From Robert:
After a few months of preparation and anticipation, five Minter members went to Ternopil in August to assist in their VBS program. Each transported an extra suitcase filled with VBS Supplies. Corresponding with the Ternopil workers provided coordination that allowed us to prepare and be of help to ahem. As it happened, the course of study for the week was " Fruit of the Spirit", the subject we had been studying in Abilene.
We arrived on August 4, with a lot of apprehension about what to expect. As we cleared customs, some members of the church welcomed us and took us to TernopiI.
On Saturday, we met with the teachers and helpers, and began making friendships and final preparations. Sunday we worshiped with the church there (about 70 members).
Monday through Friday we all worked together and had from about 50 the first day to almost 70 on Thursday. All went well. The teachers and helpers were well prepared. With only about 15 children in the Ternopil church, the rest were from the community. The children were cooperative and participated in the VBS activities. We Minter Lane members were impressed! We can say without a doubt that we were uplifted by the experience and trust that the Ternopil church was also uplifted by the experiences of the week. All the Ternopil members were very friendly and filled with the Fruit of the Spirit.
We were happy to hear that after we left, two of the young ladies who worked as helpers in the classes were baptized.
During the week I (Robert) had an opportunity to visit with the Ternopil leadership committee which consists of Ihor Derkach, Vadim Zhmurko, Ihor Ivashchuk, Andriy Trach, and Volodya Pryludko. (Andriy was gone for the week, so I did not meet him). In the course of their regular committee meeting. I was invited to meet with them. We then discussed at length the various roles of church leaders. I opened my remarks by complimenting them on how they shared the worship leader roles during worship service, and on how well the worship was conducted. We then discussed the various roles of leaders. This included Biblical references to elders, deacons, preachers, teachers, communion and prayers. We discussed several scriptural references describing how each level of leadership in the church was a cooperative effort. I reviewed John's statement to elders to emphasize the different names (titles) used to refer to elders and how each described a role of elders. Ihor Derkach turned to Titus and read about elders' "qualifications," then pointed out that they each did not yet "qualify". I began describing the various roles of deacons and other leaders, and after some discussion, we all agreed that with the various responsibilities each had taken on, they were very much like a group of deacons that were together leading the church. Cooperative leadership does not seem natural to their culture. So I emphasized the need to work as a group when making decisions for the church.
When finances became the topic of discussion, I spent a few minutes discussing budgets. Their desire to take more responsibility for the financial needs is good. I used some of their own responsibilities as examples of expenditures and planning. VBS was a good example. With the funds they had internally and those transferred by the Association for VBS, I explained how they had the responsibility to use those funds as "budgeted and planned" so that VBS would be a successful effort. Translating this into a yearly budget plan will not be easy, but they all understood the concepts.
The travelers from Minter were Hilary Walton, Autumn Sutherlin, Nathan Willis, Linda and Robert Heard. We all thoroughly enjoyed the week. We were impressed by the preparation and dedication of the teachers and helpers in VBS, and the friendliness and Christian love and fellowship shown by the church. May God bless His church in Ternopil.