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From The Baptist Standard Published: April 21, 2011

The Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas is making sure the Singing Men of North Central Texas will stand on solid ground when they return to the Ukraine and Crimea for a series of concerts next spring.

“I grew up in a church that had a strong WMU and strong mission organizations. I was a Sunbeam, Mission Friend and Royal Ambassador,” said Larry Collins, president of the Singing Men of North Central Texas.

“So when our organization needed some additional funding for our mission work in Ukraine, I immediately turned to the Texas WMU.”

Collins was a part of the 70-voice Singing Men of North Central Texas choir that sang 11 evangelistic concerts in eight Ukrainian cities last October.

Southern Baptist Evangelist Michael Gott preached at each concert, and their meetings resulted in more than 4,600 recorded decisions for Christ.

“In several cities, the churches were too small to host our concerts, so we sang in the local performance hall. The problem was they had no suitable risers for our men to stand on. In one hall, I had to tell the men if they weighed more than 175 pounds they couldn’t stand on the rickety risers,” Collins explained.

So in preparation for their return to Ukraine & Crimea April 23-May 4, 2012, the choir purchased a set of used choral risers. But when they checked into shipping costs, they quickly realized getting them there was going to cost a lot more than they had expected.

So, the Texas WMU stepped up and agreed to pay to ship the risers, which will be used by three Texas Baptist groups in Ukraine over the next two years. Then the risers will be given to the Ukrainian Baptist Convention, which has started the Singing Men of Ukraine.

WMU Executive Director Sandy Wisdom-Martin presented the $3,775 check to Collins and the Singing Men at their concert rehearsal April 14.

“The spirit of cooperation and support indicated by the generous gift of the Texas WMU is as heart-warming as the gift is helpful,” Collins said.

“We will think of our sisters of the WMU every time we stand up to sing—literally.”

For more information about the Singing Men’s planned trip to Ukraine and Crimea, visit their website at www.smonct.org.

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That’s right, we are going back to Ukraine!  The results of our trip in October of 2010 was so phenomenal that SMONCT is returning in 2012. Plans are underway right now for that trip! The tentative schedule includes concerts in Odessa, Nikolaev, Kherson, Yevpatoriya, Sevastopol, Simferopol, Yalta and Alustha. Begin now praying that God will once again use the Singing Men to reach thousands for Christ. Complete details will be posted as plans are finalized. Keep an eye here on this blog and our main website: www.smonct.org for more details and how you can help support the Singing Men of North Central Texas.

 

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This is the name of a cargo ship that was docked across from us in Odessa.
How fitting a name for us to see both mornings in Odessa.

It has been a Splendid Harvest these past 12 days in Ukraine.

With all praise to the Father for what He has done in the hearts and lives of so many here in Ukraine, we announce that our records indicated 4,567 people responded to the invitation to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Our best guess and estimate is that as many as 10,600 attended one of the 11 concerts across the country.

A constant theme this week has been “How Great Is Our God”. Not only just a song that we sing, but truly our statement of faith and belief. And for many of us (this blog writer for sure) it has opened our eyes to how little we really believe that. Only a great and mighty God, that loves us so much, can orchestrate and pull off what has taken place in this place.

As we closed out last night on the ship, we paused in the Sky Bar and gave thanks to God and thanked many others. Our time has come to an end and we are sad to leave this place and the people we have met.

We know that it is not about just counting numbers and that number represents real people. Only God knows the full increase. And in the weeks and months to come, we pray that number only increases as the seed that has been planted takes root.

We were faithful to exalt Jesus and we claim His promise that He will draw all men unto Him when we do that.

This trip was so multi-faceted that it took many many people to accomplish it. We would be remiss if we did not thank a few people here.

Don Blackley & John Bell, our director and Past President of SMOT, have tirelessly worked on this for over three years.

Michael and Jan Gott. The Singing Men of Texas are indeed blessed to have joined in partnership with these two giants of faith. Jan worked as our travel agent and chief of all details. Michael challenged us each morning and was our spiritual anchor.

The Gott Ukraine Team. We worked alongside some amazing students & young adults who are Ukrainian Christians. They worked day and night and some times all night long to be our support staff in so many ways. They were our bus captains, interpreters, sound techs, and so many other things.

Our Mission Partners. This was a first for Singing Men to invite others besides our wives to go alongside of us. They helped pay for the ship charter, they loaded and unloaded support material. They taught English classes, they greeted, they prayed. What an amazing group of people we had with us on this trip. They freed us up to just concentrate on singing and presenting the gospel in song. We could not have done a trip of this magnitude with out them. We are grateful.

And to our prayer partners back home and wherever in the world you are reading this from. From the outset the goal was to have 10,000 people praying. Only God knows if we reached that or not, but without your fervent prayer to the Father, none of this would happen. Thank you for praying for us and encouraging us with your comments here on the blog. Many of the men will read them after we get back and it will bring blessing to their lives.

As we settle in for our final night here in Ukraine, we are tired but our hearts are stirred to what God has done. We return back to our churches with a renewed passion to reach others for Christ.

