Overseas Outreach Coalition Meeting/Conference
August 25-27, 2021 by Stephen Yagilnicky – Team leader
The O.O. conference officially started with a welcome dinner at 6:00 pm. Followed by a greet and meet. The first plenary session of the conference, worship/sharing/prayer began shortly thereafter.
Those Attending:
1. John Murphy from Odessa
2. Zhenya and Natasha Molodchy (and family) from Kharkiv
3. Stephen Yagilnicky from Mala Vyska
4. Rick & Della Deighton via zoom from Nampa, Idaho
5. Sergei Yurevich from Odessa was unable to attend due to family needs.
Rick and Della Deighton opened the first plenary session of the conference with worship, sharing and a Scripture message and favorite hymn(s). Each attending member of the coalition followed with a message and favorite hymn(s). The opening evening of the conference was concluded in a time of conversation and group prayer.
Day 2. Morning Sessions
The morning plenary session started at 9:30 am. The session was presented by John Murphy. He opened the session by giving an overview of his ministry in Odessa. Past, present and future thoughts. The session was an open forum where members could engage in questions and share ideas/thoughts. The second plenary session of the morning was open group conversation. The highlights of the morning sessions were:
1. How each ministry shares similar stories of the Lord’s faithfulness.
2. The idea of an O.O. Coalition children’s camp was initiated.
3. The importance of prayer. Praying without ceasing.
4. Today’s world situation/events and how to proceed.
Day 2. Evening Sessions
The first evening plenary session was presented by Rick Deighton. The highlights of the evening session were:
1. Unity of the church and unity of the O.O. Coalition.
2. Introduction to Bob Lucas and the hope for possible future visits to Ukraine. Bob Lucas is considering becoming a co-worker with Overseas Outreach in the northwest portion of USA.
3. Introducing a couple serving with YWAM who are presently developing a Retreat Center in Ukraine as potential candidates to work with in developing a ministry relationship and friendship in outreach of the gospel in Ukraine.
4. Considering how the O.O. Coalition can work effectively together on helping one another and joining together in joint ministry ventures.
The closing plenary session of the evening was an open form/conversation and group prayer.
Day 3. Morning Sessions
Opening morning session was presented by Zhenya Molodchy. The session began with a presentation of Zhenya’s ministry and the challenges faced during Covid and preparing the ministry for the next phase. Highlights of the morning session:
1. How when a door is closed, another is opened. Because of Covid, Zhenya’s church, which he planted and pastors, was closed. But this opened a door to online ministry presentations/conversations that gained many followers/participants.
2. How can we help children growing up in Christian families and walking with the Lord as they become young adults while facing media driven society and all the influence this brings.
Day 3. Morning Session 2.
The closing morning session was presented by Stephen Yagilnicky. The session began with an overview of his ministry in central Ukraine and present day and future ministry analysis. Highlights of the closing session of the conference:
1. To continue to increase in prayer and remember Christ Jesus’s assurance as strong head winds are blowing and storm clouds have formed and are moving quickly (warp speed) upon the world/the church.
2. To get life/ministry in order. This coming storm could bring the nations to godly sorrow and repentance.
3. The primary objective is to walk closely with our Lord and proclaim Him to all, “Your Messiah has come.” Our ministries are just an avenue provided by Him to do this.
Conference take-aways:
1. Friendships/relationships grew stronger.
2. All shared wonderful fellowship and unity in the Spirit.
3. Commitment to pray even more/to continue to encourage/develop a “pray without ceasing” attitude and lifestyle.
4. To encourage each other and hold one another to high standard of accountability.
5. For the Coalition to work together to hold an O.O. children’s camp next summer and incorporate O.O. teaching material on creation science/evangelism.
6. To put on the full armor of God to stand in the midst of the battle.
7. To continue to support one another by working together collectively for the Kingdom and the well-being of the Body.
Jesus made it clear that participation in the Kingdom of God means:
Brokenness before usefulness.
Humility before authority.
Selflessness before honor.
YOU CAN
If you think you are beaten, you are
If you think you dare not, you don’t
If you like to win, but think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost;
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will;
It’s all in the state of mind.
For many a game is lost
Ere even a play is run,
And many a coward fails,
Ere even his work is begun.
Think big and your deeds will grow,
Think small and you’ll fall behind,
Think that you can and you will –
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are;
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be confident in your God!
Before you can win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.
~ Courtesy Tomsik Sales Institute
GOD, Give Us Men!
A time like this demands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands;
Men whom the lust of office does not kill;
Men whom the spoils of office can not buy;
Men who possess opinions and a will;
Men who have honor; men who will not lie;
Men who can stand before a demagogue (tyrant)
And condemn his treacherous flatteries without winking!
