ukrainian National Assembly was also a celebration of its 15th anniversary in the Church of God. The Ukrainian church now has 85 congregations with a membership nearing 10,000. Among the various guest speakers were two of my bosses - Dieter Knospe (Germany) and Douglas Leroy (USA).
Following the conference, we then toured southeastern Ukraine visiting the towns of Donetsk, Mariople and Slavyansk. Our last stop was in Kiev before returning home.
What were my impressions from the trip?
- First of the all, the Ukrainians know how to do music and create a great worship atmosphere.
- Second, they did a great job is working out the logistics. They almost put the always organized Germans to shame.
- But I couldn't help but to compare building standards with those in Germany - or should I say, I was looking for the comparisons between the two countries.
- Fourth, boy am I ever thankful for the good roads we have in the States and Germany. The contour rich roads gave our van/mini-bus a broken rear spring - thus making for a bumpy, slanted ride for hundreds of miles.
- Catching a stomach virus (or digesting foreign food) does not go well with bumpy roads.
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