Pray for our safe travel on three flights back to the USA. The first group leaves in a few hours on a 5:35 a.m. flight via Frankfurt and arrives home tomorrow. The other two groups will depart mid morning and fly via Amsterdam and London overnight and arrive home on Saturday.

On a personal note, It has been my honor to write this blog for the trip. Thanks to all for the kind words and notes of encouragement. I don’t consider myself a writer, but simply wanted to communicate back home what God was doing and to let you know what to pray for next. I hope in some small way, God has used this to help you experience this wonderful experience.

God Bless
Derrel Thompson,
Treasurer and Blogger for Singing Men of North Central Texas

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We had a great final concert in an old historic concert hall. Jam packed audience again. Praise the Lord for 462 who responded to Christ tonight.

Posting some pictures now and will make a final wrap up post later.

First bus has arrived back in Kiev, other 2 should arrive soon.

Thanks again for partnering with us in prayer.

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We are docked in the port of Odessa. Have learned that Odessa, Texas is more than likely named after Odessa Ukraine. The word in Greek means place without water. Descriptive of Texas, not so much here, as we sit on the Black Sea coast.

Our first concert last night went great. I didn’t really get a good attendance count but with the church’s three story balcony level being full all the way up, there could have been as many as 1,500. The best news though is that 500 responded and checked on the decision card that they responded to Christ.

That puts over 4,000 these past 11 days that have responded positively to Christ in our concerts and one more to go. Praise the Lord!

Tonight we sing in the Philharmonic Hall in the city center here in Odessa. There is a huge lighted banner/billboard in front of it announcing our concert.

Our whole team has been challenged all week to see the bigness and greatness of God who would orchestrate all of this. Michael Gott has spent each morning teaching us a proper view of evangelism and ministry. I think each of us will look at evangelism and even how we do church when we get back home.

Thank you so much for your prayer support back home. You have been a vital part of what God has done here in Ukraine this week and last.

Will attempt to post a final report from tonight with pictures and wrap up either tonight after the concert, or from our hotel in Kiev after our bus ride tomorrow.

Pray for our concert tonight at 7:00 p.m. (11:00 Texas)
Pray for our safety tomorrow as we travel by motor coach back to Kiev.

Thanks again.

Enjoy pictures from last night at First Baptist Odessa.

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A little delayed, but here are pictures from Monday night in Kherson.

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Plenty Good Room

We have good wifi here at the First Baptist Church in Odesa, so during the concert we were able to get uploaded two more videos from Rex Campbell. They were shot during our time in Kiev (I think…)

Our concert just ended and I’m sitting in the middle of the sanctuary typing this. Is God good with technology or what!! Another standing room only enthusiastic crowd. Will write more about tonight later. Also hope to add pictures later tonight or perhaps in the morning.

Thanks for praying.

Plenty Good Room

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Thou O Lord

Thou, Oh Lord

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Plenty good room,
plenty good room,
plenty good room
in my Father’s Kingdom …

That is the start of one of our songs that we are singing. Last night as we sang this song, there was not plenty of room. The church sanctuary literally was busting at the seams with people. We estimate there was 1,500 people who were there or tried to get in. This is in a room that seats maybe 850.

It has been ironic these two weeks as we sing that song each night to see ushers and our team members trying to seat people in the concerts. How good it is to know that there really is plenty of room in God’s Kingdom for all who will come.

The concert last night was truly an amazing time of worship with some wonderful people. We rejoice in the fact that 546 made decisions for Christ. Praise be to God!

Jesus says in John 4:38: “I sent you to harvest a field you never worked. Without lifting a finger, you have walked in on a field worked long and hard by others.”

We were reminded this morning of the sacrifice and suffering of many over past decades in Ukraine. Many who came before us that literally gave their lives for the cause of Christ. Of pastors that were thrown into prison and died.

But praise be to God, doors have been opened and we have been able to be some who have come and shared during this time. We are indeed blessed and privileged to be sent here for this purpose. What a harvest we have seen. And the good news is, there is still plenty of good room left.

We are now docked in Odesa and our boat ride is over. We will do a little sight seeing here today and tomorrow. We have concerts tonight and tomorrow before we return home. Pray for our concert at the First Baptist Church in Odesa at 7:00 p.m. (11:00 a.m. CDT)

Continue to pray for us these last two days for us to finish strong. Pray that we will be good witnesses as we go into the city.

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We are getting to use the church in Kherson’s internet and computer room. So I came early and have a chance to upload pictures.

These are from our Friday night talent show aboard the ship, the Dnipro concert, and the Zaporozhye concert. Again our thanks to Steve Passmore and Antonina Kreposniak. She is an amazing photographer.

 

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King of Kings

Finally have a chance to get some video posted to the blog.

These two clips were shot by Rex Campbell of the BGCT’s Communication’s Department. This is from one of the Kiev Concerts of How Great Is Our God and King of Kings. We do both of these songs in Russian. Each night the audience face’s light up as we start to sing in their language.  Enjoy and share!

 

King Of Kings

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How Great Is Our God

How Great Is Our God

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