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog
In public duty, and in private thinking;
For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds,
Their large professions and their little deeds,
Mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps,
Wrong rules the land and waiting justice sleeps.
~ Josiah Gilbert Holland
From Our Mailbox
“Dear Rick and Della,
Really enjoyed your last newsletter. I was especially moved by your comments about Russ Fulcher when seeing him listed in the prayer list. I was moved enough to write to him (enclosed), if you would be so kind to address the envelope and mail it. I’m sorry, I don’t know for now where I put the newsletter, just too much going on here right now.
We’ve been under a cloud of smoke for months from California fires; progressing with a home study set-up at church to give a better alternative to polluted public schools; just had the county fair that I’ve headed up for a number of years. Explanation: our church rents a booth to give away Christian publications and other related materials. It is four days long and I handled it with only eight hours of other help.
Our government has become a sham that is disturbing, but our comfort comes from our Lord, so we can keep on for Him.
I’ll keep this short, but I do wish to thank you for all you do and for your encouraging helps. Life just gets more physically difficult as we age. My prayers for you are continued strength and health, and continued guidance and supply from God’s graces.
Hang in (or hang on), time is surely getting short (one way or another). At least we have our faith – praise the Lord! Bye for now.
God blesses believers in His love and care.
Dave (Black)”
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“Dear Rick and Della,
Praise God!! I’m cancer free!! The oncologist has given me a clean bill of health. No treatments – they’ll just keep check with blood work, CAT scans and colonoscopies.
I am so thankful to God, and all the people everywhere that have been praying for me.
Thank you so much for the card, kind words, Scriptures and words of prayer you sent me. I enjoyed reading the papers you included. A lot to think about…
In reading your August newsletter, I started reading words that sounded familiar. It was my letter. I was so surprised – and humbled. With all the great people you communicate with – thank you for including me. And then to be included in your prayer requests, Thank you – Thank you.
Rick, I want you to know – the first time I saw your Triangle of Triumph – I wrote it in my Bible. And on my Scripture memory card. I have prayed it often.
I’m sorry that all I’ve written about is me. Della, I hope you’re doing better. The last I heard, you were still in a lot of pain. I hope they’ve been able to alleviate that.
I was so happy to see your article on marriage. 58 ½ years – that’s great! With many more to come.
I can’t believe how far astray our culture has gone, not only on marriage, but on being male or female. I keep reminding myself that God is in control.
Recently, I’ve received communication from another mission in Nampa. Mission Aviation Fellowship – headed by David Holsten.
I’m enclosing some magnetic bookmarks I would like you to have. Dear friends, you two are special. Take care, and hopefully stay healthy.
Your friend in Christ. Gwen (Eichel)”
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Another Letter from Jimmy
July 26
“Dear Mr. Deighton,
I just received your books, thank you so very much. I didn’t expect that at all. Believe me when I tell you that they will be a blessing to me, and others. I will be going to the state prison in a month or so for the next 7 plus years. So I will have plenty of time to study God’s Word, the Bible! Your books will help me when I come across unbelievers while there. I pray I can find churches to send me Bible studies while I am there. The pastor of the church my family and I went to said he will send me some once I get there.
Funny thing is, God had to put me here to get me back on the straight path! Also interesting is I got 7 years fixed. God’s perfect number. Please put and keep me in your prayers that I can and will stay true to God and His Son, my Savior Jesus during that time. And to never stray from His path ever again.
I am having my wife print out the 3 prayers in the book I first wrote you about, so I can have it out daily to pray first thing every morning. May you and your wife be blessed for all you do to spread the Gospel to everyone. Again, Thank you.
Yours in Christ, Jimmy D. Eytchison”
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July 30
“Dear Mr. Deighton,
Thank you for the prayer letter and for writing me. To answer your questions: #1 it was the complete book and #2 yes, you may share my letter in your prayer letter if you think it will be of encouragement to others. As for the monthly edition of your prayer letters, yes, I would love that, but let’s wait until I’m transferred to prison, and I will send you my address there.
Now I have a question for you. Acts 2:38 states to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus. I was baptized by immersion around 18 years ago by pastor Corbett Lynn in Boise. Now since I backslid, messed up, and now re-dedicated myself to Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, do I need to be baptized again? Or was once enough? It may seem a silly question to most but I’m not sure myself.
Anyway, I pray that you and your wife are doing well and are blessed by God for all your work for Him. Also, I noticed in your books you are friends with Al Cinnamon in Emmett. My son went to his CERT class in school, and I was the state elder for Bikers for Christ. We did a couple of runs to benefit CERT. It’s a small world, isn’t it?
Sincerely yours in Christ, Jimmy”
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Good afternoon, Jimmy!
