A Guide to Prayer

MISSION UKRAINE 2012

A Guide to Prayer – April 23 – May 4

“Because God is the living God, He can hear;
Because He is a loving God, He will hear;
Because He is our covenant-keeper,
He has bound Himself to hear.”
C. H. Spurgeon

“Here is the promise we have:
our gracious God has never once denied any of His children
who went as far as from earth to heaven on their knees
to ask Him for something.”
Michael Gott

“Work for God as if everything depended upon your work;
but pray to God as if everything depended upon your prayers.”
William Booth

Monday,  April 23 Travel Day	The Singing Men and Mission Partners depart from Dallas and Houston flying overnight east toward Ukraine. Pray for on-time flights. Pray for safe travel. Pray for the baggage to arrive on time. Pray for supernatural rest and comfort during travel. Pray for the Ukrainian staff as they complete preparations. Pray for real joy and faith as they work. Pray for God to cause needy people with open hearts to see the advertising and be drawn to attend the concerts.
Tuesday April 24 Odessa	Travel Day – The entire group will transfer – some in Vienna, some in Istanbul – to ongoing flights to the famous port city of Odessa, Ukraine. Pray for problem-free transfers. Pray for bags containing musical instruments, supplies, and clothing to be transferred correctly. Afternoon arrivals in Odessa, and bus transfers to the ship. Pray for quick, orderly transfers to the ship. Pray for ease with check-in and rooming arrangements. Pray for a quick adjustment to the limited space in each room. Pray for the health and stamina of each person on the team. Pray for dinner to be an enjoyable evening meal. Pray for immediate unity as the choir and mission partners meet – many for the first time. (Romans 12:5 – apply it.) Pray that the American team and the Ukrainian support team will have common purpose and heart. (Ecclesiastes 9:10 – claim it for all.) Pray for a good night’s rest and for adjustment to the time change.
Wednesday April 25 Odessa Ministry Day 1 Texas Time for Concert: 11:00 a.m.	Odessa, the largest port on the Black sea, has a population of one million – most of them lost, hopeless, and not knowing why Jesus Christ died on the cross. Concert 1 Pray for the team devotional times as they meet for 45 minutes of prayer and Bible study before breakfast each morning. Pray that each person on the team will be filled with the Spirit of Christ so that the crew will begin to see Christ in every attitude and action. Pray that as the team walks through the port area into the city center, they will meet many to whom they can give the 3″x3″ invitation to the evening concerts. (Psalm 57:9) Pray that Don Blackley and Michael Gott have a wonderful meeting with Pastor Michael and his staff at First Baptist, Odessa, Ukraine. Pray for Singing Men of North Central Texas Director Don Blackley and Evangelist Michael Gott as they work together to keep the mission focused on reaching people with the message of Christ. Pray for today’s meetings as all ministry teams finalize organization for the concerts this evening. (Ecclesiastes 9:17-18) Pray for the sound/equipment team who will help the choir set up sound and media equipment in the church. (Acts: 4:32) Ask God to give us sunny weather every day. Good weather is very important since most Ukrainians use public transportation. Pray for this evening’s concert at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Odessa. Pray that there will be overflow crowds. Pray that the media presentation will have great impact as the words of each song are projected in Russian so that the message of forgiveness through Christ will be understood. Midnight departure for Kherson.
Thursday, April 26 Kherson/ Nikolaev Ministry Day 2 Texas Time for Concert: 11:00 a.m.	In the famous shipbuilding regional capital of Nikolaev (population 500,000) Concert 2. Ask God to bless prayer meetings being held throughout the city of Nikolaev.  Pray, “Lord, bring people with open hearts!” Thank God for Valarry, the missionary/evangelist who led the team of pastors and youth who promoted the concert.  Ask God to help them to follow up every decision. Tonight’s concert is in Nikolaev – over an hour from Kherson.  Pray for the choir and support teams as they travel on buses over rough Ukrainian roads.  Ask God to give them supernatural joy and rest as they travel. Pray for the greeting team as they hand out New Testaments, books, and decision cards.  Ask God to give them real enthusiasm. Ask God for “glorious conversions” at this evening’s concert at the famous DK Sudostroitel’(Shipbuilder’s) Hall at 7pm (11:00 a.m. CDT) – 1,500 seats. Pray that those who come to the concert believing that they must work for salvation will be overwhelmed by the grace of God. Ask God to unify the prayer team made up of American and Ukrainian believers as they pray in a separate room during each concert. 9:00pm bus transfers back to Kherson where Mihail Lomonosov will stay docked until 11pm tomorrow evening.
