New Chapter of 'Acts' Written in Belarus, Ukraine
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December 21, 2008 |
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'Christian Revolution Brought Forth by Gospel of Sanctification'
The works of the Holy Spirit were in full swing in Eastern Europe. Hosted by the Spiritual Diplomacy Movement based in the United States, sponsored by Manmin Central Church, and with performances by Manmin's Performing Arts teams, "The Belarus & Ukraine Handkerchief Meetings (Acts 19:11-12)" took place, November 12-26, 2008. Since receiving overflowing grace from the works of the Holy Spirit and the gospel of sanctification manifested and proclaimed by Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee, Main Speaker Dr. Mikhail Morgulis (67; President, Spiritual Diplomacy Movement) has been conducting meetings in different parts of the world with the handkerchief on which Dr. Lee prayed.
Christian Meeting Held in Belarus despite Governmental Restrictions
A Christian meeting of any kind took place for the first time in the impenetrable nation of Belarus. This particular meeting, with an official approval from the government, took place in the Concert Hall of the presidential residence in Minsk, on November 14. Following the performances by Manmin Central Church's Performing Arts teams, Dr. Mikhail Morgulis comforted the brothers and sisters in Christ who had held fast to their faith despite persecutions and afflictions, proclaimed to them the gospel of sanctification, and encouraged them. When he prayed for the sick afterwards with the handkerchief on which Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee had prayed, many people glorified God on account of the healing they had received from Him. This meeting was a huge success, attended by approximately 2,000 people that included government officials and other prominent members of the Belarussian society. An evening news program on the state-run ONT TV set a new precedent by reporting on the meeting on at least 3 occasions. Local pastors did not hesitate to say that the meeting was a "Christian revolution brought forth by the gospel of sanctification." Additional meetings took place on Sunday, November 16, at Grace Church where Bishop Sergey, of the 500-plus-member Belarus Churches Association, serves as Senior Pastor, and at Bethany Church in the evening. Unlike other republics of the former Soviet Union, Belarus has seen and made steady improvements since its independence in 1991 and especially under the firm governing of the current President Alexander Lukashenko. While the government is said to recognize the freedom of religion, there are many restrictions placed on Christian activities and many churches are kept alive underground.
Ukraine: Melting pot of the Holy Spirit that led to spiritual triumph
Only about 2.19% of all Ukrainians are said to be Protestants but the works of the Holy Spirit were set ablaze in this land nevertheless. The handkerchief meetings took place at the Cherkassy Philharmonic Theater on November 19 and at the October Palace Concert Hall in the capital city of Kiev on November 22. On Sunday, November 23, two meetings took place at Salvation Church, affiliated with the Pentecostal Denomination and one of the largest in Ukraine, with more than 3,000 gathered in total. Following sermon messages by Dr. Morgulis, many people, including a woman who had the vision in one of her eyes restored and an elderly man who had been stricken down by paralysis but started walking, magnified God for the manifestations of His power among them. Dr. Grigory Komendant, Executive Director of the European Baptist Federation and President of the Ukrainian Bible Society, observed, "This meeting was a spiritual triumph that blanketed Ukraine and Belarus with Dr. Jaerock Lee's gospel of sanctification." The November 2008 meeting took place not only for the cause of saving souls but also to promote a World Christian Doctors Network (WCDN) conference scheduled to be held in Kiev, Ukraine, in October 2009 and physicians from the 2 nations expressed their interest and intentions to attend the WCDN event.
"They said angels from Korea had come."
Fine arts transcend tradition, ideology, and the barriers of language. Performances by the members of the Performing Arts teams of Manmin Central Church more than sufficed to warm the hearts of and breathe in an air of courage to all those who had steadfastly held on to their faith. Participants of the meetings, after seeing our praising and fan and angelic dances, did not hold themselves back in saying that they had just seen "the best performance" of their lives and called the performers "angels from Korea." When we all sang "How Great Thou Art," everyone stood up from his seat and became one in the Holy Spirit. Tears and joy from the depths of our hearts bound all of us together by the belt of the Holy Spirit and the belt of the truth. Praising and dance performances destroyed the strong wall of distrust and clothed the participants with the love of Our God. Rev. Sergey Khomichi, President of the Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith in Belarus, confessed, "The fact that a Christian meeting was held in a public place in Belarus is a miracle. The performance at my church was also the first of its kind. The performers from Korea has taught us what it is to praise in spirit," and expressed his gratitude.
~ Deacon Ronya Son (Director, Performing Arts Team)
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