Thank you for praying for us – we are praying for you!
Yes, we definitely have some good connections! Our friend, Al Cinnamon is not only a friend – he is one of our very best friends – and he is on our prayer team for our Overseas Outreach mission. Also, please pray for Al’s recovery from surgery and protection from any touch of re-occurring cancer.
Concerning your question about re-baptism – the most pertinent question is for you. Why? Because the real question is – were you genuinely and truly converted? Did you put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and deeply, truly repent? That is the significance of Acts 2:38 – as well as many other verses. The church is the Bride of our Lord Jesus Christ, and as a wedding ring is a covenant sign of marriage, so baptism is the covenant sign of our union with Christ – and communion is the reminder that Jesus said, “this is the new covenant in my blood.” God gave circumcision as His covenant sign to Abraham that He would fulfill His promises; He gave the Sabbath as His covenant sign to Israel (see Exodus 31:12-18). He has given baptism as His covenant sign to those of us who put our trust in Jesus Christ and His cleansing blood (see Colossians 2:11-14). Marriage is a covenant. When you sin against your wife, you need to repent, confess, and ask her forgiveness. You don’t need to be re-married (but a renewal of vows is great). See 1 John 1:5-9.
In Christ, Rick
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Clear, Convincing, Covenant Convictions Concerning Baptism
“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:8-15 (NKJV)
Did you notice that baptism is a work? However, it is not a work of righteousness performed by any human to earn his or her salvation! The work is performed by Almighty God Himself – He is the surgeon who cuts off our sins because Jesus has paid our penalty. Our sins are washed away by the blood of Christ. Baptism is submitting to the Lord Jesus Christ – Who ordained it. See Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-16.
Wisdom from the Old Testament
I have been restudying the Old Testament prophets and it appears to me that, as Americans, we may be asking the same kind of questions that Habakkuk was asking over 2,500 years ago – and we definitely need to pay attention to his resolving declaration of trust in the sovereignty and goodness of our Awesome God!
“O Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal— surely you do not plan to wipe us out? O Lord, our Rock, you have sent these Babylonians to correct us, to punish us for our many sins. But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery? Should you be silent while the wicked swallow up people more righteous than they?… What sorrow awaits you who build cities with money gained through murder and corruption! Has not the Lord of Heaven’s Armies promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard, but all in vain! For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord… What good is an idol carved by man, or a cast image that deceives you? How foolish to trust in your own creation— a god that can’t even talk! What sorrow awaits you who say to wooden idols, ‘Wake up and save us!’ To speechless stone images you say, ‘Rise up and teach us!’ Can an idol tell you what to do? They may be overlaid with gold and silver, but they are lifeless inside. But the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him… I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy. I see God moving across the deserts from Edom, the Holy One coming from Mount Paran. His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise. His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. Rays of light flash from his hands, where his awesome power is hidden… You marched across the land in anger and trampled the nations in your fury. You went out to rescue your chosen people, to save your anointed ones. You crushed the heads of the wicked and stripped their bones from head to toe. With his own weapons, you destroyed the chief of those who rushed out like a whirlwind, thinking Israel would be easy prey. You trampled the sea with your horses, and the mighty waters piled high. I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us. Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” Habakkuk 1:12-13, 2:12-14, 18-20; 3:2-4, 12-19 (NLT)
Prayer Requests
- Please pray for God’s gracious comfort for two special friends of ours – Sandra (Strubhar) Lee, whose husband, Willard, died suddenly of a heart attack – and David Stitt, whose wife, Sharon, died after a long, drawn-out illness. Both Willard and Sharon were dedicated servants of our Lord Jesus, so we are very thankful that both Sandra and David will not sorrow as others who have no hope. However, the grief, the hurt, the loneliness is sharp and real!
- Our world is experiencing catastrophic assaults of death and destruction from terrorists, fires, storms, drought, disease, etc. As you earnestly pray for spiritual awakening in America and Ukraine, please pray also for Afghanistan, Nigeria, North Korea, China, Russia, Haiti, Cuba – and other devastated areas (including our own southern border).
- One of our partner ministries, Love Cradle, International, now has a $24,000 matching grant for their annual banquet at the end of September. They have a U.S. address, so you can send directly to them in order to double your gift for helping orphans in Ukraine. The address is 276 West Cherry Lane, Souderton, PA, 18964. If you choose to send your offering to Overseas Outreach, please clarify if you want it to go to Love Cradle, Int. so we can pass it on.
- Praise God for answered prayers!
- Gwen Eichel is now cancer free!
- Jimmy rededicated his life to our Lord Jesus – and He is opening doors of service to Jimmy!
- Jimmy Eytchison’s wife has forgiven him!
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LAUGHTER
