The New Year and Christmas holidays are past. They left different memories and impressions with each of us. As usual, the children were the happiest of all, because unlike the rest of us, they need very little to make them happy. Vacation, Christmas Trees, Santa Claus, presents - that's what makes children happy.

In Ukraine the New Year's celebration is especially rowdy, with boisterous greetings accompanied by the sound of fireworks. Unfortunately Christmas, in comparison to New Year, is not as colorful. It would be nice if the whole world would rejoice along with the angels and those who know the joy of the true Christmas, not sleeping a wink on Christmas Eve, recalling the birth of the Savior.

How remarkable that the time of God's mercy and grace continues even now. And that means that there is still work to do in the world. And for that God uses His Church. Last year He also had a special plan for Salvation Church in Poltava.

It all started in December when Lydia and I organized a seminar for Christmas Missionaries. Representatives came from 15 churches. Some of them, while they wanted to tell children the good news of the birth of the Savior on Christmas, had no plans, no fresh ideas, or practical experience. But as a result of the seminar many hundreds, or even thousands, of children heard the Christmas story thanks to these people.

But let me tell more of what God did through Salvation Church. Let's start with the participation of the entire church in "Operation Christmas Child". Some prayed, some gave money. Many families bought gifts and assembled packages for children which our team later distributed. I must note, though, that the gifts were only a supplement to the main evangelistic activity. Our main desire was to tell the children about the purpose and meaning of Christmas, compared to the meaning of New Year's. Then we worked through with the children to the conclusion about which is more important to people. Happily the children reached the correct conclusion. Here is what happened: all the children amicably raised their hands in agreement that Christmas is the most important event in human history.

We were in different locations: in the city and village schools, in clubs, in orphanages, in the rehabilitation center for children with infections of the nervous system, in children's circles (as seen in the photographs). We were encouraged that not only children, but also adults watched our show. As a result of our holiday event in the village of Vatsi a new "Good News" children's circle was started. Now they have had their first meeting with 15 children. Furthermore, at that meeting an amazing thing happened. The Lord helped us find a mobile phone that had been lost by one of the girls who came to the meeting. The phone was in the snow over a half mile from the place where we held the meeting. Our joy knew no bounds. The girl was overjoyed about finding her phone, and we were grateful to the Lord, who arranged for it and showed His love to all who fulfill His will. From now on, every Saturday the children of that village will hear God's word. We hope that a similar circle will start after Christmas in the village of Golovach. Please pray about that!

Our team also wanted to tell the Christmas story to those children who are confined to hospital beds and can't enjoy the holiday with their families. So we took gifts that the church had prepared and went to see the children in the city hospital. The hallway of the ear, nose and throat clinic became the meeting place for children from various departments of the hospital. That day there was a lot of laughter, games, prizes, songs, gifts, and of course, the story of the birth of Jesus. Then we went to the trauma department. There we had to do the program at each bedside, since many of the children were in traction and couldn't get up (see photos).

Our time with the hematology patients and their parents was very emotional. There the children know about their terrible diagnosis - leukemia. In this department, in contrast to the others, there was silence. All the children and their parents wear masks, so we could only see their sad eyes. It seemed to me that with their eyes they were asking us, "How can you cheer us up?" Here our gifts may have brought some pleasure, but what the parents and children want most is to be restored to health. That is perfectly understandable. Healing is now the most important thing of all for these people. Still our desire was to turn their attention to the most important thing of all - the Savior who was born to all of us, in Whom we can find joy, peace, love, faith and hope of healing not only of the body, but of the soul. Praise the Lord that we were able to talk about it. At the conclusion all of the children of that department agreed to be photographed with their gifts. You will recognize them - they are wearing masks. Look carefully into their eyes. They were looking at us as if to say, "Thanks for the attention and the presents, for the real Christmas that you brought with you, ... and if you would be so kind, don't forget to pray for us."

Dear friends, we won't ask you to promise to pray continually for these children and all those who heard the good news of Christmas, but after reading this article and looking at the pictures, give praise to God and say a prayer for the salvation of these boys and girls. Thank you!

 

Respectfully, Vladimir Goliuk