Friday, April 27 Kherson Ministry Day 3 Texas Time for Concert: 10:30 a.m.	We awake in the regional capital of Kherson (population 400,000). – Concert 3  Ask God for the health of all, enough rest for everyone. Ask God for a spirit of refreshing to come to everyone during the daily devotional time.  Pray, “Lord, send a spirit of revival.” Believe that God will spiritually renew and revive each person and that even the ship’s crew will be converted to Christ! Pray for the advertising team.  They will give all participants 3″x 3″ invitations to this evening’s concert and then lead the way as the choir walks through city streets this morning to hand out the invitations. Pray that excitement will be felt throughout the city and for the church to be on fire with a desire to see people saved.  (Read Acts 4:33.) Pray that the Baptist pastors will be greatly encouraged to reach Kherson for Christ. Michael Gott International teams have done two week evangelism events in each city where the choir will sing.  Pray that the students who attended MGI courses will come to the concerts and be radically saved. Concert at Ubileinyi (Jubilee) Concert Hall in the center of Kherson at 6:30pm (10:30 a.m. CDT)- 1,600 seats.  Ask God to fill it with searching people! Ask God to bring deep conviction to the hearts of the people. Pray that the books, New Testaments, and CD’s with songs by the choir and a clear gospel message will be treasured and used by those who receive them. Pray for the head of Viking Ukraine who will be with us on the ship. 9:00pm departure for Evpatoria on the Black Sea.
Saturday, April 28 Evpatoria Ministry Day 4 Texas Time for Concert: 10:00 a.m.	Lomonosov leaves the Dnieper River sailing 15 hours to Evpatoria in Crimea on the Black Sea. 2 p.m. arrival in Evpatoria – population 117,000. Concert 4 Pray for the captain and sailors as they navigate out the mouth of the Dnieper and along the Crimean coastline. Pray that they will feel God’s hand of protection. Pray for calm sea and good rest for the team as they sleep. Pray for the staff who will teach the history lesson and the Russian language lesson during this morning of sailing. Ask for peace, joy, and victory to prevail as we prepare for the challenge of evangelism in the Russian Crimea which is now part of Ukraine. Pray for an on-time arrival into the Port of Evpatoria. Pray that the posters on buses and advertisements are effective. Pray for the team as they walk in the center of Evpatoria handing out invitations. Pray that people we meet will come to the concert. Pray for the Pastor Valery and the people of the small Baptist church. Ask God to give them courage and vision to reach their city for Christ. Pray for the men in the choir. This is their fifth concert. Ask God to make their voices strong and to give them health and strength. 6:00 p.m. Concert at Theater Hall Pushkina (11:00 a.m CDT) 1,000 seats Pray that the message of Christ preached by Michael Gott will clearlycall the lost to faith and new life. Ask God to speak through the interpreter who will interpret into Russian. Please pray for those at this concert to stay for the evangelistic message. Ask God to save many in this port town where there is only one small Baptist church with members who often feel that they are a weak minority in Crimea. Midnight departure for Sevastopol
Sunday, April 29 Sevastopol Ministry Day 5 Texas Time of Concerts: 10:00 a.m.	Lomonosov arrives at 10 a.m. in the famous Russian Port of Sevastopol – home of the Black Sea Fleet. – Concert 5. Pray that the team will awaken with enthusiasm, full of faith. Pray for the follow-up process in each of the cities visited thus far. Pray that those who responded will be “radically saved” and that the gift CD with a sermon will be listened to hundreds of times. Pray that many family members and friends who hear the sermon on CD will be converted to Christ. (Acts 5:42 – claim it for all!) Pray for strength and stamina especially for those who are older and those who have health issues. (Read and claim Psalm 92:13-14.) Ask God to bless the work of Pastor Igor, Pastor Vladimir (who serves God from a wheelchair), and the members of the Baptist church. Pray for the Greeting Team, who will hand out programs before the concert and take up decision cards and hand out CDs and Russian New Testaments after the concert. Concert at the Ukrainian Culture & Information Center at 6pm – 1,420 seats. (10:00 am CDT) Pray that God’s spirit will fill this hall. Ask God to come over this city that is so openly anti-Christian. Ask God that the impact will be area wide. (Read Acts 4:31.) Again, please pray for a good night’s rest after a long, busy day with two concerts. The ship will remain docked in Sevastopol until tomorrow night
Monday, April 30 Simferopol Ministry Day 6 Texas Time for Concert: 11:00 a.m.	The choir and mission partners will go one hour inland by bus to Simferopol (population 400,000), which is the capital of Crimea. Concert 6 Pray that devotional time will be very significant in each person’s life. Pray that Pastor Kosya and the members will be encouraged by the concert. Pray that they will be committed to the follow-up. Pray for the travel by chartered buses to Simferopol. Ask God to take all four buses safely over the mountains and back. Pray that the drivers who have now traveled with the group for a week will be saved. Pray that the 7:00 p.m. concert at the Crimea Academic Music Theater will be completely full and that more than 50% of those who attend will be without Christ. (Psalm 95:1-2 – ask God for His presence.) Pray that the whole American team will be amazed that God allowed them to be part of the harvest – absolutely fulfilled. Pray for the power of the Gospel to be evident with a supernatural evangelistic response. (Claim this verse – Acts 5:14.) Pray for the entire team exhausted from hours of ministry; ask God to give them a good night of rest. Midnight departure for Yalta.
