Uniting Ukrainians and Californians Through Prayer

Some of our prayer partners in California with Edna

This evening we had the pleasure to meet and pray with members of a small Bible study who have been praying for the needs of our church members in Ukraine. For several months we have been exchanging prayer requests and praying for each other on a weekly basis. I have been personally blessed and amazed at how prayers have been answered as both groups have poured out their hearts in prayer for people they have never met. I was able to hear first hand how God has moved through prayer to touch these people's lives in a way that only He can.

Our church in Bila Tserkva, Ukraine has been praying each week according to the needs of their brothers and sisters in Christ living in California and is blessed to receive their prayers in return.

I truly believe that prayer is one of the greatest bonding agents that cements us into the body of Christ as we are raised up as His living church. I've seen prayer stretch across oceans and cultures bringing glory to our Father in Heaven. How great it is to be a part of that.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. -Ephesians 6:18

Visalia Mayor's Prayer Breakfast

Visalia Mayor Jesus Gamboa and wife Olivia bow their heads in prayer during the 2009 Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Thursday at the Visalia Convention Center.

On Thursday morning, Edna and I attended the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast where Mike Huckabee was the guest speaker. It was a chance to wake up early and try to shake off some of our lingering jet lag as well as connect with other local Evangelical Christians. We were blessed to see over 1,000 people in attendance. I even ran into a few people that I know. We were so encouraged by the powerful message of salvation that was shared by Mike Huckabee and the cooperative prayers of several denominations lifted up in unity. I only wish that we could see that kind of cooperation among different churches in Ukraine.

It was also great to see so many familiar faces from Calvary Chapel Visalia (which organized the event) including Pastor Bob Grenier who did the opening and closing.

Huckabee was invited to play bass on the last worship song of the morning.