Tuesday May 1 Yalta Ministry Day 7 Texas Time of Concert: 8:00 10:00 a.m.	Lomonosov will sail all night docking at 8 a.m. in Yalta where the famous Yalta Conference was held at the end of WWII to divide Europe. Concerts 7 & 8 Pray that devotional time will be very significant in each person’s life. Pray for effective advertisement and that churches will bring non-Christians from small towns and villages surrounding Yalta. Pray for the concerts at the Palace of Culture with 570 seat to be full at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. – 1,140 seats. Ask God to fill the seats with seekers. Ask Him to overcome prejudices against Christianity with the love of Christ. Pray for the power of God to fall on the services. (Acts 8:6-9) Pray for God-produced decisions and an effective follow-up to begin. Pray for Pastor Benjamin Yukimets and church leaders to be blessed and inspired. (Pastor Benjamin is the bishop of the 70 Baptist churchesin Crimea.) Pray that the choir and support team will finish strong.(Claim this promise –Psalm 94:19.) Lomonosov docks overnight in Yalta.
Wednesday, May 2 Yalta Ministry Day 8	Today the team stays in Yalta until 1 p.m. when Lomonosov departs Yalta to sail across the Black Sea to Odessa. – Concert on board Lomonosov. Pray for a wonderful morning for the team as they visit White Palace where the Yalta Conference was held and gather and pray for God’s work in the world in the very room where Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met. Pray again for the follow-up in Odessa, Kherson, Nikolaev, Evpatoria, Sevastopol, Simferopol, and Yalta. Ask God to supernaturally work through the believers. Pray that those who opened their hearts to Christ will have a deep desire to study the Bible, obey Christ, and be baptized. Ask God for hundreds of people to hear the CDs given as mementos and friendship gifts at the concerts. Ask for God’s supernatural spreading of the Good News. (Acts 9:31 – read and claim it!) Pray for the team as they board Lomonosov for the last time, eat lunch, and pack for flights homeward bound tomorrow. Pray as the team prepares this afternoon for our on-board concert this evening for the crew. Ask God for a “joyful burden” to see the sailors, waitresses, and desk staff come to life-changing faith and commitment. Pray that God will arrange for all of the crew on Lomonosov to be able to attend the concert. Pray that our time ends in joyful celebration for all that God has done. Pray for calm waters as Lomonosov crosses the Black Sea back to Odessa. Lomonosov sails for 20 hours from Yalta to the Port of Odessa
Thursday May 3 Odessa Travel Day	10 a.m. arrival to the Port of Odessa.Disembarkation and bus transfers to Odessa airport. Afternoon flights west for overnights before flights home on Friday. Pray for the final devotional time together as the team members “rehearse all that God has done.” (Acts 6:4 – claim it for all!) Pray for disembarkation, transfers and on-time flights at Odessa airport. Pray for rest and peace in the hotels where the team will overnight before flights to America tomorrow morning. (Isaiah 35:10) Pray for the Michael Gott team and staff as they go to Lviv in Western Ukraine for evangelism there beginning on Saturday. Pray for the crew on Mihail Lomonosov as they clean the ship and prepare for their first scheduled cruise to Crimea and up the Dnieper. River beginning just four hours after we disembark. Pray again for those who said “yes” to Christ during these days of mission. Believe and pray that the Holy Spirit will begin the process of transforming them into the image of Christ.
Friday May 4 Travel Day/Arrival Home	Travel Day The team members board final flights to America. Pray for on-time, safe flights. Pray for bags to arrive with team members. Pray for easy disembarkation and customs clearance at airports. Pray for reuniting with family and friends. Ask God to give joyful, peaceful times of sharing what He did in Ukraine and Crimea. After twelve days of travel and intense evangelism before several thousand unbelievers there can be a “spiritual down” – even depression. Ask God by His Spirit to refill every team member. Pray for those coming back to worship ministries in Texas this Sunday. Ask God to give them rest. Pray that the jet-lag coming westward will be quickly over and that they will be able to minister with joy and enthusiasm in home churches here. Pray that the team members will have opportunity to share with home congregations – giving God glory and praise for victories they saw.
Saturday – Tuesday May 5 – 8 Prayer for Ukraine & Crimea Pray for churches here	First Days after Mission Team members return to home situation and work. Evangelism and follow-up in Ukraine and Crimea continue. New believers begin their spiritual journey. Days of the mission are now over, but the follow-up in Ukraine and Crimea are just beginning. Pray for the follow-up directors and teams that are now calling and emailing each person who made a positive response on their decision card. Ask God to help them to be faithful to the task. Ask God to give them favor and wisdom. Ask God that one of the converts will become “the Billy Graham” of Ukraine and that one of the young women converted will be his wife. Pronounce a blessing on every person who attended and heard the music and message. Ask God to bless all Ukrainians who had a part in the events. Go back through this guide and pray for each church and each city. Pray for each choir member as he returns to his home church. Pray that revival will break out in every church that sent a man! Pray for Texas and a spirit of awakening to come as a result of the ministry reports! Pray for Don Blackley, SMONCT Director; Trent Blackley, SMONCT President; and for Larry Collins, SMONCT Missions Coordinator; and for the continued blessing on SMONCT. Pray for Michael and Jan Gott in their continued life in evangelism.